The wind felt different. Sharper. Like the city itself was holding its breath.
I sat there, staring at my hands — claws not fully extended, just... resting there beneath the surface. Waiting. My fingers trembled, but it wasn't fear. Not exactly. Something deeper. Something heavier.
Kael crouched nearby, watching me with those crimson eyes of his. No smirk this time. No sarcasm. Just a strange tension, like even he wasn't sure whether to be impressed... or worried.
The Pale Fang stood by the edge of the rooftop, his coat fluttering in the wind, arms folded behind his back. His gaze wasn't on me. It was on the city. On something far beyond what I could see.
"Feels different, doesn't it?" His voice was calm. Smooth. Too calm for what had just happened.
I didn't answer.
"That itch under your skin... the pulse in your blood... the way the air smells sharper, thicker, sweeter. You feel it now, don't you?" He turned, his pupil-less white eyes locking onto mine. "The hunger."
I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms. "...Yeah..."
He smiled — thin, sharp, and cold. "Good. You should. Means the Core's alive. Means you are, too... for now."
Kael stood, brushing dirt off his jacket. "...Yeah, but it comes with strings."
The Pale Fang chuckled. "Strings? No. Chains."
He paced slowly, boots tapping against concrete. "Listen, fledgling. Your body's different now. Your Core... it's alive. And it's hungry." His eyes never blinked, never wavered. "You don't get to live like a human anymore. Food? Sleep? Air? Sure, it helps. But it's not enough. Not anymore."
My throat tightened. "Then... what do I eat?"
"Life." His answer came sharp. Immediate. "Life essence. The energy that sits under flesh and bone. You've felt it already... tasted it. You'll need more. Eventually, whether you want to or not."
A chill crawled down my spine. "...Like blood...?"
"Blood's just the carrier." His grin sharpened. "The real meal is what's inside it. You can draw it from animals — rabbits, rats, dogs — but it's weak. Hollow. Won't hold you long."
His voice darkened. "Humans... are richer. Stronger. More filling. But risky. Addictive." He tilted his head. "Monsters... creatures of the Veil... now that's gourmet. But every bite means picking a fight you might not survive."
I swallowed, throat dry. "...And if I don't...?"
Kael's voice turned cold. "You rot. From the inside out. Mind breaks first. Body follows. You've seen Wretches, right?"
I shook my head. "...No..."
"You will." His jaw tightened. "Hollow things. Shadows wrapped in skin. Mindless. Twisted. They used to be like us... until the hunger hollowed them out."
The Pale Fang laughed softly. "It's a simple law, fledgling. Feed... or be consumed."
Silence fell. My hands trembled slightly. Not from fear. Not entirely.
Something deeper. Something... primal.
The Pale Fang stepped closer, kneeling in front of me. His voice dropped, softer... but sharper. "But feeding isn't your only concern. There's another problem." His eyes flicked up toward the skyline. "The world you knew? Gone. You don't belong there anymore. And the world I belong to... doesn't want you either."
Kael crossed his arms. "Both sides will come for you now. The Clans... the Orders... maybe even worse."
I frowned. "...Why?"
The Pale Fang's grin curled wider. "Because you're loud, fledgling. The moment your Core stabilized... the entire Veil felt it."
Kael nodded, serious. "Purebloods have scent-binders. Witches have Seers. Hunters have blood radars. Whatever flavor of nightmare runs this city... they know. They felt the shift."
The Pale Fang rose, hands folded behind his back. "And the worst part? You don't have a Clan. No bloodline to claim you. No elders to protect you. You're a rogue."
He spun, coat trailing behind him. "That makes you... open season."
Kael clicked his tongue. "Hunted. By everyone."
I clenched my fists. "...Then teach me."
The Pale Fang stopped mid-step. Slowly, his smile returned — slow, sharp, and wicked. "Oh... you'll learn." His voice dropped into something darker. "You'll learn that power comes with a price. That every time you tap into that Core... it burns something away. Maybe blood. Maybe sanity. Maybe your soul."
He turned, stepping to the rooftop's edge. "But that's the game now, fledgling."
His glowing white eyes locked onto mine. "You survive. You feed. You kill... or you die."
A howl echoed in the distance. Not close... but not far enough.
Kael's eyes darkened. "...Sh*t. Deathhounds. They've caught the scent."
The Pale Fang chuckled. "Faster than I expected. Guess the Clans want you bad."
I stood slowly, hands curling into fists. My claws slid out — natural now. My vision sharpened — every heartbeat in the city below felt like a drum in my skull.
The hunger flared... but this time... it wasn't panic.
It was focus.
The Pale Fang grinned, fangs bared. "Well then... fledgling..."
His coat flared.
"Welcome to the hunt."