Page 8 of Beyond Fate

Damon had been running for miles through the dense forest in his wolf form. He finally reached a ridge then shifted and sat on a large rock. The rough, uneven surface beneath him dug into his palms as he leaned back, but he enjoyed how his bare skin prickled under the warm rays of the midday sun.

The town of Midnight Falls was sprawled out below him, its quaint buildings and winding roads blended seamlessly with the wild forest surrounding it.

In the distance, Damon could see the shimmering waters of a river and imagined how good the cold water would feel on his heated skin.

The view was breathtaking, but the quietness surrounding him only amplified his feelings of isolation. For the first time in his life, Damon felt truly alone.

He resented his family for forcing this kind of fate on him.

He resented the Ultionem for turning him into something he never wanted to be.

He resented Casimir for…a few reasons.

But most of all, Damon hated himself for becoming an aggressive, self-loathing mutant. If given the choice between the ancient sleep or becoming a freak, Damon would have chosen the sleep.

Being a Frost had always been a source of pride for Damon. He came from a lineage of fierce and respected wolf shifters, but now he no longer felt like a true member of his own family.

With a sniff, he pressed his thumb and middle finger into his eyelids, trying his best to hold the tears back.

“Fuck, since when did you become a crier?” he murmured.

All he wanted was to be his old self again, but now he didn't even know who that was anymore. He didn’t even know where he belonged in his strange new reality or even what to call himself.

A wolf shifter hybrid? A wolf shifter/vampire/winged beast/demon/shadow elf/dark fae amalgamation with unknown powers surging inside of him?

Okay, maybe that one was a bit too wordy.

But he hadn’t just lost his sense of identity. Damon no longer felt like Jaytee’s twin. His brother didn’t have five-foot feathery wings or a set of fangs. And he definitely didn’t thirst for blood.

Honestly, it was Casimir who he agonized over the most. Damon felt like an emotional train wreck where the warrior was concerned.

Despite his conflicting feelings toward Casimir, Damon still felt their deep connection. Yet every time they were near each other, Damon’s aggression magnified, and he lashed out at him.

“Oh my god.” Damon laughed through a few fallen tears. “You are a goddamn mess, you pity-party-throwing asshole.”

He sniffed and wiped at his eyes. Then froze as a seductive aroma drifted toward him, causing his throat to tighten with a powerful thirst. Sweat. Human. Most likely a hiker.

Then came the sound of a rapid heartbeat. The rhythmic flow of blood through their veins beckoned to him like a siren’s song, mesmerizing and impossible to resist.

Give me your word you will not feed from anyone or anything besides me.

Casimir had been right, and now the hunger consumed him entirely.

Slowly rising to his feet, Damon breathed in deeply, pulling the delicious fragrance farther into his lungs. His fangs lengthened as he craved the taste of warm, pulsing blood.

No! Clenching his fists, Damon squeezed his eyes shut and released a long exhale, fighting the internal struggle raging inside of him. His shifter conscience pleaded with him not to harm the innocent, but his vampire impulses screamed for him to give in and feed.

Damon’s eyes snapped open when the heartbeat grew closer. His stomach twisted with hunger as his throat squeezed tighter.

In that moment, nothing else mattered except sinking his fangs into soft, giving flesh and satiating his need for blood. With a steady, glowing hand held out in front of him, Damon created a thick fog that spread outward, cloaking his approach and disorienting the hiker.

Her sweat mixed with the dampness of the fog created a sickly-sweet smell that made his mouth water.

Damon’s breath quickened, and his heart beat faster as he reached a shaky hand toward her. She was so close he could practically taste her fear as she spun in confusion.

Just as he was about to grab her, something large and powerful slammed into him with a deep, menacing snarl. With a bone-crunching thud, he collided into a nearby tree.

Springing off the tree and crouching defensively, he scanned his surroundings.

---