Page 103 of Claimed By Fur and Fangs

The vampire hesitated, but I didn’t wait. I rushed to Finn’s side, my hands shaking as I cradled his face in my hands.

“Finn…” My voice cracked, tears welling up in my eyes. He was so weak. His eyes flickered open, but he couldn’t speak.

And then, I felt it. The air grew colder. From the shadows, Vera stepped forward, a smirk curling on her lips. Her eyes gleamed with dark satisfaction.

“Well, well, Aidan,” she purred, her voice mocking. “Still the hero. How predictable" is it?

She laughed softly, the sound cruel and haunting.

“You really thought you could stop me? That you could save him?” Her gaze shifted to Finn, who was barely clinging to life. “It’s too late.”

I stood up, stepping between Vera and Finn, my body trembling with both fear and anger. “You’ll never get away with this, Vera,” I said, my voice shaking. “We’re taking him back.”

She took a step closer, her mocking laughter echoing through the cold warehouse.

“I see why Aidan fell in love with you… You’re just as brave as Alma was…” Vera taunted.

“Get away from her…” Aidan said, his voice laced with fury.

“You look just like her too, but the difference is…” She grinned, stepping even closer, eyes flashing with wicked amusement. “She loved just one man. But you, Amelia? You love two.”

Her words cut deep, and I felt a rush of protective anger surge within me, but before I could say anything, Vera turned her mocking attention back to Aidan.

“You’re a very strong vampire. Head of the vampires, in fact,” she continued, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “But despite all that power, you decided to share your woman. How weak, Aidan.

The words stung, but Aidan remained stoic for only a moment.

“How dare you!” Aidan snapped.

His eyes blazed with fury as he lunged at her, but before he could reach her, Vera held out her hand, and with a swift movement, her grip tightened around his throat.

“Don’t make the same mistake our father did,” she warned, her voice a low, dangerous whisper. “You wouldn’t want to follow in his footsteps, would you?”

Aidan’s eyes widened with realization, his struggle momentarily ceasing.

“What did you do to our father?” Aidan’s voice broke through, raw with both pain and rage.

Vera's smirk only widened as the vampires held him down, forcing him to his knees in front of her, their grip unyielding as Aidan struggled.

“Aidan!” I screamed.

A wave of helplessness washed over me as I looked at Aidan. I couldn’t do anything. My mind raced, trying to find a way to help him, to help us. But Vera was always one step ahead.

“You are just like him, Aidan,” Vera said, her tone cold. “Stubborn, full of pride. But in the end, you’re just as weak as he was.” She looked at him with a twisted amusement, her fingers tracing his chin.

“Why are you doing this?” I cried out.

“Well, you should ask your boyfriend, I turned into this heartless monster because of him,” Vera said.

“What do you mean? What did I do?” Aidan asked, immersed in confusion.

Vera’s smirk only deepened. She let Aidan struggle as she slowly walked around him, enjoying the torment in his eyes.

“You don’t understand, do you, Aidan?” she purred. “I’m the monster I am because of you.”

What is she talking about?I thought.

Vera’s gaze turned icy, her voice turning bitter.

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