Chapter 80
Chapter 80
Dante’s POV
The city smelled wrong.
Ravenwood was a labyrinth of brick alleys, old cobblestone streets, and shadows that seemed alive. Mist curled through the air like cold fingers, weaving between ancient streetlamps that flickered weakly, their light swallowed by the perpetual gloom.
Even for a human–doininated city, the air here reeked of something darker, something bloodier.
I parked my bike in a quiet corner near the city center, letting the engine grow silent as I swung my leg off. The weight of the situation pressed heavy on my shoulders.
Castor’s pulse had been steady for most of the ride, with little jolts of anxiety every now and then, but that was normal for him, the pulse was faint but strong enough to tell me he and Valencia were fine. But now… something was wrong.
I clenched my fists as the faint, rhythmic pulse I could feel from Castor began to shift, becoming erratic. He wasn’t just restless anymore–he was afraid.
Valencia.
The name burned through me like fire. My little fox was in trouble.
I pulled out the crumpled map I’d grabbed at the city’s outskirts and unfolded it over the seat of my bike. Yes, this fucking place didn’t even have hotels marked on google maps.
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My eyes scanned the intricate streets and alleyways, searching for something–anything–that might give me a clue. But of course it was useless.
The truth was, finding her in this city wasn’t going to be easy. This wasn’t wolf territory. It seemed like a city filled with vampires.
The signs were subtle, but they were there–the thick, cloying scent of old blood lingering in the air, the faint metallic tang on the back of my tongue. The perpetually darkened sky as though purposely keeping the sun out.
It was something humans wouldn’t notice, maybe not even wolves, but for someone like me–half Alpha wolf, half dragon- it was unmistakable.
Unlike wolves, vampires didn’t bother with structure or rules. They didn’t mark their territory with hierarchy or order. Instead, they operated in the shadows, their cities riddled with illegal dealings and black–market trades. Where wolves thrived in sunlight and tradition, vampires thrived in chaos and darkness.
There were clearly no CCTV cameras around so I couldn’t even ask Caius to hack into them.
I cursed under my breath, slamming my fist against the seat of the bike. The vibrations of the impact echoed down the empty street.
This city was like a maze.
I put
I ducked into a nearby café, my leather boots echoing against the wooden floors as I made my way to the counter. I down an order of Americano, not in the mood to eat anything, and went to take my seat on the high table by the windows.
A young waiter with tired eyes approached, setting down a steaming cup of black coffee.
“Anything else for you?” he asked, his voice flat but polite.
Chapter 80
“Yeah,” I said, my tone sharp. “What’s the cheapest hotel in this ca?”
She would obviously be too tired to not rest by now, additionally I knew she didn’t have much money with her nor did she have any acquaintance residing in this city. So hotels were my best bet..
The old waiter blinked at me, clearly confused by the question. He glanced down at my clothes–a black leather jacket over a fitted black shirt and jeans that were probably worth more than his monthly rent.
I kept my face neutral, not in the mood to explain myself.
After a moment’s hesitation, he pulled out a pen and circled three points on my tap. “These are the cheapest places around here,” he said. “Are you sure about this? Not really a suitable place for a gentleman like you to stay in.”
I didn’t answer. I threw a bill on the counter, grabbed the map, and walked out.
The second I stepped into the misty cold morning air, I felt it- sharp, piercing wave of fear that hit me like a physical blow. It wasn’t mine. It was Castor’s.
His pulse screamed through our faint connection, vibrating with panic. It was like a cry for help, echoing in the deepest corners of my mind.
My jaw clenched as fury boiled beneath my skin. My claws itched to extend, my dragon side roaring for blood. “Where the fuck are you, Valencia?” I growled, my voice a low rumble that reverberated through the empty street. Without another thought, I threw myself onto my bike, the engine roaring to life as I sped toward the first marked hotel
The streets blurred around me, the wind whipping against my face as adrenaline coursed through my veins. My mind raced with a thousand possibilities, each one worse than the last.
And then I felt it.
Her.
The connection slammed into me like a tidal wave, raw and unfiltered.
Emotions poured through the bond we shared–pain, desperation, longing. Her soul was crying out for me, and it ripped me apart.
My wolf and dragon roared in unison, the primal need to protect my mate driving me to the edge of madness.
But the connection snapped shut just as quickly as it had opened, leaving me reeling.
“No,” I snarled, my claws digging into the handlebars of my bike. “No, you don’t get to shut me out.”
Nevertheless. That one second of her slip up was enough for me to locate her whereabouts with precision.
I skidded to a stop in front of a small brick building, the flickering neon sign above the door casting eerie shadows across the damp pavement. The scent of her still lingered in the air, faint but unmistakable.
This was it.
I didn’t bother with subtlety anymore. My claws extended, the golden scales of my dragon form rippling across my skin as I shifted partially. I leapt onto the hood of a parked car, then onto the balcony of the third floor.
The world blurred as my instincts took over, my movements fluid and calculated.
I shifted back into my human form mid–jump, the glass window shattering beneath the force of my dragon–enhanced
Chapter 80
strength as I landed feet–first inside the room.
And there she was.
Valencia.
13
My little fox, lying on the bed, sweat–soaked and trembling. Her ear–filled eyes widened in shock as they locked onto mine, and I saw red. My fingers itched as my eyes took in the scene before me.
Aiden Kallistar.
He was on top of her, his hand clamped over her mouth, muffling her cries. Her tears spilled freely down her cheeks, her body writhing weakly beneath him.
Something inside me snapped.
“1. Will. Kill. You.“.
The words came out as a guttural snarl, my dragon side surging to the surface as golden scales spread across my arms and claws extended from my fingertips.
I was on him in an instant, ripping him away from her and slamming him onto the ground. My claws dug into his shoulders as I pinned him down, my vision tinted red with rage.
Kill. Maim. Mine.
The primal instincts roared in my mind, drowning out all reason
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