Evan


    The happy thought that allowed Ste to time-travel was us being happy together-there isn''t a greaterpliment than that. She likes me. It might even be more than that...


    She might love me.


    My heart squeezes at that thought. I''m thrilled and excited and-


    ''Yet you''re hesitating to be with her.''


    I hiss back at the shadows inside my head. ''You have some nerve to speak to me after tricking me to bond with you!''


    ''Tricking you?''


    ''Yes, you said nothing about the not-aging part!''


    Evil snickers fill my mind. ''Ah, we see how it is now... That''s why you changed your mind about Ste; you''re afraid of her dumping you because you don''t age! ''Yes...


    ''Well, our role in this timeline might be unhappy anyway. If your mate doesn''t be powerful enough to defeat Arachne... Then...!


    I sigh. ''I know.''


    I''m brought back to reality by Ste''s voice.


    "I find it really strange that the birds aren''t chirping anymore... It''s like we entered some sort of barrier or something."


    "Could be..." I look around. "How long did you say you were walking before you saw Leonora run out of the forest, chased by that gigantic demonic bear?"


    "It''s a little bit further ahead," Ste smiles at me. "Do you mind telling me your n yet?"


    "Sure," I clear my throat. "I call it silver wolf version two-dot-zero."


    Ste snorts. "Weird name... But I''m listening."


    "It''s a master n. Raphael doesn''t respect women, right? So I will hide in the forest, and when that beares, you pretend to be using magic to end its sad life, okay?"


    "Oh! That''s brilliant!" Ste ps her hands, all excited. "Leonora will think I''m this amazing silver wolf with psychic abilities, and she will tell Raphael! They will all think I''m super powerful!" I narrow my eyes. "Psychic abilities?"


    "Yeah? Haven''t the shadows told you about your other abilities? You can lift people with your sheer mind and make them explode from the inside, so blood flies in every direction!"


    I gawk at her. "That''s disgusting!"


    "You think so?"


    Why does Ste look so goddamn surprised? I''m not a freaking bloodthirsty killer vampire!


    Or... I am, but making my victims explode from the inside is f*****g gross, and the mental images I''m having are disturbing!


    "Yeah, but... I will try," I blink multiple times to not think about exploding bodies and blood flying everywhere. "My first n was topel the demonic bear to kill itself—" "And HOW isn''t that even more disturbing?" Ste interrupts me with her hands resting on her hips. "All I can think about now is this huge bear wing out its own intestines!" "Well, that was the original n."


    Her eyes narrow into slits. "You''re f*****g disgusting sometimes, you know that, right?"


    I snort in amusement. "You shouldn''t talk; you''re pretty sick and twisted yourself."


    Her smile is guilty. I''m beginning to love the space between her front teeth. She looks like a bunny. "True."


    I shake off this dying need to hug her. "Anyway... I will disappear into the shadows... Stalk you from the ground and then save the day."


    "Ugh..." Ste grimaces. "I hate it when you say it like that!"


    What is she talking about?


    "Like what?"


    "Like I''m this helpless little thing in need of a strong man!"


    Oh, shit.


    I''m forced to bite back augh.


    Ste doesn''t like to be saved and protected? Gosh. She is adorable; how didn''t I notice that before now?


    I tilt my head and put my hand on her shoulder. "But aren''t we supposed to be mates?"


    She blushes. "Yes..."


    I tip up her chin with a finger, meeting her beautiful eyes. "Then why can''t you let me feel like my role is important and let me help you?" She swallows. "I just feel so useless..."


    "You''re not useless..." I''m surprised she would think that. Time-traveling is a great ability, and she is excellent at martial arts too. But I''m not letting her fight some sort of demon bear. "I am..."


    "No, you''re not."


    Ste inhales deeply, still unwilling to hug me even though we stand close. She is such a prickly little thing.


    Why can''t she just give in and hug me, goddamn it?!


    I peer down at her, and Ste bites her lower lip. "Well, I shouldn''t rely on you too much..."


    This time, I can''t help but breathe augh. "Why not? I can guarantee that every man out there wishes to protect their woman-I''m the same. I want to be helpful, and I want you to depend on me." Her lips quiver. "Yes, but... So many things are changing in time timeline; what if we aren''t even mates?"


    "Then I will kill alpha Raphael to ensure I''m number one."


    She stares at me, and I realize my words might have been too dark. Like, I''m fully capable of killing that alpha mutt, but-


    ''Even if that is the case, you can''t say it like that. Don''t even joke about it. You managed to scare your own mate. Do you see Ste''s paling face? She is terrified, you dipshit.'' ''Dipshit? And since when do you care?''


    ''Uh, hello? We mixed-we feel what you do and are attached to the redheaded werewolf.


    ''Great...


    ''Now apologize.


    "I was only joking about killing alpha Raphael," I attempt a smile but fear I might look like a hyena. "Was the joke too dark?"


    Ste nods. "It was..."


    ''Apologize to her! How f*****g hard can it be?!'' The shadows are hissing inside my head like a flock of angry bees.


    ''Fine!''


    "I''m sorry..."


    Ste seems to calm down after my apology. Light returns to her eyes and her cheeks turn a cute red.


    "No problem. Let''s find Leonora, okay? You get into position, and I continue down the road."


    "Sure."


    I disappear into the asphalt and stalk Ste as a shadow.


    It doesn''t take long for the whole circus extravaganza to start. The screaming blonde elf is chased by the demonic bear and hurries to join Ste on the road. Her lips are moving, but...


    I can''t hear what the elf is saying. The only person I''m connected to is Ste, who lifts her hands into the air-that''s the sign!


    ''KILL THE BEAR, OR WE WILL NEVER GET TO TASTE ANCIENT SILVER WOLF BLOOD AGAIN!''


    Before I can even ask the shadows for help, the bear explodes like a balloon stuck with a needle.


    Wow.


    That''s traumatic.


    Ste stands deathly still, gaping where the bear was, and Leonora stares at Ste. I know what she must be thinking: remind me to never pick a fight with the redhead. Blood and flesh drop down from the sky. It''s only goo without meat, nothing to spare.


    ''You did good-''


    I find when that headache from earlier rolls in like thunder. It''s killing me and taking over my eyesight.


    I''m growing weaker.


    Nauseated.


    Overwhelmed.


    Dizzy.


    I need blood.


    So thirsty. F**k...


    The shadows are leering at me, massively amused. ''This is the consequence of using your powers, Evan. Every time your mind will turn a little bit darker and crave blood.'' I''m panting. ''Blood bags... Need... To get to the... Car...


    ''No, that''s not enough... Not at all... It''s time for you to hunt and drink from a live victim. So we suggest leaving your mate for a while.-


    ''But I don''t want to kill anyone...''


    ''You have no choice. Ste is still healing from thest time you drank from her, but not to worry-you will love drinking from a live human. ''But Ste...


    ''Will never know about this hunt, and don''t worry, Ste should be fine without us for a while!