Six months had passed since her parents' death, yet the pain still pierced Anastasia's heart with relentless force, just as it had on the day she awoke in the hospital to the devastating news. It was said that her father had lost control of the vehicle, plunging into the river during an unforeseen storm that wreaked havoc on the city and claimed numerous lives.

She only recalled discussing with her parents what she wished to do on her birthday in six months. Then, nothing. No matter how much she tried to remember anything, she couldn't.

Everyone had predicted the accident had also claimed her life, but what some deemed a miracle, she survived, despite having been underwater for almost an hour unconscious. The doctors conducted thorough tests to confirm she was human as she claimed.

And indeed she was.

Shortly after her discharge from the hospital, her life continued to crumble to pieces. The bills began accumulating, and despite having support from her friend's family, she struggled to keep everything up to date. She couldn't depend on them forever. They had their expenses to manage as well.

Catalina hugged her for the hundredth time. Without her, Anastasia would have drowned in her grief. "Are you sure you want to do this?" Her bright, round hazel eyes begged her to change her mind. She had attempted to dissuade her from moving in with her uncle, who she barely knew. Supernaturals living in the small town didn't help to ease her friend's worries, either.

"Thanks for everything you and your family have done, but--"

Catalina grasped her hands. "But nothing—Your uncle Frederick is a man who you know nothing of. He only visited you once, and that was five years ago. I know you think it's best you go live with him, but I don't trust that man. My parents say you can stay longer with us if you want--"

"I can't and you know that. The law states only those in the contract can live there and if they add my name, the owners will force them to get a larger apartment. Your family can't afford that."

"Wouldn't it be the same with your uncle?"

"He has a spare bedroom."

Catalina's brows furrowed. "Is your uncle rich?"

"I don't know... I never asked about his finances."

"What about the supernatural? Are you going to ignore everything we've heard about them?"

She placed her hands on her friend's shoulders. "Catalina." Their eyes met. "I'm going to miss you, too."

She hugged her again. "There is still the option of us requesting an apartment together."

"To be approved for an apartment, we have to make the income requirement and unfortunately, we don't. Our budget will be too tight."

"Fine. You better call me as soon as you arrive."

"Of course."

"And every day. I need to know you're okay."

Anastasia pulled away and mirrored her friend's smile. "I will."

With a last embrace, Anastasia headed toward the terminal. As a first-time flyer, her heart sank during turbulence. Unwilling to endure such torture, she slept through the two-hour flight, awakening only as the plane touched down in the town where she would spend the next year.

While she waited for her luggage, she attempted to text Catalina, only to discover there was no signal. Hopefully, Catalina wouldn't be too concerned. The wait for the luggage seemed endless, and even when they finally emerged onto the conveyor belt, a few more minutes passed before she could retrieve hers. 

As she moved through the surprisingly crowded airport, she came to a halt, sensing eyes on her. She glanced around and spotted a tall blond-haired man among the sea of people, his deep blue eyes shimmering a crimson hue.

That was her cue to pick up her speed.

He may have been a vampire, but she wasn't certain if they were the sole supernatural beings with such eye color. She had no desire to know, either.

Once outside the airport, she halted to catch her breath. Perhaps coming here was a mistake—Not like it mattered, anyway. Even if she wanted to return home, she couldn't afford it. Unlike everyone else in this town, she wasn't used to the supernatural.

Her hands quivered, prompting her to set her luggage down and rub them together. The icy air bit into her skin. She should have dressed for the weather of the small town, which she was told was never above sixty-five degrees and could plummet to the negatives. However, she couldn't afford new clothes.

"Anastasia." To her surprise, Frederick embraced her, but his hug lacked the warmth of her friend's. "How was the flight?"

"Well, I've discovered a dislike for flying," she responded.

His smile broadened, lighting up his silvery eyes. "That's common." He grabbed her luggage and guided her through the crowd to a sleek black car. Beside it stood a tall man with curly hair that he had tied back, and sea-green eyes. It was no surprise that his looks drew the attention of many as they walked past him.

"Who is that?"

"My eldest, Maverick."

"You have children?" Why was she acting so surprised? Despite their blood relation, he was a stranger, as Catalina told her a thousand times.

Standing next to Maverick, her five-foot-six stature felt insignificant.

"Welcome, Anastasia," he said, offering his hand. "I'm Maverick. It's a pleasure to meet you."

She shook his hand. "The feeling is mutual... I thought you said this airport is only for those who live in this town," she said as she watched Frederick place her luggage in the trunk of the car.

"It's busy today because the winter festivities have ended and most are returning home. Many had to travel six hours to another airport."

"I didn't know this town was popular for winter festivities."

"Of course not." Maverick opened the backseat door and gestured for her to enter. "Not many do. And those who do know it's not for everyone."

"What exactly is it about?" She got in the car and he hopped in the passenger seat whilst Frederick walked around to the driver's side. "Maybe my brothers and I can take you to the next event in six months."

"No," Frederick said once inside the car.

"Why not? I turn twenty-one in six months. I'd love to go to—"

"These events aren't like what you're used to, Anastasia." The motor roared to life, and Frederick maneuvered the car from the curb and onto the busy road. Once out of the airport, she didn't spot another car.

"What are they about? If I'm to live here for the next year, I'd like to be part of the events in the town."

Frederick drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. "They're like balls."

"It's a ball involving vampires and others who live amongst us," Maverick explained. "It's also an occasion where vampires can drink from consenting humans."

"People pay to be blood bags?"

"You'd be surprised at the number of humans eager to pay for a dance with the vampire clan members who live here. Some even pay double for the thrill of a vampire's bite." A subtle smile appeared on his face. "There have been instances where certain vampires have been offered an absurd sum of money for sex."

"You must be joking."

"I'm serious."

"How much?"

"Ten Million."

She stared at him, wide-eyed. "What? Who the hell would pay such an amount for sex, and with whom?"

"The vampire clan leader, of course." He chuckled. "I told you it was a ridiculous amount, but Declan has many trying to get into his bed."

Anastasia stared out the passenger window and into the breathtaking forest.

"Is everything okay?" Frederick asked.

"Of course." She had lost the place she had called home for as long as she could remember because she couldn't afford the five thousand dollars for rent. Meanwhile, there were those with so much wealth that spending ten million to have sex with a vampire was nothing to them. "Such events must occur in towns worldwide. What draws people specifically to this location?"

"It's hard to say, but maybe the fact that half the town's population is supernatural has something to do with it."

"What?"

"You didn't know?" Maverick glanced at his father. "You didn't tell her?"

"She never asked."

Maverick raked a hand through his hair. "Have you ever been near a supernatural?"

"Not that I'm aware of."

The car came to a halt in front of a three-story Victorian home, which answered Catalina's question if Anastasia's uncle was rich. She couldn't imagine the mortgage of such a large, elegant home along with the size of the yard. 

"I'll bring your things inside in a minute," her uncle said, hopping out of the car.

"It's okay. I can--"

"Go inside and eat something. Malakai probably has food prepared. The boys will show you around the property. I'll bring your stuff to the third floor in a minute."

Not in the mood to argue, she followed Maverick into the house. They paused in a foyer that was as large as the first floor of her old home. At the sound of footsteps, she turned to meet deep brown eyes. 

The tall, dark-haired man smiled at her. "Hey." He stretched his hand out to her. "I'm Malakai."

"For fucks sake." Another man emerged from the second level, pausing the moment he spotted her, his bright emerald eyes shifting from Malakai to Maverick. "What the fuck is going on?"

"And that's Colton," Malakai said with a smile. "I've prepared food--"

"Well, I'm off. I'm late." Colton hurried down the stairs. 

"As usual. I'm surprised you haven't been fired yet."

Colton shot him a sharp look, but as his eyes settled upon her, his expression softened. "Welcome home." Then he was out the door.

"How old are y'all? You look about the same age."

Maverick chortled when Malakai seemed insulted.

"I'm nineteen."

"Oh, and you?"

"Twenty-five," Maverick answered. "Colton is twenty-three."

She wrapped her arms around herself. "I had no idea I had cousins. Why did y'all never visit?"

Maverick fidgeted with the sleeve of his shirt. "Well, we weren't really welcomed--"

Malakai elbowed him. "Let's show her around."

She knitted her brows. "My parents disliked y'all?"

Judging by their expressions, neither was eager to broach the topic. Until Frederick's visit, she had believed her parents were her only family. 

Now, Frederick and his sons were the only family she had left. 

Part of her wanted to get to know them.

"Your father heard things about us and..." Maverick squeezed his mouth shut, his eyes locking on something behind her.

She turned to find her uncle entering the house, carrying her luggage. "Why didn't my parents let you visit?"

His eyes zeroed in on Malakai, then on Maverick. "I don't want to bring old feuds. They belong to the past." He passed her the luggage. "Have the boys given you a tour yet?"

"Not yet."

"Alright, I have to head into town. There's just one rule here. No one arrives after midnight. This house is no motel. Please treat it with respect."

"Understood." 

His smile reached his eyes. "Good. If you need anything, just ask." With that, he departed.

She focused her attention on her cousins. Frederick might not want to speak of past events, but despite being hesitant, Malakai and Maverick were more open to answering her questions.

They gave her a tour of the house. Each level had two bathrooms, and the third level had a balcony that gave her a beautiful view of the vast forest. She inhaled, loving the serene nature surrounding the house. The chaotic noises of the city could never compare to the sweet melodies of the birds.

"This place is beautiful."

Malakai leaned on the rail of the balcony. "I'm glad you like it."

"What exactly happened between our parents?"

The men exchanged looks before Malakai said, "It's best we don't talk about that."

"Is it that bad?" She pulled out her cell phone, disappointed that there was no signal still. "This town has horrible reception."

"You can use the house phone if you'd like," Maverick said.

"That'd be great. I need to call my friend back home before she comes in person to make sure I'm alright." She laughed, knowing damn well Catalina would.

They guided her to the study at the first level of the house, and Maverick handed her the house phone. "We'll be right back." Without another word, they exited the study, seeming to be in a hurry. After dialing Catalina's phone number, she pressed the headset against her ear, her gaze locked on the opened window, which allowed the soft breeze into the dimly lit room. Her eyebrows furrowed at the breeze picking up pace, sending leaves fluttering to the ground. 

She groaned as a searing pain erupted in her hand.

"Hello."

She jumped at her friend's voice. "Fucking hell."

Catalina laughed. "Anastasia? What sort of greeting is that?"

"Sorry. I got startled." She stretched her fingers and folded them, the pain gone as though it never happened. 

"Whose number is this?"

"The landline in Frederick's home."

"Oh, okay. So, how was the flight?"

"Terrifying. The plane shook like it was going to fall apart."

Catalina giggled. "Oh, you're so dramatic. I bet you slept the entire flight."

"You know me so well." Their laughter mingled together. 

"So, is everything good?"

"I guess so. They all seem nice."

"They?"

"Well, Frederick has three sons."

"Oh." A silence followed before she said, "Isn't that a bid odd? When he visited, why didn't they come with him? Why didn't they attend the funeral?"

"From what I can tell, my parents and Frederick had a strained relationship."

"I still think you should have stayed over here."

"Me staying there would have caused your family financial problems. It's okay. It's beautiful here. I'll be alright."

"I have to head to work. Don't forget to call me every day. The moment you don't, I'll be at their doorstep."

"Alright. Have a great day at work."

After ending the call, she made her way upstairs to the bedroom Malakai said was hers. The bedroom was pretty much minimalistic. The furniture seemed hand-crafted, each piece bearing beautiful, intricate carvings on each drawer and on its side.

Anastasia lifted the luggage onto the bed and unzipped it to retrieve the album Frederick had given her after the funeral. With a sigh, she clutched it to her chest. She had rummaged through her family's belongings and never found pictures. The gift meant a lot to her.

When someone knocked, she opened the door.

Maverick greeted her with a beaming smile. "We brought you something to eat."

After placing the album on the nightstand, she accepted the plate of food from him. "Thank you."

Malakai offered her a cup of juice. 

"Pine apple juice?" She doubted they knew it was her favorite. It was probably a staple in their fridge. 

"You don't like it? There's mango too."

"She took it. "It's my favorite."

"Of course it is," he said with a grin. 

"What happened earlier?" she asked.

"We had a visitor," Maverick said, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans.

"How the hell did you know? I didn't hear a car... or the doorbell."

They exchanged glances and fell silent.

"You're not going to tell me who it was?"

Malakai ran a hand through his hair. "We've told you that half this town's residents are supernatural. When you've lived long enough amongst them, you learn to recognize their scents easily. They also make you aware of their presence."

"Scents?"

"Vampires carry the scent of ashes, werewolves that of the forest, and Faeries, it varies." A flicker of sadness crossed his face as their eyes met. "Water fae carry the aroma of the sea." He recollected himself and exited the bedroom.

"What did I say?"

Malakai rested a hand on her shoulder. "Long ago, we lost a friend... a water faerie."

"You befriended a supernatural?"

"They're not all bad."

"I've heard quite terrifying stories about them."

His hand dropped to his side. "Evil exists on both sides. Bad people have always plagued our world, even before their arrival."

He was right. Some humans committed the most heinous of crimes. When madness engulfed the world following the fae's arrival, the government struggled to retain power. Fear drove some to set towns ablaze, to break into homes. Crimes soared. Then, suddenly, it all stopped. No one old enough could remember how the government regained control.

"Some can sense your emotions," Malakai said, snapping her out of her thoughts.

"I've heard some can invade your mind and make you believe you're deeply in love with them."

Malakai chuckled. "People always focus on the bad abilities. If the supernatural live in human cities or towns, they're forbidden from using such magic. However, if the human walks through a portal into fae territories, that's a different matter. That would be like someone walking into a wolf's den and complaining when the wolves attack."

"Can all of them sense my emotions?"

"Most, yes," he said, gaze drifting toward the forest, a crease forming between his brows. "It's our hearts that give it all away. If you learn to stay calm, then their ability is useless."

"Have you learned to control your heart?"

He laughed. "Hell no. It's harder than it seems."

"Anyone I should watch out for?"

"Declan. Stay away from the club in the town."

"Is he dangerous?" A ridiculous question. All supernaturals were dangerous.

"His club is where vampires go to feed."

She had heard whispers of nightclubs where humans willingly offered their blood to the supernatural. There were rumors that to earn a substantial payment, some went beyond merely allowing the vampire—or any supernatural being—to feed. In the city, most judged heavily those who they suspected were blood donors. To protect the blood donor's identity, they were provided with masks that altered their appearance. 

"How is a human selected to be a blood donor?" She took a spoonful of the food.

"As you can imagine, many apply whenever there is an opening, but there are tests conducted to ensure the human is suitable for the job." He shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans. "Not everyone can handle the effects of their bites. Some can become addicted."

"How many blood donors are there?"

"Not sure. Their identities are well protected."

"How much do they get paid?"

"Why does that matter? You're not interested in becoming one, are you?"

"Hell no."

His smile broadened. "Good." He checked his watch. "I have to head out. If you need anything, Maverick is downstairs." He kissed her cheek and left.

After she finished eating, she headed downstairs to return everything to the kitchen. As she descended the grand stairs, voices from the living room reached her ears. She paused midway, listening.

"Do you think this is a good idea?"

"Colton--"

"She shouldn't have come."

"She had no other place to go."

The sound of objects clattering to the floor filled the air. "Bullshit--" 

Pin-drop silence.

"Anastasia?"

How on earth had he known she was there when she made no sound?

She recollected herself and proceeded down the stairs to the luxurious living room where Frederick and his sons were gathered. Malakai sat on the sofa, a smile of amusement playing on his full-even lips; Maverick stared out the window, deep in thought; Colton seemed beyond frustrated.

"If I was a burden, you should have said so. I would have found another place." Although she wasn't sure where that would be, considering the shelters in the city were full. 

"It's not that you're a bother to us," Frederick said.

"Then tell me what's going on?"

The men exchanged glances, but neither said a word.

"Fine." She moved to head upstairs, but Colton seized her forearm. 

"This town is dangerous for a human who has never crossed paths with a supernatural. My father should have thought of a safer way to help you without putting you at risk."

Her heart raced. "What do you mean?"

"Declan might control the members of his clan, but there are always passing vampires, and one could become interested in you," Frederick said. 

"Well, that is fucking terrifying." Colton released her forearm. "But I'm not the only human here... am I?"

"Of course not, but some humans have stronger fragrances. Certain blood types are far more desired than others."

"How do you even know I'll attract some passing vampire?"

Maverick's gaze moved to meet hers. "One already has."

Author's Note: Thank you for taking the time to read this story. My goal for this story is going to be about fifty thousand words or so. It will be fast-paced. I don't plan for it to be long. This is me taking a break from editing Contract Bound to write something new and letting my imagination go wild. 

This is a fast draft, far from perfect.