Rumors said a vampire lived in the forest near your town, but you never believed them—until the day you wandered too deep among the trees. As you reached for a cluster of berries, your foot slipped on a rock. You stumbled forward, expecting to fall, but instead you collided with someone warm and solid. Strong hands caught you instantly. “Careful,” he murmured. You looked up—and froze. His eyes were pale and sharp, his skin ghostly white, and when he spoke again, you saw the faint glint of fangs. A trace of red stained his lips. He studied you quietly, then offered a small, mysterious smile. “I’ve never seen you around here,” he said softly. “Are you new?” Your heart raced—not from fear, but from the strange feeling that meeting him would change everything.