I opened the French doors that led to the balcony and sighed, breathing in the cool night's breeze. I wrapped my arms around myself when a cold shiver ran down my spine as I gazed into the full moon that loomed right above the dark clouds.

I could never forget what happened to me during the time I had spent in the Black Woods of Lycanthrope. What happened to all those tourists, Maddison, Miguel...and John.

I closed my eyes as I began to reminisce about how he had almost bit me and how I had narrowly escaped because of the sun rising together with the roaring of an engine that had approached just at the right time from miles away.

I had no idea why exactly John and the other wolves had retreated because of that reason. He could've just outright murdered the driver since he didn't have any issues with the sun, and had his way with me afterwards.

Not that I was complaining anyway.

I hadn't told anyone about the scary adventure and the survival acts I had gone through just to survive in those woods. It was obvious that no one would believe me and I certainly didn't want anyone to think I was crazy. However, I wouldn't be able to blame them because I knew that if I hadn't encountered that frightening experience in those woods, I would've never believed anything like that was possible.

I remembered how John had given me one last look that held a deep promise of coming back to get me before he hesitantly ran into the woods along with his pack, leaving me bleeding and unconscious.

The owner of the diner had been there just in time to drive me back to the city and to a hospital for treatment, though it had taken more than five hours. I'd been admitted for almost a week until they'd let me go. I had been relieved that I had the chance of living like a normal person again, even though it was clear that this life would happen without Miguel in it.

Miguel's family and I had been mourning Miguel's death for over six months. However, I didn't think that I was fully over it yet.

I almost jumped when I felt two arms wrap around my waist. Knowing who it was without even turning, I smiled and leaned into my fiancé's embrace when said person planted a small peck on my cheek.

Max had been admitted on the same day as I had been at the hospital. He had a brain tumor the size of a walnut and it was clear that his life would be taken away from him at any moment since his third surgery had again been unsuccessful. But after we had met and gotten a lot more closer, he had gradually shun from his mind the fact that his life would end soon. And after months of courtship, he had asked me to marry him to at least make his last days on earth be of worth. And since he was the only close friend I had since Miguel, I just couldn't say no to that.

I did love Max. He subtly replaced Miguel in a way and gave me comfort when tragic memories of being in those woods would hit me so hard that I began to breakdown without even asking why I appeared that way. He was always there, and I was honoured that I got to make the last days of his life worth something to him.

"What are you thinking about?" Max whispered in my ear as we both stared up at the large full moon that seemed to glow brighter by the second.

"Our wedding," I lied, because he didn't know the truth and I just couldn't tell him.

I hadn't breathed a word to Max about what happened in the Black Woods just because I couldn't bring myself to do it. He was struggling so hard to keep himself in good shape in order to stay healthy - before his life was taken away from him - that I didn't want to burden him with my fears and persistent troubles.

"I'm glad you are." He kissed my cheek again and before letting his arms fall from my waist. "Thank you again for doing this, Phoebe. It means so much to me."

I gave him a half smile after I'd turned to face him then cupped his chin. "I'm glad that I get to be the one that makes the rest of your days happy."

Max closed his hand around mine before pulling me into an embrace once more. "You just made my night." He kissed the top of my head after a while and released me. "I'll be in the living room making coffee if you need me."

Nodding before he left, I resumed gazing at the moon and tried to ignore the sudden weird rattling of the French doors behind me.

The wind sent a chill through me when it picked up speed out of the blue plus the atmosphere became colder than it originally was.

I rubbed my arms to get in some warmth as I walked over to the French doors and stepped across the threshold before closing them gently behind me. I tried to still the curtains that were flying wildly due to the winds before locking the doors.

After I'd done those, I walked into the bedroom and towards the full-length mirror that was perched on the floor beside the wardrobe.

Stopping directly in front of it, I examined the faint scars on my arms and face which were caused by the broken pieces of the glass John had pushed me through. I then looked down on my ankle to see the deep red scars that ran across it due to that same ankle being twisted over and over again without anyone tending to it for a while.

I sighed, lifted my eyes to stare at its reflection and saw a hint of fear and anticipation in them as the full moon's glow glistened in the bedroom.

That feeling of anticipation and terror always bubbled inside me each time the moon became full. The promise of John's return to claim me as his got me so worked up that I had so many restless nights just waiting and watching, cautious of anything strange or out of place. But then, the nights had always ended up in silence.

Even the voice in my head had stopped its rants and maintained silence every night. It shouldn't be that quiet, but it was and that had always somehow scared me. I should be happy and relieved, but strangely I wasn't.

I frowned at my reflexion.

No, I wasn't happy at all. I knew something was going to happen soon and I always felt uneasy about not knowing when exactly.

I proceeded to stand in the mirror and stare at my reflection when the French doors suddenly swung open and smashed against the wall. My heart leaped at the impact and I span around so fast that I thought my ankles would twist again.

I had locked the door, I knew I did, plus the wind wasn't strong enough to break open the doors without it being a tornado or a fierce storm. So there was only one explanation as to how the doors would've opened without me unlocking it first.

John is here.

As if confirming my suspicions, I saw a huge male figure saunter in slowly from the French doors and towards where I stood. His deep red eyes glowed in the dark room as it focused solely on me.

"Phoebe." My name rolled off his tongue in a menacing tone. "I know you've been waiting for me." His voice was low yet threatening, holding the promise to have me before anyone else did.

I didn't respond, hell I couldn't. I knew deep down that I had been expecting him to suddenly appear at my doorstep, but that didn't mean that I was prepared for it.

The moonstone, that was securely clenched in his right hand, gleamed in the moonlight as he took steps forward. But I didn't move. It was like I was immediately frozen on the spot even as his body towered over me.

John then lifted a finger and let it ran down my cheek. "I've missed you, Phoebe," he murmured.

I gulped down the fear that threatened to choke me before I managed to speak, "What are you doing here?"

John chuckled at my inquiry and pulled away his finger. "You know why I'm here, Phoebe. I made you a promise, and now I'm going to fulfil it."

"No," I pleaded. "Please just let me be, I beg you."

"I don't think you understand because that, sweetheart, is not possible." He curled his finger around a lock of my hair. "I can't live without you. You're my mate and I'm going to have you, starting tonight."

He suddenly grabbed my right hand with his left and singled out my ring finger. I gasped when I saw his eyes darken and as a devilish smirk grew on his face.

"You know, green isn't really your colour," he stated, referring to the tiny green crystals embedded on the ring. "Maybe red."

The second he caught sight of my bewildered expression and his smirk grew even wider.

"Oh, I know all about Max, Phoebe." He came closer and I was forced to take a step back. "But don't worry, he's already taken care of."

My mouth gaped and a sudden whimper escaped from my throat. No...not Max too!

"No, no, not Max too," I whispered helplessly, voicing my thoughts.

"Yes, him too, Phoebe. I took care of him the minute he left you here. I couldn't stand to see him touch you like that. Touch what's mine," he growled out the last part and gripped my arms, pinning me against the mirror just as his fangs immediately extended.

"No!" I struggled against him, but even then, I knew it was all in vain.

He ran the tip of his tongue across his left fang maliciously before twisting my neck to the side and sinking those horrifying canines into my neck.

I screamed and beat against his chest as hard as I could but stopped all of a sudden when I felt the strangest sensation, a feeling of a different kind surge through my veins. I could hardly even feel the pain that accompanied the bite.

The moment he pulled away, I realized that my whole being felt different. It didn't feel like the old Phoebe anymore. I felt stronger and nearly invincible. My senses heightened and I became sensitive to every little noise and movement that took place at any distance, far and near.

I didn't even feel an ounce of weakness within me. It felt perfect. All those fragile emotions dissipated from my system, just like that. I no longer felt any remorse for the deaths that occurred in the Black Woods. I just didn't care anymore.

"How do you feel?" John asked as he stared down at me with the strangest expression.

"More alive," I replied truthfully.

A devious smile stretched across his lips before he led me to the bed. "Perfect. Now I'm going to take you, Phoebe."

"Yes, John," I whispered breathlessly as he lay me on the bed, his expression filled with want and need. "Take me, I'm yours."

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☆~THE END~☆
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Hey guys! Thanks a million for sticking with this story! I really appreciate the votes and comments I've gotten so far! I'll be posting the blurb for the Book Two (their child's story) in the next page if you're interested😊

Thanks for everything!❤

~The BlackKnight✌