Lilith stood in the forest, staring into the overgrown brush and tall trees. Though there wasn't a physical border to signify the start of a new territory, she knew a millimeter ahead was her former home. It was more unkempt than she remembered it being, but that was to be expected. She hadn't been here since her banishment. Centuries of climate change and lack of maintenance made it into its current condition.

Eden.

She wasn't sure if the journey here would be worth it. Traveling freely wasn't easy anymore, especially in the mountainous center of Iraq, or whatever this country was renamed to. Lilith had never attempted to re-enter the Garden. Would it reject her? Perhaps a bolt of lightning would strike her dead, cooking her from the inside out? That would be a pain to heal from.

She gingerly took a step forward. Her bare foot dug into the fresh soil that vastly differed from the hardened dirt behind her. Nothing happened. There were no earthquakes or immediate stormy weather like she thought would conjure when the heavens weren't happy. Lilith was bittersweet. Even the angels had given up on this place long ago, not caring about her reappearance in the holy site.

Lilith gracefully walked further into Eden. The thick branches guarding the weedy path seemed to sway aside to not tangle her long hair. Birds chirped above when it was previously quiet the entire hike here. The leaves were greener and the wind whispered the sweet sounds of nature in her ears.

The Garden remembers me.

Further and further she trod through the valley until reaching the river. The plants and animals had changed, but the land's features did not. Lilith eyed the grooves of the surrounding hills. It brought back long-forgotten memories. She and Adam slept in this exact spot often.

Finally arriving at her destination, Lilith sat on a fallen log covered in moss beside the flowing water. Dandelions sprouted around her feet, welcoming the woman for whom this paradise was originally created for. Well, now that she was here, what should she do next? Clear cut the trees down until the land was barren? Poison the streams? Set it ablaze? Years had passed, but deep resentment over the way she was cast out resurfaced. They placed a curse on her, but not her lover and Eve when they broke the rules? Life was cruel.

Lilith wouldn't cry at her misery, above those useless feelings. She promised not to love anyone ever again, including her children. Betrayal by the ones who you trusted most cut deeper than anyone realized.

A luna moth landed beside Lilith on the dead tree. The sheer, lime green wings expanded to the size of her hand. Its fuzzy white head moved from side to side as if curious about her. Though this species of moth used to live in Eden when it was just Lilith and her former partner, it only existed now in the southern part of Avania. It should be impossible for it to be on this continent.

Coincidentally, luna moths were Adam's favorite creature. Seeing it was triggering.

"You know," Lilith talked aloud, pretending the moth was the spirit of Adam, "many vampires have a secret hideout, a place to go to compose our inner, bloodthirsty monster. It's funny. When I was deciding where my hideout should be, I knew Eden was my choice. I never needed to go into hiding. I survived countless persecutions, mobs chasing me, witnessing the destruction of war, and giving birth, but never had I once needed time to rejuvenate my health. And do you know what's funnier?"

The moth fluttered its thin wings. It flitted over her bare thigh, exposed through the slit in her chiffon dress. Adam wasn't here, but talking to an out-of-place insect awkwardly helped.

"A descendant of your gender appeared out of the blue. He's a dominant omega like you. Your lineage really got around, didn't it?" She laughed. "He's pregnant. I wonder if they know about it yet. I've been around long enough to pinpoint the signs in his scent. I sensed as soon as I saw him that his soul was pure. The best angels certainly blessed him themselves. It's no surprise that little omega is a virtue. A true miracle in the flesh."

Lilith stopped talking for an hour and watched the sun set on the horizon. Yet, the luna moth didn't fly away. It stayed on the log, picking at the moist moss. She used this time to think and reflect.

I have to do what I have to do. Kieran has to accept it. He will suffer like his brother, but there's no choice. The alternative can't happen.

She turned to her companion. "You know what must be done, yes? Please understand."

Lilith went back the way she came. She got her answers. The moth flew after her, trying to catch up. It could not.

The first vampire was already out of Eden. The shining traits that made it a paradise dimmed when she disappeared, looking like any other part of the wild forest.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The unfamiliar scents stirred Teru awake. He scrunched his face at the bright light above and groaned. His brain throbbed, feeling his pounding heartbeat in the center of his forehead.

It's either a killer migraine or where Keiran was shot-

Teru opened his eyes, seeing a stark white ceiling. Any traces of sleep disappeared when he remembered them running away during the speech, ambushed by guards, and kidnapped by that evil bastard who believed he had a claim on him. He tapped into the invisible line that led him to Kieran and sighed with relief. The Milky Way trail connecting them was still there. Death was on Kieran's doorstep thanks to the kill shot, but alive nonetheless.

Where is he? Outside in the snow? Has anyone found him? Are they helping him?

Teru moved into a fetal position, emotional for his mate. He wished Kieran was here. Were the pups okay? His belly wasn't cramping or anything, so that was good.

There wasn't a scratch on him. Whoever transported Teru here did it with care, and they didn't bother changing him out of the hospital gown, either. That comforted him somewhat, knowing they didn't do disgusting things to his naked body while he was passed out.

Here...and where is that?

Teru observed the room. It was slightly smaller than his old bedroom in the penthouse and it had the basic things-the bed he laid on, a mini-fridge, a TV resting on a table, some worn-out books, and a doorless bathroom in the corner. Overall, it resembled a plain hotel room he saw in a drama series.

His breath hitched. The morning sickness returned. He tried his best to hold it in, but he couldn't. Teru rushed out of the bed, clutching the blanket with him. He stumbled to the toilet and heaved loudly into the bowl. It was only bile. The bitter taste made him puke more.

I hate bitter stuff! When was the last time I ate? Before Kieran left to go to the event? How long ago was that?

Now that Teru knew he was pregnant, the conflicting battle between wanting to vomit and eat at the same time made sense. Simultaneously while emptying his stomach, he thought of pizza. Pizza sounded good. Add some corn and cucumbers on top of the cheese-

"He's sick" a male voice said. It sounded far away.

Another agreed, more distant than the first person. "Mhm."

Teru leaned up, looking around. "Hello?"

"Do you have the flu? You must be human if you're sick with such trivial illnesses."

Seriously, who was talking? He stood on wobbly legs. "Where am I?"

A third responded, "We were hoping you could enlighten us. No one has been outside in years."

He shook his head at the air vent in the ceiling. That was where these strangers were talking through, like a radio. "They attacked us and used a drug to make me sleep. I don't know after that."

"So basically, the same way we all ended up here, too. Isn't that peachy?" Oh, it was a female. Her tone was sarcastic. The accent was unfamiliar to him.

"Who are you?"

"Come over here and see for yourself," she snipped.

Huh? Does she mean the giant window?

One wall had been replaced with glass. Teru approached it and touched the smooth material. It was thick. Perhaps as thick as his upper arm? Was it bulletproof? Did the glass have to be that dense to prevent him from escaping? It wasn't like he could leave whenever he wanted. There were no doors. On the other side was a circular room, comprised of several enormous windows like this one. How ironic that Teru was back in another place set-up like the auction stage where Kieran found him so long ago.

Half of the rooms were empty, only four occupied. That would make Teru the fifth resident.

Three individuals in their own fancy cages stood behind the glass, studying the newcomer. The fourth was next to Teru's room, casually sitting against the wall.

The male with amber-yellow eyes and dark brown hair styled into a high bun spoke. He was the first voice from earlier. "I 'spose greetings are in order. I'm Jacky, a beta."

The short, petite woman crossed her arms defiantly. She seemed like a firecracker with a temper. "Lila. Beta. From the Philippines."

Jacky whispered. "Don't get on her bad side or she'll rip your arm off. Literally."

"Pakshet ka! I'll do it once more if you sniff at my tail again."

Tail?

Jacky called out, "Tae-soo? Care to join? Why am I doing the pack alpha's job for you? Can't you be less grouchy with our new member?"

Teru looked at the sitting man, who growled low in response. Of course, he was the pack leader. He was physically the strongest of them all. Intimidating. His glare shining through his bangs demanded you to show him your belly in submission. A classic alpha.

"And last, we have our other alpha, Zander, over there. Besides you, he's also human."

Zander's room was in between Lila and Jacky. His dark complexion was beautiful and paired well with his almond brown eye color. The little curls in his hair spiraled in all directions.

"H-Hey." He sheepishly turned to avoid the others, which wasn't typical alpha behavior. Asserting dominance was usually the first thing an alpha did when meeting others lower than them.

"Hello," Teru greeted.

"Zander has social anxiety, but he'll open up once ya'll become acquainted. And you? What should we call you?"

"Teru."

"That's unique. I've never heard that name before. Does it have a meaning?"

"Er, I'm not sure." This is weird. Really weird. Why were they so friendly? What was their escape plan?

"And your gender? Your physique tells me you're a beta."

"I'm not a beta." Because there were walls separating them, scents couldn't be determined. Teru would have no idea what their gender was without them telling him. That meant...they didn't know what he was.

Jacky was surprised. "Alpha? Really? Are you average? We don't have any dominants. Yet."

Teru stared at the shiny floor, unsure. He didn't know these people. They didn't have bad vibes, but trusting others didn't come easily in this shit dystopian society. Plus, he was an outsider, being forced into a new pack. Some packs were welcoming, some packs killed trespassers on sight. What category did this group fall into?

"Omega." Everyone looked at Tae-soo. "He's an omega. None of you were alive to witness the Before era, but I remember. I remember everything before Abaddon turned me into a bloodsucker. I know an omega when I see one."

No one spoke. Their reaction to his omega status was as expected.

Lila looked back and forth at Zander and Teru. Her resting bitch face changed to pity. "One omega. One alpha. Both human," she mumbled.

Teru was nervous of that woman's reaction. She obviously knew something. What was going to happen to him? Nothing moral, that's for sure.

He noticed they all wore the same outfit-white pants and a white T-shirt.

And their collar color...

White.

Red: blood slave.

Yellow: servant.

Black: omega.

Blue: volunteer blood donor.

Green: omegas, alphas, and betas in the breeding program.

White: ...

"The color of your collars," Teru asked hesitantly. "What do they mean?"

Jacky snapped out of his trance at the unexpected news. He pointed to the locked strap. "This?" he scoffed in disgust. "It's the official color for Abaddon's ultra-exclusive collection of our species. With you being an omega, he'll spoil you much more than us, but you'll also suffer more. I'm sorry you were captured. I wish you weren't here, but you won't be alone. We help each other. We understand your unique pain and loneliness of being born this way. Welcome to the wolf pack, Teru."

Teru stopped breathing when Jacky's features changed. The transformation was so different than Kieran's inner sin revealing itself. Furry, chocolate brown ears grew on the side of his head. A bushy tail of the same color with white strands stretched out behind him, wagging slowly.

In fact, everyone now had the same traits. They didn't look completely human anymore. Zander's tail and pointy ears had an earthy red shade. Lila's new limbs were silver and Tae-soo's was smokey grey.

Jacky smiled sadly at Teru's unlucky predicament, showing his row of pointy, dog-like fangs. Those belonged to a real canine.

"Woof."