Aiden's Point of View The first thing I register as I start to stir is the unfamiliar ceiling above me. A dull ache settles behind my eyes, the remnants of last nightâs drinks, and for a second, I donât remember where I am. Then I feel movement beside me. I turn my head and see her, the redhead from the bar, curled up beside me, her breathing soft and steady, her arm draped lazily over my chest. Thatâs when it all floods back in. The drinks, the flirting, the apartment. The distraction. Quietly, carefully, I ease her arm off me and sit up on the edge of the bed. The air is cool against my skin, and I keep still for a moment, staring at the floor like it might offer me a reason for last night, like it might help the guilt already starting to crawl its way in. I gather my clothes in silence, not bothering to look back at her. No need. This wasnât meant to be anything more than what it was. I slip into my jeans, pull on my shirt, and make my way out of the bedroom, closing the door
Aiden's Point of View As I make my way towards the dining hall, the rich scent of roasted meat, herbs, and fresh bread hits me square in the gut, and my stomach growls loudly in response. I canât even remember the last time I ate, everything after the fight with Brock is a blur of adrenaline, guilt, and exhaustion. Itâs a strange relief to feel hunger again, like my bodyâs finally coming back online. When I step into the dining hall, I immediately notice the private table Abby has set off to the side. Itâs decked out, more like a celebration than a casual lunch. The tableâs dressed in soft white linen with a centerpiece of spring flowers, and a spread of food already set up buffet style nearby. Roasted chicken, buttery vegetables, fresh salads, and a tray of desserts sit neatly in their dishes. My curiosity spikes. I head straight for Abby, giving her a skeptical smirk. âWow, you really went all out. So whatâs the big news?â She beams up at me, clearly thrilled. âYouâll just ha
Hazel's Point of View UghâĶ my back aches like Iâve been hit by a truck. I groan softly as I start to stir, feeling the telltale stiffness in my neck and shoulders. Lifting my head, it takes me a moment to realize where I am, slumped over my desk, surrounded by open grimoires and scattered notes. Perfect. Just perfect. Fell asleep mid research like some over caffeinated student, only I donât even have the excuse of youth on my side anymore. I rub at my neck with a wince, blinking at the soft morning light filtering in through the window. My second lectureâs today, and here I am looking, and probably smelling, like a zombie. Great impression to make. Just what I needed. I glance at the grimoires and quickly flip a few pages to check. No drool, thank the stars. At least there's that. My eyes catch the wine glass still sitting beside the stack of books, a few sips of red still lingering in the bottom like a quiet reminder of last nightâs desperation. I pick it up along with the empty
Hazel's Point of ViewThe afternoon sun casts a golden glow through the trees and over the ancient altar as I stand before it, ready to prove my coven wrong. My fingers brush over the smooth surface of the ritual stone, my heart pounding with anticipation. I silently run through the spell again, ensuring every word, every motion is precise. This is my moment.Then, chaos erupts.A blur of movement catches my eye as two massive wolves burst into the clearing, their snarls tearing through the silence. My breath hitches as my gaze locks onto the dark brown wolf. Thereâs something about him, something I canât explain. But I donât have time to dwell on the strange pull I feel towards him. More wolves emerge from the shadows, launching themselves into battle, teeth bared, claws slashing.I hesitate, my mind racing. I always believed all werewolves wanted the curse broken, yet here they are, fighting to stop me. Why?Before I can make sense of it, the brown wolf is suddenly in front of me, h
Hazel's Point of ViewI don't know how long I've been here, buried in ancient texts, my fingers stained with dust and ink. Time has lost all meaning in the flickering candlelight, my world reduced to the fragile pages before me. My back aches from hours hunched over these books, and my eyes burn with exhaustion, but I donât stop. I canât stop.And then, I find it.Not in a grimoire, not hidden within the pages of some elaborate tome, but on a single loose sheet, wedged between a stack of forgotten spells. The parchment is brittle, its edges frayed as if handled in a hurry, like whoever last held it knew its worth but had no time to use it.I lift it carefully, my pulse thrumming as I scan the inked symbols and lines of ancient script. My breath catches.The handwriting, itâs the same as the first spell. The curves of the letters, the way certain symbols are drawn, the unmistakable rhythm of the incantation, it all matches. And then, I see it.It mentions the stone.Excitement surges t
Aiden's Point of ViewAnother dead end.I stand in the mouth of the cave, the dim light from outside barely reaching the smooth, empty walls. No scent, no markings, no trace of Hazel. Just silence and dust.Frustration coils tight in my chest as I take another slow step inside, scanning the empty space, searching for something, anything, that might tell me she was here. But thereâs nothing. Just cold stone and wasted time.I exhale sharply through my nose, my jaw clenching as I turn on my heel.Damn it.I kick a loose rock, watching it skitter across the ground before clattering against the far wall. The sound echoes in the hollow space, mocking me. Iâve searched countless places, followed every lead, but she keeps slipping through my fingers. Three months of chasing shadows, of tracking a ghost who doesnât want to be found.I rake a hand through my hair as I step back into the light, the fresh afternoon air a stark contrast to the stale nothingness of the cave. My truck is parked ju
Hazel's Point of View "Mate." The word hangs heavy in the air between us, thick with meaning, thick with something I cannot acknowledge. My breath catches in my throat as I instinctively raise my hands in surrender, palms up, a silent plea for him to stay back. I take a careful step backwards, my heart pounding in my chest. The man who just burst into my home is not just any werewolf, he is him. The dark brown wolf from the clearing. The one who tried to stop me. The one who's pack has been haunting me for months now. "Please donât hurt me," I say, my voice softer than I intend, laced with exhaustion. "I promise itâs not as it seems. I never wanted any of this." His eyes darken, piercing green flickering with something unreadable as he steps towards me. My body tenses. He is huge, his presence overwhelming in my small cottage. He moves like a predator, each step controlled, deliberate. "Then explain it to me," he demands, his voice low and firm. "Why were you willing to break th
Aiden's Point of View The road stretches endlessly before me, the dark asphalt illuminated only by my headlights as I push the truck faster. The hum of the engine fills the silence, but it does nothing to drown out the thoughts swirling in my head. I replay the scene over and over, every word, every look Hazel gave me. She just wanted me to reject her. No hesitation, no second thoughts. Like our bond, the one thing Iâve spent my entire life waiting for, meant absolutely nothing to her. I clench my jaw, my grip tightening around the steering wheel. My wolf stirs uneasily inside me, unsettled by the rejection, by the emptiness it left behind. The bond is severed now, but that doesnât mean it doesnât hurt. It feels like something raw and jagged is tearing through my chest. She spoke about the supernatural world like it was a burden, something she wanted no part of. Like I was something she wanted no part of. I exhale sharply, shaking my head as if thatâll somehow force the thoughts
Hazel's Point of View UghâĶ my back aches like Iâve been hit by a truck. I groan softly as I start to stir, feeling the telltale stiffness in my neck and shoulders. Lifting my head, it takes me a moment to realize where I am, slumped over my desk, surrounded by open grimoires and scattered notes. Perfect. Just perfect. Fell asleep mid research like some over caffeinated student, only I donât even have the excuse of youth on my side anymore. I rub at my neck with a wince, blinking at the soft morning light filtering in through the window. My second lectureâs today, and here I am looking, and probably smelling, like a zombie. Great impression to make. Just what I needed. I glance at the grimoires and quickly flip a few pages to check. No drool, thank the stars. At least there's that. My eyes catch the wine glass still sitting beside the stack of books, a few sips of red still lingering in the bottom like a quiet reminder of last nightâs desperation. I pick it up along with the empty
Aiden's Point of View As I make my way towards the dining hall, the rich scent of roasted meat, herbs, and fresh bread hits me square in the gut, and my stomach growls loudly in response. I canât even remember the last time I ate, everything after the fight with Brock is a blur of adrenaline, guilt, and exhaustion. Itâs a strange relief to feel hunger again, like my bodyâs finally coming back online. When I step into the dining hall, I immediately notice the private table Abby has set off to the side. Itâs decked out, more like a celebration than a casual lunch. The tableâs dressed in soft white linen with a centerpiece of spring flowers, and a spread of food already set up buffet style nearby. Roasted chicken, buttery vegetables, fresh salads, and a tray of desserts sit neatly in their dishes. My curiosity spikes. I head straight for Abby, giving her a skeptical smirk. âWow, you really went all out. So whatâs the big news?â She beams up at me, clearly thrilled. âYouâll just ha
Aiden's Point of View The first thing I register as I start to stir is the unfamiliar ceiling above me. A dull ache settles behind my eyes, the remnants of last nightâs drinks, and for a second, I donât remember where I am. Then I feel movement beside me. I turn my head and see her, the redhead from the bar, curled up beside me, her breathing soft and steady, her arm draped lazily over my chest. Thatâs when it all floods back in. The drinks, the flirting, the apartment. The distraction. Quietly, carefully, I ease her arm off me and sit up on the edge of the bed. The air is cool against my skin, and I keep still for a moment, staring at the floor like it might offer me a reason for last night, like it might help the guilt already starting to crawl its way in. I gather my clothes in silence, not bothering to look back at her. No need. This wasnât meant to be anything more than what it was. I slip into my jeans, pull on my shirt, and make my way out of the bedroom, closing the door
Hazel's Point of View I stand at the front of the lecture hall, fingers wrapped lightly around the edge of the desk as students shuffle into their seats, the buzz of low chatter filling the space like a soft hum. My heart hammers in my chest, not from fear, but from a wild mix of nerves and excitement. The kind that coils in your belly and keeps you standing just a little taller. Sunlight spills in through the tall windows to my left, casting golden slashes across the rows of seats, and I take a breath that fills my lungs with the scent of coffee, paper, and a faint trace of chalk dust. My notes are arranged neatly on the desk, lesson plan, student list, a few references, everything perfectly in place, even if I donât quite feel the same. The last of the students settle in, and the noise fades into an expectant silence. Dozens of eyes look up at me, some curious, some bored, a few skeptical, and for a split second, I question everything. What am I doing here? But then I remember,
Aiden's Point of View I square off with Brock in the center of the training arena, the late morning sun beating down on us as we circle each other. The air smells like dust, sweat, and pine from the surrounding forest. Brock is one of our biggest and best warriors, solid as a mountain, fast for his size, and always a challenge I welcome. We trade blows, our sparring session starting like any other. Sometimes I strike first, testing his defense. Other times, I let him come at me, focusing on my footwork, blocking and redirecting his force. Itâs clean, controlled... until it isnât. Somewhere between the fifth and sixth round, something inside me cracks wide open. He lunges with another punch, and this time, I donât just block it, I react. Instinct takes over. I grab his arm mid swing, twisting it behind his back with unnatural speed and precision. Thereâs a sharp crack that echoes through the arena, followed by Brockâs grunt of pain as he cradles his now broken arm to his chest.
Hazel's Point of View The morning sunlight filters through the light curtains, casting a soft golden hue across the bedroom. I blink a few times, stretching slowly beneath the sheets before a wide grin spreads across my face. Todayâs the day, my first lecture as an occult studies professor. Despite the restless dreams that tugged at me all night, Aidenâs face, his voice, the weight of his rejection, I feel a surge of excitement bubbling in my chest. I throw off the covers and swing my legs over the side of the bed, grabbing my phone from the nightstand and putting on one of my favorite upbeat playlists. The familiar rhythm instantly breathes energy into me. Humming along, I head into the kitchen. The apartment still feels new, but it's cozy, lived-in already. I start a pot of coffee, the comforting scent filling the air as I open the fridge and pull out the ingredients I bought yesterday, eggs, cheese, mushrooms, spinach, cherry tomatoes. Just what I need for the perfect omele
Aiden's Point of View I start to stir awake, but something feels off. My bed, usually warm and familiar, feels cold. Empty. That sensation spreads from my skin inward, sinking into my chest like a hollow weight. I shake my head, trying to push the feeling away, but it lingers. A deep, unsettling emptiness. With a sigh, I throw off the blankets and get out of bed, heading straight for the bathroom. I twist the taps, letting the water run hot, steam curling up around me as I step into the shower. The heat scalds my skin, but it does nothing to chase away the chill thatâs settled inside me. I scrub harder, as if I can force the feeling away, but it clings to me. When I close my eyes, expecting to be haunted by the memory of Hazel, the rejection, the finality of it, Iâm instead met with a different face. Crimson eyes. Pale skin. Dark hair like ink. The woman from the bar. Something about her lingers in my mind in a way that doesnât feel natural. I donât even remember her name
Hazel's Point of View I jolt upright, my breath coming in sharp gasps as my eyes dart around the unfamiliar room. It takes a moment for reality to settle in, for my mind to catch up with where I am. The rejection, it comes rushing back like a tidal wave, and I clutch the blanket in my lap as the ache in my chest resurfaces. Aidenâs voice echoes in my head. I, Aiden Calloway, reject you, Hazel Grimshaw, as my fated mate. I squeeze my eyes shut, willing the memory away. I asked for this. I wanted it. So why does it feel like Iâve been torn apart? Taking a deep breath, I push the thoughts down. Last night, after the rejection hit me like a physical blow, I didnât think, I just acted. I grabbed a map from my bag, laid it out on the forest floor, and let my finger drop at random. Then I murmured a teleportation spell, and the next thing I knew, I was standing in the middle of a quiet human town, Ravenwood. This is where I start over. No supernatural politics, no curses, no werewolves
Aiden's Point of View The road stretches endlessly before me, the dark asphalt illuminated only by my headlights as I push the truck faster. The hum of the engine fills the silence, but it does nothing to drown out the thoughts swirling in my head. I replay the scene over and over, every word, every look Hazel gave me. She just wanted me to reject her. No hesitation, no second thoughts. Like our bond, the one thing Iâve spent my entire life waiting for, meant absolutely nothing to her. I clench my jaw, my grip tightening around the steering wheel. My wolf stirs uneasily inside me, unsettled by the rejection, by the emptiness it left behind. The bond is severed now, but that doesnât mean it doesnât hurt. It feels like something raw and jagged is tearing through my chest. She spoke about the supernatural world like it was a burden, something she wanted no part of. Like I was something she wanted no part of. I exhale sharply, shaking my head as if thatâll somehow force the thoughts