Chapter 2

A sharp pain ripped through my chest, like I was being torn apart from the inside. I collapsed to the floor, holding my chest as a deep, painful groan escaped my mouth.

My whole body felt like it was burning up. I was so hot I threw the blanket off. Reaching out toward him with tears running down my face, I begged for help.

But he just stood there, completely still. His eyes were cold, like I was nothing to him.

“Damian… help me,” I gasped, the pain getting worse by the second.

He looked over at the ring lying on the floor, picked it up, and slipped it into his wallet.

“Goodbye, Vanessa. I’ll never come near you again,” he said.

His words hit me like a punch to the chest. I clenched my fists as a deep sadness filled me.

“Damian…” I whispered, my voice weak and fading.

He didn’t even look back. He grabbed his suitcase and walked out of the hotel room.

My heart felt like it was breaking into pieces. I hit my fists on the floor as sobs took over, but nothing could let out the pain I felt.

Then I screamed, “Damian! I hate you!” but my voice slammed against the closed door and went nowhere.

I don’t know how long I laid there crying on the cold floor. Eventually, the pain in my chest faded, but the ache in my heart stayed.

He was gone. I was alone again, and the monster inside me was still there.

For four days with him, the monster had disappeared. No fur. No claws. No glowing eyes. Just me. Vanessa Wendell.

I tried to sit up, but a sudden burn shot through my neck, right where the bite mark was.

I gasped and quickly placed my hand over it. My eyes widened. My fingers felt something wet.

I pulled my hand back and stared at it.

It was some kind of fluid. Clear.

What the heck was happening to me.

In a blink, I was standing in front of the big mirror. My mind froze in confusion when I saw the bite mark, swollen, red, and leaking some weird fluid.

“No,” I whispered in panic. “This can’t be happening again.”

The mark had already healed weeks ago. Why was it acting up now?

I rushed into the bathroom, grabbed some tissues, and dabbed at it. The leaking finally stopped, but the swelling and redness just got worse. The pain was growing stronger.

The last time this happened, things changed. That’s when I lost control and attacked Nolita.

I couldn’t stay here. I had to leave. Fast.

I took a quick shower, got dressed, and packed the few things I had.

When I opened my purse, a deep frown spread across my face. A thick bundle of cash stared back at me. Damian had left it there.

Was that supposed to be his payment for the four nights he spent tossing me around on this bed like I meant nothing?

Bitterness filled my chest. I shut the purse and wiped away the tears slipping down my cheeks.

I came to Damian with nothing. No luggage, no pride. Just the sleepwear he gave me.

As I reached for the door, a sudden thought hit me. The ring. He said it could slow the reactions.

I quickly searched the room, flipping through the sheets and checking under the pillows.

It was Gone.

My heart sank. I remembered him picking it up before he left.

“I shouldn’t have thrown it away,” I whispered, my lips trembling.

No more waiting. I left the hotel room.

By the time I got home, the sun was already high in the sky.

I rushed to the door, found my keys in my purse, and unlocked it.

The bite mark was burning so badly now, it took everything in me not to scream.

As soon as I walked inside, I froze. Three people. Six eyes. All staring at me.

“Where have you been?” my stepmother snapped.

“Dad. You’re back,” I muttered.

He looked at me with disappointment. He’d never looked at me like that before.

“Is this what you do when I’m gone?” he asked, his voice heavy with letdown.

I quickly shook my head. “I’m sorry, Dad. I was at a friend’s place.”

“And you couldn’t call anyone? You basically turned off your phone.” His voice was calm, but I could feel the anger underneath.

“My phone crashed,” I said softly, trying not to wince from the burning pain on my neck. “I’ll get it fixed today. I’m really sorry.”

He stared at me for a long moment, then finally nodded. “You made us worried.”

I almost laughed bitterly. Us? He meant himself. The other two in this house probably enjoyed my disappearance.

“It won’t happen again,” I mumbled, then walked quickly into the house and straight to my room.

I opened my drawer, grabbed the painkillers, and picked up the half-full bottle of water I’d left behind before going to find Damian. I swallowed the pills and then applied some anti-swelling cream to my neck.

Lying down on the bed, I stared at the ceiling. My thoughts were a mess.

After a while, the pain dulled a bit. Just small sharp jabs that came and went.

Staying in my room felt weird. I needed air.

I told Dad I was heading out, then stepped outside.

That’s when I saw it. His car pulling up.

My heart started racing, and my fingers twitched as the car door opened.

Collins.

My longtime boyfriend.

“Not now, please,” I whispered under my breath.

“Vanessa,” he called the moment he saw me.

I froze. My mouth went dry. I didn’t know what to say.

He stared at me with confusion, like he wasn’t even sure it was really me.

I forced a smile, but honestly, it would’ve been better if I didn’t.

Collins started walking toward me. “Where have you been?”

How was I supposed to answer that? That I wandered into the forbidden woods again looking for a mysterious guy who once saved me from a beast that bit me?

Or that I found him, and spent four intense nights doing things I can’t even begin to explain?

“I… I… just…” I stammered. The lie I needed wouldn’t come.

He stopped right in front of me, looking closely at my face. I quickly looked down, too ashamed to meet his eyes.

“Is there someone else?” he asked, his voice tight and hurt.

The question hit me like a punch. My head shot up, my eyes wide, mouth slightly open in shock.

“Are you cheating on me?” he asked again, this time more directly.

Without thinking, I shook my head. “No… no way.”

But my voice shook, and I knew he caught it. His face changed, like something inside him cracked.

“I’m not cheating,” I said again, trying to sound firm. “I’m just… going through a lot, Collins.”

I hated lying. Collins didn’t deserve this. He’d always been good to me. He didn’t deserve to be left in the dark. But I couldn’t tell him the truth either.

He looked at me for a long moment, his eyes softening. One tear rolled down my cheek. I quickly wiped it away.

“Can we talk?” he asked gently.

I nodded, even though I had no idea what to say.

I walked toward his car quickly. I couldn’t tell which felt worse. The burning pain flaring on my neck, or the way I could feel Collins’ eyes following every step I took.

Just as I reached the car, a sudden chill spread through me. My head started pounding. The bite mark on my neck throbbed hard, like it was alive.

Then everything started spinning. My eyelids felt so heavy. My vision blurred.

“No…” I whispered to myself.

“Vanessa? Are you okay?” Collins looked alarmed now.

I grabbed the car door to keep from falling, but my knees were already giving out.

“Vanessa!” He rushed over and caught me just as I collapsed.

The world went black.