Elliot.It took me three days to finally decide to get a breath of fresh air.We slipped out of the cabin just as the sky was beginning to blend into dusk. Despite the way my legs felt like jelly after spending most of my time in bed, I needed answers.So we wandered along the streets of the town, taking in the warmth of the normally quiet town that looked like something out of a post card.Peaceful now.I had barely appreciated the days like this until a few weeks back."Alright," I started, breaking the silence. "I have to ask... this whole mate thing. What does it really mean? It's a bond, yes, but is it like... unavoidable? Bound to all werewolves. How does a human even get a werewolf mate?"Damien glanced over, amusement flickering in his eye as he slid his hands into his pockets."It's a bit more complicated than that." He looked straight ahead, his expression softening as if he was about to share a deep secret. "For us, the mate bond is sacred. It's more than just attraction or
Damien.Most times, I just didn't like other people.But by the time we got to the cabin, the nagging feeling in my got only fit worse. There was something off about Luciana, something that made my skin crawl.Perhaps I could have written it off as paranoia due to the fact that she would be entering the woods or even jealousy at first.I couldn't get the way she looked at Elliot out of my mind..."There's something... wrong about the lady who was with Frank."Elliot opened the door, but I stopped him, holding his arm for a moment. "Don't trust her."He raised an eyebrow, half amused, half exasperated. "She's just here to help, Damien. There wouldn't be anything for her to do so don't sound like you're reading from a horror novel.""I don't like her." I muttered, letting him step inside. I glanced around one last time before following him in, feeling a chill I couldn't shake.We'd barely settled back in when I heard a faint shuffling outside. An animal?I froze at my place close to th
Elliot.A guttural snarl tore through the air, echoing in my ears, deep and predatory.I was running... not with my feet but with my whole body. Hunting. I was hunting.Hungry.My insides fought like someone had poured acid on it. So painful.My feet... no, those were definitely paws clawed at the earth, muscles burning as I pursued something just ahead.A wild, desperate thrill pulsed through my veins, and every instinct in me screamed to catch, to claim, to conquer.Die. Eat. Rabbit.I woke with a jolt, the sensation of claws retracting from my hands. My heart was pounding so hard I was scared it would fly out of my chest, with my breathing shallow. This was the second time.The first time was a fluke. I hadn't expected it, but two nights of this nightmare where I wasn't myself, but... some animal running after something in the woods wasn't a coincidence.And every time, it left me feeling as though I was splitting into two. Damien had gone for a run in the woods, desperate to let
Elliot.I sank into the booth at the back of the coffee shop, my fingers fidgeting around my cup of coffee.Damien not coming after me had felt nice at first, not so great afterwards.I missed the guy. Even when we weren't kissing, he was a great guy to have around. He would have answered my questions without judgement if I had been strong enough to ask them.Frank's book lay open before me, the pages yellowed and worn, and each line felt like it was tugging me deeper into an impossible reality.I had taken the seat at the end of the coffee shop, far away from everyone else, though with how quiet the coffee shop was at this hour, I had doubts anyone would bother me.I read slowly, savouring every word, hoping it would make things clearer.It didn't.If anything, it only made me more confused."Mates often experience shared subconscious moments, especially in dreams. The more time they spent together, the stronger these connections become."The dreams.That was definitely about those
Elliot.The mountain air was sharp, biting at my skin as I trailed Luciana deeper into the woods.No matter how hard I tried, my legs now refused to stop moving. It was almost like I was a puppet meant to do what she wanted against my will.What kind of person had such a twisted command over another?We reached a narrow trail I didn't recognize, leading us up a steep incline. This was the part of the woods I hadn't ventured into when I started my past journey.I never made it to this place.We reached a narrow trail, which led us up a steep incline. Even from where I stood, I could see a hidden cave tucked away in the rocks, partially obscured by tangled vines and shadows.Just another reminder of how freakish I had become.I needed to turn away and run. Hide. Whatever Luciana was up to, I had a feeling it wouldn't be good.But my feet, heavy and numb, didn’t listen."In here." Luciana ordered, her voice a low, dangerous murmur. She glanced over her shoulder, her brown eyes holding a
Damien.Mates were annoying.Werewolves who were opportuned not to have one had no idea how lucky they were. Or those who got rejected before they could even form a bond.Elliot was the most stubborn human I had ever had the opportunity to meet. He was annoying and secretive....Wait.The cabin was silent, yes, but this was something else. Something I'd forgotten before I felt the tug of Elliot towards me that day in the woods.It was unnerving.I was supposed to be able to feel him, sense his presence through his bond that binded us together, but there was nothing.Just the hollow stillness in the place where the familiar tug was supposed to be.Something was wrong.Elliot was gone from my reach, severed from me like a shadow slipping from under my feet."Don't panic." I hissed at myself.Maybe he was hiding, somewhere out of range.He was a smart man, cautious not so much, but most of the threats out there were gone at this point. I made sure of that.But the bond... our bond... it
Damien."Where is Luciana?"I paced back and forth in front of Frank, my wolf itching to break free.It was taking every ounce of control I had not to tear into him, not to let the monster he so clearly think I was tear take over.Frank shrugged nonchalantly, his arms still crossed as if we were discussing the weather. "I don't know where she is. I haven't seen her, she was supposed to meet me here so we can do some searching for creatures like you."I lunged forward, my hands gripping his collar, lifting him up as he flailed. "You're lying." My voice was a growl, barely human, more wolf than man now. "I can smell the lie. You know something."Frank didn't flinch, even as my grip tightened. "What's the matter, Damien?" He sneered, eyes glinting. "Pick one. Do you want Elliot or Luciana?"I slammed him back against the tree, my claws extending as I fought to keep my wolf in check.Not now. Not yet."Tell me. Right. Now."He laughed, a hollow sound that echoed through the trees. "Lucian
ElliotWas he dying?My hands trembled as I watched Damien collapse, writhing and contorting in agony on the cave floor. The silver dust Zara threw in the air floated like a deadly mist, clinging to his skin, cutting through his strength as if it was nothing more than tissue paper.It all happened so fast.One minute, he was lunging towards the six feet demon, and the next minute, he had been flung to the wall like a sack of cloth.Damien clutched at his chest, his breaths shallow, desperate.Every time he tried to push himself up, he fell back, his body betraying him.The smell of burnt flesh and blood filled the space in minutes, and every second that passed, I felt Damien's pain like it was seeping into my own skin.Arghhhh.Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.He was going to die.We were going to die here."Damien..." My voice was barely a whisper, choked with fear. He was transformed halfway, a grotesque man beast with fur at all the wrong places. I could see the fight in his eyes, the way he cla
Damien. "You wanted to talk. Talk." I leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching the red-haired woman sip the orange juice she made me get her with maddening calmness. Her presence in my cabin was like a storm cloud darkening the room, pressing down on my already taut nerves. I shouldn't have let her in. "Nice place," she said, glancing around casually. "You know, for a wanted man." My jaw tightened. "Get to the point. What do you want?" She met my glare with a slow, lazy smile. The kind that made my wolf bristle. "Straight to business. I like that about you..." "Damien." "...Damien. No games. Well, unless you count stealing one of the most sought-after magical artefacts in existence a game." I clenched my fists so hard my fingers tore at my palm. "How do you know about that?" "Please." She set the glass down on the table with an exaggerated sigh. "Your brother’s been plastering your face on every supernatural bounty board from here to the coasts. Wanted: Thief of the
Damien.I stood at the kitchen counter, staring blankly at the small potted plant Elliot had placed there months ago.Not that any of us was a plant person.Its leaves were wilting.Just like me.Elliot's kiss still lingered on my lips, the warmth of it doing little to soothe the storm raging within me.I apologized. I'd swallowed my pride, my anger, my frustration... and apologized. But the asshole had brushed me off with that damnable smile and a soft kiss before murmuring "Later tonight, okay?"Then he’d walked out the door without another word. Physical stuff. We were so fucking good at that. Going at it like rabbits. A fully fuck fest.But talking?I growled under my breath, my claws digging into the edge of the counter."When will he understand?"My wolf snarled at me, restless and frustrated. I felt it too–the ache, the constant gnawing in my chest that told me Elliot wasn't fully mine.He was holding back. And it was driving me insane.Deep breaths.I forced myself to take a
Damien.I sat at the edge of the bed, my hands gripping the mattress as if it were the only thing holding me to the presence.The echoes of Elliot’s voice kept ringing in my mind."Go to hell."The words burned more than I cared to admit, especially since this was the first time in a long time I wasn't sleeping close to him.I didn't need to go to hell. I was already there.My jaw clenched, my wolf pacing just beneath the surface. It growled, urging me to storm into Elliot's room, pin him down, and make the damn bastard understand.Claim him. To force him to see the truth."But did I say the truth? Had I ever told him the whole story?"So I stayed where I was, my breaths now coming out fast and shallow. I couldn't think straight, couldn't find the calm I so desperately needed.Elliot didn’t understand. He couldn’t. How could I explain the weight of the crystal, the way its power surged through me when we used it to save Elliot? How it felt like it left a mark, a beacon for anyone st
Elliot."Uh, no worries," I mumbled, stepping back and forcing a polite smile.Her grip was firm and confident, nothing out of the ordinary. If anything, it was her scent that set my nerves on edge.That wild and earthy, unmistakably werewolf scent.What was she doing in a town like this?Frank... I had forgotten he was there for a moment... standing beside me, leaned in with a grin. "Well, look at that. The new girl’s already making an impression." I heard the words he didn't say.Better than the last new person in town.The redhead... Fiona... laughed lightly as she released my hand. "New girl, huh? I guess we can still call me that since I just moved to town.""You know me," Frank said, holding out his hand. "This here's Elliot. Don't mind him. He's still getting used to the town folks after hiding out in New York for weeks."Why did he have to say that now?I shot him a look, but Fiona just laughed again, those green eyes flicking back at me. They looked like the forest itself...
Elliot."Elliot, you sly bastard, how dare you spend more than two weeks outside work?" Frank's voice carried across the bustling newsroom, turning more than a few heads my way.A week ago, I thought I wouldn't resume anymore.I could have gotten a new career as an anonymous journalist.I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling the heat rise to my face as I approached my office. "Yeah, sorry about that," I replied, offering him what I could only think was my best smile. "And about the truck... I know I kept it longer than I should have. I'll make it up to you, I promise."Frank leaned against the edge of my desk, crossing his arms, with his lips turned downwards in a frown. "Damn right, you will. You owe me like five coffee runs, two lunch shifts, and maybe an afternoon of listening to my new conspiracy theories."I couldn't help the chuckle that escaped my lips. "Add a bottle of whiskey to that, and we've got a deal."That seemed to turn the frown upside down because now Frank was grinni
Damien.I wiped the sweat off my brow as I brought the truck to a stop in front of the cabin. I shifted in the driver’s seat, rolling my shoulders as I glanced out the window.The cabin looked the same as it had since we left three weeks ago, but the air smelled fresher than the one in New York, so that was a relief.Elliot stepped out of the passenger seat without a word, slamming the door shut behind him. I couldn't help but wince at the sound, watching as he strode toward the truck bed to retrieve our bags.Stiff movements, his face set in that familiar expression of quiet frustration that had become the norm for the past week.He hated me now. Without even me telling him the truth."You're welcome for the ride," I muttered under my breath, shaking my head. I climbed out of the truck and walked around to the back, grabbing one of the larger duffel bags. "I mean, it's not like I drove us all the way here or anything. Nope, just call me your unpaid chauffeur."No response. Elliot
Elliot.A week later. The trucked sat at the curb, its engine humming a low, steady rhythm that vibrated through the air.I stood a few feet away, hands buried deep in the pockets of my jacket. My breath escaped in faint puffs of white, evaporating into the cold. I kept my eyes on the truck’s worn tires, the rubber slick with mud.Anything to keep me from looking at Damien... or the shop behind me.Celeste had stopped back inside, leaving us alone for the moment. The sign above the store’s floor swung slightly in the breeze, its faint creek matching the ache in my chest.Not like the ache was new.It had been there all week. A dull, relentless reminder of everything that had happened. Ethan hadn't come. He hadn't even called to say goodbye. That was his style, though... never one for messy endings, always leaving gaps where something final should have been. But he had agreed to drop a vague excuse to our parents and sister, a flimsy excuse for my departure. He acted like a jerk, t
Elliot.The first thing I became aware of was pain.Not the sharp, searing kind I was used to from cuts or wounds to my person, but a dull bone deep ache that throbbed with every breath. It was like I was torn apart and stitched back together with a blunt needle and thread.Fucking hell.The second thing was warmth. A steady, grounding presence wrapped around me, holding me tightly but gently, like the world might shatter if it let go."Elliot," a voice murmured. It was low and raw with worry. "Come on, baby. Open your eyes. Please." Damien. That was Damien.He had come into the room the moment I woke up before everything went hazy.I tried to focus, to fight against the cloud covering my mind. My eyelids felt heavy, like they'd been glued shut, but with effort, I managed to pry them open. The faint glow of the room greeted me... okay, I was still in the same room, just with a muted light that still felt sharp against my pounding head."Damien?" My voice cracked, barely more than
Damien."Would using the crystal help neutralize the effect of whatever happened to him?"Celeste’s sharp intake of breath brought me back to the moment. Her hands froze mid-motion, a jar of dried lavender she held slipping from her grasp and shattering against the counter. The sharp scent filled the room instantly, but her wild eyes were locked on mine.The same crystal I had been against using a day ago."You can't be serious." Her voice was barely a whisper, like saying it too loudly might summon something worse.“I am,” I said, my tone firm. “Answer the question.”Her hesitation spoke volumes. The crystal was powerful. It held enough properties to kill a town filled with humans. It would have been enough to dispel a storm killing supernaturals. It wasn't a power used lightly. "You don't fully understand the power from the crystal, Damien," Celeste said with a trembling voice. "It's not meant for this kind of magic. If anything goes wrong...""Things are already wrong!" I barked