Alpha in Vampire Diaries

The days in Eldermere passed with an almost dreamlike quality. For the first time in what felt like years, Elias allowed himself to live without constantly looking over his shoulder. The village had accepted him, and Lila had become more than just a fleeting connection. Her presence grounded him, though his mind often drifted to the unanswered questions of his arrival.

Elias spent his nights on the outskirts of the village, keeping watch under the moonlight. The quiet gave him space to think, to piece together fragments of memories that still eluded him. The last thing he remembered before waking in this strange world was a fight—a desperate, bloody battle in the woods of Beacon Hills.

It was 1905. He had become a True Alpha, a rarity among werewolves, earning his status not through bloodshed or dominance but through sheer will and a relentless drive to protect those he cared for. That night, a rival pack had ambushed his territory, seeking to claim it as their own. The battle had been brutal, and Elias had fought with everything he had, his instincts sharper than ever. But then, darkness. He remembered falling, his body heavy and cold, and then… nothing.

Now, as he stared at the unfamiliar stars above, he wondered how he had survived—and why he was here. The answers felt just out of reach, taunting him.

---

Eldermere was peaceful, but even peace had its limits. The villagers whispered of strange sightings in the woods—shadows that moved too quickly, animals found drained of blood. Elias's senses prickled with unease. He had encountered vampires before, but never like this. These creatures were different, more organized, more deliberate.

Lila noticed his tension. One evening, as they sat by the fire in her modest home, she placed a gentle hand on his arm. "You've been restless," she said softly. "You don't have to face whatever's out there alone."

Elias met her gaze, her green eyes filled with concern. "I've faced worse," he replied, his voice steady but distant. "But this… it feels different. Like they're hunting for something—or someone."

Lila's expression darkened. "The elders speak of creatures that once plagued this land, long before our time. They called them the Nightborn. If they've returned…" She trailed off, her voice trembling.

Elias leaned closer, his tone firm. "If they've returned, I'll deal with them. I won't let them harm this village."

---

The fragile peace of Eldermere shattered a few nights later. A piercing scream echoed through the village, followed by the sound of splintering wood. Elias bolted from his post at the edge of the forest, his heart pounding. As he reached the village square, he saw chaos—villagers fleeing, fires spreading, and figures moving too fast for the eye to follow.

Vampires.

Elias's claws extended instinctively, his eyes glowing faintly as he scanned the scene. He caught sight of Lila, standing frozen near the well, her face pale with fear. A vampire lunged toward her, its fangs bared. Elias moved without thinking, intercepting the creature mid-air and slamming it to the ground. His claws tore through its chest, and it dissolved into ash with a guttural scream.

"Get to safety!" he shouted at Lila, his voice commanding. She hesitated for a moment, then nodded and ran toward the nearest group of villagers.

Elias turned his attention back to the fray. The vampires were relentless, their movements coordinated. He fought with precision, his years of experience as an Alpha guiding his every strike. But for every vampire he felled, another seemed to take its place.

As the battle raged, Elias realized this wasn't a random attack. The vampires weren't just feeding—they were searching. And judging by the way their leader's crimson eyes locked onto him, Elias knew exactly who they were after.

---

By dawn, the attack was over. The village was left in ruins, its people shaken but alive. Elias stood at the edge of the square, his body bruised and bloodied but unbowed. Lila approached him cautiously, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"They were after you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Elias nodded, his jaw tight. "They won't stop. Not until they get what they want."

Lila placed a hand on his cheek, her touch grounding him. "Then we'll fight. Together."

Elias's gaze softened, but the weight of the night's events pressed heavily on him. He had found a fragile peace in Eldermere, but now it was clear: peace was fleeting, and the shadows of his past would not let him go so easily.

The village seemed quieter in the days that followed, its usual hum of life dulled by an unspoken tension. Elias moved through the streets with measured steps, his senses on high alert. The villagers' wary glances didn't bother him; he was used to being the outsider. What did unsettle him, however, was Lila.

Her promise to help had been genuine, yet her demeanor toward him had shifted. Her once open smiles were now guarded, her voice softer but tinged with an edge of hesitation. She avoided meeting his eyes for too long, as if afraid of what she might see—or what he might see in her.

Elias didn't press her. He had faced suspicion before, back in Beacon Hills. Being different always drew attention, and fear often followed. He had learned to navigate it, though it didn't make the sting any less sharp.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Elias sat by the hearth in Lila's modest home. She had insisted he stay while he recovered, though the arrangement seemed to make her increasingly uneasy. She moved around the room with a nervous energy, gathering herbs and bandages she no longer needed.

"You don't have to fuss over me," Elias said, his tone light but sincere. "I'm fine."

Lila paused, her hands clutching a bundle of dried leaves. "You were bleeding out two days ago," she replied, her voice trembling slightly. "No one heals that fast, Elias."

He leaned back in his chair, studying her carefully. "I told you, I'm not like most people."

She looked at him then, her eyes searching his face for answers he couldn't—or wouldn't—give. "What are you?" she whispered.

Elias held her gaze, the weight of her question settling between them. He could see the fear in her eyes, but also curiosity. She wanted to understand, even if part of her was afraid of the truth.

"I'm just someone trying to survive," he said finally, his voice steady. "That's all you need to know."

Lila exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "That's not an answer."

"It's the only one I can give you right now," he replied, his tone firm but not unkind.

She didn't press further, but the tension lingered. As she turned back to her work, Elias's thoughts drifted. He had always been careful about revealing his true nature, even back home. Being a werewolf had brought its share of challenges, and trust was not something he gave lightly.

Later that night, as the fire burned low, Lila brought a bowl of stew to the table. She sat across from him, her movements more deliberate now, as if she were trying to reclaim some sense of normalcy.

"You said you came from far away," she began, her voice hesitant. "What was it like? Where you're from?"

Elias considered her question, a flicker of a smile crossing his lips. "It was… different. Bigger. Busier. People didn't know each other like they do here. But it had its moments."

Lila nodded, her expression softening slightly. "And your family?"

His smile faded. "Gone. A long time ago."

"I'm sorry," she said quietly.

He shrugged, though the ache in his chest was hard to ignore. "It's the way of things. You lose people, and you keep moving."

They fell into a companionable silence, the crackle of the fire filling the room. For a moment, it felt almost normal. Almost.

The next morning, Elias woke to the sound of footsteps outside. He sat up, his senses immediately alert. The wounds he had sustained were little more than faint scars now, his body having healed at a rate that would have alarmed anyone else. He glanced toward the door, where Lila stood, her hand hovering near the latch.

"You're leaving?" he asked, his voice low.

She startled, turning to face him. "Just for a bit. I need to fetch some things from the market."

Elias nodded, though he could see the hesitation in her movements. "Be careful."

She offered a faint smile before slipping out, leaving him alone in the quiet house. He sat for a moment, his thoughts swirling. Something had shifted between them, and he wasn't sure if it could be mended. But he couldn't afford to dwell on it. There were bigger questions to answer—about where he was, how he had gotten here, and what the vampires wanted with him.

Lila returned a few hours later, her arms laden with supplies. She seemed calmer, though the tension hadn't entirely disappeared. As they worked side by side to prepare a meal, Elias caught her stealing glances at him, her expression unreadable.

"Lila," he said suddenly, breaking the silence. "You don't have to be afraid of me."

She froze, her hands gripping the edge of the table. "I'm not afraid of you," she said, though her voice wavered.

"Then what is it?" he pressed gently.

She hesitated, her gaze dropping to the floor. "I don't know. You're… different. And I don't understand it. But I want to."

Elias nodded slowly. "I'll tell you what I can. But not everything. Not yet."

She looked up at him, her eyes searching his face. "That's fair."

It wasn't a perfect resolution, but it was a start. As the night wore on, they talked more—about the village, about her life, about the little things that made the world feel less daunting. And for a while, Elias allowed himself to believe that maybe, just maybe, he could find some semblance of peace here.

But deep down, he knew it wouldn't last. The vampires were still out there, and they wouldn't stop until they found him. And when they did, he would be ready.