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Jacob’s POV

The moonlight shimmered off the pavement as Jenny and I strolled down the quiet streets of the city, her hand tucked securely in mine. After everything that had happened—the attacks, the chaos in the vampire realm, the news of Sophia’s pregnancy, Aldric’s death—I wanted to give Jenny a moment to breathe, to feel human again. Hell, I wanted to feel human again, even if just for one night.

I glanced over at her. She was smiling, but I could see the worry behind her eyes, the shadows of everything that had happened lingering just beneath the surface. It had only been a few months since she had been turned into a vampire against her will, and she was still adjusting. It took a lot of time to adjust. Some days were better than others. Tonight, I just wanted to see her happy, to make her forget the madness surrounding us, if only for a few hours.

“You look beautiful,” I said softly, squeezing her hand.

Jenny laughed, a soft, melodic sound that made me relax a little. “You always say that,” she teased, her lips curving into a small smile. “You know you don’t have to butter me up anymore, right?”

I smirked, shrugging. “I’m not buttering you up. Just stating the facts.”

She rolled her eyes but leaned into me as we walked, and for a moment, things felt… normal. Like they used to be, before all of this. Before vampires and werewolves and council meetings and rebellions. Before the constant danger.

We reached a small Italian restaurant I had picked out, tucked away on a quiet corner of the city. It was the kind of place that felt cozy and intimate, with dim lighting and soft music playing in the background. The smell of fresh bread and garlic wafted through the air as we stepped inside, and I could see Jenny’s shoulders relax a little.

“Smells amazing,” she said, glancing up at me. “Good choice.”

I grinned, pulling out a chair for her as we sat down at a small table near the window. “Only the best for you.”

As the waiter came by and we ordered our food, it almost felt like we were just a regular couple again, out on a date like normal people. Jenny’s eyes sparkled as she looked around the restaurant, taking in the ambiance. For the first time in what felt like forever, the tension between us seemed to lift, and I found myself laughing with her over stupid things—the way the waiter’s accent sounded so forced, the terrible paintings on the walls that looked like they were drawn by a five-year-old.

For a while, everything felt right.

But then, the unease started to creep in. I could feel it—like a shift in the air, a subtle change in the atmosphere. Like the danger was back and we were no longer alone. Call it being paranoid or just vamp instinct. I couldn’t tell which. I glanced toward the window, my eyes narrowing as I scanned the street outside. Nothing looked out of place, but I knew better than to trust appearances. There was always something lurking beneath the surface.

“Jacob?” Jenny’s voice pulled me back, and I looked over at her. “You okay?”

I forced a smile, nodding. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just… being paranoid, I guess.”

She raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. “Paranoid about what?”

I hesitated, not wanting to ruin the night. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. “I don’t know. Just… keep your eyes open, okay?”

Jenny frowned, her expression shifting from playful to serious in an instant. She knew me well enough to trust my instincts. “Do you think someone’s watching us?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “But I don’t like the vibe out there.”

We continued with dinner, but the carefree atmosphere was gone, replaced by an undercurrent of tension that neither of us could ignore. Jenny’s eyes darted to the window every few minutes, and I kept my senses sharp, listening for anything out of place.

Then, just as we were finishing our meal, I heard it—a soft sound, barely noticeable, but enough to make my blood run cold. The sound of footsteps, too light and too quick to be human. My muscles tensed as I glanced toward the door, and that’s when I saw them.

Two figures, standing in the shadows outside the restaurant, watching us. I couldn’t make out their faces, but I didn’t need to. The way they stood, the way their bodies shifted with barely restrained power—I knew they were vampires. And they weren’t here for dinner.

“Jenny,” I said quietly, my voice steady. “We need to leave. Now.”

Her eyes widened as she followed my gaze, and she nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. We stood up, trying to act casual as we walked toward the door. But the moment we stepped outside, I knew it was too late.

They were waiting for us.

The two vampires stepped forward, their eyes gleaming in the darkness. I pushed Jenny behind me, my body instinctively moving into a defensive stance.

“Well, well,” one of them said, his voice dripping with amusement. “Looks like we caught the lovebirds out for a little stroll.”

“Bad timing,” the other one added with a grin, his fangs glinting in the moonlight.

I didn’t waste time with words. I lunged at the first vampire, my fist connecting with his jaw with enough force to send him staggering back. But before I could follow up, the second one was on me, tackling me to the ground. I fought him off, rolling to my feet just in time to see Jenny launching herself at the first one, her eyes glowing with the intensity of her vampire power.

She was holding her own, but I could see the strain on her face. She wasn’t as experienced as I was in combat, and these guys were strong—too strong for this to be a random attack. Someone had sent them.

The second vampire came at me again, and I barely dodged his swipe, grabbing him by the throat and slamming him against the wall. “Who sent you?” I growled, my fangs bared.

He just grinned, his eyes gleaming with malice. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

Before I could press him further, he broke free from my grip, delivering a powerful kick to my chest that sent me crashing into the side of the building. Pain exploded through my ribs, but I pushed it aside, getting to my feet as fast as I could.

I glanced over at Jenny. She had managed to knock the first vampire down, but he was getting up, his eyes burning with fury. “Jenny!” I shouted, rushing toward her.

But before I could reach her, the second vampire grabbed me from behind, dragging me backward. I twisted, delivering a sharp elbow to his gut, but it wasn’t enough. He slammed me into the ground, pinning me with his weight as he leaned down, his fangs inches from my neck.

“Say goodbye,” he hissed, his breath hot against my skin.

My vision blurred as I struggled beneath him, but just as his fangs grazed my throat, a loud crash echoed through the street. The vampire’s grip loosened for a split second, and I took my chance, shoving him off me with all the strength I had left.

I scrambled to my feet, my chest heaving as I looked around. Jenny had managed to knock the other vampire out cold, and she was rushing toward me, her eyes wide with fear.

“Jacob!” she cried, her voice trembling. “Are you okay?”

I nodded, though my body felt like it had been run over by a truck. “I’m fine. We need to get out of here.”

We didn’t wait to see if the vampires would get up. Grabbing Jenny’s hand, I pulled her away from the restaurant, my heart pounding in my chest as we ran through the streets with inhumane speed, our feet light against the ground. We had barely escaped with our lives.

Whoever had sent those vampires had clearly wanted us dead.

And this wasn’t over yet.