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
HAZELI sat cross-legged on Amy's bed, watching her rummage through her closet without any real enthusiasm. Something was off. Usually, when we had plans to go anywhere, Amy would spend hours picking out the perfect outfit - not just for herself, but for me too. She'd always tease me about my oversized sweaters and baggy jeans, trying to convince me to wear something more "fashion-forward."But today? Nothing."What about this?" I held up a sparkly top that Amy had tried to make me wear at least a dozen times before.She barely glanced at it. "Wear whatever you want, Hazel. It doesn't really matter."I let the top fall back onto the bed, studying my best friend carefully. "Okay, what's going on with you?""What do you mean?" She wouldn't meet my eyes."Since when do you not care about what I wear? And don't think I didn't notice you talking to Darryl earlier." The memory of seeing them in the courtyard flashed through my mind. They'd both looked so serious, and Amy had seemed almost s
HAZELI paced around the room, examining every possible exit. The windows were securely boarded up, and the door was solid metal. But there had to be a way out. I refused to just sit here while everyone else was keeping secrets from me.My eyes landed on the ventilation shaft near the ceiling. It was old and rusty, but it looked big enough for me to squeeze through. I dragged one of the chairs over, testing its stability. The metal creaked under my weight as I climbed up.The vent cover was secured with four screws. I dug through my pockets, finding a bobby pin that might work as a screwdriver. As I worked on the first screw, I noticed something strange – it felt like the metal was bending under my fingers far more easily than it should. I'd always been strong, sure, but this felt different. The screws practically crumbled away at my touch.I chose not to dwell on it. One more mystery to add to the growing pile.The vent cover came loose with a satisfying clang. I pulled myself up, su
DARRYLI stared at my phone, reading Lucian's text for the hundredth time: "Don't worry, I've got this handled. Trust me."Trust. Such a simple word, yet everything hinged on it tonight. My fingers hovered over another message, this one from Amy: "I'll help keep her away. I promise." Her sudden change of heart puzzled me – just yesterday she'd been too terrified to even consider defying Katrina. What had changed?Running a hand through my hair, I dialed the pack guards. They needed to be in position before the party started. The phone rang twice before someone picked up."Alpha heir," a gruff voice answered."I need guards stationed at every entrance," I ordered. "No one gets in without thorough checking."There was a pause, then an awkward clearing of throat. "Sir... Katrina has already arranged security. Her father's personal guards will be handling the guest list."My grip tightened on the phone. "I don't care what Katrina arranged. I'm your future Alpha—""Marcus and Will are alre
HAZELThe mansion was incredible, all sweeping marble staircases and crystal chandeliers, like something out of a fairy tale. Music pulsed through the air as I slipped inside, trying to look like I belonged. The foyer was packed with people, all of them dressed far more elegantly than me in my simple sweater and jeans.I barely made it ten steps before a familiar voice cut through the noise."Hazel! You actually came!"Katrina came in front of me, looking gorgeous in a deep silver dress that seemed to catch every bit of light in the room. Her smile was dazzling, but something about it made my skin crawl."I wouldn't miss your invitation," I said, keeping my voice steady. "After all, you made such a point of giving it to me.""I was beginning to think you wouldn't show." Katrina stepped closer, her perfume overwhelming. "The party was getting so boring without you."Before I could react, she pulled me into a hug. I stiffened, caught off guard by the unexpected display of affection. Her
HAZEL"Let go of me!" I yanked my arm from Darryl's grip, but he only held on tighter, his eyes wild with an urgency I'd never seen before."Hazel, please," he begged and leaned in closer."You have no idea what's really happening here. We need to leave. Now.""No." I planted my feet firmly, meeting his gaze. "I'm tired of being kept in the dark. First my friends lock me up, and now you're acting like being at a party is somehow life-threatening. What aren't you telling me?"His eyes darted around the room, tracking movements I couldn't quite follow. "Hazel, please. I promise I'll explain everything, but right now we need to—""Explain everything?" I cut him off. "Like you explained why my dad suddenly hates you? Or why everyone in this town treats me like I'm made of glass? I'm done with half-truths and secrets!"He stepped closer and whispered. "You're right. You deserve the truth. I should have told you long ago about what I—about what we—""ATTENTION EVERYONE!" Katrina's voice boom
HAZEL The silence after the kiss was deafening. I sank back into my seat beside Lucian, my lips still burning, but not from the kiss- from shame. That growl I'd heard... it had come from Darryl. I glanced at him now, and my breath caught. His hands were clenched into tight fists at his sides, and for a moment, I could have sworn I saw something sharp protruding from his fingertips. I blinked, and it was gone. Must be the dim lighting playing tricks on my eyes."Well, wasn't that sweet?" Katrina's voice cut the silence. "Young love... or is it just desperation? Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference when someone's been abandoned so many times."I saw Darryl's shoulders tense."Now, where were we?" Katrina surveyed the room like a queen on her throne. "Oh yes, my turn."Bethany stepped forward. "Katrina, truth: What exactly happened between you and Darryl last summer at the lake house?"My stomach clenched unexpectedly as Katrina's lips curved into a smile. "Oh, that night?" She si
HAZELWhy would Malachi save me? The notorious rogue alpha who had terrorized our pack for years, who had ruthlessly killed all of Darryl's previous girlfriends—why would he suddenly intervene?Our eyes locked, and something strange happened. A pull so powerful—tugged at my core. Before I could make sense of it, Lucian staggered to his feet, his face filled with rage."You!" he snarled at Malachi. "You dare interfere?"Malachi's massive black wolf form didn't flinch. He stood his ground, baring teeth that gleamed like ivory daggers in the moonlight. A low growl rumbled from his chest, and without warning, he lunged.The two wolves collided in a violent clash of fangs and claws. I watched in horror as they tore at each other, rolling across the forest floor in a blur of fur and blood. The air filled with snarls and the sound of flesh being ripped.Weakness washed over me, my legs trembling beneath me. I slumped against a nearby tree, unable to tear my eyes away from the brutal fight. L
HAZEL"You're a werewolf," Amy and I whispered in unison, the realization dawning on us simultaneously.Lucian's mouth curved into a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Very good, Hazel. I was wondering how long it would take you to figure it out."My mind raced through every conversation, every moment we'd spent together. The orphanage records, his comments about feeling abandoned, the Garrett family name in that book with the pack symbol. All the clues had been there, scattered like breadcrumbs, but I'd been too blind to see them."How?" I asked, finding my voice. "How could you be a werewolf and we never sensed it?"Amy moved closer to me, her fingers already extending into claws, ready to shift if necessary. I could feel her body tensing beside mine."I've had years to perfect hiding what I am," Lucian said, stepping further into the room. "Special herbs, certain techniques... you'd be surprised what you can learn when you're desperate enough."He moved toward the photographs on th
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