~ Northern wing of the witches realm~
In the northern wing of the Witches' Realm — a fortress carved from obsidian and moonstone — a man sat alone. Silver-white hair cascaded around his shoulders like winter snow, contrasting sharply with his emerald green eyes. His beauty was ethereal, almost dangerous, the kind that made mortals forget to breathe.
Nicolas
He stared at the flickering candlelight, lost in thoughts that had festered through decades of forced sleep. The room around him was grand — embroidered tapestries, enchanted plants glowing faintly, and shelves of ancient spellbooks — yet the loneliness in his eyes eclipsed all the luxury.
The door creaked open, breaking the silence. A woman stepped in — brown hair, dark eyes, her beauty regal but shadowed by bitterness.
Diana.
She approached him cautiously. "Nicolas… how are your injuries?" Her voice trembled slightly, betraying concern buried under exhaustion. "You've been asleep for decades. Do you… remember what happened?"
He didn't hesitate.
"I remember everything."
Diana stiffened.
Nicolas turned his gaze toward her, calm but burning beneath the surface. "Is she still alive?" His fingers curled into fists. "Is she still with him?"
Diana's expression soured instantly. "Can't you forget about that woman? She killed you."
"That was because I hurt her," he replied softly — strangely proud of the wound her memory caused.
Diana slammed her palms on the table between them. "She killed you, Nicolas."
"And I will not rest," he said, standing slowly, "until she agrees to be mine . She can hate me. She can curse me. But she will be mine."
Diana let out a sharp, humorless laugh. The sound echoed painfully in the quiet room.
"So when you wake up — after decades — the very first thing you think of is her?" Jealousy cracked her voice. "I healed you. I guarded your body. I sacrificed years of my life…"
Nicolas's gaze softened briefly. "And I appreciate you, Diana."
"It doesn't sound like it," she shot back.
He exhaled deeply, pressing a hand over his chest — over the heart that had refused to stop beating only because it was not done yearning.
"I need her back," he whispered. "She is the only friend I have."
"Friend?" Diana's voice broke. "What about me, Nick? I've been by your side for centuries. Doesn't that mean anything?"
Silence.
Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she stepped closer.
"If she was truly so important to you… why did you destroy everything she loved?" Diana demanded. "Why attack the realm she cherished? Why try to kill the man she gave her heart to? If you loved her… why burn her world?"
Nicolas's jaw tightened.
"Because those were the only obstacles that kept her from loving me."
Diana stared at him in disbelief. "You are insane…"
He didn't deny it.
"I thought," she whispered bitterly, "that once you woke up, you would realize your mistakes. But I wasted decades caring for a man who hasn't changed at all."
Nicolas turned away, as if the sight of her pain was an inconvenience.
"You don't understand," he murmured.
"Oh, I understand perfectly," Diana snapped. "She was your first love. And instead of protecting her happiness, you tried to rip it away."
Nicolas's hands trembled, memories clawing at his sanity.
"I didn't go mad…" he muttered defensively. "I just—lost control."
"Lost control?" Diana's laugh was cold. "Your powers were already too strong for a single realm to contain. You should have thought before losing control!"
He closed his eyes.
If he admitted she was right, even for a moment, he feared he'd crumble.
Diana's voice softened — not from kindness, but from exhaustion.
"She hates you now. Everyone does."
He finally looked at her — really looked.
And for the first time, his eyes showed something besides obsession:
Regret.
"I never wanted to be her enemy," he said, voice low. "I just wanted her to see me."
Diana shook her head. "But she never did. And now? You are only the monster who ruined her kingdom."
Nicolas said nothing — because the truth echoed too loud to deny.
---
Far beyond the walls of the witches' stronghold, across realms torn by history and magic…
A crimson moon loomed over the Vampire Realm.
Where war was brewing.
Where jealousy sharpened blades in secret…
Where the wrong heartbeat could start another era of bloodshed.
And somewhere in the dark —
Her fate waited to collide once again with Nicolas's obsession.
Whether she wanted it or not.
Queen Erin's POV
"Erin, be focused. You've been getting too distracted these days. Your powers will soon be unsealed, and when that happens, you'll remember everything." Aunt Mona's voice cut sharply through the air.
We were training again—just like we had for months now. Sometimes I trained with Father, other times with Eric. Father was always gentle, too gentle. But Eric? He was rough, relentless. And truthfully, I preferred that. I needed real pain, real challenge, if I wanted to grow stronger.
I had gotten stronger—my reflexes faster, my body tougher—but my true power still slept within me. Locked away. Eric said my body had to be physically strong enough before it could handle the power sealed inside me. So, I trained harder. I wanted to access it soon... I needed to.
I had to get back to Micha and Kate. They must be worried sick. It didn't even cross my mind before that they might think I was dead. I only thought they'd assume I was missing.
"Stop spacing out!" Aunt Mona's voice rang again. "You're too distracted today. That'll be all for now. Tomorrow, we'll focus on breaking the barriers around your power."
And just like that, she left—cold and composed as always.
---
As I walked through the corridor, I realized I'd gotten used to this place. The marble floors, the tall archways, the crimson drapes—it all felt like home now.
Maids and guards bowed as I passed, and I gave them a small nod. Even after months here, I wasn't sure how I felt about being treated like a queen.
When I entered my room, I found Eric already there.
"Hey—why are you in my room?" I asked, raising a suspicious brow.
He lifted a hand casually, pointing at a small blood bag on the table. "Just came to drop this off."
Of course. Queen Erin was a vampire now. And vampires needed blood.
At first, I'd refused. The thought of drinking human blood made me sick—it felt cruel, inhumane. But that changed the moment I had my first taste. That metallic sweetness... I couldn't stop. It was heaven, addictive in a way I couldn't explain. Maybe it was because I wasn't a weak omega anymore. I wasn't the weak Michelle they once knew.
"Thanks," I muttered, taking the bag and gulping it down in one go. When I looked up, Eric was smiling at me.
"Wow," he chuckled. "You really enjoy it now. I still remember your face the first day you tried it—it was hilarious. It's been five months already. I'm glad you're adjusting, even without your memories."
I smiled faintly. "Five months… yeah. I just can't wait to go back to the Werewolf Realm. They must still be searching for me by now, it's been just five months."
Eric's expression shifted. "What do you mean, five months? It's been five years—in the Werewolf Realm."
I froze. "What? Five years?"
He nodded. "Yes. This is the Vampire Realm, Erin. Time doesn't flow the same here. A month here equals a year there. I thought you already knew that."
I couldn't speak. Five years... Five whole years had passed? Micha, Kate—everyone I knew—must have thought I was gone forever. I clenched my fists. I couldn't waste any more time. I had to break my seal and return. No matter what.
---
In the Alpha's office, papers were scattered everywhere. The place reeked of alcohol—an almost-empty whisky bottle sat beside a half-filled glass. Behind the desk, Alpha Levi's wolf, Magnus,who took over the body due to the rage he felt when he lost his mate , sat in silence, listening as a trembling woman spoke.
"It's been five years, Levi. Five years," she said, her voice cracking. "Why don't you just kill me already? I keep telling you—I didn't kill her! I didn't kill Michelle! I only hit her that day. I made a mistake. I'm sorry. I just… I just want to be free."
Magnus leaned back in his chair, eyes cold. "But you are free, Clara. You're not in a dungeon anymore. You can walk wherever you like in the pack. Your father's influence got you out—you should be grateful."
"How can I be grateful when everyone treats me like trash?" she snapped, tears filling her eyes.
He smirked. "That's because you are trash—a bully who enjoyed hurting others. So tell me, Clara, how does it feel now? How does it feel to be the one people walk over? To be hated? Make sure you enjoy it… because it's going to last for a very, very long time."
"I'm telling you the truth, Levi!" Clara sobbed. "I don't know how or why she died, but it wasn't me!"
Magnus voice tightened, cold fury lacing every word. "It doesn't matter if it wasn't you. You beat her, you hurt her—and she died. That's all that matters."