HAZELThe cold metal of the silver bullet felt heavy in my palm. I turned it over and traced the carvings on its surface. It wasn’t like any bullet I’d ever seen. It was clearly handmade, not one of those mass-produced things you’d find in a store. My dad always had a thing for silver. His watch, a family heirloom, was silver. Even the necklace he gave me was silver. I glanced at the other bullets nestled in the velvet box. Was there more to it than just a fondness for the metal? I shook my head, forcing the thought away. Now wasn’t the time for speculation. I had a much more pressing problem to solve. I carefully placed the silver bullet back in its box, but not before slipping one into the pocket of my jeans. It was a reckless impulse, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I needed it.My focus snapped back to the nylon package in the drawer. The shirt. I needed to deal with the shirt.I peeked out into the hallway. Empty. The usual police station bustle was a low hum in the backgr
DARRYL My room felt small like the walls were closing in on me. I replayed the scene over and over: the police at the pack house, Mayor Thompson’s cold stare, the search of my room. It didn’t make sense. How had they found us? No human had ever breached our territory before. And now, after I’d brought Hazel here, they somehow showed up.I wanted to believe her. I clung to the memory of our moments together, the shared vulnerability and the trust that had bloomed between us. I remembered her fear when I told her about the shirt, her confusion, her genuine concern. It felt real. It had to be real.But the timing… it was too much of a coincidence. The seed of doubt, though tiny had been planted. I fought against it, pacing the floor, running my hands through my hair. The urge to shift, to let Shadow take over, was almost overwhelming. It would be easier to let the wolf handle this to push away the confusing emotions. But I resisted. This was my fight.I thought back to our conversation
HAZELA knot of anxiety tightened in my stomach. I paced back and forth in the living room, my phone clutched tightly in my hand. Every few seconds, I glanced at the screen, willing it to light up with a message, a call, anything. The weight of what I’d done in Dad’s office pressed down on me. I replayed the scene in my mind, searching for any slip-ups, any mistakes I might have made or any details I had missed. Had I left any trace of the hand sanitizer? Had I left any fingerprints? Had I been too obvious?The house was quiet, but it was a tense kind of quiet. I could feel Dad’s anxiety radiating through the walls. I knew he was making calls and receiving calls, his voice was tight and clipped. Then, the phone rang. The sharp sound cut through the silence, making me jump. Dad answered it in the living room, his voice strained. I pressed my ear against the wall, trying to hear what he was saying.“Yes… I understand… Thank you… Yes… I’ll be there.”The conversation was short, mostly
HAZEL“Rogue alpha?” I repeated. “What does that even mean?”Amy’s eyes darted around the class, as if checking to make sure no one was listening. She bit her lip and stammered, shaking her head. “I didn’t mean… I just… I read about something like that in a book. You know, old folklore. Legends about… rogue alphas.”She fumbled for an explanation, her words tumbling out in a rush. “It was about… these powerful wolves, they were… different. More aggressive. They were called ‘rogue alphas’ in the stories. It’s just… a legend.”I stared at her, my brow furrowed. It sounded… flimsy. Like a story she’d made up on the spot. But a part of me wanted to believe her. The alternative, the idea that werewolves actually existed, was too unbelievable, too terrifying.“You read about that?” I asked. “That exact description?” I gestured to my sketchbook. “The glowing red eyes, the huge size… everything?”“Well, not exactly everything,” Amy said, avoiding my gaze. “But… the general idea. You know, pow
DARRYL I found Katrina there, leaning against a large boulder, chatting casually with a couple of other she-wolves. Her relaxed posture and easy laughter were like a slap in the face. How could she be so carefree after what she’d done? My anger was barely contained as I approached her.The other she-wolves noticed my approach and exchanged nervous glances before quickly excusing themselves. Katrina turned to me, a touch of surprise crossing her face before it settled into a cool expression.“What do you think you’re doing?” I demanded.Katrina tilted her head. “What’s that, Darryl?” she asked. “Is it the part where I’m enjoying the evening or the part where I ordered someone's death that you’re referring to?”“Don’t play coy with me, Katrina,” I growled. “How fucking dare you? Do you have any idea what you've done? Ordering an assassination.”Katrina’s smile widened. “Ooh, that. It’s such a strong word, don't you think? I simply asked some of our pack members to ensure her… safety. F
HAZEL“You guys were pretty close before I left for the city,” I said, looking at Darryl. “You and my dad. But now… he hates you. It’s like something changed. What happened, Darryl? Why does he suddenly hate you so much?”Darryl shifted his weight as he avoided my gaze. He looked genuinely confused too. “I honestly don’t know, Hazel,” he said, his voice low. “Things just… changed after my parents died. I wasn’t exactly making the best choices. I caused a lot of trouble around here. Maybe that’s it.”His words echoed in my mind. That was the story my father had told me, the explanation he’d given for the sudden rift between them. Darryl had become a “nuisance,” a “troublemaker,” after losing his parents. But I’d never fully believed it.. My father’s dislike for Darryl wasn’t just disapproval; it was something deeper, something darker. It felt like… hate.I was intentionally asking Darryl to see if his version of events matched my father's.My thoughts drifted back to my father’s words.
DARRYLMy vision was filled with red rage. The image of those wolves, their rough voices threatening Hazel played on repeat in my mind. They wanted her head. My wolf, Shadow snarled within me, his rage was building and he was demanding release. I knew I couldn’t let this go. I had to make them understand.I tracked their scents, the trail leading me to a cluster of rough-hewn huts on the edge of the pack territory. They were inside one, I could hear their muffled voices and the clinking of bottles. They even had the nerve to be drinking after what they’d done. The sight of it sent a fresh wave of fury through me.I kicked the door open, the sudden crash echoing through the small hut. They turned instantly and their faces became pale, the bruises I’d given them earlier still visible but it wasn’t enough. It wouldn’t ever be enough if they dared to even think about touching Hazel again. They needed to understand the gravity of their actions.Their eyes widened and they scrambled back, k
DARRYL My head throbbed. Katrina’s words echoed in my mind: “Choose me as your mate, and Hazel will be spared.” the thought of Hazel in danger, surrounded by those resentful wolves… it made my blood run cold.Finding Amy wasn’t easy. I checked all her usual haunts – the library, the art room, even the empty classrooms where she sometimes went to escape the noise. But she was nowhere to be found. Finally, I picked up her scent, leading me to a quiet corner of the courtyard. She was sitting on a bench, her shoulders slumped, her gaze fixed on the ground.As soon as she raised her head and saw me, her eyes widened with fear. She scrambled to her feet, her body tense like she was ready to run. I understood. After what I’d done yesterday, the display of raw power and aggression, she had every right to be scared.“Amy,” I said softly, holding up my hands in a gesture of peace. “It’s okay. I’m not here to hurt you. You’re safe.”She still looked terrified, her eyes darting nervously around
HAZEL POVI stood in front of the entire pack, my heart hammering against my ribs. Though Darryl had asked me to show them who I was, my powers felt frozen inside me, locked away by fear and uncertainty. The judgmental stares of the pack members only made it worse."I... I can't," I whispered, my voice shaking.Darryl moved behind me, his warm hand resting on my back. "You can," he murmured. "I'm right here." His touch sent warmth through my body, and suddenly I felt my power stirring.It started slowly at first – a gentle golden glow emanating from my skin. Then it grew stronger, brighter, until my entire body was illuminated. My blonde hair shimmered like spun gold, and I knew my eyes were glowing with an otherworldly light. Gasps echoed through the room as pack members leaned forward in their seats, their faces filled with awe.An elderly woman pushed through the crowd, her wizened face full of wonder. "By the moon goddess," she breathed. "A Golden Wolf. After all these centuries..
DARRYL POVThe morning sun felt different on my skin after weeks in that cell. Standing outside the prison with Hazel in my arms, I could barely process that I was finally free. But the weight of what I needed to tell her pressed against my chest like a stone."Hazel," I started, pulling back slightly to look into her eyes. "There's something you need to know about Lucian—""DARRYL!" The familiar voice cut through the moment. Lucian came bounding across the parking lot, his grin plastered across his face. Before I could react, he pulled me into a crushing hug that felt genuine—too genuine for someone who had orchestrated my imprisonment."Man, it's so good to see you out!" Lucian exclaimed, stepping back but keeping his hands on my shoulders. "We've been working non-stop to prove your innocence.""We sure have," Hazel agreed warmly. "Lucian was instrumental in helping us find the security footage."I fought to keep my expression neutral as my mind raced. The security footage that pro
HAZELI stood in my father's office at the police station. Amy squeezed my hand, a silent show of support as Officer Sarah reviewed our statement about finding the security footage.Jared paced behind his desk, his jaw clenched tight. "This footage is eight years old," he said, his voice clipped. "Even if it shows what you claim, it might not be admissible in court.""But it proves Darryl's innocence!" I shot back, my hands balling into fists. "You can't just ignore that!""Hazel," Sarah interjected gently, "your father is just trying to—""He's not my father." The words escaped before I could stop them. The room went deadly silent. Jared's face turned pale, then red with anger. Sarah looked between us in confusion."Hazel," Jared warned, his voice low and dangerous. "Now is not the time.""When is the time?" I demanded, taking a step forward. "When you're not busy trying to keep an innocent man in prison? When you're not injecting me with—" I caught myself just in time, aware of Sara
HAZELMy hands trembled as I connected the hard drive to Amy's laptop. We sat in her car, parked in a quiet corner of the mall parking lot, hearts racing with anticipation."Are you sure you want to watch this?" Amy asked softly. "We know it's going to be..." She didn't finish the sentence. She didn't have to.I nodded, double-clicking on the first video file. "We need to know exactly what it shows before we take it to the police."The footage was grainy, typical of security cameras from eight years ago. At first, there was nothing – just an empty park path lit by scattered lampposts. Then movement caught our attention. Two figures walked into frame, and my heart clenched. Gracia and Darryl, so young, so unaware of what was about to happen."There," Amy pointed at the screen. "Something's moving in the shadows."I leaned closer, squinting at the dark shape that seemed to come from nowhere. The attack happened so fast – one moment Darryl and Gracia were walking, the next Darryl was fly
HAZELI banged my head against Amy's car dashboard for what felt like the hundredth time. The park meeting had gone exactly as we'd feared – complete disaster. My ears were still ringing with their mocking laughter."Well, that was humiliating," Amy muttered from the driver's seat, her knuckles white on the steering wheel. "Did you see the security guard face when we mentioned eight-year-old security footage?""Don't remind me." I groaned, remembering his patronizing smile. "'Oh, you sweet, naive girls,'" I mimicked his tone. "'Security footage from that long ago? Even if it existed, it would have been destroyed years ago.'""And the lady!" Amy hit her hand against the wheel. "She looked so annoyed. Like we were children playing detective."We sat in silence for a moment, parked outside the park where we'd just been thoroughly dismissed."We're idiots," I finally said, staring at the ceiling of Amy's car. "What were we thinking? Eight years. Eight years! Of course no one would keep se
HAZELI paced nervously in Art room later that day, trying to figure out how to explain everything to Lucian without revealing the supernatural truth. He sat on a desk chair, arms crossed, clearly frustrated at being left out earlier."So," he said, his voice carefully neutral, "are you finally going to tell me what Maria said after you sent me away?"I exchanged a quick glance with Amy, who was perched on her bed. We had carefully rehearsed our edited version of events."Maria witnessed what happened the night Gracia died," I began slowly. "She followed her sister to the park because she was upset about a broken promise."Lucian leaned forward, his eyes intense. "And?""She saw Gracia and Darryl together," Amy continued. "They were attacked by someone... someone who seemed to know them. A man – large, incredibly strong. He….He attacked Darryl first, knocked him unconscious.""Then he killed Gracia while Darryl was out?" Lucian's voice was gentle, understanding how difficult this was
HAZEL POVMy heart was pounding as I watched Maria struggle with her words. I knew what was coming - a truth about werewolves that we couldn't let Lucian hear. But how could we send him away without making Maria even more suspicious?Amy caught my eye, and I could see the same worry reflected there. We needed to act fast."Before you continue," I said gently to Maria, "maybe we should move somewhere more private? This hallway isn't exactly comfortable."Maria wrapped her arms around herself, looking smaller than ever. "I don't want to move. If I move, I might lose my courage."Lucian shifted closer, his presence both comforting and concerning. "We could at least find somewhere to sit properly. These floors are pretty hard."That's when Amy surprised me with her quick thinking. "Actually, Lucian, could you do us a huge favor? Maria's going to need some water, and probably something to eat. She's shaking."Lucian frowned, clearly reluctant to leave. "Can't one of you go?""You know wher
The music room was quiet after Maria ran out. My heart pounded in my chest, the sound echoing like a drumroll in my ears. I stared at the crushed drawing of Malachi on the floor and felt sick to my stomach. What had just happened? Why did she react that way? And more importantly, why did it feel like we were so close yet so far from the truth?I bolted after her, adrenaline coursing through me. The hallways seemed endless as I chased her down, my footsteps echoing off the walls. "Maria!" I called out, my voice breaking through the silence. But she didn't stop—she only ran faster, her backpack bouncing wildly against her back."Maria, wait!" I shouted again, desperation creeping into my tone. She turned a corner sharply, disappearing from sight. For a moment, I thought I'd lost her, but then I spotted her darting toward the school’s main exit. Her breaths came in short gasps, her movements erratic, almost panicked.She pushed open the heavy glass doors and sprinted outside. The air hit
HAZEL POVI spent all night tossing and turning, haunted by Maria's words about her sister being like moonlight on water. When morning finally came, I was exhausted but restless. Amy found me pacing in her kitchen at dawn, already on my third cup of coffee."You look terrible," she said bluntly, pulling the mug from my hands. "Did you sleep at all?""How can I sleep?" I demanded. "We're about to manipulate an already traumatized girl into reliving the worst night of her life, all because we think she might know something about Darryl's case. Does that not bother you?"Amy's expression softened. "Of course it bothers me. But if Maria really was there that night, if she saw something...""Then she's been carrying that burden alone for years," I finished. "I know. I just... you didn't see her yesterday, Amy. The way she plays piano like it's the only thing keeping her together. The look in her eyes when she talked about people pretending to be her friend.""Which is exactly what we're do