Chapter 70: Hunting

The city was alive in the hazy glow of streetlights, its pulse slowing as night stretched its fingers across the skyline. Noah moved through the alleys with deliberate ease, his senses alert. Tonight's hunt was like any other—calculated, efficient, and necessary.

The hunger in his veins was a reminder of his nature. Sustenance was a demand, not a choice, though he made sure his targets were carefully selected: those whose absence would draw little attention. It was part of his method, ensuring his survival in a world where his kind no longer belonged.

He paused, sensing something unusual. A scent, wild and ancient, drifted through the air. His crimson eyes narrowed. This was no ordinary human.

Then he saw her.

She emerged from the shadows, silver-haired and sharp-eyed, her presence radiating a feral energy that made her nature unmistakable. A werewolf.

Noah's expression remained calm, but his thoughts churned. Demihumans were rare, especially in human cities. Their kind generally kept to the wilderness, far from prying eyes. That she was here meant either desperation or arrogance—perhaps both.

Her glowing amber eyes locked onto his, and for a moment, the world seemed to still.

"You're supposed to be extinct," she said, her voice laced with both wonder and suspicion.

---

Noah stepped forward, his movements measured and unthreatening. "I've heard that before."

The werewolf's nostrils flared as she took in his scent. Her expression shifted to one of disbelief. "But you're not like them. You feel... different. Purer."

He smirked faintly, his fangs glinting in the dim light. "Flattering, but I could say the same about you. What's a werewolf doing in a human city? You're far from your pack, assuming you have one."

Her lips curled into a snarl. "That's none of your business."

"And yet you seem very interested in mine." Noah's voice was smooth, almost amused. "Why so surprised to see me? Surely you've heard of vampires before."

"Not like you," she said, her tone sharp. "Your kind was wiped out because you couldn't control your hunger. You upset the balance, preyed too freely on humans, and paid the price for it."

Noah's expression didn't falter, though her words only confirmed what he already knew. His bloodline was a relic of the past, a reminder of an age when vampires ruled the shadows unchecked. But he wasn't like them, and he had no intention of sharing their fate.

"Balance is overrated," he said with a shrug. "Survival, on the other hand, is a priority."

---

The werewolf took a step closer, her movements cautious but deliberate. "You talk like you're different, but you're still a predator. Why shouldn't I end you now?"

Noah's crimson eyes gleamed, his smirk deepening. "You could try. But let's not waste our time on empty threats. I have no interest in fighting you."

She stopped, her gaze searching his face for any sign of deceit. "Why not? You're supposed to hate my kind."

"And yet I don't." He leaned slightly against a wall, his posture relaxed. "The myths of old are just that—myths. I don't see any reason to fight you unless you give me one. Besides, you're the one encroaching on human territory. Shouldn't I be the one asking why you're here?"

The werewolf growled softly but didn't advance further. "That's my business, leech."

"Leech? How original," Noah replied dryly. "Well, if you're not here to kill me, then perhaps we can agree to leave each other alone."

Her amber eyes narrowed, but after a tense moment, she nodded. "Fine. But if you so much as harm a human—"

"I'll be sure to send you an invitation," he interrupted with a sardonic smile.

Her growl deepened, but she turned and disappeared into the shadows, her movements as silent as a whisper.

---

Noah remained in the alley, his mind racing. The encounter was a stark reminder of the world he inhabited—a world teeming with dangers both known and unknown.

The werewolf's reaction to him was telling. She'd recognized his rarity, his purity, even if she didn't fully understand it. Her shock was genuine, a testament to just how far his kind had fallen from history's pages.

Yet her presence also intrigued him. Werewolves, like other demihumans, were part of the larger web of power in this world. They were strong, dangerous, and worthy adversaries.

A faint smile played on his lips. He would test himself against them all eventually.

But for now, he had more immediate concerns. His hunger still clawed at him, and his goals demanded focus. The werewolf had been an unexpected encounter, but she was a distraction, nothing more.

As he stepped back into the night, Noah's thoughts turned to his ambitions. He was a predator in a world that had forgotten him, a shadow among mortals. And he would ensure that when they finally remembered, it would be too late.