I know I don't usually write an author's note before the chapter starts but this is worth your time.

Especially for those new writers who are not good at graphic like me

So I have dedicated this chapter to her.

She is an amazing graphic artist and a writer as well.

And the main part is that she doesn't demand heavy payments as part of her graphic shop.

I will be uploading the new cover soon once the results of a few awards this book is enrolled in are over but I will be adding it to the next chapter

So just go and check out her graphic shop and her amazing book.

The link of her graphic shop will be added as a comment

Aurelia's POV...

My eyes adjust to the scene in front of me and a choked sob escapes my lips.

It's grandma. She's tied up to her bed. Her cheeks are covered with dried tears. Her eyes are closed.

Rags are tied around her mouth. She can't speak but she can always link me. Why hasn't she?

My beast howls in pain and I rush towards Grandma. However, I feel something prick my neck.

I reach up to it, seeing what it was and pull it out. It's a dart. I feel drowsiness overtaking me and my legs giving out beneath me.

I try to grip the wall beside me, trying to stay upright but I fall to my knees as my breathing becomes laboured. Whatever was in the dart was something dangerous, if not lethal.

How do I save Grandma? I don't have the strength left. Aiden, may be I can link him.

I try to link Aiden again but fail at it. My head feels heavy and darkness takes over my consciousness as my eyes close on their own accord despite my resistance.

..........

I wake up to see that I'm tied up in a room. It isn't well lit but it isn't completely dark either. I try to link Aiden again but am unable to do so.

The room is almost empty except for a chair placed strategically in front of me.I am chained to the wall with multiple chains. My wrists are aching.

The cuffs must be made of Silver. Nobody knows why it is silver that hurts the weres. And not just the weres. It hurts the Vampires too.

I try to pull at the chains, sensing for any weaknesses in them. But I am not able to do so; I don't have enough space to test.

My arms hang over my head. My feet are shackled. And to top it all, even my waist is locked in place. I can't even shift completely due to the suppression shot and with the added effect of Silver, partial shift is out of the window too.

The dart must be blocking me. There must be some chemical that is suppressing my abilities. I look around the room searching for Grandma. She is not here.

There is no sign of life in this room. I try to use my extra abilities to hear any voices but they don't bear fruit.

I'm afraid now. I'm locked up. Unable to move. I can't link Aiden or Grandma. I don't know how grandma is? Is she even alive? No, I won't think about it.

She has to be alive. They must have kidnapped me for my research.

There is no ventilator either but an AC duct runs at the left most corner of the room.

Huh. So it must be an insulated area or this room must be insulated. The sound of key turning echoes through the room now and my eyes dart toward the sound.

A man comes in. I look at the door and understand why I couldn't hear a sound. It was at least twenty inches thick.

I take a whiff of air and realize that he is a vampire. So I am able to sense creatures but am unable to link others. What type of chemical did they use on me?

The man's footsteps echo the room. His shoes are clean and polished.

He is wearing a suit. I squint my eyes to look at his face but it's half covered. He's wearing a mask that covers his forehead and nose, along with half of his cheeks.

There's a slight stubble on his chin. His lips are chapped. Rough.

I try to look for anything that could help me identify him but he's covered from head to toe. Only the shape of his lips is useful.

He closes the door behind him and locks it. He walks slowly towards the chair and sits in it comfortably, like he is the king of the world.

I growl at him and he just chuckles in response.

"Don't waste your breath, Aurelia."

I purse my lips in anger. My hands clench into fists even with the cuffs on them. He knows my name. Well obvious, though, since he kidnapped me from my home.

"Why did you kidnap me? What do you want?"

"Chh chh so impatient. You didn't even let me introduce myself. " He says, crossing his legs.

I narrow my eyes at him and his grin broadens. He is too confident. That means my chances of escaping are slim.

I have to get some information out of him.

"Well, since we are not acting civil, maybe we should be more direct."

"Where is your research? Where did you save it?"

"My research?" I ask, acting confused. I would die before I tell him about it.

However, his question confirms my suspicions. He is after my research. But what good would it be for a vampire?

If it were a werewolf, it would have been logical, as it would be a strange werewolf. They would want to capture me and do research on me. Maybe kill me too.

But how is my research relevant to the Blood Mafia? Nothing makes sense. I feel as if I am in a deep puzzle. I think al the pieces are before me but I am unable to join them right.

Maybe I am missing some context. Some link. But what is that? or rather, who is it? If the Blood Mafia knows about my research, who else does?

As far a s I know, I haven't known or stumbled across this gang in my entire life. SO someone not only knows about my research but also knows that it could benefit this gang.

There is no possibility that this gang took an interest in my research without some eprofit. Gangs like these don't operate for persona vendetta. 

My head throbs in pain as I ponder over these things.

"Yes, your research. Not the cancer one though. Your personal research." he growls out, his teeth flashing.

I snarl in response, not liking being threatened by someone.

"I don't know what you are talking about. I don't do any personal research. I would love to, though but I don't have time for it." I say, shrugging my shoulders. Well, shrugging as much as I can when my hands are tied up.

In a flash, he's up and in my space. His body is just inches away from me as he places his arms on the sides of my head.

"Don't act, darling. But it's ok, I know you won't tell me easily." He then flashes his teeth again.

"You looking at these fangs. When they bite a human, it's just to suck the blood but when they bite a were, the venom in them acts like a poison to your kind. You will slowly succumb to death." He says, pointing towards his fangs.

He then reaches into his pocket and takes out a knife. "We won't start with my fangs, though. Those are for special treatment. For a delicate lady like you, this knife would suffice."

He brings the knife forward to my cheek, caressing its side against me while moving on a trail down south. I can't even move now. If I moved even in the slightest way, I would be hurt.

His knife is at my neck now. He presses the knife for a moment, slightly drawing out some blood before he takes the knife and licks it.

"Hmm, you taste good. Better than the usual werewolf."

He brings his tongue out and kicks his lips from one corner to the other, tracing the entire circumference of the lips.

My nose scrunches in disgust at the action. He lets out a maniacal laugh at my expression before placing the knife on my left thigh.

"Let's see how you will react."

He then slices my thigh in a sharp movement. My jeans get ripped and the knife draws blood which gushes forth, soaking the material. I cry in pain and my beast flashes her teeth at him.

Even though I am in pain, relief washes over me as my beast makes an appearance. She was dormant throughout, and I was worried.

My beast is angry at being tied up. If it weren't for the shot, we would have easily gotten loose of these chains.

The vampire let out a loud laugh, enjoying my pain. He then takes a deep breath and says, "For a Were you smell good. You have a certain sweetness to your flavor that reminds me of fae. It's tempting and with the taste of you on my tongue, it's more difficult to resist. If it weren't for the work, you would have made a fine meal."

Now he slaps me harshly across my face. My head falls to the side due to the force of his slap. Blood fills my mouth and I spit it out.

He now harshly jerks my chin up with his fingers and questions me, "Where is your research?"

Now I don't care if I will be alive after this. Whatever reason they are after my research for, it doesn't matter now. It's better I die. At least Grandma will be safe. I have brought her nothing but worry.

I gather what's left of my strength and headbutt him, forehead meeting his nose. A cracking sound echoes and he groans in pain, clutching at his nose.

He keeps holding his nose for a moment before glaring at me. "I thought I should be gentle but rough treatment it is."

He then growls at me, crouching into what I think is a vampire hunting stance.

He then clenches his abdomen, no doubt preparing to pounce on me, when a loud noise of screeching metal bounces off the room.

I look to my right again and see towards the door. Hinges rattle and I see the vampire look at it in shock.

For a moment, fear and astonishment flash his face before anger takes over. The door is now pushed open and I see a few men holding a log of sorts that they must have used to break the door open.

I focus on the men to see Aiden standing behind them. He looks inside the room, his gaze focusing on me and let's out an angry growl on seeing me tied up, I think.

His gaze then shifts towards the vampire in his hunting crouch. Anger radiates off of him in huge waves like a tsunami. I haven't seen Aiden this angry ever before. Not even on the night of the fae princess's birthday party.

He snarls at the vampire, who too snarls in response. Aiden's entire body starts to shake. Hair sprouting on his face.

He then dashes towards the vampire, who now pounces on Aiden.

The vampire tries to claw at Aiden, aiming at his neck but Aiden bursts into his wolf, his clothes shedding around him. He bites the hand that was trying to claw him and shakes it roughly.

In a few moments, the vampire's hand breaks apart from his arm, him now groaning in pain.

Aiden doesn't wait though; he aims for the vampire's neck and the vampire's body goes limp in a few seconds, life draining out of his eyes.

Aiden's wolf is relentless, though he keeps on shaking the vampire's dead body for a few more moments before releasing his jaws.

He then licks his snout, which is covered in blood and my nose scrunches in disgust. My wolf, though, doesn't find it disgusting and just shrugs it off.

Aiden's wolf comes to stand before me, it's head at the level of my neck.

He looks at me for a while before whining at me and letting out a bark. His wolf's spit covers my face and I am disgusted with it.

He lets out a wolfish laugh but then his focus is on my thigh.

He howls in pain as if he is in pain before proceeding to lick my thigh. His saliva now coats my thigh too. Just great.

He then looks at the men who now stand inside the room a few feet behind him.

He barks at them. Three of them run towards us and start tearing off the chains one by one.

Finally, I am free. Thank the lunar goddess for Aiden coming to my rescue.

I wonder how he found me. But these questions will have to wait till later. My first concern is grandma. Is she alright? Is she safe? Did Aiden find her before he came to my rescue?

I look at Aiden and let out one word, "Grandma," before darkness falls over me once again, the adrenaline wearing off.

.........Word Count: 2041 (E.O)

Another chapter is over! This is the twenty first chapter.

Also, I am thinking of making a slight change in my schedule starting this month.

I will be uploading the chapter every Saturday instead of Sunday mornings!!

Did I mention that we have crossed the 600 views mark!!

Exciting, isn't it?

Now How was the chapter?

Any advice for improvement? Constructive criticism is always welcome.

I would love to know your genuine views.