C1 Beginning

CHAPTER ONE – ALARIC

It was the kind of day that shouldn’t have belonged to me.

Warm sunlight spilled over the city, the laughter of mortals echoing in the streets, the world alive in a way I could never be. And yet… for the first time in centuries, I almost believed I belonged to it.

Because of her.

Sophia’s hand was tucked into mine as we walked through the boutique, her delicate fingers threading perfectly between mine. She was humming softly, choosing fabrics, fussing over colors. Our wedding colors.

“Alaric,” she said, flashing me that bright smile that could melt through my immortal defenses. “What do you think of this one?” She held up a swatch of ivory silk.

I had to laugh. “Sophia, you’ve shown me twelve shades of ivory today. They all look the same to me.”

“They are not the same,” she said with mock offense, her hazel eyes sparkling. “This one has a warmer undertone. It’ll look better under candlelight. And you—Mr. Vampire—should know how important candlelight is.”

My lips curved despite myself. “I’ll take your word for it.”

In that moment, watching her chatter about fabrics and flowers, I thought: I finally found it. Someone who isn’t destroyed by me. Someone who might survive my curse.

I had lived for centuries in hunger and regret, haunted by the faces of women I loved and lost, each one claimed by the thirst in my veins. But Sophia was strong. She wasn’t afraid of me. She looked at me not as a monster, but as a man.

And for the first time in forever, I wanted to believe in forever.

We left the boutique with bags of ribbons and swatches, stepping into the sunlight. Sophia was laughing about something when she suddenly stopped. Her gaze darted across the street.

“Wait,” she said, releasing my hand.

I followed her eyes to a heavily pregnant woman, struggling to cross the busy road. The traffic was relentless, cars honking, drivers impatient. Sophia’s brow furrowed, and before I could stop her, she rushed forward.

“Come on, let me help you,” she said warmly, wrapping an arm around the woman’s shoulders.

I stood frozen for half a second too long. Because then—

The roar of an engine.

My head snapped up. A red truck barreled down the street, too fast, too reckless. It was heading straight for them.

“Sophia!” I shouted, sprinting forward.

Her head whipped toward me. Our eyes met. And in that heartbeat, everything slowed.

She smiled at me—calm, resolute. Then her lips moved.

Save her.

Before I could reach them, she shoved the pregnant woman toward me. My arms caught the stranger, pulling her back into safety—

And then the truck hit Sophia.

The impact sent her body flying, a sickening thud cracking through the air before she collapsed on the pavement. The driver didn’t stop. Tires screeched. The truck sped away.

I dropped the pregnant woman, my legs trembling as I ran to Sophia’s side.

“No, no, no, no—Sophia,” I whispered, lifting her broken body. Her blood soaked my hands. Her eyes fluttered, unfocused, and then… then they stilled.

For centuries, I had watched lovers die. But nothing—nothing—shredded me like holding Sophia’s lifeless body.

And I knew, in that moment, that I had lost her.

The world went dark again.

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