He…
He's dead.
I… I killed him.
Iván stood frozen, eyes locked on the scorched ground where the body had just been. Smoke still curled in the air, but the vampire was gone—reduced to ash and memory.
He rose slowly, trembling.
What… what have I done?
His gaze dropped to his hands—stained, shaking—like they belonged to someone else.
Like a stranger had done the killing.
Stumbling backwards, his legs nearly gave out beneath him. Each step felt heavier, the weight of what he'd done sinking deeper into his chest.
Then—
A whisper, soft and cold, drifted through his ears like a chill in the wind.
"Azrael…"
Iván stopped, his breath catching.
He turned, but no one was there.
"Who's there?" Iván called out, his voice unsteady as he took a step back, fear curling in his gut.
"Master."
The voice returned—low, echoing, as if it whispered from the deepest corners of his mind.
But this time… he knew where it came from.
His eyes dropped to the moon pendant resting against his chest.
It shimmered—soft and pulsing, like it was alive.
Iván's eyes flew wide. He grabbed for the pendant, desperate to tear it off—but the moment his fingers touched it, searing pain ripped through his hands.
He screamed, collapsing onto the concrete as the burning spread like fire through his skin.
The pain slowly faded as Iván's body began to heal, the scorched skin knitting itself back together.
He groaned, struggling to sit up—just in time to hear footsteps rushing toward the restroom.
Lifting his head, his eyes locked onto a security camera pointed directly at him.
His heart sank. I'm going to be discovered, he whispered.
But as if answering a silent prayer, the camera sparked violently before exploding, followed by a loud pop from the DVR system deeper inside the theater.
Iván looked down at the moon pendant resting against his chest, a cold shiver crawling up his spine.
He knew it was responsible.
"What… are you?" he muttered under his breath.
No response. Just silence… thick and unnerving.
Then a voice cut through the air—one of the theater staff, shouting from inside.
"What the hell happened to the wall?!"
Iván stumbled out, his breath ragged as panic surged through him. He had to find someone—anyone.
Fueled by fear, he took off into the woods, his legs moving faster than he realized. Branches whipped past him, the cold night air stinging his skin.
Somehow, his frantic run brought him back to the Hale house.
He burst through the door, heart pounding, only to find Derek casually doing pull-ups in the living room.
Derek glanced over, unfazed. "What's up, kid? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"Derek! Something's wrong with my necklace—it spoke to me!"
Derek's eyes narrowed. "Spoke?"
"Yes! And I… I killed someone."
Derek stepped in close, his expression sharpening as his voice dropped low. "Calm down, Iván."
He met Iván's gaze, steady and firm. "Let me see your eyes."
Iván nodded shakily, took a breath, and relaxed. Slowly, he opened his eyes—still glowing gold.
"Whoever you killed wasn't innocent," Derek said firmly.
"I still did it," Iván muttered, guilt weighing in his voice.
Without another word, Derek grabbed Iván by the shoulders and pulled his shirt collar aside, eyes narrowing at the bloodstained bite mark on his neck.
"A vampire…" Derek muttered grimly.
He snapped his gaze back to Iván. "Tell me—did it burst into flames?"
Iván nodded, still shaken. "It did."
Derek let out a breath of relief. "Good."
Then, his expression softened as he looked Iván over. The kid looked awful—pale, shaken, like he hadn't fully processed what had just happened.
"Listen, Iván," Derek said firmly. "What you killed was a vampire—and clearly, it was self-defense. Think of them like demons wearing human skin. There's a reason they burn after death."
"Why?" Iván asked quietly.
"To burn away their sins," Derek replied. "It's the only way they're ever cleansed."
Somehow, that made Iván feel a little better. It had tried to drain his blood, after all. He touched the spot on his neck, trying to recall exactly what happened—but all he saw were flashes. It was like watching a movie he couldn't pause, his body moving on its own while he stood helplessly behind the screen.
"Derek… I think I might be possessed," Iván said, his voice low and shaken.
Derek opened his mouth to respond, but the sound of footsteps outside cut him off. His expression hardened.
"Hunters," he muttered. "We'll talk about this later. Come on."
Quickly, Derek pulled Iván with him, the two slipping into the shadows of the house just as the front door creaked open.
A woman's voice echoed through the entryway. "Wow. When I heard you were hunting an Alpha, I had to see it for myself. You said this one was weak… alone? That's not normal."
Derek's eyes narrowed. He recognized the voice instantly—Kate.
She continued, a hint of amusement in her voice. "I mean, Chris usually handles this kind of thing. Drove one off twice in a row, didn't he? I don't usually get involved… but this? This caught my attention."
She grinned, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "I bet he's out there acting all high and mighty. Alphas are supposed to be the hardest to kill, right? But hey—looks like I have the honor of taking one down right here."
A pause. Then, with a proud smile: "Of course, I had a little help. Putting that barrier around the house? Very expensive. But oh, so worth it."
Derek's eyes shot open as the realization hit him—she was responsible. And worse… he was the one who had given her the location of this place.
His gaze darkened, fury rising in his chest like a storm. His eyes burned with the need for revenge.
Then, another realization struck him.
The Alpha—it wanted her here.
It had been seeking her all along.
Iván looked at Derek with concern. He could see the blood dripping from Derek's hand—he was holding himself back, barely restraining the urge to claw whoever this person was.
"Now, come on, men," Kate said firmly. "I've got nieces to check on." She said, the hunters leaving alongside her.