I was a bit surprised when James brought me to a small apartment downtown. I knew he was rich. Not as much as Kieran but his dad was the sheriff afterall. I knew this wasn't his actual house. "You said we were going to your place?""Yes, his is my place. I moved out a couple of months back. My parents tried to convince me to stay but I wanted to get a feel of the adult life and start working to support myself""That's good for you" "Yeah. How are you feeling? any bruises anywhere?" "I'm okay" I lied automatically despite the redness and swelling already forming on my face from when the man had hit me. James looked at me and without saying a word, he left and returned with a bag of ice. "Put this on your face. it'll help with the swelling and let me know if you need painkillers. I'll go run you a warm bath you can borrow some of my clothes. they'll be big but you'll feel more comfortable""Thank you" Was all I could say. He was being so nice to me, despite our last encounter, meanwh
I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing the next morning. The caller was Kieran. He'd obviously gotten my message and I wasn't ready to be shouted at, but I had to pick up and convince him."Hi""Explain to me how you couldn't tell a simple lie. Shouldn't it run in your blood?" "Can you not do this right now? I just need you toplay your part as the adult older brother that takes charge when the parents arent home" "So because of your incompetence I should start bringing random people to the pack house" "Talia is not a random person, she's my cousin and she's not going to notice anything strange as long as you don't act strange""What makes you think I care though? I could easily just rip her apart on arrival""Listen Kieran. I had the most shitty day yesterday and I don't need you making things worse. Just convince her and don't raise any suspicions""You mean more than you already have?" "We'll be there soon" I didn't hear him say anything after that before he hung up the phon
I sat in shock as Alaric announced my cousin was his mate."I've known since the first day I saw her. I didn't want to say anything just yet." "Okay, this is big. Talia doesn't know anything about any of this, and I don't want her getting involved in this wolf business!""Eva, calm down," Esme said, but I wasn't in the mood to be calmed down."You promised me you'd protect her Eva and now this? What happens now? Alaric just keeps flirting with her till she falls in love with him? and then what? he tells her he's actually a human who can turn in a wolf whenever he wants? and just a side note that I'm supposed to bear a miracle baby that'll save his kind?""None of that has to happen, Eva... at least not like that. The mating bond works differently with humans. With time, she'll start to experience an attraction to him too. but that's not our worry now.""Then what is?" "It's the prophecy. A powerful wolf is supposed to fall for a human. There's Kieran and you and then there's Alaric a
The next day it was time for me to put aside my supernatural existence problems and focus on more human problems like what to wear to school and how not to fail my classes so I didn't end up unaliving a patient during surgery in the future. I got out of bed, and after taking a shower, I jumped into the first outfit I saw in my wardrobe. Then I went into the kitchen and made a sandwich that I planned to have in the car. Damien, as usual, was already waiting outside for me."How are you feeling?"He asked once we were both in the car and away from the mansion"About school? I know I haven't been there in a while, but this isn't my first day, you know?""No. I don't mean school. It's a factor, but I mean in general. How are you? You've had a rough couple of days.""Yeah, I have, but I just sleep and wake up a couple of more times, and I'll be fine,""I do hope you know it's not healthy to keep pushing it all away," "Yeah, I know. I just don't have the time right now. I'll be fine, don't
People often believed that the devil had horns and a tail, but this devil had blonde hair and blue eyes. "Adam," I let out with a heavy breathAdam had disappeared after that night when he'd tried to force himself on me. I didn't want to remember that night. I couldn't believe my eyes, seeing him again here, in Blackbourne. Back then, it was certain that Adam knew a lot more about the story. He had a clearer image of what was going on, but after he disappeared without a trace, I didn't think for once that he'd still be alive. Perhaps he'd been killed off just like Jayden was. But seeing him confirmed that he had gotten a much luckier fate.That glance at him was all I got before Damien successfully got me to the car. Luckily, Adam hadn't seen me. At least there was no doubt about him being a werewolf, too. Damien took us back to college, and we stayed in one of the empty lecture rooms. "We can't return home yet. It's too early, so we'll have to spend the night here." Damien explai
Somehow, Esme had gotten inside already. I was shocked to see her, but I quickly regained composure. She didn't know I'd seen her leaving the house, and I needed to keep it that way till I was sure. "Hey, you said you weren't feeling well, so I thought I'd bring you breakfast."Esme gave a small yawn before accepting the tray from me. "Thank you. I only woke up not too long ago," I smiled back and nodded my head. "Well, I need to leave for school, take care of yourself."I only had one class that day, but I planned to see Talia after. I just felt the need to spend time with her ever since Alaric made the revelation. I felt like my time with her was limited in some way. On my way out, I got stopped by Alaric."Eva, can we talk? If you're not in a hurry," I knew what he wanted to talk about, Talia. There was no point dragging it out, so I concurred. "Yeah, sure.""I know you're worried about your cousin, but. I want you to know that protecting her is my own primary responsibility no
"I don't know mum... He's really busy with work. He manages everything when his parents aren't around and I did tell Talia that they travelled for business" I tried to plead my case. "Well at least ask him first. I'd like to meet my son in law""Mum! we just started dating!" He didn't even like me, I thought to myself."I could go ask him for you" Talia pitched in."No, no. That will not be necessary, thank you" I felt completely corned. "I'll speak to him and let you know mum""Perfect. I'll look forward to seeing you both soon" "Okay, bye mum" As soon as the call ended I gave Talia the stink eye. "What?" "How could you rat me out like that?!" "Relax, you should be happy. Now you don't have to hid it anymore and you can let your love blossom. Plus someone needs to interview the guy. Who better than me and mummy" Talia laughed into her palm."Well auntie Talia won't be needed""Ouch, that one actually kinda hurt" "Consider it payback. Remind me to never tell you anything like e
Kieran proved difficult. I spent the next couple of days trying to convince him. I knew if I didn't mum would be on me till she met him. But he shoved me aside each time. One morning I woke up suddenly remembering something that I was supposed to have mentioned. Adam. I'd been so preoccupied with getting Kieran to come to dinner with me that I'd completely forgottwn to speak to him and Esme about it. When I went downstairs, I saw Kieran heading towards his study and I hurried to catch up with him."Kieran wait!""My answer is no Eva. Leave me alone, I'm busy" He said dismissively as he was about to shit the door."No, it's not about that. It's important. I need to talk to Esme too" Just then Esme appeared behind me and looked at both of us."What's going on here?""Something happened the other day and I forgot to mention it but it's important" I looked at Kieran "Let us in" Esme came in front of me and pushed the door open "Let's go" "I have things to do, make it quick.""I saw A
Just then, James returned with his dad. I peeled my eyes from the woman, focusing on the reason I'd come."Sheriff Smith, good afternoon.""Eva, how you doin', James here told me you needed some news articles for a uh, an essay?""Yes, sir.""Okay, you can check our old records, James will take ya,""Come on," James nudged me, and I followed him down the corridor and into a small office by the left. The room was filled with shelves. Stacked on each shelf were books and old news articles. The room wasn't dusty, a sign of regular cleaning. The only furniture in the room was a desk and two chairs on opposite ends of the table. They still looked brand new. Perhaps no one was actually posted in the office. "This is the storage room. Well, one of them. This place is accessible to the public under the right circumstances. The main storage room for sensitive information is elsewhere." I looked at all the work before me. As I advanced further into the room, I saw that the files were properl
Just then, James returned with his dad. I peeled my eyes from the woman, focusing on the reason I'd come."Sheriff Smith, good afternoon.""Eva, how you doin', James here told me you needed some news articles for a uh, an essay?""Yes, sir.""Okay, you can check our old records, James will take ya,""Come on," James nudged me, and I followed him down the corridor and into a small office by the left. The room was filled with shelves. Stacked on each shelf were books and old news articles. The room wasn't dusty, a sign of regular cleaning. The only furniture in the room was a desk and two chairs on opposite ends of the table. They still looked brand new. Perhaps no one was actually posted in the office. "This is the storage room. Well, one of them. This place is accessible to the public under the right circumstances. The main storage room for sensitive information is elsewhere." I looked at all the work before me. As I advanced further into the room, I saw that the files were properl
Esme hadn't returned to the mansion after almost 2 weeks and at that point, everyone was worried. She was practically missing and none of the calls to her phone were going through. Mine and Kieran's mating ritual was happening soon too and it wasn't something that could be postponed. Everyone hoped that she would return before then.But there was no luck. It was the night of the ritual and Esme was still missing. "You look beautiful, Talia told me as she prepared me for the ceremony. I still didn't know exactly what was meant to happen. Esme was supposed to tell me and I never got the chance to ask Kieran. So I was basically going there with no clue of what was supposed to happen. "I'm so nervous" I admitted."Don't worry about it. I'm sure you'll do great.""Thanks Talia"She smiled at me before she led me outside the mansion where the ritual would happen under the light of the full moon. She escorted me like a brie going down the alter and like a groom, Kieran was waiting at the e
Lying on the floor was the same water that had given me directions to the bathroom. He was sprawled out on the floor, covered in his own blood.I let out a scream, but Kieran quickly held me and pulled me back so I couldn't see the body anymore. "It's okay, it's okay. I'm here. I'm right here with you. Nothing is going to happen." His voice was soothing, and he succeeded in calming me down."Come with me." Kieran led me back outside, and he notified the manager. Soon, the place was filled with cops. They questioned me, and I told them exactly what had happened. "Are you okay?" Kieran asked me while we waited for the cops to let everyone go."They threatened me, and then they used that poor man to send a message. What kind of people play with the lives of other people like that?" "Rouges can be quite brutish in their ways. They'll go to whatever lengths to prove a point. Whoever did that was here tonight, and they probably slipped out before we even saw the body" "That poor man did
Lying on the floor was the same waiter that had given me directions to the bathroom. He was sprawled out on the floor, covered in his own blood.I let out a scream, but Kieran quickly held me and pulled me back so I couldn't see the body anymore. "It's okay, it's okay. I'm here. I'm right here with you. Nothing is going to happen." His voice was soothing, and he succeeded in calming me down."Come with me." Kieran led me back outside, and he notified the manager. Soon, the place was filled with cops. They questioned me, and I told them exactly what had happened. "Are you okay?" Kieran asked me while we waited for the cops to let everyone go."They threatened me, and then they used that poor man to send a message. What kind of people play with the lives of other people like that?" "Rouges can be quite brutish in their ways. They'll go to whatever lengths to prove a point. Whoever did that was here tonight, and they probably slipped out before we even saw the body" "That poor man did
I was looking forward to mybdate with Kieran. I didn't do anything fancy, especially because I didn't have any nice dresses that could fit my baby bump. Talia managed to find me a cute summer dress that fit perfectly. and she helped me with my hair and a little bit of makeup."It seems Kieran is really putting in the extra effort," She said"Yeah." "I'm happy for you Eva, you deserve to be happy." I smiled at her through the mirror as she helped me detangle my hair. Kieran knocked on my door at exactly 7:40 pm."Are you ready?" "Yes, I am,""Shall we?" He offered me his arm to take, and I did so gladly. "Where are we going? I asked him as he held the car door open for me.""You'll see." I still hadn't seen most of Blackbourne since I mostly went from home to school and back, and the route the took was on the opposite side of the roads I was more familiar with. Wherever it was that we were going, I felt safe knowing that I was with Kieran. We ended up at a high-end restaurant ove
"I'll admit there's definitely something there," I told Alaric. I didn't want to admit just how deep my feelings were. Alaric laughed. "See, I knew it. You could only play hard to get for so long. Eva's a great girl. Treat her right," He said seriously. I knew I hadn't been fair to her since we'd met, but I intended to change that. I made up my mind that once she recovered and woke up, I would take her out on a date. And then I'd confess to her how I really felt. "You know what? I'll tell her. I'm going to ask her to give me a second chance, and I won't hurt her again." "You better not because Talia's told me to break every bone in your body the next time you hurt Eva's feelings. "I won't. Not again." While we were talking, Leah came up behind me and wrapped her arms around me. I made eye contact with Alaric, and he cleared his throat and excused us. "What is it, Leah?" "I miss you,""What do you mean? You see me every day.""Barely. You're always with Eva. Just because she
4 months passed, and I was already in my last trimester. Plans were underway for the mating ritual between me and Kieran. The pregnancy had begun to weigh me down more, something about carrying a wolf baby. The doctor said I would only get weaker because the child was taking more of my life force as it grew bigger. I still didn't know its gender because I wanted it to be a surprise. I twisted in bed and let out a grunt."Be careful, Eva," Talia said as she rushed to help me into a more conformable position. "It's fine, I'm fine. Just...""Extremely weak?""Yeah, that." "I'm really worried about you. You still have 2 months before you have to deliver, and you already look halfway dead. The baby is taking too much from you." This had been Talia's Countenance since the doctor first told everyone about the baby taking up my own life force."It's okay, Talia. I already made it this far. I'll be fine, both me and the baby. You'll see" "I'm just worried about you," "I know." I sighed
James' confession and declaration of love caught me by surprise. I wasn't sure what to say or how to respond. "It's okay. You don't have to say anything just yet. I just wanted you to know" He looked out the window, and silence filled the car for a moment before he spoke again"Did you come alone? Do I need to drop you back?" "Oh, umm... no, I'm not alone. I'll just call him now." I brought out my phone, and Damien picked on the first ring."Hi, can you come pick me up at town Square?""You left the woods on your own?" "Yes, I just wanted to go for a walk. Just come now so we can go. I'm tired already. And not to mention hungry." The pancakes had barely done anything to my slowly growing tummy."I'm on my way,""We could grab a snack if you're still hungry. We're right outside the bakery." James suggested "Oh yes, thank you! That would be great. Just get me the best pastries they've got." James chuckled, "Yes ma'am." James was back very quickly, and I munched down on one of the