Madeline’s POV

“The gods saved you from dying in the war. Uriel has been suffering since your supposed death. He keeps blaming himself, so I asked the powerful witches to find your spirit,” he said and gulped. “And when I opened my eyes, I just saw myself in this time.”

“What war? Who is Uriel? And what witches?” I mumbled due to the frustration I was feeling. “Look, mister, what I know is that I don’t know you, and you are confusing me right now.”

“I will tell you everything if you just untie me, my beloved sister.”

I smirked. “That would be no. I don’t trust anyone, especially strangers like you. I hate liars and manipulators,” I said.

“I am your brother,” he said abruptly. “You are the countess of our kind, the most powerful lady of vampires, and the mate of Alpha Uriel. This time in the world is not your home, Marissa. So you have to come back before the war defeats us all!”

One thing I hate the most is being shouted at. It must have been out of reflex that I formed a hard fist on my right hand and flew it to his face. It was really, really hard, which is why he groaned and then fell asleep.

“What an asshole,” I said and shook my head.

“What happened?” I turned around and saw that I had woken the prince up.

He yawned and stretched, furrowing his eyebrows when he saw that I was near the vampire.

I sighed. “He said something that pissed me off,” I explained before he could ask me questions. “So I knocked him down again.”

Before the sun rose, I stealthily went home to my stepmother’s house. I was very tired because going to bed and sleeping is something I would be grateful for. Unfortunately, I could not.

Vampires…huh?

They went extinct a long time ago, and what I have heard is that a war took place between them and the mortals. But sometimes, I hear whispers that the other creatures fought each other and killed themselves in the end. So how come the creature earlier was telling me things that made me uncomfortable? I am not who I am right now.

That I am Marissa, the most powerful countess of the vampires, and the mate of Uriel, the alpha of werewolves?

My head hurt again, and a long static sound I could only hear filled my ears. I yanked against my bed and closed my eyes, trying to stop the pain, but it would not. I covered the sides of my face using my palm… until I heard voices at the back of my mind.

“I love you,” Uriel said to me and kissed the knuckles of my hands. “I don’t care if I die in the end and your father kills me. As long as I know that your heart is for me, nothing can conquer my love for you.”

And I’d smile at him with tears streaking down my face. It looks like I am only vulnerable when it comes to him.

“I’ll do everything to end up with you, my love,” I said, tilted my head, and initiated a passionate kiss.

I saw a wistful gaze he gave me before I closed my eyes to meet his lips. As we were delving into feeling our love for each other, a sharp thing pierced into my stomach, making me gasp and cough up blood. When I slowly opened my eyes, I saw the bloodshot eyes of Uriel while he was holding the dagger, prodding at me.

“U-Uriel…ack…” I exclaimed and tremblingly held his hand. “Why?”

“I’m sorry,” he said huskily, his voice breaking as his tears fell from his eyes. “I have to do this for the sake of the safety of my pack. I am the alpha, and you are one of my enemies. In that way, our kind would live…”

He pulled the dagger from my stomach furiously. My eyes went to my stomach, which was bleeding, touching it with care, before I fell to the ground. Before I could hit my head, Uriel caught me and repeatedly kissed my head while carefully holding me in his arms.

“I love you, and I’m sorry,” he whispered in my ear. “Please… forgive me…”

That vision ended instantly when the long static of sound in my head was cut off. I opened my eyes and saw the grey ceiling first thing. I was catching my breath, the sweat from my forehead trickling down my cheeks, and my body was still glued to the bed. Uriel… His face was now clear to me. He has a pair of dark red eyes; his nose is sharp and pointed; and his red lips are soft and caressing mine. I could feel his love for me… but he ended up betraying me.

So is that the werewolf?

The alpha...

He was the one who kept appearing in my dreams! I stood up from the bed and put on my slippers. I opened the curtains of my room and saw the sun almost rising. I have to find the truth immediately. There is a reason why these stupid visions and dreams of Uriel kept appearing in my mind. Not to mention the fact that a vampire appeared to be watching me from afar yesterday and then told me things that I never understood.

“Madeline!”My stepmother called me, and I could tell that she was placing both of her fists on her hips, like demanding me already. “Where is our breakfast? I have been calling you multiple times, and you never even answered!”

“I’ll be there in a minute!”

“What is taking you so long?”

Arghhhhh…this fucking lady is driving me nuts!

If she were not the wife of my deceased father, I would never respect her with that attitude. Respect is luxurious, and she seemingly cannot afford it. Hmph!