Vampires were confusing. No heartbeat, no breath, no working organs. Yet they could still walk, talk, function, and live for forever. In turn, she placed her hand on his chest to feel the lack of a heartbeat. “Did it hurt when your heart stopped beating?” She asked. It must have been like dying. Who would want to survive dying? The lack of heartbeat under her palm was weird, but the coolness of his skin felt relaxing to the overheated temperature her body put off. After hearing the howl of her pack, she pulled her hand away and moved towards the ally way. It was clear that neither of them wanted to go, but honestly she wanted him to go first. She couldn’t say why, just that she did. In the blink of an eye he was by her side, his had resting lightly on her arm and then he was gone. 

A sigh escaped from her lips. “Goodbye.” She whispered to the night air. It just dawn on her that she didn’t even know his name, and she would probably never see him again. A sad laugh escaped from her lips just as another howl filled the air, this time a different wolf calling. What was going on? All thoughts of the vampire temporarily gone, she broke out into a run. Even in human form she was faster than a normal person should have been. Within minutes she was approaching the street she heard the howls coming from.

The sight that awaited her was shocking. “Move.” She ordered as she moved past a handful of her wolves. They were all circled around a dead naked body lying face down in the middle of the street. Hessen, the newest member in her pack, he had only been changed four months ago. He was still new to everything, still confused as to who he was now. A tear slid down her cheek and she wiped it away, but not before her pack noticed it. A few whimpered around her, sympathizing in her pain. Kneeling down in front of him she turned his body over. A gasp shook her whole body as she stood up and backed away from the sight. Kiel, in human form and dressed in pants, came up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder. She knocked it away angrily then looked back at the body. Hessen’s jugular had been ripped out completely, but there was no blood. Almost as if his killer had sucked his blood dry. On top of that, there were half circles at each corner of the gap as if someone, or something, with fangs had bit into his neck, drained him of his blood, and then ripped out his neck.

“A vampire. I thought they were just legends.” Keil said kneeling down next to the body and touching the fang like holes. 

Anger ran through her every fiber. “Go home.” She said softly. Keil turned his head to look at her in confusion. “I said… GO HOME!” Her eyes flashed red, faded back to blue, and slowly grew read again. “EVERYONE, GO HOME!” Her voice echoed down the street and her trained ears could hear humans stirring and waking up at the sound of her voice. The pack started backing away until the first few had hit the edge of the street then they all took off running. Keil pushed against her alpha orders, and while he was making his way towards the forest it was a very slow walk. “What about the body?” He asked softly. Her eyes snapped up to his blood red and glowing. “Do not make me give my command again.” She told him in a dangerously low tone. 

An involuntary whimper sounded from him before he turned and ran after the pack. Avina sank to her knees after Kiel left. She did this to Hassan. It was her fault because she had enjoyed the company of a vampire. If she had been out patrolling the streets like she should have, she could have saved him. Maybe the vampires were working together to take down her pack. Tears slid down her cheeks as lights came on and people came outside to see what was happening. Gasps, curses, cries, and sounds of 911 being called filled the street. Avina continued to kneel by the body, tears streaming down her cheeks.

It was well into the afternoon when she made it back to her pack. Her second in command, Brice, was the only one brave enough to come near her. Avina put her face on his shoulder as soon as his arms were around her. If she could, she would have collapsed in his arms, but she did not dear show such a weakness. Instead she pushed Brice away after a few moments. “Let’s sleep. We will talk at midnight.” She turned away from her pack and went to curl up at the base of her favorite tree. Brice lay down about five feet from her. Soon the rest of the pack formed a circle around her, none of them daring to move any closer then Brice was.

----------------------

Avina pretended to be asleep until her whole pack had fallen asleep, then stood up and started to make her way out of the circle. Just as she started to walk away, a hand on her shoulder stopped her. “Where are you going?” Brice asked. 

“I need to walk.” She said without looking back at him. 

“Let me come with you.”

“No. Stay here and keep an eye on the pack. While you are at it, figure out who Hassan’s partner was supposed to be. I will be back at midnight and we are going to talk as a pack.” Brice’s hand slipped from her shoulder and she continued walking. The sun had just set making the woods dark, but she should still see everything clearly. How could she have fallen for such a stupid trick? Of course vampires can’t stand werewolves! They just wanted her preoccupied. Would they be picking off her pack one by one now? Thoughts clouded her mind, questions begging to be answered. So unfocused she was, she hardly even knew where she was, other than she was just wondering in the forest.