Avenging Luna
Chapter 122: My Mate’s A Vampire

Chapter 122: My Mate’s A Vampire

Leila’s POV:

I certainly wasn’t expecting to see Chase as I arrived at the café for my shift. After everything that had happened, I thought I had put him and his bizarre, irritating presence behind me. But fate seemed to have other plans.

Lucy had come with me, offering to stay with Ash while I worked. She was always so sweet, helping out whenever she could. Ash, of course, was blissfully unaware of the strange, complicated situation swirling around us. I had promised her I’d work hard, and in return, she’d help me out when I needed a break.

As we entered the café, I immediately saw him. Chase.

He was sitting at one of the tables, looking almost out of place in the cozy, familiar environment. His hair was a mess, and his posture was off—like something was weighing heavily on him. I tried not to react, tried to ignore the flutter in my chest that inexplicably surged at the sight of him. I could feel my wolf stir, too. Layla was on edge, as if she knew something I didn’t. I didn’t need this right now. I didn’t need him right now.

Lucy, being Lucy, spotted him immediately, of course. She was one of those people who knew everyone, and she practically glowed with warmth when she greeted him, calling out his name. To my surprise, Chase looked genuinely surprised to see her. For a moment, he seemed caught off guard, like he hadn’t been expecting to see anyone, let alone someone he knew.

I tried to focus on my work as I moved to the counter, but the conversation they were having was hard to ignore. I could hear Lucy’s cheerful voice and Chase’s lower, almost distracted one.

""Just didn’t expect to see you here with a baby."" Chase said, and I could hear the genuine curiosity in his tone.

"Yep," Lucy replied brightly, clearly proud. "His name is Ash. He’s about three months old now." There was a pause, and I could practically feel Chase’s eyes on Ash, though I wasn’t sure why. Was it normal for a man to be so fascinated by a baby?

Then I heard a shift in the air—a change in Chase’s demeanor. The energy around him became strange, almost unsettling. I couldn’t explain it. His voice grew quieter, more intense. "He’s cute," he said, his words a little too forced. And then... then I swear I saw it. Just a quick flash—a flash of his eyes turning red.

I froze. My heart skipped a beat. I wasn’t imagining it, right? His eyes... red. Vampires had red eyes, didn’t they?

"Chase?" I called out, my voice a little shaky before I could stop myself. I couldn’t hide the concern creeping into my tone. "You alright?"

He didn’t answer immediately. When he did, his voice was different—faster, a little more strained. "I need to go," he said, getting to his feet abruptly.

I watched him leave, my stomach churning with a strange sense of unease. I tried to brush it off, tried to convince myself it was nothing. But Layla... she was on high alert, growling faintly inside me. Something was wrong. I felt it.

"I’ll be right back," I told Lucy quickly, my voice strained with an edge of worry. I didn’t know what it was—maybe it was the strange feeling that had settled in my chest, or maybe it was just Layla telling me to follow him. Whatever it was, I couldn’t ignore it.

I left the café and looked around the street, but Chase was already gone.

The tightness in my chest grew. I should’ve followed him sooner. What if he was in danger? What if I was in danger? What if—

A sound snapped me out of my spiraling thoughts. A shuffle in the alley beside the café. A movement I couldn’t quite place, something off in the air. My heart raced in response.

I followed the sound, not even thinking twice. My body seemed to know what it was doing before my mind caught up. And then, in the dark alley, I saw him—Chase, struggling with someone. No. Not just someone—something. It smelled of blood, of decay.

A vampire.

I could see the glint of large claw or some other weapon in the other figure’s hand as they tried to pin Chase to the ground. And there it was—that pull. The deep, primal urge inside me to protect him. Layla surged forward, her strength and instincts overtaking my human consciousness. Half-shifting, my senses sharp and heightened, I pounced.

I didn’t even think about what I was doing. My claws—sharpened and deadly—scratched at the air before they found their mark, ripping into the figure’s side with a satisfying screech of pain.

The vampire let out a howl of surprise as I tore into him. He turned sharply, but I didn’t let him. With the force of my wolf driving me, I pounced again, knocking the vampire off of Chase. He was fast, far faster than I had anticipated. The rogue vampire grabbed at my arm, yanking me aside with brute strength. But I was stronger than that. My wolf was stronger.

Chase, struggling to get back to his feet, growled. "Get out of here, Leila!" he yelled through gritted teeth, but I wasn’t going anywhere. Not now. Not with him in danger.

The rogue vampire hissed, showing his sharp, elongated fangs. His eyes glowed red, and his twisted grin flashed in the dim alleyway light. "You think you can stop me, little wolf? I’ve killed stronger than you."

I didn’t say anything in response, but my wolf knew better. She didn’t just want to fight, she wanted to end it. She wanted to protect what was hers, and right now, that was Chase.

I lunged again, but the rogue was ready this time. With a swiftness I couldn’t match, he dodged my attack, slashing across my side with his claws. The pain seared through me, but I barely felt it. Adrenaline was my fuel, my strength, and it burned through every fiber of my being.

I tore through the rogue like a whirlwind, my strength on full display. The rogue’s struggles grew weaker with each passing second until, finally, with a final snarl , the rogue’s head rolled free from its body, landing in the street with a sickening thud.

Now. Chase.

He turned to me, his expression unreadable. The once warm, almost charming man I had come to know, the persistent but strangely appealing stranger, was now replaced by someone I didn’t recognize. His eyes were still glowing with that unsettling crimson hue, and the hunger I saw in them sent a shiver down my spine.

He was a vampire. A predator. My mate.

And I was standing here, unsure of what would happen next.