MattThe car was filled with tension as Matt drove Celeste back to her small, dimly lit house after their visit to the hospital. Her pale face was etched with worry, but she managed a weak smile as she thanked him for being there. Matt nodded, assuring her that he'd be just a phone call away.As he pulled away, his phone buzzed, jolting him from his thoughts. It was an urgent message from Enzo, instructing him to attend an emergency meeting immediately. He glanced back at Celeste's house, hoping she would understand his sudden departure.The sun hung low in the sky when Matt arrived
JackThe moon hung low in the night sky, casting a silvery glow over the quiet town of Mountain View. Jack's heart raced as he stepped into the dimly lit room, where the Schrieber family meeting was already in full swing. Faces, stern and determined, turned toward him as he entered.Jack hated coming here. While he was a member of the family, they never spoke outside of these meetings. After what his father did, they had regarded him with suspicion. As far as Jack was concerned, he and Celeste were all alone.He wasn’t even sure why they had called him here. Nothing of importa
CelesteFor the past few days, I had been a nervous wreck. Every time my phone rang, my heart would beat so fast that I would get light-headed. I kept expecting it to be the hospital with results of the paternity test.I wasn’t sure if I was more excited about the results or dreading them. Maybe it was a healthy mix of both. If the crazy man was my actual father, that would change everything. My entire life would be a lie.And if he was my father, did that mean that Jack had recognized him that day? My brother had been old enough to know what our dad looked like. Surely he wou
Over the next few days, Matt and I tirelessly combed through public records, old photographs, and any trace of information that might lead us to my father. It was a journey filled with dead ends, false leads, and frustrating moments, but we refused to give up.I didn’t have much to go on. I didn’t know his name and I had no pictures that I could show to anyone. I literally knew nothing of my father other than what he currently looked like. The hours of research had been grueling.There wasn’t anyone I could ask either. Jack made me stay away from the rest of our family. The only one I had contact with was my brother. I wasn’t even sure if h
I wasn’t sure how it had happened or who had dropped it off, but by some miracle, I had found a letter addressed to me in our mailbox in the morning before Jack was able to bring in the mail. There must have been someone looking out for me.As soon as I read it, I called Matt. I told him that whatever he had planned today had to be canceled. We needed to go to an address that was kind of out of the way and since I didn’t have a car, he needed to take me.Matt was more than willing. I would be lying if I said I didn’t feel a little guilty. I felt like I was using him, just a little. I knew it wasn’t true, but I couldn’t help it. Matt w
I could only stare at my father as I processed what he had just told me. Despite the fact that I had lived with the knowledge that my mother had been dead my entire life, it still hurt when my father confirmed it. I guess a little ember of hope had been lit that my mother was somehow still alive when I had discovered that my father was, in fact, not dead anymore. The grief threatened to consume me and my eyes began to burn with unshed tears. Without saying anything, Matt reached over and grabbed my hand underneath the table. I gripped his hand so tight that it would probably be hurt if he was human. Like my father was human. But he wasn’t human. And neither was my mother. Focusing on something other than my mother’s death helped clear my head a little. At least enough that I was able to ask my father a question. “So, why am I
I had never been more nervous than I was when Matt dropped me off at my house. I knew Jack would be waiting for me. I approached our front door with a heavy heart. The events of last night weighed on me like a cloak of lead, suffocating every breath I took.When I opened the door, Jack was pacing in the living room. His eyes were filled with a mixture of relief and worry as they locked onto mine when I finally stepped inside. I didn’t think it would last long. Anger was never far around the corner. "Where have you been, Celeste? I've been out of my mind with worry," he exclaimed, his voice fraught with concern. But there was a harsh edge to it. I was going to be in for an earful if I didn’t take charge. I closed the door behind me an
After the confrontation with Jack, I needed space. The weight of our conversation hung in the air, suffocating me. I retreated to the sanctuary of my room, seeking solace in solitude. The hot water cascaded over me, washing away the tension that had built up inside me. It was a balm for my weary soul, a temporary respite from the chaos outside. As the steam filled the bathroom, I closed my eyes and let my mind drift. I should have been focusing on what my father had told me. Or maybe what he hadn’t told me. But that’s not what I was thinking about. Only one moment stood out, clear and vivid - the kiss I had shared with Matt. It was like an electric jolt, a spark that had ignited something within me. I could still feel the warmth of his lips against mine, the gentle pressure that spoke volumes. It was a kiss that held promise, potent
EpilogueThe sounds of plates clinking together, and the low hum of chit-chat, merged into the background as I listened to Fiona describe her latest assignment. She was stuck in a geography class that she needed for distribution, and it was driving her nuts. Her professor was a mean, curmudgeonly old man, and a notoriously difficult marker.“He gave me a C–. A C–! That was not a C worthy paper.”Jack nodded. “I read it. It was pretty good.”She rounded on him. “Pretty good?”He put his hands up, a small smile on his lips. “Really pretty good?”She huffed but turned back to me. “Your brother is a pain in the ass.”I smiled. “You’re telling me.” They’d only been together for a few years, but they already bickered like an old married couple. Matt and I were actually married, but we didn’t even bicker like that. It was as endearing as it was exhausting.Matt sank into his seat beside me and slid me a cup of coffee. I threw him a grateful look. Our peacekeeping duties had kept us late the
MattThe nerves made me jittery, and I bounced my knee so hard it rattled the bench. Seth gave me a knowing look before bending over to finish tying his skates. I focused on taping my stick, letting muscle memory take over. All the guys knew what I planned to do tonight, and they kept throwing me knowing looks as I tried to stay calm.It was the last home game before playoffs started. A part of me kept thinking that I should wait, but an even greater part of me didn’t want to wait one more second. If life had taught me anything, it was that we didn’t know how much time we might have. I didn’t want to waste another second of it. I especially didn’t want to waste time just because I was afraid.“Dude, stop vibrating the bench,” our goalie James called. “I’m trying to focus.”“Sorry,” I answered. If there was one rule in hockey, it was to not mess with the goalie, especially right before a game. If he needed to focus, then I just needed to find a way to chill the fuck out.Enzo gave me a
The arena was buzzing with energy as Matt got the puck and darted forward to take advantage of the breakaway. He sent the puck into the corner of the net, and I jumped to my feet. Beside me Fiona screamed so loud, heads turned in our direction. Jack cringed slightly, throwing her a bemused look.It was the first home game of the year, and Matt was giving everything he had to make sure the team got a win. Around us, the school cheered as he skated by, knocking fists with his teammates. It was his second goal of the night, his first a tricky tip in after Seth’s initial shot rebounded. It was 3-1 with only four minutes left in the third period.“He’s playing great,” Nina said from my other side as the cheering died down, and we took our seats again.“He is.” Over on the bench, Enzo stood in a dark suit, his head bent as he talked to one of his players.He and Nina were staying one more year. Even though Nina graduated in the spring, her father was giving her the year to clean up the town
“Are you ready for this?” Jack asked, his eyes trailing over my face, looking for any signs of fear or hesitation. I schooled my features into a blank mask. Sure, I was nervous, but he didn’t need to see that. He already hated that he’d gotten me involved. Too bad I was the only one that could do this, and I’d do anything to get the Schreibers out of our town.I took a deep breath and gazed up at the towering mansion. It was on the outskirts of town, far enough away that I’d never seen it, but still close enough for the Schreibers to cause havoc. The house seemed quiet, but I knew our grandfather lurked inside. Him and whoever survived the fight.“I’m ready,” I said, keeping my voice steady. Matt and the rest of the Peacekeepers had already surrounded the house. They were keeping their distance but staying close enough just in case we needed them. It made me feel better knowing he was out there. I knew, without a doubt, that Matt would do anything to keep me safe. Just like I’d do any
Jack“Hey!” Jack called, running to catch up with Fiona. She stopped walking and turned to give him a curious look. “I’ll walk you home,” he said when he reached her side.She gave him a bemused look. Technically, her place was only five minutes from campus, but that didn’t mean she should walk alone at night. Plus, he hadn’t seen her since she moved back in with her roommate, and he wanted a moment alone with her.“Alright,” she said with a shrug. “If you insist.”He smiled. “Better safe than sorry.”“Bye,” Celeste called, waving at them. She gave him a knowing smile, and he glowered at her. She clearly knew something was going on, but it wasn’t her business. They needed to figure this out for themselves.She and Matt were headed in the opposite direction, back toward the house. Matt was still haunting the halls. Everywhere Jack went, there he was. In the bathroom, when he needed to piss. In the kitchen, when he was hungry. Even in the living room at night, making out with his sister
“I promise to protect this town,” Jack said, his hand over his heart. “I promise to fight for peace, and to not rest until it is achieved. I promise to treat all life as equal. I devote myself to this cause from now until my last breath.”Nina dipped her head in acknowledgement, and Jack let his hand drop to his side. I stepped forward next and repeated the oath. It was the same words every person in this room had recited when they agreed to become a Peacekeeper. It wasn’t something to take lightly, and I didn’t plan to.“I devote myself to this cause from now until my last breath,” I said, stepping back beside my brother. Fiona stood at his other side. She took the oath first, saying the words with the utmost confidence.I locked eyes with Matt, and he gave me a proud smile, his eyes gleaming. Our friends sat around the room, and, as if given some invisible cue, they all began to hoot and clap. They stood up and slapped the three of us on the back. I got pulled into hugs, one after t
Matt closed my bedroom door behind us and leaned his crutches against the wall. He hobbled over to the bed and sank down onto the mattress with a soft groan. “Just as I remember it,” he said, jumping a little. “So soft.”Downstairs, Fiona, and Jack were rifling around in the kitchen. They offered to make us something, but neither of us were very hungry.Matt lay back and stretched his arms over his head, his shirt riding up just enough to reveal the smooth skin along his waistline. His hip bones dipped down into his cargo pants and I bit my lip, desperate to get my hands on him, but still worried about his wounds. Sure, he was up and moving around, but that didn’t mean he should be doing physical activity. I didn’t know a lot about werewolf healing, but I wasn’t willing to risk him.“I missed this room,” he continued, turning to look at me through hooded eyes.The purple bedspread brought back a flood of memories. I’d spent so much of my life in this room. I had so many memories, and
MattI held onto Celeste’s hand, leaning heavily on the two crutches I had propped under my opposite arm. A feeling of intense déjà vu swept through me as I watched Seth step forward and light the pyre. Around us, others did the same until dark smoke rose into the blue spring sky. I hoped this was the last funeral I ever had to go to, at least for a long while.Celeste had a blank expression on her face that worried me more than anything. Beside her, Jack and Fiona stood holding hands. Fiona was crying, and Jack had a stricken look on his face. As one, he and Celeste let go of our hands and stepped forward. They lit the last pyre.“Goodbye dad,” Celeste said, just loud enough for me to hear. My heart squeezed.Jack didn’t speak, he just lowered his gaze and stepped back beside Fiona. She immediately took his hand, but he didn’t look up from his shoes. I understood the warring emotions he was feeling. He hated his father for abandoning him, and he felt guilty that he got killed right i
Those of us still on our feet spent the rest of the day tending to the wounded. God, there were so many of them. Every wound I saw, every cry of pain I heard, felt like a knife to the gut. Everywhere I went, I saw pain, death, and gore.It was all too much.“Hey,” Jack said, giving me a concerned look. “Take a break if you need to.”He was still covered in blood, and I could barely stand to look at him. He’d taken a few minutes to wipe most of it off his face, but he hadn’t stopped to change his clothes. None of us had. There hadn’t been time.“I can’t.”I couldn’t get my father’s face out of my mind. Jack took me to his body shortly after the fight ended, tears in his eyes. I allowed myself to cry only for a minute before I helped him move the body to the small grassy area behind the church. That was where we were laying out the dead before we’d give them all proper funerals.There were already too many bodies out there. Seth had collapsed beside Jenna’s bloody form and hadn’t moved