Crimson Desires: The Alpha's Forbidden Blood (Available on Dreame & AlphaNovel)

Echoes of the Past

Seraphine'sPOV

As I set my pen aside, frustration surged through my veins. The weight of my emotions manifested in a resounding thud as my hand collided with the desk, intensifying the gravity of my declaration. Rising abruptly from my seat, I pivoted to meet the gaze of Vesperus, the enigmatic figure who remained eternally unchanged, a timeless embodiment of the vampire species.

A faint smirk played upon his lips, an ethereal expression that danced with both mischief and wisdom. But it was his eyes that captivated my attention, captivating orbs that defied ordinary sight. Like shimmering twilight on the brink of dusk, they radiated a mesmerizing hue, evoking an otherworldly fascination.

Within the depths of those irises, an uncharted palette unfurled. Swirls of amethyst intertwined with whispers of cerulean, merging in a captivating dance of contrasting shades. Hints of silver streaked through the intricate tapestry, lending a celestial gleam to his gaze. In that unique fusion, one could glimpse a universe of secrets, an invitation to explore the mysteries veiled within the depths of his soul.

As his smile deepened, those extraordinary eyes seemed to shimmer with hidden knowledge, hinting at a reservoir of experiences spanning centuries. They were the windows to a realm where time held no dominion, where age dissolved into a mere concept. In their mesmerizing depths, one could witness the duality of his nature, the delicate balance between predatory hunger and poignant longing for connection.

It was a gaze that drew you in, beckoning you to immerse yourself in its enigmatic depths. In that fleeting moment, I couldn't help but feel the weight of his ancient wisdom and the allure of his immortal existence. Vesperus stood before me, a living enigma, his smile a gateway to an unknown world, his eyes a testament to the everlasting allure of the vampire's eternal existence.

I firmly grasped his hands and urgently pulled him out of the bustling classroom, away from the prying gazes, especially those of Lucian. Guided by my heightened sense of hearing, we found refuge in an unoccupied classroom. I pushed the door open, still maintaining my grip on his hands. Once inside, I finally released his hand and crossed my arms over my chest, a gesture of guardedness and apprehension.

He pouted, his eyes sparkling mischievously. "And here I was, thoroughly relishing the sensation of your hands in mine," he teased.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes, attempting to mask the slight flutter in my chest. "What are you doing here?" I inquired, my voice laced with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.

He shrugged casually, nonchalantly making his way to the vacant teacher's table and taking a seat, his gaze fixed on me. "The same reason you are, I suppose," he responded, his tone carrying a hint of intrigue.

I scoffed, my frustration evident. "I highly doubt that, you crazy bastard," I retorted, just as the classroom door swung open once again, revealing none other than Lucian. He closed the door behind him, casting wary glances between Vesperus and me.

In a synchronized chorus, both Vesperus and I spoke simultaneously, our words intertwining in the charged atmosphere. I vehemently denied Vesperus being my fiancé, while a smug smile danced upon Vesperus's lips as he remarked, "I didn't realize you held such a prominent position as the alpha here."

My curiosity peaked, and I couldn't help but inquire, "Wait, you two know each other?" My eyes darted back and forth between Vesperus and Lucian before me. The idea of a vampire and a werewolf sharing a connection baffled my mind, as they seemed to belong to completely different ends of the supernatural scale.

Vesperus gracefully pushed himself off the desk, his hands gliding down to rest in the pockets of his tailored dress pants. Reluctantly, I found myself acknowledging his undeniable allure in that moment. A self-assured smirk played upon his lips as he briefly lowered his head, only to raise it again with a deliberate flourish.

He took his hand out of his pocket, running it through his styled, messy hair, exuding a captivating presence. I instinctively took a step back as Vesperus paid no mind to me, walking towards Lucian. My eyes followed him until he stopped in front of Lucian and stared at him intensely.

Their confrontation crackled with electric tension that reverberated through the air.

Vesperus turned to face me, his eyes meeting mine with a glimmer of unresolved emotions. "Yes, I know him," he replied, his voice carrying the weight of bitterness and regret. "Right after we broke up—or rather, when you chose to call off our engagement—he discovered me engaged in a monstrous act. In response, he decided to impart a harsh lesson, casting me in a trash can and locking it. I found myself discarded, left to fend for myself at the fringes of an alpha territory, forced to fight my way through. So, yes, I am painfully acquainted with him," he paused briefly, his gaze shifting back to Lucian. "Though, I dearly wish I were not."

My eyes involuntarily shifted to Lucian, who wore a smirk that encompassed a mixture of arrogance and calculated challenge. With an arched eyebrow, he silently invited Vesperus to revisit that painful ordeal, to relive the suffering inflicted upon him. Vesperus responded with a defiant narrowing of his eyes, a silent declaration of unwavering strength in the face of adversity.

"Who knows, maybe you deserve it?" My words sliced through the air, carrying the weight of the tension that engulfed us. With deliberate steps, I closed the distance between the two of them, my hands instinctively pushing him back, creating more space.

Vesperus redirected his intense gaze towards me, his eyes burning with a mix of anger and anguish. His voice trembled as he uttered his next words, revealing the shattered state he had been in. "I was a wreck, lost and broken, resorting to those unspeakable acts because you abandoned me without a shred of explanation."

I could feel the rawness of his emotions hanging heavy in the air, the bitter taste of regret mingling with the palpable sorrow. Each word seemed to echo with unspoken pain, the depths of his heartache laid bare. The room, once filled with static silence, now pulsed with the weight of unspoken truths and unresolved emotions.

In that moment, the weight of the past pressed heavily upon me, the memories flooding my senses. I could almost taste the sweetness of stolen kisses, hear the laughter that once danced freely between us, and feel the warmth of our entwined bodies under the moonlit sky. Bittersweet nostalgia and the ache of what could have been washed over me. Nevertheless, I shook my head, firmly believing that what lay in the past should remain there, undisturbed by the present.

In the briefest of moments, my eyes darted towards Lucian, his proximity only intensifying my internal turmoil. I couldn't help but wonder if Vesperus, like me, detected the tantalizing scent of Lucian's blood. Yet, my gaze swiftly returned to Vesperus, captivated by his enigmatic presence.

A faint rasp escaped my throat as I directed my question to Lucian, though my attention remained fixed on Vesperus, his piercing gaze locked with mine. "Don't you have a class to teach or some pressing obligation to attend?" I uttered, the words laced with a tinge of indifference.

The echo of Lucian's footsteps resonated as he traversed towards the door, his exit punctuated by the soft click of the latch. Now, alone in the deserted classroom, my heart finally unclenched as the certainty of our solitude settled upon me. It was then that I summoned the courage to confront Vesperus.

"What is your true purpose here, Vesperus? Did my father send you?" I implored, desperate for answers that eluded me for far too long. His silence persisted, an impenetrable shield against my inquiries. With eyebrows knit together in frustration, I waved my hands in front of his impassive face, uttering a half-hearted plea, "Are you even present?" Exasperated, he rolled his eyes and ambled out of the room, abandoning me to my thoughts, leaving an air of mystery surrounding his unexpected visit.