Chapter three: The first attack

Gunshots shattered everything I thought I knew about this house.

We were sitting at the long dining table that evening when it happened. Victor had insisted on a small welcome dinner. Candles flickered between us. The food smelled expensive but tasted like ash in my mouth.

"You have barely touched your plate, Ella," Victor said, watching me carefully. "Is the meal not to your liking?"

I forced a smile. "It is fine. Everything is just... a lot. Thank you for doing this."

Vincent sat across from me again. His eyes had not left my face since we sat down. After what happened in his study earlier, the tension between us felt thick enough to choke on.

"You seem distracted," Vincent said suddenly. His voice was low. "Still thinking about things you should not be?"

I met his stare head on. "Maybe I am thinking about how you kissed me and then told me to forget it. That is kind of hard to ignore."

Victor set his fork down slowly. "Kiss? What is going on between you two?"

"Nothing," Vincent answered too fast. "It was a mistake."

"A mistake?" I shot back, anger and hurt mixing together. "You said our families are cursed. You looked at me like I was everything and nothing at the same time. Do not call that a mistake."

Vincent leaned forward. "Keep your voice down. You do not understand what you are getting into."

"Then explain it to me," I demanded. "Stop treating me like I am fragile. I lost my mom. I can handle the truth."

Victor cleared his throat. "This is not the time or place for—"

His phone buzzed loudly on the table. He glanced at it and his face changed. All the polite mask disappeared. "We have company. Uninvited."

Vincent stood up so fast his chair scraped loudly. "How many?"

"Enough," Victor replied, already moving. "Get her somewhere safe."

Before I could ask what was happening, the first gunshot cracked through the night. Glass exploded somewhere nearby. I screamed.

Vincent was on me in a second. He grabbed my arm and pulled me down to the floor, covering my body with his own. His weight felt solid. Safe. Terrifying.

"Stay down," he growled against my ear. "Do not move no matter what you hear."

"What is happening?" I gasped, clutching his shirt. "Are we being robbed?"

"Worse." His breath was hot on my neck. "Much worse. Just trust me."

Another shot rang out. Closer this time. Shouting followed. Victor was barking orders somewhere in the hallway.

"I cannot just hide here," I whispered fiercely. "Tell me what to do."

Vincent lifted his head. His eyes were glowing again. That impossible golden color. "You stay alive. That is what you do. Promise me."

"I promise," I breathed. "But you better come back."

He hesitated, like he wanted to say more. Then he pressed a quick, hard kiss to my forehead and stood up. "Lock yourself in the pantry. Now."

I crawled toward the kitchen as he ran outside. My hands shook so badly I could barely turn the lock. I pressed myself into the corner, heart hammering against my ribs. More gunshots. Growls. Sounds that no human should make.

After what felt like forever, the noise died down. I crept out carefully and made my way to a window. What I saw outside froze me completely.

A massive black wolf, bigger than any animal I had ever seen, was tearing through armed men like they were nothing. Its jaws snapped. Claws slashed. Blood stained the grass. The wolf moved with deadly grace. Powerful. Beautiful in a terrifying way.

Then it turned toward the house. Its eyes met mine through the glass. Golden. Just like Vincent's.

I stumbled back, breathing fast. No. It could not be.

Footsteps pounded behind me. I spun around ready to fight or run. Vincent burst through the side door. His clothes were torn. Blood streaked his arms but he did not seem hurt. His eyes still glowed faintly.

"Ella," he said roughly. "Are you okay?"

I backed up until I hit the wall. "What the hell was that? I saw... there was a wolf. A huge wolf. It looked at me like it knew me."

Vincent crossed the room in seconds and pulled me into his arms. His hands moved over my waist, checking for injuries. They lingered there, warm and possessive.

"You are not hurt," he murmured. Relief flooded his voice. "Thank God."

I pushed at his chest but he did not let go. "Answer me, Vincent. What is going on? That wolf. Those men. You."

He pressed his forehead against mine. His breathing was ragged. "I told you not to look. I told you to stay hidden."

"I could not just sit there while you were out there fighting." My voice broke. "I was scared for you. Really scared."

Vincent cupped my face with both hands. His thumbs brushed my cheeks. "You should not care about me. It is dangerous."

"But I do care," I whispered. "Even though you keep pushing me away. Even though you say we are cursed. I still care."

He groaned like my words physically hurt him. "Ella, stop. You do not know what I am. What I become when the pack needs me."

"Pack?" I repeated. "So it is true. That wolf... that was you?"

Vincent did not answer with words. Instead he pressed me harder against the wall. His body covered mine completely. I could feel every inch of him, tense and burning.

"You saw too much," he growled. The sound was low. Animal. It sent heat rushing through me.

Before I could say anything else, his mouth crashed down on mine. This kiss was nothing like the one in his study. It was fierce. Desperate. Like he was claiming me. His hands slid down my sides and gripped my waist, pulling me even closer.

I kissed him back just as hard. My fingers tangled in his hair. A small moan escaped me and he swallowed it, deepening the kiss until my knees went weak.

He broke away just enough to speak against my lips. "I should not want you this badly."

"But you do," I breathed. "And I want you too. All of you. The man. The wolf. Everything."

Vincent made a rough sound in his throat. "You have no idea what you are asking for."

"Then show me," I challenged, pulling him back down.

Our mouths met again. Hotter this time. His hands roamed lower. I arched into him, lost in the feeling. For a moment the danger outside disappeared. There was only us. Only this fire between us.

Then a new sound cut through the night. A howl. Long and angry. Not Vincent's.

He pulled back suddenly, eyes wide with alarm. "They sent more. The rival pack is not finished."

I grabbed his arm as he turned toward the door. "Do not go out there alone."

"I have to," he said. His voice was full of regret. "If I do not, they will come inside. They will find you."

My heart clenched with fear. "Vincent, please. I just found you. Do not make me lose you tonight."

He looked back at me one last time. The glow in his eyes was brighter than ever. "Lock every door. Stay hidden. And Ella?"

"Yeah?"

"If I do not come back... remember that kiss. Remember that I tried to stay away."

Then he was gone, running back into the night. I stood there alone in the hallway, lips swollen, body still trembling from his touch.

Outside, the sounds of fighting started again. Howls mixed with gunshots. I slid down the wall, hugging my knees.

Whatever Vincent was, whatever this world really was, I knew one terrifying truth.

I was already willing to burn with him.

And the fire was only just beginning.