Chapter 2

I didn't see Kieran the next day, even when I went to his house to help Esme set up. It was hard trying to find out what had happened when I had such little to go with. I had spent the night before researching on rear conditions that caused changes in the eyes. Of course, I'd found nothing.

I'd known Esme and Kieran for almost 2 years. In fact, I'd met Kierian first.

They had just moved into town. It was a small town where everyone knew everyone's business. They stayed a few minutes away, and I'd heard all about the new family with the pretty sister and hot brother, but I had no friends or social life so, it wasn't till a month after that I met them.

Something had happened that day when i first saw Kierian that I'd completely ignored until now.

Esme had come to enrol at my school. Keiran brought her since their parents were out of town. They travelled a lot and I'd only met their mother once. I was walking out of the library when I saw him.

I was smitten. You could call it love at first sight. I could've sworn I saw it in his eyes, too. The attraction, the pull, there was even a bit of sexual tension. I had never been with a boy, so I thought they were normal emotions to feel when you liked someone.

I knew better now. Those feelings were far too intense for an ordinary 'girl likes boy' situation. I still felt it sometimes but never as strong as the first time I set my eyes on him.

That day, when I walked past him, he made a sound that could only be described as a growl. It startled me, and I turned to face him. He stood tall over my 5ft3 frame as I stared up at him.

I think his eyes had also changed a bit then, but I was too taken by his beauty to notice.

"You," he said. His voice was low but intimidating. There was a hint of surprise and repulsion in his tone.

I was speechless. How was I to respond? I didn't know him, but he sounded like he'd been expecting me but also wasn't too thrilled at the idea of meeting me. Such conflicting emotions. From the way his gaze hardened, I could tell he was having some kind of internal conflict.

Just when I was considering running away, Esme came out of the office and practically rescued me from her extremely good-looking, yet scary brother. We clicked instantly, and the rest was history. I'd spent a lot more time with Esme, and I never noticed anything strange about her, so what was it about Keirian?

Maybe I would have a chance to snoop around his room since he wasn't home.

The mansion was packed by 8pm. The party was in full swing, and I was just buying my time, waiting for the perfect opportunity to slip away. This was my first party ever but I couldn't even enjoy it because I had to play detective.

"Eva, do you mind getting a crate of drinks out back?" Esme yelled over the music."Take James with you," she motioned towards James Miller, a fellow senior.

I nodded and led him out of the house to the garage, where they often stored drinks. I grabbed a crate and passed it to James.

Outside, the moon was in full bloom, hanging high up on the skywall, light, and delicate in a way that appeared otherworldly. I found myself transfixed by its beauty.

"You can go in James, I'm right behind you,"

"Be careful. The woods aren't safe at night."

I nodded as he left me. The Lightwood mansion was built close to the woods. It was only 20 minutes away from my place, but it was literally at the end of town. This party was probably the first time they were having people over. No doubt Keiran preferred solitude.

As I ventured deeper into the forest, I found the river that ran through it. The water shimmered like diamonds beneath the moonlight. It flowed calmly, as though leading me down a path, and I followed it.

Something in the forest was calling to me.

I heard a loud howl. I froze in my tracks.

Wolves.

There were rumours about wolves around these parts, and people said they got wild during full moons. I quickly regained my senses. I questioned whatever force had pulled me so far away from the house.

I turned around, running as fast as I could with my short legs. The growls were getting louder. It was following me. How would I outrun a wolf? I pumped my legs as hard as I could, my breathing increasing rapidly with each passing second. I wasn't very athletic, and I could feel my muscles giving in already. I refused to look back as I heard the beast getting closer.

I'm too young to die, I'm too young to die

I should've stayed home

Oh God, please.

I had the mansion in view, and just when I thought I'd made it, I was knocked to the ground. I rolled onto my back. I was face to face with a huge wolf gnarling at me. I couldn't move. It felt like I was staring at death itself. The wolf lowered itself over me as it growled. This was the end. I could feel its hot breath on my neck as I closed my eyes, expecting the inevitable.

I heard a loud whimper and opened my eyes to see a wolf with brown fur near me. The one that had been on top of me was on the floor a few feet away. It looked like it had taken a hit from the brown wolf. There were two of them. Perhaps they were having a brawl over which of them would eat me. I wasn't skinny, but I was still pretty small.

I noticed that the first wolf now seemed much smaller in comparison to the new one. The brown wolf next to me turned slowly in my direction. His golden stare was fierce, sending chills up my spine.

I felt something willing me to stand up. I looked at the other wolf. It was on all fours again, but it wasn't making any moves. It just stared menacingly at me.

The brown wolf growled, alerting me. I got up slowly, still unsure of what was going on. With one last look at the animal that had saved me, I raced inside the house.

I only paused to catch my breath when I was inside. There was dust all over me, and some leaves were stuck in my hair. I couldn't return to the party looking like I wrestled in the dirt. I had gone in through the back door and tried to find my way to Esme's room.

I trudged slowly to the bathroom for a quick shower and to fix my hair. When I got out, I went for her wardrobe to get a new dress. It was then I realised something was off. The soap in the bathroom didn't smell like Esme's. And the clothes... this wasn't her room.

I heard footsteps approaching, and I scampered around for something to cover myself with. I grabbed a big sweatshirt on his bed and put it on, then hid behind the curtains.

The door opened, and he came in. He moved around the room, but I couldn't see what he was doing. He bent, then stood up straight. It was then I noticed it.

He was naked!

I shrieked and fell over, taking the curtain down with me as it curled around my body, trapping me.

He came up to me and freed me from the curtains. He didn't seem entirely surprised to see me.

I stood up carefully. Trapped between him and the wall, I could see his face clearer as the moon hung low in the sky, casting a soft silver glow through the window whose curtain I had tripped over. Contrary to my initial observation, I saw he had some shorts on.

My eyes went over his beautiful blue eyes, deeper than the oceans. I found myself getting helplessly lost in them like ship in a storm. And his lips, I imagined that it would feel like to press my lips to his. Of their own will, my fingers came up tracing his sculpted jaw. His brows furrowed ever so slightly, but he didn't protest.

I couldn't tell what he was thinking or feeling in that moment. My fingers mistakenly brushed over his lips, and he grabbed my hand swiftly but gently. When he stared back at me, it felt like he could see into my soul, my very being.

I shrieked away at the thought. What if he didn't like what he saw.

His body pressed closer to mine. I was more aware of the lack of sufficient clothing items between us. I felt my body heating up. The tension between us was so thick that it nearly choked me.

Was he going to kiss me? Every part of me yearned for it. I took a bold move, placing my hand on his face again, this time moving even closer to him. Just then, something seemed to break loose within him.

His eyes turned golden again, a deep contrast to the moon outside. He growled, and in the low light, I saw his teeth be replaced by fangs.

I stood frozen, my eyes wide as I stared at his face transform into something almost beastly.

My heart skipped a beat, and time seemed to slow down. Kierian backed away abrubtly in an attempt to hide away what I had seen.

My heart didn't stop palpitating, but my curiosity had reached the roof. Despite myself, I walked up to him slowly as my lips parted.

"What are you?"