THE ALPHA'S PAWN

GR

forest. Every step felt like an intrusion, the crunch of leaves underfoot too loud, too obvi

e way?" I asked impatien

e was busy watching his every s

e you're leading me to my deat

have woken up to witness another night." he replied, his

plants were so dense they looked like a solid wall, their edges curling inward like they were guarding

t me and smirke

ted vines. With a firm pull, he parted them, peeling t

ike curtain of thick ivy and vines melted away

, unable to find the words for what was in front of me. It was breathtaking-so much so that

was Ash

t below me, its surface catching the glowing light of the moon. Tiny boats bobbing gently along the water, th

d lazily from chimneys, carrying the scent of burning wood and faint traces of cooking meals. I coul

e it had been watching over this little haven for centuries. As I leaned on the stone railing of the bridge, I let the peace of it all

st the stoned ground. The houses and taverns around me seemed to grow out of the forest itself, their wooden beams twisted like the branches of old

nally glancing back at me. "Beautiful,

ee with that,

ought and shrugged his s

scar running down her cheek, a harsh contrast to her otherwise soft featu

ther

Asval r

t a threa

chuckle. "Just kidding, she's no

, waving a hand. "You ca

le, "Welcome to Ashenfall. . ." She stopped,

id He

" I simply nodded and let my eyes dri

to you." Asval cut in, "Ma

ed?" I

e said, already

motioned for me to f

who stared at me as if I were something unus

as I managed to keep up with Isabella'

she said. "For

U

ans who don't have claws or sharp fangs, or fur. For people who

"And who de

simply but it carried wei

beneath the open archways, each one set with mugs, candlesticks, and scatter

me-thick with the smells of roasted meat, stale

g from iron hooks, their dim flames casting flick

hing, and arguing, their voices a constant buzz that mi

, where a gruff-looking barkeep filled

roaning with each step. Up here, the noise from below faded into a dull hum, and t

ed mattress sat against the wall, its blanket thin and patched. A single window let

the cold stones beneath the plaster. It wasn't m

uch but you'll get used to it. It's just that. . . it's been a wh

lready owns

lped and cleared her throat. "He didn't survive

.sorry to hear that. How can vampires still pass through t

ers are hungry for blood they will do whatever it

etched before Isabella

here if it wasn't for him, for them." Isabella leaned on the door frame, arms on her chest. "You're a lucky one,

r face, did those vampires do it to her? Isabe

o me but I survived." she answe

hose vampires will attack them again. Death looms over their he

uestions, Isabella was already out

g to piece together what I'd walked into. A haven for humans? It sounded too good

peeked in. He couldn't have been more

his voice barely

awkwardl

ame?" he said.

I said. "I'm Ingrid.

he's a healer. She provides herbal medicine so whe

Your mother's ama

g around the room. "It's not so

ed, leaning forward. "

fingers gripping the d

e wh

oud might summon them. "They are bad! They hunt us! But you'll be okay

trust that wi

your mother wonders where you are." He nod

fe haven or not, Ashenfall was far from safe. But for now,

ove, then I have no problem staying here for a while. Looks like carrying out my

n and sympathy towards humans-feelings a creature like him should

humans. Seducing and winning him over w

will be a reason