chapter 1

After finishing another exhausting day at work, I walked toward my car in the nearly empty parking lot, ready to finally go home. Just as I reached for the door handle, a strange sound echoed from the dark alley nearby—a muffled groan followed by silence. My heartbeat quickened when I noticed tiny droplets of blood scattered across the pavement. Fear mixed with curiosity as I slowly followed the crimson trail deeper into the shadows. The cold night air suddenly felt heavy the moment I stepped into the alley, and I froze in horror. There stood Lucien, my mysterious co-worker, his glowing crimson eyes locked onto me while his sharp fangs were buried deep into a man’s neck as he drank his blood.

"Are we doing this the easy way or the hard way?"

I swallowed nervously "The easy one, please," I murmured, my voice shaking.

Lucien's eyes narrowed at your trembling response. He released the unconscious man with a dismissive flick of his wrist, letting him collapse onto the grimy pavement. Blood dripped from Lucien's fangs, staining his lips crimson under the dim alley light.

"You're lucky I'm feeling generous tonight."

His voice was low and dangerous, each word dripping with centuries-old authority.

"Most humans who see me feed end up joining their friend here."

He took a slow step towards me , his movements predatory despite the casual gait. The scent of fresh blood clung to him like perfume, mingling with something darker - the unmistakable aura of a predator who had just fed.

"So let's make this clear right now,"

he continued, stopping barely an arm's length away from where I stood frozen against the brick wall.

"Your silence comes at a price."

"Okay, what is the price?" I asked, taking a step back.

Lucien's smirk widened at my retreat, revealing more of those sharp, deadly fangs.

"Smart girl,"

He purred, closing the distance between us again until my back pressed against the cold bricks.

"I like that about you."

His hand came up to rest beside my head, caging me in without actually touching me yet. The air around him seemed to grow colder, heavier with ancient power.

"The price is simple,"

he whispered, leaning down so his breath ghosted across my cheek.

"You belong to me now. No more walking home alone after dark. No dating other men. And whenever I need a snack..."

Wait...what ...

Lucien's smirk faltered for a moment, replaced by a flicker of irritation.

"What part didn't you understand? The 'belonging to me' part or the 'snack' part?"

He straightened up slightly, crossing his arms over his chest as he studied my confused expression. The alley lights cast shadows across his pale features, making him look even more otherworldly than usual.

"Are you really that dense? I'm offering you protection from things far worse than me in exchange for occasional access to your blood. It's a pretty good deal considering I could snap your neck right now and no one would ever find the body."

His tone grew sharper, losing some of its earlier seductive quality.

"But since you seem incapable of grasping basic concepts, let me simplify it further: say yes or start running because either way, our little secret isn't staying buried in this alley."

“I think it’d be better to snap my neck now than go with the snack option.”

Lucien's eyebrows shot up in genuine surprise, a rare emotion for someone who'd lived through millennia. A short, incredulous laugh escaped him.

"Well, aren't you full of surprises? Most people would be begging by now."

He leaned closer again, his face mere inches from mine. The coldness in his eyes softened into something almost amused.

"I have to admit, I'm intrigued. You'd rather die than become my... companion?"

His thumb brushed lightly against the wall next to my head, a deliberate reminder of how easily he could make good on his threat.

"That takes guts. Or maybe you're just stupid enough to believe I won't enjoy breaking you anyway."

The alley fell silent except for the distant city noise and Lucien's steady breathing. He seemed genuinely curious about my defiance, studying my face as if searching for an answer there.

“No… no… you should kill me now… before my blood loses its taste.”

"You know what? Change of plans,"

"And besides,"

Lucien continued, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper as he closed the remaining distance between them.

"I don't care if your blood tastes like watered-down cheap whiskey. What interests me is the challenge."

His hand came up to cup my chin firmly but not painfully, tilting my head back so you had to meet his intense gaze. The alley lights caught the gold flecks in his irises, making them glow with predatory fascination.

"You think you can resist me? Tell me no? That's priceless."

He leaned in closer, his lips brushing against the shell of my ear.

"Every time you try to run, every time you look at me with fear in those pretty eyes - that's just extra seasoning for what I want to do to you."

His free hand slid down my side possessively, coming to rest on my hip.

“Well, you wanted a snack, right? I got you one… now can I finally go home?”

Lucien's grip on my hip tightened for a fraction of a second, a spark of genuine shock flashing in his eyes before being quickly masked by his usual arrogant confidence. He threw his head back and laughed, the sound sharp and mocking in the otherwise quiet alley.

"Oh, you're a real piece of work, aren't you?"

He released my abruptly and took a step back, wiping his hands together as if cleaning them of contamination.

"Offering yourself up like some kind of willing sacrifice. How utterly pathetic."

His lip curled in disgust as he gestured dismissively at my trembling form.

"Do you honestly think that makes me want you more? That makes me want anything to do with this pitiful display?"

He moved past me toward the alley entrance, pausing only to glance back over his shoulder.

"Fine. Go home. Run along like the good little human you are.

"Okay...bye...don't follow me...

Lucien's jaw clenched at my cheerful dismissal, the casual way i thanked him for sparing my life grating on his ancient nerves. The sheer audacity of this mortal woman treating him like some common errand boy was infuriating.

" Don't flatter yourself,"

he called out sharply as I started walking away.

"This isn't over. Not by a long shot."

Then he murmured to himself while watching i disappear.

“You seem to be misunderstanding our arrangement,” he said dangerously softly. “When I say you belong to me, it means exactly that. Your home, your safety, your very existence — all of it falls under my protection now.”

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***