chapter 6

Matthew’s POV.

The blood moon had barely set when I found myself seething, my patience worn thin. It wasn't the mundane office politics or the irritating humans that usually got under my skin. No, today it was something far darker — a lingering threat, a reminder of a time I wished to forget.

Ruelle Margo. The name alone was enough to make my fangs itch.

He was an old acquaintance, if you could call him that — a rogue vampire with a penchant for chaos and bloodshed. The kind that gave our kind a bad name. Most vampires learned to blend in, to control their urges for the sake of longevity and discretion. Ruelle, however, thrived on the thrill of the hunt. He reveled in the fear he created, the lifeless bodies he left in his wake. And today, I had been so close to catching him.

I clenched my fists as I recalled our encounter in the shadowy alleyways of the city. The scent of fresh blood had led me to him — a young woman sprawled on the ground, her lifeblood seeping into the cobblestones. Her eyes were wide open, frozen in fear, her scream silenced forever. The sight stirred something within me. I wasn’t a saint by any means, but I had my limits, a line I refused to cross.

"Ruelle," I had growled, stepping into the darkness. He was leaning casually against a brick wall, licking the blood off his fingers as if it were melted chocolate.

"Matthew Gorvell," he greeted me with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Always the hero, aren’t you?"

I didn’t waste time with small talk. I lunged at him, aiming for his throat. He was fast almost as fast as me. We collided, fangs bared, a flash of claws and snarls echoing in the narrow alley. I had him pinned for a moment, my hand gripping his neck. The satisfaction of finally catching this bastard surged through me.

But in the blink of an eye, he was gone. Vanished into thin air, as if he had never been there at all. I was left alone with the dead woman and the bitter taste of failure.

I stormed into the office that morning, still simmering with rage. My employees must have sensed it because they all kept their distance. Even Gabrielle, who usually greeted me with a sunny smile or a cheeky comment, didn’t dare approach. I could feel her curious gaze on me, but she stayed quiet, which was probably for the best.

I was barely paying attention to the mundane tasks of the day. My mind was still in that alley, replaying the encounter over and over again. How did he manage to escape? Where did he go? And more importantly, how had I missed the chance to end him once and for all?

The door to my office swung open without a knock. Clara. Of course, it had to be Clara.

"Good morning, Mr. Gorvell," she said, her voice a little too cheerful. "I’ve made a few adjustments to the presentation for the client meeting this afternoon. I think you’ll—"

“Did I ask for changes?” I snapped, barely looking up from my desk.

She faltered, blinking at me like a deer caught in headlights. "I just thought—"

"That was your first mistake," I growled, standing up so abruptly that my chair skidded back. I was in front of her in an instant, and the scent of her fear hit me like a drug. I could hear her heart racing, the blood pumping through her veins. My fangs ached, a dangerous reminder of how close to the edge I was.

Clara took a step back, her face going pale. I could see the panic in her eyes, the realization that she had pushed too far. For a split second, I imagined what it would be like to sink my teeth into her neck, to drain the life out of her in one swift, satisfying moment.

But then I saw Gabrielle from the corner of my eye, peeking over the edge of her cubicle. She was watching, her brows furrowed in a mixture of concern and curiosity. The sight of her snapped me out of it. I released a breath I didn’t realize I was holding and took a step back.

"Get out," I ordered Clara coldly. She didn’t need to be told twice. She practically ran out of my office, slamming the door behind her. The entire floor went silent. Nobody dared to breathe too loudly, let alone approach me.

I slumped back into my chair, pressing my fingers to my temples. The throbbing ache in my head only fueled my frustration. I needed to calm down before I did something I’d regret.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. I barely spoke to anyone, and I think everyone was grateful for that. By the time I got home, I was still fuming. My control was hanging by a thread, and I knew it.

Gabrielle was there, of course. She was always there now, a constant presence in my life that I hadn’t realized I needed. She was pacing in the living room when I walked in, her expression a mix of worry and determination.

“Rough day?” she asked cautiously.

I gave a curt nod, tossing my coat aside. I didn’t want to talk about it, but the look on her face told me she wasn’t going to let it go that easily.

She hesitated for a moment, then stepped closer. “Do you want to talk about it?”

I looked at her, really looked at her, and for a moment, the anger melted away. She had a way of doing that — soothing the storm inside me with just a look. But I didn’t want her to see this side of me, the bloodthirsty side that had almost lost control.

“I nearly caught him today,” I admitted finally, my voice rough. “Ruelle Margo. He was right there, and then he was gone.”

Her eyes widened. “Ruelle? The vampire you’ve been after?”

I nodded, running a hand through my hair. “He killed a woman. Left her there like a discarded rag doll. I was so close, Gabrielle. So damn close.”

She reached out, placing a hand on my arm. Her touch was warm, grounding me in a way nothing else could. “You’ll get him,” she said softly. “And when you do, he won’t know what hit him.”

I couldn’t help but smile at her confidence in me. “You think so?”

She grinned. “I know so. Besides, if he’s on your bad side, I’d say his days are numbered.”

I chuckled, pulling her into a gentle hug. For a moment, I just held her, letting the tension drain away. She had no idea how much I needed her, how much her simple presence calmed the raging beast inside me.

“Thank you,” I murmured against her hair.

She pulled back, looking up at me with that teasing smile of hers. “Anytime, boss. Now, how about we order some takeout and you tell me all about how you almost snapped Clara’s neck?”

I laughed, a real, genuine laugh that I hadn’t had in days. “You heard about that, huh?”

“Everyone heard about that,” she said with a grin. “You’re practically a legend now.”

“Well,” I said, wrapping my arm around her waist. “Let’s make sure I keep that legend status intact, without actually murdering any employees.”

“As long as I’m safe,” she quipped.

I smiled, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “You, Gabrielle, are the only one safe from me.”

"you'll always be safe here with me".

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