The One Night Stand Turns Out To Be My Professor

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Ian’s POV

Sophia was stil very pale, like there was no blood at all in her body. Her breath shallow and her body fragile like a porcelain doll on the verge of shattering. I hovered by her bedside, feeling a never ending sense of helplessness. Her condition had improved slightly, but it was clear she needed something more. The thought of what that something was left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Human blood.

It wasn’t something I wanted her to rely on. The risks were too great, and the consequences… irreversible. I’d seen it happen before—vampires who couldn’t resist the taste of human blood, who became addicted to its power and pleasure. It changed them, made them lose themselves. I didn’t want that for Sophia. She had already been through so much, and this was a line I didn’t want her to cross.

But what choice did I have? She was barely clinging to life, and every minute that passed without action was another minute she grew weaker. The blood of animals wasn’t enough. It could sustain her for a time, but it wouldn’t restore her. Not after what she’d been through. She needed something stronger.

But that didn’t mean I was ready to let her feed on humans.

She stirred, her eyelids fluttering as if she was trying to pull herself out of the haze that she had been for several hours. I leaned closer, watching her carefully. Her eyes slowly opened, unfocused at first, but then they found mine. There was confusion there, mixed with a quiet pain that cut through me like a blade.

“Ian…” Her voice was faint, barely more than a whisper, but it still filled me with relief. I was happy to know that she was still fighting, still holding on.

“I’m here,” I said, taking her hand in mine. It was cold to the touch, another sign of how she was weak and still in danger. “You’re safe. Just rest.”

She tried to nod but winced instead, her whole body was probably still hurting badly. “I… I feel so weak.”

“I know,” I said softly, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. “You’ve been through a lot. But you’re going to be okay.”

Her eyes searched mine, filled with a trust that only deepened my determination. I couldn’t let her down. Not now.

“What… happened?” she asked, her voice strained.

“You were taken by hunters,” I explained, my tone gentle but firm. “They injected you with vervain, kept you weak. We got you out, but you’re still recovering.”

Her eyes widened slightly as she remembered, the fear and pain of what they had made her go through, flashing across her face. “They… they wanted to kill us.”

“But they didn’t,” I said quickly. “We got to you in time. You’re safe now.”

She nodded slowly, the tension in her body easing slightly, but she was still too weak to hold herself up. I helped her adjust her position, making sure she was comfortable, but the worry in her eyes didn’t go away.

“I feel… like I’m slipping away,” she admitted, her voice trembling. “Like I’m losing myself.”

“You’re not,” I assured her. “You’re still here, still fighting. You’re stronger than you think.”

She closed her eyes, taking in a shaky breath, but I could see how much effort it took. She was barely hanging on, and it was tearing me apart. I needed to do something, anything, to help her.

“What do I need to do?” she asked, her voice barely more than a whisper. “How do I get better?”

I hesitated, not wanting to say the words out loud, not wanting to admit that I was even considering it. But I couldn’t lie to her. She deserved the truth.