Chapter 1 The Dream

ARIA'S POV

I panted heavily as I ran through the dark, eerie forest. The trees seemed to close in around me, their branches like skeletal fingers reaching out to snatch me. The moon cast long, ominous shadows on the ground, making it seem like the trees were moving, twisting and turning to trap me.

I could hear the sound of my own ragged breathing, and the pounding of my heart in my chest. My legs ached as I ran, my feet pounding against the dry earth. I could feel the rough bark of the trees scraping against my skin as I brushed past them.

Suddenly, I heard a low growl behind me. It was a deep, menacing sound that seemed to vibrate through the air. I didn't dare look back, fearing what I might see. Instead, I poured all my energy into running, my legs pumping furiously as I tried to put as much distance between myself and the unknown threat.

But no matter how fast I ran, the growling seemed to get closer. I could feel eyes on me, boring into my skin like cold, calculating fingers. My skin crawled with fear, and I knew I couldn't keep running forever.

Just when I thought my legs were going to give out, I tripped over a root and fell hard to the ground. I tried to scramble to my feet, but my ankle twisted beneath me, sending a searing pain through my leg.

As I looked up, I saw a massive grey werewolf emerging from the darkness. Its eyes glowed yellowish-golden in the moonlight, and its sharp teeth seemed to gleam with an otherworldly intelligence.

The werewolf began to stalk towards me, its eyes fixed on me like a predator sizing up its prey. I tried to scramble backward, but my legs felt heavy, as if rooted to the spot.

The werewolf's eyes seemed to bore into mine, and I felt a strange sense of recognition. And then, in an instant, the werewolf transformed into a tall, handsome man with torn clothes and piercing yellowish-golden eyes.

"Mate," he whispered, his voice low and husky.

And then, everything went black.

I woke up with a start, my heart still racing from the vivid dream. I sat up in bed, gasping for breath, and looked around my darkened room. The moonlight streaming through the window cast eerie shadows on the walls, making me feel like I was still trapped in the forest.

I rubbed my eyes, trying to shake off the feeling of unease that lingered from the dream. But the image of the werewolf's piercing yellowish-golden eyes stayed with me, haunting me like a ghost.

I threw off the covers and got out of bed, padding over to the window to gaze out at the night sky. The moon was full, casting a silver glow over the landscape. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I gazed out at the darkness, feeling a sense of vulnerability.

As I stood there, lost in thought, the sound of my phone buzzing on the nightstand broke the silence. I picked it up, checking the screen. It was a text from Ella, asking me to meet up at the cafe tomorrow.

I smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. Maybe getting out of the house and spending time with my friends would help me forget about the dream. I quickly typed out a response, agreeing to meet Ella, and then headed to get ready for the day.

But as I got dressed and ready, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. The dream had felt so real, and the image of the werewolf's eyes lingered in my mind like a warning.

I pushed the thoughts aside and focused on getting ready for the day. I had no idea what lay ahead, but I was determined to face it head-on.

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....At the cafe....

As I walked into the cozy cafe, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee enveloped me, and the soft hum of conversation filled the air. My friends Ella and Rose waved enthusiastically from a corner table by the window, where they sat watching the rain-soaked streets outside.

Ella, with her long, curly brown hair and bright smile, was already sipping on a latte, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Rose, with her chic outfit and bold accessories, was typing away on her phone, her dry wit and clever observations always at the ready.

Ella is a bubbly and outgoing person with a contagious laugh. Her long, curly brown hair often cascaded down her back like a waterfall, and her bright smile could light up a room. Ella is always the first to offer advice or encouragement, and her positive energy is infectious.

Rose, on the other hand, is a bit more reserved, with a dry sense of humor that often caught me off guard. Her sharp wit and clever observations made her a loyal and trusted friend. Rose's style was effortlessly chic, with a fondness for bold accessories and statement pieces.

I joined them, feeling a sense of normalcy wash over me after the vivid dream. "Hey, what's up?" I asked, dropping into the vacant chair beside them.

We were just discussing the latest school gossip," Ella said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "But you seemed lost in thought. What's on your mind?"

I hesitated, unsure how much to share about my dream. "Just stress about school, I guess," I replied, trying to brush it off.

Rose raised an eyebrow. "You're not still thinking about that dream, are you?"

I nodded slowly, my eyes drifting away from theirs. "Yeah, it's just... it felt so real."

" I've told you that can only mean one thing " Rose said and I rolled my eyes.

" Oh please don't say that " I said.

" But I haven't said anything " she said

" I can never be a mate to a werewolf, those horrible cruel creatures " I said and this time Rose rolled her eyes.

" Is it because your parents were killed by the werewolves " she said

" Rose ? " Ella glared at her for bringing up my deceased parents.

" What ? " Rose said.

" Yes, that's the reason why. Those animals took my parents away from me and there's no way I'm ever going to be a mate to a werewolf " I said even though I knew that nothing I did was ever going to change the fact that my mate was a werewolf and the dream was just a sign.

" But it's your fate and every girl wishes to be the mate of a werewolf and an alpha at that " Rose said.

" Me too... I wished to be the mate of a handsome werewolf " Ella said and then she pouted her lips " But too bad I can't get one for myself "

" Well not me... I rather prefer a hot looking vampire guy, they are much tamed than those cruel werewolves " I said with a scoff.

Just then, a handsome stranger caught my eye. He sat alone at the far end of the cafe, his eyes fixed on his phone. There was something about him that drew me in.

"Who's that?" I whispered to Ella, nodding discreetly toward the stranger.

Ella followed my gaze and smiled knowingly. "That's Jason, the new student. He's a vampire."

My eyes widened in surprise. "A vampire?"

Rose chimed in, "Word is, he's from a pretty influential family."

As we watched, Jason looked up and caught my eye, flashing a brief smile before returning to his phone. Those red beautiful eyes that had stared back at me for a few seconds made me feel butterflies in my stomach.

I had always wished to end up with a vampire guy who would love and cherish me just like the way my father did to my mother before they both died trying to protect my brother and I from the war years ago.

My father was a vampire and my mother was human and they were both killed by the werewolves. Since then me and my younger brother Kai loathed the werewolves after what they did to our parents.

The sound of the bell broke me from my reverie and I and my friends left the cafe going back to class.

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...In the school hallway....

As I closed my locker, I felt a presence behind me. I turned to see Jason standing a few feet away, leaning against another locker with his arms crossed over his chest. His piercing red eyes locked onto mine, and I felt a shiver run down my spine.

"Hi," he said, his deep voice sending a flutter through my chest.

I smiled, trying to play it cool. "Hi."

Jason pushed off the locker and walked towards me, his eyes never leaving mine. "I'm Jason," he said, his voice low and smooth. "But you can call me Jay."

I felt a blush rise to my cheeks as he stood close to me, his eyes scanning my face. "I'm Aria," I replied, trying to sound casual.

Jason smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Beautiful name for a beautiful girl."

I felt my heart skip a beat at his words. No one had ever called me beautiful before, and I didn't know how to react.

"Thanks," I muttered, looking away.

Jason chuckled, his eyes still on me. "You're welcome."

We stood there for a moment, the silence between us awkward but not uncomfortable. I couldn't help but notice how handsome Jason was, with his chiseled features and piercing red eyes.

It was so clear that he was from a rich family judging from the clothes he was wearing.

His thick brows were neatly carved upwards giving him a cool look over his attractive features. His red eyes matched his red hair and tanned skin. His nose was pointed and straight and his lips were gorgeously red and I felt like touching them to feel how soft it was.

Finally, Jason broke the silence. "I saw you staring at me in the cafe earlier."

I felt a flush rise to my cheeks. "I wasn't staring," I lied.

Jason raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Really?"

I nodded, feeling a little embarrassed. "Yeah, really."

Jason smiled, his eyes glinting with humor. "Okay, I won't push the issue."

We stood there for another moment, the tension between us palpable. I couldn't help but wonder what Jason was thinking, what he wanted from me.

"Well, it was nice meeting you, Aria," Jason said finally, breaking the silence.

"Yeah, you too," I replied, feeling a little disappointed that our encounter was ending so soon.

As Jason turned to leave, I called out to him. "Hey, Jason?"

He turned back, his eyes questioning. "Yeah?"

"You didn't tell me your last name," I said, feeling a little silly.

Jason smiled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "That's because I didn't want to overwhelm you with too much information at once."

I laughed, feeling a sense of relief. "Fair enough."

Jason nodded, his eyes still on mine. "I'll see you around, Aria."

As he walked away, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. Who was Jason, really? And what did he want from me?

My reverie broke when I heard someone hissed loud enough for me to hear and I could see some girls glaring dangerously at me.

The witches, the vampires and even humans like me but I just ignored them all and walked away to get my younger brother.

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As I walked into my house, I dropped my backpack on the floor, the soft thud echoing through the hallway. I kicked off my shoes, feeling the cool wooden floor beneath my feet. The creaking of the floorboards beneath my feet was a familiar sound, one that brought me comfort.

As I entered my room, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. My sanctuary. My haven. The soft lighting and plush furnishings enveloped me, calming my frazzled nerves. I glanced around the room, taking in the familiar sights. The walls were painted a soothing shade of light purple, and the furniture was a mix of modern and vintage pieces. My favorite books, artwork, and sentimental trinkets adorned the shelves, each one telling a story.

I walked over to my desk, cluttered with books, papers, and writing supplies. My bookshelf was filled with my favorite novels and poetry collections, the worn spines a testament to my love for reading. A string of fairy lights hung from the ceiling, casting a warm glow over the room.

It was raining outside, the sound of raindrops hitting the windowpane creating a soothing melody. I was grateful to be indoors, wrapped up in my fur coat jacket and thick socks to ward off the chill.

I walked over to my nightstand and picked up my phone, wrapped in a purple cover. I slipped on my Bluetooth earbuds and selected Elastic Heart by Sia. The music filled my ears, and I felt my tension ease.

As the music played, I flopped down on my bed, feeling exhausted from the day's events. My mind began to replay the encounter with Jason, the vampire guy who had talked to me after school and I couldn't help but smile. I couldn't believe it had actually happened.

I opened WhatsApp and typed out a message to my friends.

"Hi girls, guess what? The hot new vampire guy talked to me today after school. Gosh, I almost blushed to death."

I waited for their responses, munching on a piece of chocolate from my drawer. The sweetness hit my taste buds, and I savored the moment.

A few minutes later, my phone buzzed with incoming messages. I chuckled as I read their responses.

"OMG, are you serious?" from Ella.

"You're kidding, right?" from Rose.

"Come on, say something Aria" from Ella.

"What did he say?" from Ella.

I smiled, imagining their shocked expressions. I typed out a response, my fingers flying across the screen.

"I'm so damn serious, guys. I mean, I was surprised to see him standing beside me. Oh my gosh, he's so cute."

As I waited for their next responses, I felt a flutter in my chest. What did Jason's interest mean? Was he just being friendly, or was there something more?

Rose's response came next. "Tomorrow at school, you'll give us full details of what happened."

I replied, "Smiles... Sure I will, Good night guys, love you guys."

"Sweet dreams, we love you too" from both Rose and Ella, sent almost simultaneously.

I kept my phone back on the nightstand and turned off the light. As I covered myself with the duvet, my mind began to replay my conversation with Jason. The memory sent a flutter through my chest, and I closed my eyes, a sweet smile still on my face.

As I drifted off to sleep, my thoughts lingered on Jason, and I wondered what would tomorrow bring?