BOUND BY BLOOD AND CLAWS

Chapter 3

Elena woke to the soft hum of her phone vibrating on the nightstand. The room was still dark, the faint glow of the moon seeping through her curtains. Groggily, she grabbed her phone, squinting at the screen.

Unknown Number: Meet me at the fountain. Now.

Her heart skipped a beat. She debated ignoring it, but curiosity gnawed at her. Tossing her blanket aside, she pulled on a jacket and slipped out of her dorm room as quietly as possible.

The campus was eerily silent, the soft rustle of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl the only sounds accompanying her. The fountain stood in the middle of the courtyard, its waters glinting under the moonlight.

"Why are you here?" a deep voice asked, startling her.

Ethan emerged from the shadows, his green eyes glowing faintly. He wasn't alone. Adrian leaned casually against a nearby tree, his crimson eyes piercing in the dim light.

"You sent the text?" Elena asked, confused.

"I didn't," Ethan said, his gaze shifting to Adrian.

"Neither did I," Adrian replied coolly, stepping closer.

Elena's confusion turned to unease. "If neither of you sent it, then why are we all here?"

A chilling laugh echoed through the courtyard, and a figure stepped out from the shadows. It was Marcus, Adrian's closest confidant. Beside him stood Lucas, Ethan's second-in-command.

"Looks like we've got ourselves a little gathering," Marcus drawled, his sharp teeth glinting as he grinned.

"What's the meaning of this?" Adrian demanded, his voice cold.

"We need to talk," Lucas said, his tone equally firm. "About her." He nodded toward Elena.

Ethan's body tensed, his protective instincts flaring. "Leave her out of this."

"We can't," Marcus said, his crimson eyes locked on Elena. "She's becoming a distraction, not just for you two but for everyone. The clans are noticing."

Elena's heart pounded in her chest. "What are you talking about? I haven't done anything."

"That's the problem," Lucas snapped. "You don't have to. Your very presence is causing tension. The vampires and wolves were already on edge, and now their leaders' sons are fighting over some human girl?"

Ethan growled low in his throat, stepping between Elena and the others. "She's not just some girl."

"Exactly," Adrian added, his voice calm but deadly. "She's special, and you'd do well to remember that."

Lucas and Marcus exchanged a glance before Marcus took a step forward. "Special or not, the elders are watching. They won't tolerate this for long."

Adrian's eyes flashed dangerously. "Let them watch. I'm not abandoning her."

"Neither am I," Ethan said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

The tension in the air was palpable, and Elena felt like she was standing on the edge of a knife. "Stop!" she cried, stepping forward. "All of you, stop! I'm not worth all this fighting."

Ethan and Adrian turned to her simultaneously, their expressions softening.

"You don't get to decide that," Ethan said quietly.

Adrian nodded, his gaze steady. "You're more important than you realize, Elena."

Before she could respond, a sharp howl pierced the night, followed by a chorus of growls. From the opposite direction, a piercing shriek echoed, chilling her to the bone.

"Wolves," Ethan hissed.

"And vampires," Adrian added, his jaw tightening.

Lucas and Marcus exchanged a glance. "They're coming," Marcus said grimly.

"We have to get her out of here," Ethan said, grabbing Elena's hand.

Adrian moved to her other side. "Agreed. But where?"

"My territory is closer," Ethan said.

"And full of wolves who'll rip her apart on sight," Adrian countered.

"Better than bloodthirsty vampires," Ethan shot back.

"Enough!" Elena shouted, pulling her hands free. "Stop arguing and just do something!"

The growls and shrieks grew louder, and the group had no choice but to run. Ethan and Adrian flanked Elena, their movements synchronized despite the tension between them.

The group reached the edge of the forest, the trees casting long shadows under the moonlight.

"This way," Ethan said, leading them down a narrow path.

Adrian kept glancing over his shoulder, his senses on high alert. "They're close."

Suddenly, a vampire leapt out from the trees, its fangs bared. Adrian moved with lightning speed, grabbing the creature by the throat and slamming it against a tree.

"You'll regret that," the vampire snarled, struggling against Adrian's grip.

"Not likely," Adrian replied, driving a stake through its heart.

Before they could catch their breath, a massive wolf burst through the underbrush, its eyes glowing with rage. Ethan shifted in an instant, his clothes ripping as fur sprouted and his body morphed into that of a hulking wolf. He lunged at the intruder, their snarls filling the night.

Elena stumbled back, her heart racing. Marcus and Lucas fought off other attackers, their movements brutal and efficient.

Adrian grabbed her arm, pulling her close. "Stay behind me."

"I can't just stand here," Elena protested.

"You don't have a choice," Adrian said firmly. "This is our fight."

As the battle raged on, Elena couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. These weren't random attacks—they were targeted.

"Why are they after me?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Adrian hesitated, his crimson eyes meeting hers. "Because you're special, Elena. More than you know."

Before she could ask what he meant, Ethan's wolf form bounded over, his fur matted with blood. He shifted back to his human form, breathing heavily.

"We have to move," he said urgently. "They're sending reinforcements."

Adrian nodded. "Agreed. Let's go."

They fled deeper into the forest, the sounds of the battle fading behind them.

When they finally stopped, Elena collapsed onto a fallen log, her body trembling. Ethan and Adrian stood on either side of her, their rivalry momentarily set aside.

"You need to tell me what's going on," she said, looking between them.

Ethan exchanged a glance with Adrian before nodding. "You deserve the truth."

Adrian sighed. "You're caught in the middle of a war, Elena. A war between vampires and wolves that's been raging for centuries."

"And you?" Elena asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ethan's expression softened. "We're not just members of our clans. We're the heirs to their thrones."

Elena's eyes widened in shock. "What?"

Adrian nodded. "And now, because of us, you've become a target."

The weight of their words sank in, and Elena felt a chill run down her spine. "What am I supposed to do?"

"Stay with us," Ethan said firmly.

"We'll protect you," Adrian added.

For the first time, Elena realized the depth of the danger she was in. But as she looked at the two boys beside her, she also realized she wasn't alone.