Bjorn turned the key and pushed the door open, letting the dim light of their loft spill into the hallway. As they stepped inside, they were greeted by the sound of soft humming and the smell of fresh soap. Spike, half-naked, a towel wrapped lazily around his waist, was walking out of the bathroom, his wet hair still dripping.
"Well, look who's back," Spike said with a smirk, clearly unbothered by his lack of clothing. "How was the train ride? Anything exciting?"
Conrad rolled his eyes as he shifted back to his human form, adjusting his shirt. "If you consider werewolf attacks exciting, then yeah. Wild time."
Spike's eyes widened slightly. "Werewolves? In Manila? This is getting more interesting by the second."
Zyro collapsed onto the couch, stretching out his legs. "They hit us hard in the LRT, middle of the train. A couple of wolves in human form just decided to make a scene. Luckily, we kept it low profile. No humans got hurt."
Bjorn leaned against the door, arms crossed, still thinking about the shadowy figure he'd seen on the billboard. "There's more to it than that. Someone was watching us. I saw them just before the fight ended."
Spike raised an eyebrow, walking over and grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge. "Watching? Like, one of the wolves?"
"No," Bjorn replied, his tone serious. "Someone else. They were standing on a billboard. They didn't attack—they just... watched."
Zyro sat up, his expression thoughtful. "That's weird. You think they're working with the werewolves?"
Conrad, now seated at the dining table, shook his head. "Not sure. But the wolves didn't seem coordinated. It was more like they were trying to take us out fast, almost like they were under orders."
Spike gulped down his water and leaned against the counter. "Maybe they were testing you. See what you're capable of."
"Testing us?" Conrad's brows furrowed. "For what?"
Bjorn sighed, pacing slightly. "We don't know, but it's clear this attack wasn't random and the fact that it happened here, in the middle of the city, is concerning."
Spike, now more serious, ran a hand through his wet hair. "Manila isn't exactly prime werewolf territory. So if they're here, something's up."
"Of course, the Ghost Alpha is here." Bjorn explained. "Ever since we left Iloilo, every vampire and wolves took interest on Conrad."
"I'm more of a superstar than you, Spikey." Conrad smirked.
Zyro nodded. "We need to find out what's pulling the strings. Wolves don't move like this unless they're being pushed."
Conrad glanced at Bjorn. "Do you think this is related to the Ghost Alpha thing?"
Bjorn's jaw tightened at the mention of the Ghost Alpha, the weight of the situation settling in. "It's possible. But we need more information. Whoever's behind this... they're playing a dangerous game."
Spike smirked, trying to lighten the mood. "Well, count me in. If there's going to be more action, I'll at least put on a shirt next time."
Zyro chuckled. "Might be a good idea. We don't want the wolves thinking they've stumbled into a fashion show."
****
Luke sat in the dimly lit luxury penthouse, high above the bustling streets of Manila, lounging on an extravagant sofa surrounded by women. Their laughter echoed through the room, drowning out the low hum of the city outside. It had been a month since the Lamintao fortress debacle, and whispers of the Ghost Alpha still circled the supernatural underworld like a storm on the horizon. Luke had been hunting for Bjorn and the Ghost Alpha ever since, but tonight, he allowed himself a break—immersing in indulgence and pleasure.
A woman slid her hand down Luke's chest, her touch barely noticed as his mind wandered back to his search. The Ghost Alpha, the key to unimaginable power, was still out there, and Luke had come up with nothing but dead ends. Every lead brought him to a cold trail, every whisper was just that—a whisper.
"Come on, Luke, you seem distracted," one of the women teased, drawing closer to his ear.
He smirked, snapping out of his reverie, his eyes gleaming mischievously. "Maybe I need more of a distraction."
As the mood turned darker and more intense, the air in the room thickened. But just as Luke leaned forward, a violent crash shattered the glass window of the penthouse. The sound was deafening as glass exploded inward, spraying like shards of ice across the room.
The women screamed, scrambling to cover themselves as a figure—powerful, monstrous—emerged through the destruction. Luke barely had time to react before he was grabbed by the throat, lifted effortlessly from the couch by an iron grip.
Godfrey.
The First Vampire, ancient and terrifying, loomed over Luke like a shadow of death. His presence filled the room with an overwhelming, suffocating aura. His skin was pale, almost marble-like, his long black hair flowing like a midnight river behind him.
"You seem enjoying yourself too much, Luke." The gleam of his fangs reflected in the shattered glass, his eyes glowing with raw, untamed power.
"Luke," Godfrey's voice was a deep, menacing rumble, each word dripping with disdain. "You think you can run from me? From this?"
Luke's eyes bulged, his hands clawing at Godfrey's grip, but it was like trying to move a mountain. He gasped, struggling for air, his feet kicking uselessly in the air.
"G-Godfrey," Luke rasped, barely able to speak, "I didn't—"
Godfrey smashed him into the wall with a sickening crunch, cracking the stone behind him. The impact sent a shockwave through the room, knocking over furniture and scattering the women in terror. Luke's body crumpled for a moment, winded, but Godfrey didn't give him time to recover. In a flash, he yanked Luke back up, pulling him close, their faces inches apart.
"You failed me," Godfrey growled, his eyes narrowing, "I gave you one task. One! And instead, you've been playing these games." His eyes flickered to the women now cowering in the corner. "You disgust me."
Luke's lip curled in a mixture of pain and defiance. "The Ghost Alpha... he's... he's still out there. I'm close—"
"Close?" Godfrey slammed Luke into the ground, the floorboards cracking beneath the force. "You're a month behind. Your incompetence is costing Vanong everything." He laughed. "I wouldn't even be surprised he came here to kill you."
Luke coughed up blood, gasping for air as he tried to rise. "I'll find Conrad... I'll—"
"You've lost control, Luke." Godfrey's voice was cold, cutting through Luke's plea.
With that, Godfrey raised his hand, preparing to crush Luke's windpipe. But then he paused, the faintest glimmer of something sinister flashing in his eyes.
"You're lucky," Godfrey murmured, his grip loosening slightly, "I need you... for now. But remember this, Luke. Fail me again, and I won't show mercy next time."
Godfrey released him, and Luke collapsed to the floor, gasping for breath. The women had already fled the room, the penthouse now a wreckage of glass and debris. Luke struggled to stand, his body trembling from the encounter.
Godfrey straightened, looking out over the city through the shattered window. "Find the Ghost Alpha. Find Bjorn. Or I'll hunt you down myself."
As Luke coughed, staggering up on his knees, Godfrey's gaze darkened. His voice dropped to an icy whisper.
"And tell your master, Vanong, that this is far from over." His words dripped with venom, the name twisted with hatred. "He thinks I've forgotten what he did... to Juanito."
Luke blinked, trying to focus through the pain. "Juanito?"
"His son," Godfrey spat, his fists clenched at the memory. "Juanito was my best friend. We fought together during the Spanish colonial period—vampire and human, against the werewolves and demons that infested Manila."
Luke's brow furrowed as he heard the bitterness in Godfrey's voice.
"Juanito was like a brother to me," Godfrey continued, his tone a deadly growl. "Until Vanong discovered Juanito had fallen in love with a werewolf. He killed him, Luke. Murdered his own son because of his hatred for the wolves, then erased every trace of him. Vanong banished every werewolf and wiped out their alliances with the vampires. And he never forgave me for trying to stop him."
Luke's eyes widened as the pieces of Vanong's past slowly fell into place. "So... this is revenge?"
Godfrey turned, his eyes burning with the weight of centuries-old pain. "This is justice. I'll see Vanong and every vampire council member brought to their knees for what they did to Juanito. But first... I'll claim the Ghost Alpha. And if you fail me again, Luke..."
Godfrey's voice trailed off, but the unspoken threat hung in the air like a blade over Luke's head.
"I won't," Luke rasped, his heart pounding.
"Good," Godfrey hissed. "Because if you do, you'll join Juanito in the grave."
With that, Godfrey vanished into the night, leaving Luke battered, humiliated, and more terrified than ever of what lay ahead.
****
Zyro stepped outside the dimly lit café just across the street from the grand, historical gates of the University of Santo Tomas. The air was thick with the usual Manila humidity, and the buzzing of students heading home for the night filled the background. Zyro scanned the area until his eyes landed on Violet, leaning casually against a lamppost, her dark hair cascading over her shoulders, a knowing smile playing on her lips.
She always had a way of blending into the night, yet drawing attention all the same. As Zyro approached her, he felt the weight of the ongoing conflict—the werewolves, the Ghost Alpha, and now, even more troubling, Godfrey's interest in Conrad.
"Didn't think I'd run into you here," Zyro said, his voice low, as he stopped a few feet away from her. "Seems like the perfect place for a secret rendezvous."
Violet smirked, tilting her head slightly. "I thought I'd check in on things... considering everything that's been happening lately." She glanced up at the massive UST Main Building behind her, its old stone facade glowing faintly in the night. "This place has a lot of history, doesn't it? Like the vampires... and the wolves."
Zyro sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Speaking of which, what do you know about the vampire coven and the werewolves? You always have your ear to the ground, and right now, I could use some information."
Violet's eyes flickered with interest, and she took a step closer to Zyro. "You're looking for answers about Godfrey, aren't you?"
Zyro nodded, his expression serious. "Yeah. After everything that went down with Vanong, and now Godfrey showing up... we're all tangled in something deeper than we thought."
Violet hesitated for a moment, then spoke. "The coven is in chaos, Zyro. Godfrey isn't just the first vampire; he's the most dangerous one out there. And he's taken a particular interest in the Ghost Alpha—Conrad."
Zyro's jaw tightened at the mention of Conrad. "Why does everyone want him? First the wolves, now the vampires..."
"Because he's powerful," Violet interrupted, her tone grave. "More powerful than even Conrad realizes. Godfrey sees him as a key to control—just like the werewolves do. He's a weapon, Zyro. And everyone wants to wield him."
Zyro shook his head, frustrated. "The covens, the wolves... if Godfrey gets involved, it'll be a full-scale war."
Violet looked at him thoughtfully. "I can tell you're worried about him... and about Bjorn too. You've all gotten yourselves wrapped up in something big. Bigger than even you realize."
Zyro scoffed, trying to mask his concern. "Yeah, well, I didn't sign up to be a detective in some ancient vampire-werewolf feud."
A soft smile tugged at the corner of Violet's lips. "You're more than a detective, Zyro. You've always been more than that."
Before Zyro could respond, Violet leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek, her lips lingering just for a second longer than necessary. The warmth of her kiss sent a surprising jolt through him, but before he could say anything, she pulled away, that enigmatic smile still on her face.
"Take care of yourself," Violet whispered, turning to walk away. "And tell Bjorn and Conrad to watch their backs. Godfrey isn't the only one hunting them."
Zyro watched as she disappeared into the night, blending into the shadows like she always did. His hand unconsciously touched his cheek where she had kissed him, the weight of her words sinking in.
Godfrey was after Conrad, and the game was far more dangerous than Zyro had imagined.