HAZELJust as the moment between us got intense, that stupid rat bit my leg! I screamed and jumped up so fast I nearly hit my head on the ceiling. Darryl jumped up too, looking ready to fight."Ouch! That little monster bit me!" I yelled, rubbing my leg."I'm going to kill that rat," Darryl said, his eyes scanning the room. He looked so serious about it that I couldn't help but laugh.What happened next was like something out of a comedy. Darryl was crawling around on his hands and knees, looking under furniture for a tiny rat. I stood on the bed, not wanting to get bitten again."There it is!" I pointed at a shadow moving behind some boxes. Darryl lunged, but the rat was faster. He ended up face-first in a pile of old blankets."For a mighty Alpha werewolf, you're not very good at catching rats," I laughed. He shot me a playful glare."Oh yeah? Let's see you do better!" He stood up, crossing his arms.I tried to use my new super-senses to track the rat. I closed my eyes and focused r
HAZEL I sat in the dark room, my heart pounding against my ribs. They'd thrown me in here what felt like hours ago. No windows, just thick concrete walls and a heavy metal door. All I could think about was Darryl lying unconscious on the cabin floor, that purple poison running through his veins.I stood up, determined to find a way out. I had to get to him. Just as I reached for the door, it burst open, slamming against the wall. Two guards rushed in, pushing me back into the room. Katrina sauntered in after them, dragging Amy with her. My stomach dropped when I saw Amy's state – fresh bruises bloomed across her face, and blood trickled from her split lip."Look who I found trying to run away from the pack," Katrina said, shoving Amy to the ground."Amy!" I tried to run to her, but the guards held me back.Amy looked up at me, her eyes full of tears. "I'm sorry, Hazel. I tried to help, but—" She broke off with a cry as Katrina kicked her."Stop it!" I shouted, struggling against the
HAZELI stood in the darkness, my mind still reeling from Katrina's revelations. My feet started moving toward Darryl's hideout, but I stopped abruptly. If what she'd shown me was true, if Darryl really was that violent beast in the videos... I couldn't risk being anywhere near him.The thought of those missing girlfriends made my stomach churn. How many had there been? What had really happened to them? The Darryl I knew seemed so different from the monster in those videos, but maybe that's exactly what those other girls had thought too, right before they disappeared.Home. It was the only place left, but even that felt impossible. Dad had been calling non-stop for five days, probably had the entire police force looking for me. What would I even say to him? Sorry I disappeared, by the way, I'm some kind of supernatural creature called a Golden Wolf? Yeah, that would go well. But then again, maybe he already knew. Those silver bullets in his study weren't there by accident. He'd been
Hazel I opened my mouth, trying to find the right words to explain Darryl's absence without revealing anything supernatural. My mind raced through possible excuses, each sounding more ridiculous than the last. Just as I was about to sputter some nonsense, Lucian's phone pinged."Hold that thought," he said, reaching for his phone. "Let me check this real quick."I waited, grateful for the interruption. My heart was still pounding from nearly having to explain everything about Darryl, the wolves, and why I was really here."Who is it?" I asked, trying to sound as casual as possible."Actually, it's Darryl," Lucian replied, his eyes scanning the screen."What?" I nearly choked on my coffee. "Darryl?"Lucian nodded, still reading the message. "Yeah, he's asking about football practice. Says 'How far, man? Are you coming for practice today at school? I've been practicing.'"He turned to me, his eyebrows raised. "Is this what you've been hiding? That he's been having private practice sess
HAZELI woke up to sunlight streaming through the curtains of Lucian's guest room. Two days I'd been here, hiding from everything - from Darryl, from Katrina, from my dad and from what I'd become. The soft mattress had become my sanctuary, but even that couldn't keep the world at bay forever.A car engine rumbled in the driveway and the sound got louder as it approached. My heart jumped - were Lucian's parents back early? I swung my legs out of bed and walked out of the room, ready to call out to him."Lucian, I think your parents are-" The words died in my throat as the engine's distinctive sound registered in my brain. That wasn't just any car. That was a police cruiser. My father's cruiser."No," I whispered, scrambling to the window. Sure enough, there was my dad's patrol car, and there he was, stepping out in his crisp uniform like he was every inch the authoritative mayor and police chief he was."Lucian!" I screamed, panic making my voice crack. "LUCIAN!"He appeared in the doo
HAZEL "Third complaint this month, Hazel. Third!" Bob slammed his hands on his desk. "And this time you actually hit a customer?" I sank into the chair opposite him and smiled as I recalled the satisfying moment of slapping that creep who wouldn’t keep his hands to himself. It felt good to fight back, even if I knew it only added to my troubles. But I should have known better by now. Standing up for myself never ended well - it just gave everyone another excuse to remind me how different I was, how I didn't fit in. These reminders came daily. In the stares of strangers, in the whispered conversations they thought I couldn't hear, in the way people either avoided me entirely or got too close for comfort. My crime? Being born with hair and eyes of pure Gold. Not the fake bottle blonde or amber that you might assume, but actual metallic gold. The doctors called it a genetic anomaly. The kids at school called me a freak. I just called it my curse. And tonight, that curse had cos
HAZELThe "Welcome to Ravenville" sign emerged from the darkness, it's faded letters shone by the taxi's headlights. Eight years of running and here I was, crawling back to the one place my dad swore I never to return to.The cab driver hadn't said a word since I boarded, and I was grateful for the silence. No awkward questions about why a teenager was traveling alone at night, No suspicious glances at my strange golden eyes in his rearview mirror. Just the quiet sound of the engine and my thoughts for company.Until my phone buzzed, again.I sighed and glanced at the screen. Aunt Jenna's name flashed for what felt like the hundredth time."Hazel, this is insane! Answer me!""Do you have any idea how dangerous this is?""What about your father? Did you even tell him you're coming?"I switched the phone to silent and dropped it into my bag. She wasn't wrong about Dad – I hadn't told him I was coming. The plan was simple. find a motel, get settled, then figure out how to break the news
DARRYL "Darryl, you're gonna snap the steering wheel in half if you grip it any tighter." Katrina’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. I blinked and eased my hands off the wheel slightly realizing how tightly I’d been holding it. I muttered, “Sorry,” but didn’t look at her. My mind was somewhere else—no, on someone else. The girl we just ran into. I didn’t want to think about her, I didn’t want to drag up memories I’d buried years ago. But the past always had a way of creeping up when you least expected it. Especially when the past stares you in the face. Hazel. The girl who left everything in ruins on a day that should’ve been perfect. My tenth birthday—one that turned my entire life upside down. It was supposed to be a day filled with laughter, plans, and promises. Hazel and I had spent weeks planning it. We were going to spend the whole day together, just like we used to. She had promised it would be unforgettable. And it was… just not in the way I expected.
HAZELI woke up to sunlight streaming through the curtains of Lucian's guest room. Two days I'd been here, hiding from everything - from Darryl, from Katrina, from my dad and from what I'd become. The soft mattress had become my sanctuary, but even that couldn't keep the world at bay forever.A car engine rumbled in the driveway and the sound got louder as it approached. My heart jumped - were Lucian's parents back early? I swung my legs out of bed and walked out of the room, ready to call out to him."Lucian, I think your parents are-" The words died in my throat as the engine's distinctive sound registered in my brain. That wasn't just any car. That was a police cruiser. My father's cruiser."No," I whispered, scrambling to the window. Sure enough, there was my dad's patrol car, and there he was, stepping out in his crisp uniform like he was every inch the authoritative mayor and police chief he was."Lucian!" I screamed, panic making my voice crack. "LUCIAN!"He appeared in the doo
Hazel I opened my mouth, trying to find the right words to explain Darryl's absence without revealing anything supernatural. My mind raced through possible excuses, each sounding more ridiculous than the last. Just as I was about to sputter some nonsense, Lucian's phone pinged."Hold that thought," he said, reaching for his phone. "Let me check this real quick."I waited, grateful for the interruption. My heart was still pounding from nearly having to explain everything about Darryl, the wolves, and why I was really here."Who is it?" I asked, trying to sound as casual as possible."Actually, it's Darryl," Lucian replied, his eyes scanning the screen."What?" I nearly choked on my coffee. "Darryl?"Lucian nodded, still reading the message. "Yeah, he's asking about football practice. Says 'How far, man? Are you coming for practice today at school? I've been practicing.'"He turned to me, his eyebrows raised. "Is this what you've been hiding? That he's been having private practice sess
HAZELI stood in the darkness, my mind still reeling from Katrina's revelations. My feet started moving toward Darryl's hideout, but I stopped abruptly. If what she'd shown me was true, if Darryl really was that violent beast in the videos... I couldn't risk being anywhere near him.The thought of those missing girlfriends made my stomach churn. How many had there been? What had really happened to them? The Darryl I knew seemed so different from the monster in those videos, but maybe that's exactly what those other girls had thought too, right before they disappeared.Home. It was the only place left, but even that felt impossible. Dad had been calling non-stop for five days, probably had the entire police force looking for me. What would I even say to him? Sorry I disappeared, by the way, I'm some kind of supernatural creature called a Golden Wolf? Yeah, that would go well. But then again, maybe he already knew. Those silver bullets in his study weren't there by accident. He'd been
HAZEL I sat in the dark room, my heart pounding against my ribs. They'd thrown me in here what felt like hours ago. No windows, just thick concrete walls and a heavy metal door. All I could think about was Darryl lying unconscious on the cabin floor, that purple poison running through his veins.I stood up, determined to find a way out. I had to get to him. Just as I reached for the door, it burst open, slamming against the wall. Two guards rushed in, pushing me back into the room. Katrina sauntered in after them, dragging Amy with her. My stomach dropped when I saw Amy's state – fresh bruises bloomed across her face, and blood trickled from her split lip."Look who I found trying to run away from the pack," Katrina said, shoving Amy to the ground."Amy!" I tried to run to her, but the guards held me back.Amy looked up at me, her eyes full of tears. "I'm sorry, Hazel. I tried to help, but—" She broke off with a cry as Katrina kicked her."Stop it!" I shouted, struggling against the
HAZELJust as the moment between us got intense, that stupid rat bit my leg! I screamed and jumped up so fast I nearly hit my head on the ceiling. Darryl jumped up too, looking ready to fight."Ouch! That little monster bit me!" I yelled, rubbing my leg."I'm going to kill that rat," Darryl said, his eyes scanning the room. He looked so serious about it that I couldn't help but laugh.What happened next was like something out of a comedy. Darryl was crawling around on his hands and knees, looking under furniture for a tiny rat. I stood on the bed, not wanting to get bitten again."There it is!" I pointed at a shadow moving behind some boxes. Darryl lunged, but the rat was faster. He ended up face-first in a pile of old blankets."For a mighty Alpha werewolf, you're not very good at catching rats," I laughed. He shot me a playful glare."Oh yeah? Let's see you do better!" He stood up, crossing his arms.I tried to use my new super-senses to track the rat. I closed my eyes and focused r
HAZELI couldn't help but smile as I left Darryl far behind me. Running like this felt amazing - like I was flying through the forest. The wind whipped through my hair, and everything around me was just a blur of colors.Finally, I stopped and waited for him to catch up. While waiting, I touched one of the trees near me. It was strange - I could feel life pulsing through it, like a heartbeat under my fingers. Everything in the forest felt alive and connected somehow.Just as I was exploring these new sensations, Darryl rushed past me, probably thinking he was taking the lead again. I laughed and shot forward, easily passing him once more. This new power flowing through me was incredible. I never wanted it to stop."Hazel!" Darryl called out behind me. "We've passed where I want us to hide. Stop running!"I skidded to a halt, my feet barely leaving marks on the ground. Darryl finally caught up to me, bending over and panting hard. I realized I wasn't even breathing heavily."That was..
HAZEL I was going crazy sitting in that room. Elena kept checking on me every few minutes like I might explode or something, and the antiseptic smell was making my new enhanced senses go haywire. Darryl had been gone for what felt like forever, and I couldn't take it anymore.When Elena stepped out to get more supplies, I saw my chance. I know Darryl told her to watch me, but he wasn't my boss. Besides, I felt fine – better than fine, actually. The golden light under my skin had faded to a soft glow, and my head finally felt clear.Getting out was easier than I expected. I just waited until Elena went to check on another patient, then slipped through the back door. The cool night air felt amazing on my skin, and and I took a deep breath, finally able to smell something besides hospital chemicals.The area around the healer's facility was quiet – too quiet. No pack members anywhere, which seemed weird. I started walking, testing out my new senses. Every smell told a story – here's whe
DARRYLI held Hazel close, not wanting to let go. Her scent calmed my wolf, making me want to stay. But I couldn't."I'll be back soon," I whispered, forcing myself to pull away. Her golden eyes watched me, full of questions I couldn't answer yet.Outside the room, I found Elena checking some test results. I grabbed her arm gently."Elena, I need you to stay with her," I said. My voice was serious. "Don't let anyone in. Not even pack members. We can't trust anyone right now."Elena nodded. "Of course. But where are you going?"Before I could answer, my father's mind link hit me hard. His anger burned through our connection, making me flinch.GET HERE NOW."I have to go," I told Elena. "My father wants to see me about what happened at the party."Elena's face showed worry. "Be careful. The Alpha will genuinely be annoyed."His anger burned through our connection. I could feel Shadow, my wolf, wanting to resist the Alpha command, but I knew I had to go. Looking one last time at Hazel th
HAZELI stared at my reflection, watching golden light pulse beneath my skin. The words "Golden Wolf" echoed in my head, but they felt wrong and impossible. Then I thought about my parents and froze.My dad was human. My mom had been human before she died. How could I be a Golden Wolf?The markings under my skin rippled like they were trying to break free. I pressed my hand against the mirror, watching the strange patterns shift and flow. Everything I thought I knew about myself was crumbling.Then memories started flooding back. Dad's strange behavior over the years. All the rules and restrictions. Never letting me stay out after dark. The silver bullets I'd found hidden in his study. His hatred of Darryl."Dad knew," I whispered, turning to face Elena and Darryl. "He must have known what I am. That's why he was so protective. Why he sent me away to the city." My head spun with questions. "He said he was protecting me from something. But what? And how did my mom..." I couldn't finish