My wolf crept through the woods, staying close to Octavia. It was easy to pick up on the scent of Lucy’s blood, considering there was a clear trail of it leading from the woods. There was also something else. Another scent that hung in the air. It was familiar to my wolf. The closer to the woods we got, the stronger the scent became.

“He has to be close,” Octavia insisted. “I can sense him.”

Movement to my left captured my attention. Something blurred through the woods, too fast for me to distinguish what it was, but I knew. So did my wolf.

“Roman,” Octavia seethed. “I know it’s you. Come out, brother. Let’s play.”

Playing with Roman was the last thing my wolf wanted to do. If his sister’s words helped to lure him out though, so be it.

A twig snapped a few feet away. Roman stepped into view. He was less than ten feet away. His eyes were dark, and his fangs extended. Everything about him reminded me of Benji in that moment. Guilt stabbed through me at the thought because it was unfair. Benji was nothing like Roman. There didn’t seem to be a shred of humanity left within Roman.

Roman was a monster.

He sauntered forward, and my wolf braced herself. Her teeth bared, and her muscles grew tense. She was ready for a fight and noticed when Octavia shifted into a fighting stance as well.

“Hello, brother,” she hissed.

If Roman heard her, he didn’t give any indication. His eyes were on me as he continued forward.

I struggled to decide what move I should make when he reached us. Should I wait that long? My wolf growled. Her jaws snapped as she hunkered down. Roman was too close for her comfort. He didn’t seem fazed by my wolf’s act of aggression. He only smirked as he continued walking.

Time shifted into slow motion. My heart hammered in my ears. This was it—the moment I was finally able to go against the biggest evil I’d ever known for round two.

The problem was: It didn’t happen.

Octavia lunged between us before Roman reached me. As the two of them went at it, blow for blow, I watched their every move, waiting for an opportunity to sink my teeth into him. The only way we were going to beat Roman was if Octavia and I were able to tag team his takedown.

When the chance presented itself—I took it.

My wolf lunged toward Roman’s leg. She sank her teeth in deep and bitter blood burst across my tongue. Still, my wolf refused to let go. Instead, she held tight. Curse words exploded from Roman’s mouth; they fueled my wolf. She liked knowing he was in pain. Satisfaction slipped through her. Satisfaction was a weakness, though. The sensation distracted us long enough for Roman to retaliate.

He backhanded me.

The blow was so powerful it sent me smacking into a nearby tree. Pain radiated through me. Dots speckled my vision. Seconds ticked away before I was able to force myself up. When I did, a loud crack burst through the air. The sound was familiar—one that caused my heart to kick-start.

I fought to blink away the dots lingering in my vision as I spun around. Just as I suspected, Octavia lay on the ground. Motionless. Her head twisted at an odd angle.

Roman had snapped his sister’s neck.

While I knew it wouldn’t kill her, her being out cold didn’t bode well for me. It meant I would have to take on Roman alone.

My eyes traveled to him. He stared at me as a sick smirk twisted the corner of his lips.

“Finally, we’re alone,” he said. “I’ve been waiting for this moment. Like I said before, I’d love to go head-to-head with you. You’re spunky, and I find you quite interesting. Ready to go against me, Little Wolf?”

The nickname stirred something inside me. It brought up memories of being in Regina’s lab in the city and her vampire goons.

Little Wolf was what Neo had called me, and just like I had with him, I was going to show Roman how little I was.

“Feel I’ve underestimated you? Is that what that look in your eyes is?” His head tipped to the side as though he were studying me. “You’re a fighter. Always right in the thick of things, showing no fear. Doesn’t mean you’re not afraid of anything though. Does it, Little Wolf?” His wicked grin grew as he inhaled. “Because you are afraid. I can smell it on you,” he whispered.

My wolf howled and dug her paws into the ground. She wasn’t scared. I might be, but she wasn’t.

“You sure you want to go up against me, Little Wolf?” Roman asked. His tongue skimmed over his fangs.

My wolf bared her teeth as well. She wanted to sink her teeth into his neck and rip it out. The trace of fear I felt subsided as I let my wolf have control. She didn’t wait for Roman to make the first move. Instead, she made it herself.

A low growl pushed from somewhere deep inside my chest as my wolf zeroed in on where she wanted to latch onto him—his throat. She lunged forward but missed her target by a mile.

Roman moved faster than anticipated.

My mishap had him laughing as I catapulted to the ground behind him. That mistake was all he needed. He descended on me, sinking his fangs into the back of my neck. My wolf howled in pain as my eyes squeezed shut.

My wolf pressed her paws into the Earth and bucked against him. Her movement wasn’t enough to shake us free, but it was enough to make Roman work harder to suck us dry.

Shit. This was it.

I’d taken on Roman Montevallo, the Midnight Reaper, by myself and lost. What would Eli think? How would he react to me no longer being here in physical form but only in spirit? What about Gran or Gracie? My parents?

Another howl burst past my wolf’s lips as she bucked against Roman harder than before. She was a fighter and so was I, but it didn’t seem to do either of us a damn bit of good.

Roman was stronger.

“Stop!” someone shouted. The voice was familiar, but in my current frame of mind, I couldn’t place it.

In the next instant, Roman was pulled off me. The sound of a struggle broke out. I flipped onto my side, searching for who had come to my rescue. It wasn’t Eli. I would have felt him. However, that didn’t mean it wasn’t someone else from my pack. They were supposed to be here soon.

Two vampires battled one another a few feet away. The inhuman speed they fought one another with made it hard to follow their fight. Pain radiated from the back of my neck as dizziness overtook me.

How much blood had I lost?

My wolf nudged me as she whimpered. She was worried about us. When she stepped aside, allowing me to shift back into my human form, my fingertips brushed against the puncture wounds at the back of my neck.

Roman had bitten me. He’d tried to suck me dry.

Shit.

Warm blood coated my fingers. The feel of it made me woozy. Dots swarmed my vision again, and my breathing picked up pace.

“Are you okay?” Julian asked. He rushed to my side.

He’d been the one to save me.

My gaze skimmed the woods around me. Where was Roman? Octavia was the only other vampire nearby. I focused on her. She was still passed out, her neck bent at the same awkward angle as before.

“I think so,” I muttered. “Where did he go?”

“He bested me,” Julian spat. “I thought I had him, but he got away. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah. I’m fine.” My fingertips brushed against the puncture wounds on the back of my neck.

“No, Mina. You’re far from fine.”

What was he talking about? Was my neck worse than I thought? A tremble slipped through me. My vision danced again as panic chilled my veins.

“What do you mean?” My voice was barely above a whisper.

“Roman has now tasted your blood. He’s marked you. Same as he did the woman inside. And with Jane Hawker,” Julian said. His voice was low, remorseful. “You’ve become his prey, Mina.”