Chapter Five

5 months later 

With months and months of pounding headaches, and my body feeling unnaturally warm. I finally changed into the beast and let him lead me to where I needed to be. For some reason, I end up in this beautiful forest. I've always loved nature, and I admired the trees that go on for miles and miles. 

My feet crunch on the leaves as I walk, my eyes scanning everything for the sight of other living beings. I have no idea why my werewolf led me here or where I belong. 

 I hear rushing the feet, and my ears can tell that it's only two feet instead of four. This was obviously a human. 

"Come out." I bravely announce, looking in all directions.

Then may I see the most beautiful girl. She had deep emerald green hair and a pale face, which made her golden brown eyes pop. Her lips are a perfect shade of red, as if she could have just drunk the blood from someone's veins. 

"Ivana." The girl smiles at me, flashing her fangs. 

"You're a vampire." I raise an eyebrow. 

"Why, of course, I am," she takes a bow.

"The good kind?"

She throws her head back laughing, her green hair nearly touching the ground.

"I don't care what anyone tells you, there is never a good vampire. But I can tell you that you are safe around me." 

I nod. I am pretty sure my wolf can tear her apart in a battle anyway. I was never too concerned about that.

"And whose side are you on?" 

"What are you talking about?" 

"Vampires, werewolves, centaurs." 

I close my eyes and remember reading one of my father's letters as a kid, he explained to me all the types of mythical creatures and what powers they hold and possess. I always thought it strange, but I also thought maybe he had a good imagination. 

"Well, I am a werewolf."

She smiles. "creatures go against their kind all the time." 

"You're the only creature I've seen."

"Their others." Her eyes sprinkled at me. She's clearly holding some secrets.

"Other werewolves?"

"They're here all hiding in the forest in different spots."

"How many packs?"

"Three total. Two male alphas and one female." 

"And how do you know this?" I analyze her eyes, looking for honesty. 

"I know it all, Smoke."

"A vampire who knows everything, huh?"

She laughs, revealing her perfectly white fangs. 

"How did you know my name?"

"The tree of knowledge."

"The tree of knowledge?" I repeat. I admit this spiked my curiosity.

"Take an apple and pay the price." She laughed a deranged laugh. 

"What's the price?" 

"Knowing the future, but only in riddles, of course."

"And what did the tree say about me?"

"That you're going to be a powerful ally for me or somebody else."

I nod. "Very interesting."

"Stay with me Smoke?" She looks so innocent. And honestly, who else do I have to stay with right now?

"Fine."

She smiles, and my heart instantly skips a beat.