Marked by the Vampire Prince: I’m His Mate, Not His Baby Maker!

Lyra's POV

"You bitch! Stop running already!" One of the bounty hunters yelled. 

I could hear their breathing wheezing from a short distance. Whether they were incredibly fast or I was incredibly slow—either way, I would get screwed if they caught me.

"Ha! Make me! You losers couldn't earn a damn dime with your incompetence!" I shouted back, faking confidence I didn't genuinely feel.

"NOW YOU'VE DONE IT!" 

My intuition was telling me not to look back. Despite my numbing, aching legs and my erratic breathing, all I could do was to run and never falter.

I should never give in to this endless cat-and-mouse chase!

My footsteps reverberated against the cracked pavement, while the noise district fell silent beneath the thundering of my racing heart.

I knew I was in grave danger.

Yet, this was a normal occurrence around here. 

Onlookers stared out of curiosity and in the next split second, they looked away. 

No one batted an eye on my desperation, doing their business as usual.

Just to survive in this shithole.

I was used to it; a cold prickling feeling of isolation around here. 

Yet, I continued running as fast as I could, ignoring my consciousness slowly slipping away. I couldn't care less about my condition if it meant I could avoid getting caught by these men chasing me for years.

Who knew if they would sell me off to the wolves? Or a feast for the undead? Or worse, a blood bank for the vampires.

These pessimistic thoughts only motivated me to stay focused. 

But the gap hadn't decreased since the start of this run. 

I just needed a diversion, like a sea of crowd or anything to be free from this. But as my eyes darted from every direction, every nook and cranny, none fit the bill of any form of escape.

Just then, a familiar road caught my attention and as if everything was in slow motion, I read the whole sign in a second.

A sign of a reminder to all humans of this vicinity.

WARNING: HUMANS SHALL NOT TRESPASSED FROM THIS POINT OR ELSE BE EXECUTED ON SIGHT

That sign was molded to each and everyone of us in the deeper parts of Slumber Hound City. 

Because across that sign led to the high-rise luxurious parts of the city filled with the supernatural.

And it so happens the large gate was conveniently tilted open—the right space for my body to get in. 

I gulped. 

Without a second thought, my feet swiftly turned and ran in that direction.

"Th-that bitch!" I felt their feet stop in place as they were most likely startled with my desperate attempt.

"S-Stop!" Panting sounds echoed from the distance. "Get back here, Lyra Ellison! If you are suicidal enough to cross there, you should have died here so we could claim our bounty!"

His attempted threats were the last words before I slid myself inside the gap between the heavy gated doors. 

They stopped following me after that.

Once the coast was clear, my knees gave in and I dropped to the ground. My hand clenched on my shirt while I was coughing violently. My lungs—burned while gasping for air and I was on the verge of throwing up. I shook out the dizzy haze clouding my vision as I stood up—slow and shaky at first until I regained my footing. 

H-how long had I been running? Not too long ago, I just received my salary from my boss at the bar I worked at and as soon as I stepped out of the door, three of those thugs saw me and demanded to take me somewhere. 

I wasn't stupid enough to get dragged by them. 

Now that they were out of my tail, I had one more problem to deal with.

To go back without getting caught. 

There was no exit except that gated border. If they were waiting, I had to find a way to divert their attention. For now, I needed to go back.

Only to find out that the large gated door was closed by a huge padlock chained at the keyhole.

"No w-way…"

"The humans said a woman got here. She might be back here now." It was faint yet I could hear voices not far from here. 

"Shit," I muttered. 

Should I run? No, they could easily catch me. Hide? I looked around and saw a barrel along with crates of different berries and wine. 

This would definitely hide my scent. I grinned at the idea.

Perfect!

Their shadows reflecting the light against the buildings loomed closer and I immediately removed its lid before slowly—but steadily—entering inside before putting the lid back above me. I was now engulfed with darkness minus the dim light on the hole, which was conveniently placed in front of my view. 

A perfect peephole, I would say. 

"I couldn't find the woman or her scent lurking around here, boss. Maybe the humans distracted us so they could get in on their own."

The other man—no, a werewolf based on his hairy hinds, scoffed. "Good thing we locked the gates. We wouldn't want mere humans to ruin the Lord of the Crimson's Court's Red Moon Party."

The first man turned to my direction. "Are these requested by him?"

"Yes, we are going to bring them to the party, it seems."

My eyes grew wider as the barrel I was inside lifted and carried by the two wolves. My heart beats faster as they continue with their talk. 

"This one is heavy," the "boss" groaned as both lifted the barrel from both sides. I tumbled a bit from the sudden shift of movement. "I bet these are alcohol!"

"Can we have a taste, boss? No one will find out as long as we keep mum!" 

The older wolf considered it for a moment. "I'm not sure. I mean these were specifically ordered by the Count." Then he stared at the barrel, torn between indulging his temptations or being more conscientious with his work.

My heart pounded through my chest, thoughts running through my head as it kept repeating: please don't you fucking open the lid. Don't you DARE open it! 

"Maybe a little sip won't hurt a bit—right?"

'Fuck me sideways', I mentally thought.

I felt the lid turn and I felt my heart thudded violently. Sweat trickled down my temple and I tried to make myself shrink in this narrow space.

My eyes shut tight, bracing for the inevitable.

"Oh?"

A voice—low, elegant, and cold—cut through the air like a blade.

The wolves froze.

"Were you instructed to sample the shipment?" The voice continued. Calm. Controlled. But every word voiced with quiet menace.

"N-no, sir," one of the wolves stammered. "We—we were just—"

"Just what?"

Another voice joined in. This one sharper, more impatient. "Just about to sabotage the Count's preparations?"

Count?

I stayed still as a corpse inside the barrel, barely breathing.

"You do realize what these barrels contain, yes?" The calm voice said again. "They were prepared for the Red Moon guests."

"We didn't touch anything!" the older wolf cried out. "Just carried them here, as ordered!"

A long, suffocating pause.

"Then carry them the rest of the way," the man said. "Without further delay. Or questions."

I felt the wolves scramble again, this time their movements jerky, nervous.

As I shifted slightly inside, I peered through the small gap in the wood—just for a second. I could make out polished black shoes and a figure cloaked in a long dark coat, flanked by another man in gray. His face was mostly obscured by the shadows of the loading bay.

But something made the hair on my arms rise.

A presence. Cold. Commanding. Watching.

Was he looking at me?

I backed away from the peephole instinctively, heart slamming against my ribs.

Whoever that was…

He saved my skin.

That was all it matters.

As the two wolves scrambled to obey, I felt the barrel lurch again—then thud against metal.

I was loaded into the back of a truck, surrounded by crates and containers. The scent of berries and aged wine filled the air, but I barely noticed it anymore. My thoughts were a mess—scrambling to understand who that voice belonged to, and why it had frozen those two like stone.

Who the hell was that?

Not just another staff member. No one spoke with that kind of control unless they were used to being obeyed.

A high-ranking wolf? A noble? I didn't know, but the tension in the air had been suffocating—and oddly familiar. Like the pressure before a storm, or standing near the edge of something bottomless.

And that feeling…

That gut-deep chill…

Like I had been seen. 

No. I was probably just being paranoid.

The truck roared to life, jolting me out of my thoughts. The motion rocked the barrel as it sped off, the pavement rattling beneath us.

Stay calm, I told myself. This is still a win.

I had escaped those asshole hunters. I went past through the gates without getting killed and I had a free ride.

Once they turned their attention, I would sneak out, find a way to return without getting caught as always. 

Just one more trick. One more act.

Easy.

I adjusted my position and exhaled slowly, trying to calm the jitter in my limbs.

But as the truck climbed higher, the air seemed to shift—subtle at first.

Heavier. Colder. Like something ancient had stirred from its slumber and was waiting.

I didn't know then.

Didn't understand what I had just walked into.

That night, I thought I'd fooled them.

I thought I'd slipped past the monsters unnoticed.

I was wrong.

Because he had already found me.

And he wasn't going to let me go.