Chapter One

I'm not exactly sure why I let my friends talk me into going to watch scary movies with them, but here I was. My friends would describe me as the biggest scaredy cat in the world, which is why scary movies always make me jumpy afterwards. My friends think it's hilarious to see me watch werewolf movies through my fingers, cowering away from the screen.

Leaving the movie theatre, a cold wind rushes through my hair, chilling me to the bone. I tried to pull my jacket tighter to my body, as if that would heat my tiny frame but it was no use. The cold evening air surrounded me, planting light kisses across my bare skin.

"Tell me again why I let you drag me to these stupid movies? You know movies with creatures freak me out," I said, annoyed staring at my best friends who clearly love to torture me.

"Because Riley, the movies you pick always suck," Page laughs, popping another piece of popcorn into her mouth.

"Yeah Riley, stop being such a scaredy cat. It's just a movie," Mia says, rolling her eyes.

"I hate you both, you know that?" I retort back to them.

"No. No, you don't. In fact, you love us. You know it's for your own good anyways. There's nothing to be scared of. It's not real!" Page says practically screaming at me in the parking lot.

"First of all, werewolves are terrifying. They have huge teeth, and scary claws. How can you not be scared of them?" I ask, genuinely concerned.

They both look at each other, exchanging mocking glances as they start to laugh.

"It's not my fault! Blame my brother for tormenting me when I was five," I said glumly. "Telling me that one was going to come steal me away when I turned 18."

"Oh Riley, it's okay. Some people just take longer to get over their fears," Mia pointed out.

"Maybe! So, my car is over there, and It's flipping freeeeezing out here. I'll catch you guys at school," I said, doing my best to change the subject.

"See ya!" Page yelled, getting into her own car. "Drive safe!"

Mia and Page have been my best friends since I was born, which is how we know each other so well. They make sure to torture me every chance I get, but I let them even if it's against my better judgement.

Walking to my car, I start mumbling to myself, "How could I let them force me to watch another werewolf movie? Now I'm going to be on edge all night."

Hearing a distant snicker made me realize that I wasn't mumbling as quietly as I had thought.

"Crap," I groaned, as I got into my beat-up car. I buried my face in my hands for a moment, trying not to die of embarrassment at someone hear me talk to myself.

"Note to self: Get a new car. Two: Get new friends. Three: Stop being afraid of things that aren't even real," I mutter inside my head, making sure that I don't talk out loud to further embarrass myself.

I get lost in my own thoughts as I start down the road. My phone let out a beep in my purse telling me that it has a very low battery. I was very forgetful when it came to my phone, never remembering to charge it. Especially in moments like this, where it could be helpful.

Instead of worrying about my dying phone, I turned the music up and sang along to the 80's rock songs that came on. After a couple of minutes and countless solos, I realize that I must have missed my turn as the houses aren't looking familiar anymore. I began to search the streets signs for a familiar name, but I came up empty handed, feeling panic start to settle in my stomach. It also looks like it's gotten a lot darker then when I left the movie theatre, turning my attention to the darkened street in front of me.

I started to rummage through my purse until I pull out my phone to see if I have enough battery life to get me home. Once I find it, I punched in my address looking back from road to phone hastily, hoping that it doesn't die.

Without warning, something fast jumped out in front of my car. A scream left my lips, as I slammed on the brakes hard hoping I didn't hit whatever thing decided it had a Deathwish.

My car came to a screeching halt as I squinted trying to see what jumped out in front of me.

With no luck, I cautiously stepped out of my car to investigate. After opening the door and looking around a little a sigh of relief let my lips. There was nothing around my car, so whatever it was, was gone. I did not have the money to fix my car if I had actually hit something, so it must be my lucky night.

"Thank god," I think to myself. "I must just be imagining things."

"H-hello?" I yell, just in case, "Anyone out there?"

The forest that skimmed the barred-up house was eerily quiet, causing a chill to run down my spine. Climbing back into the car, I try to start the engine, but it won't budge. The lights came on, but nothing seemed to want to work.

"Great, this is just freakin great," I mumble, putting my head in my hands trying to figure out my next move. Looking around outside, there was nothing but houses with boarded up windows and what appeared to be an old school that has been forgotten about.

Looking down at my phone, I could tell that it was no use. It was dead, just like my beat-up car.

"Okay, no problem. I'll just have to find someone that can help me. Maybe I can flag down a car, or something." I grumble to myself. "Maybe I could find a store or something if I get back to the main road."

Something in my head was telling me not to leave the car, but I couldn't stay here stranded. I grabbed my purse, locked the doors and started down the road. The cool air nipped my skin, as

I walked faster. Crossing the street, I pulled my jacket tighter in a futile attempt to keep myself warm against the sharp cold that now chilled my bones once again. As I passed the school, I couldn't help but notice the broken windows, the dead ivy that lined the walls and the chipped mortar that surrounded the building. Something about it made me feel extremely uncomfortable, so I decided to walk faster.

"With my luck, this school would be haunted," I joked to myself, trying to shake my nerves. I picked up my pace, realizing just how cold it was. A little further down the road, a sudden crunch of fallen leaves took me from my thoughts, making my heartbeat faster.

I could see the outline of what looked like a couple, underneath a tree. I tried to rush past them, not wanting to interrupt their 'Private time'. As I was crossing the street, a guttural noise came from one of the people, followed by a sob.

"Why is she crying, does she need help?" I thought, adrenaline immediately filling my veins.

"Excuse me?" I yell over to them, "Is everything okay?"

I'm met with silence, as I approach them slowly. I get a glimpse of the woman's face, but she is just staring blankly as if she couldn't hear me. By the look on the woman’s face, I assumed she was either drugged, or unconscious which put an unsettling feeling in my stomach.

When they didn't answer, I stood frozen in place for a couple seconds. I yelled again with the same result.

I stood silent in the street for a couple of moments, staring at this unusual couple until I could hear the woman let out a long moan. Dumbfounded, I walked towards the couple as I tried to piece together what exactly was happening with them. The man who she was with, stepped back in surprise as her mouth opens for another moan. She started staggering towards me, with what looks like blood trickling down her neck and chest.

She held out her hands as if she wanted me to take them, so I ran towards her.

"P-please help me," she stammered. I grasp onto her hands, and realize she is shaking so hard that her teeth are chattering together. Staring at this women in horror, I freeze in place. My legs feeling like cement, I couldn't help but fall backwards as she pushed my forward with such force. Crawling away from the woman, I claw against the ground, trying to get back to my feet and regain my composure.

I could hear a faint voice in my head telling me to go back to the woman and help her, but I ignored it and started walking back down the road as soon as I got to my feet.

I looked down at my hands and realized they had been scraped pretty badly from when she pushed me. Staring down at my hands, my foot caught in a deep pothole slamming my knees into the hard pavement. I let out a shriek as the pain surged up my ankle that I just twisted.

The sound of pounding feet behind me filled my ears, as I tried to get back to my feet. A hand landed on my shoulder, and with great force spun me around. His black eyes met my own, and

I just barely held back a scream. Stumbling back at the intensity of this brooding man, I couldn't help but get lippy.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" I manage to get out, sounding confident even though all I wanted to do was crawl up into a ball and cry.

"Jenson?" a voice said from further away.

"Yes, Alpha?"

I hesitated at the realization that there was now two men, one of which I couldn't see.

"Are you getting yourself into trouble again?" the voice said, sounding closer this time. " Go back to your toy, Jenson."

The second man stepped towards me as the first man retreated. Even in the dark, I could tell this man was much taller then both me and the first guy. I stood at 5'2 on a good day, and this guy was well over 6 feet.

"Now what do we have here?" He said, grabbing a strand of my raven hair. I could hear him take a deep breathe in, as if savoring the cold air floating around us. Looking back up at him, I only noticed that he had the most startling pair of deep blue eyes that I have ever seen. I couldn't help but compare them to bright sapphires and I instantly hated myself for comparing this monster to something so beautiful.

Trying to back away slowly to separate myself from this threat, I stepped back a couple feet not daring to turn my back on him. Without thinking, I tried to run backwards, but my ankle was too injured, so I turned on my heels and tried to sprint away from this would-be-murderer.

Something hard hit the back of my head, with an obvious crack and I fell forward again, slamming my knees and forehead on the pavement for the second time tonight. I winced as the pain from my head and knees overwhelmed my senses and the metallic smell of my blood filled the air.

"Did I forget to tell you not to run?" the brooding man said, as if he was trying to make a joke to the person he just assaulted.

"You did, actually," I snapped back groggily. "Anything else you forget to tell me, jackass?

I know I was pushing my luck with saying something like that, but I couldn't help but feel like he was toying with me. Like I was some prey, and he was on a hunt. He walked over to me as I tried to make my way to my feet. I could hardly see in front of me, with the concussion I assumed I had. The tall figure stood in front of me, reaching out to grab my waist bringing me close to his body. I dizzily looked up to his face again, as I saw his eyes go black. His arms tightened around my waist, cutting off my oxygen making me even more lightheaded. His body gave off a warmth I have never felt before, which made me even more groggy.

"It'll be easier, if you stop fighting," he said gruffly next to my ear. I could feel his hot breath on my neck, and the thought of what could happen made me gag. With this strange man still holding onto my waist, my arms and legs went numb. My head started to feel too heavy to support as I let it roll back so I was looking at the night sky.

"That wasn't so hard, now was it little doll?" He whispered in my ear, as I faintly felt my feet lift off the ground. Falling in and out of consciousness as he was talking to me, but he was just too far away for me to make out the words. My vision finally narrowed to a pinpoint of light. The last thing I could see before blacking out completely was the blinding light of the full moon.

Blackness.