“Hands, touching hands.” “Reaching out, touching me, touching you.”“Sweet Caroline.”PUM PUM PUMThere are a few students who sing along. We only need to keep going.“Good times never seemed so good.” “I've been inclined.”PUM PUM PUMMuch more students are singing along and a lot of them have stood up in the meantime. Ace, this is all we need. Just more of this and then we will have the energy back.“One, touching one.” “Reaching out, touching me, touching you.”The energy grows and I cannot help the smile that grows on my face.“Sweet Caroline.”PUM PUM PUM “Good times never seemed so good.” “I've been inclined.”All the students are standing up and shouting together, arms around each other’s shoulders. This song always gets everyone together. Even the other school is singing along.PUM PUM PUM “Good times never seemed so good.” “Sweet Caroline.”The song dies out and we all cheer as loud as we can. I even feel more energized after that. Everyone is getting together for the
I turn to Cora and we both take a moment to register that our team just won. Cora is the first to react and she starts to cheer loudly.“We won!” Cora shouts at the top of her lungs and I let out a loud laugh. The excitement fills me with adrenaline and I cannot contain myself. I run to the field with the rest of the cheer girls and our side of the bleachers.Cora throws her arm over my shoulders and we dance together, singing along as loud as we can when another song plays.“We won!” Cora shouts again, hugging me tightly. I hug her back and we sway from side to side. I smile widely, realizing that we have also reconnected. Cora pulls back, flashing me a warm smile.“We won,” I repeat. The rest of the cheer girls have joined us and we are all talking over each other. Someone taps my shoulder and I turn slightly to see who it is.Wes smiles at me, his hands pulling me in for a quick embrace.“Well done,” he says when he pulls back. “You saved the game,” he says with a satisfied smile.
“I already said- “ The guy is plucked away from me and he falls to the ground. I see Jake glaring at him as he makes his way over to the guy.“She has a ride,” Jake says, his voice low. The guy is on his feet again and he straightens his shirt.“Took you long enough. I always knew you guys never appreciated your women.” The guy has a sly grin. He turns his gaze to me and gives me a wink. “I would show you how much I appreciate that ass,” he says with a chuckle.Jake starts toward the guy, his fists clenched next to his side. I grab Jake’s arm and pull him away from a potential fight.We got so far without a fight, we do not need to start one now.“Thank you, and goodbye,” I say to the other pack’s alpha, dragging Jake to his truck. After a few steps, Jake stops fighting and trudges to his truck.That same girl who talked to him comes running to us and calls after Jake. Jake turns to face her and I get that same feeling.I remember where I saw her.She was the girl who Jake used to ma
Cora and I walk arm-in-arm toward the football field, the remnants of our volleyball training still evident in the light sheen of sweat on her face. Despite all that, she’s practically bouncing with excitement."Grayson said he’d take me home!" she gushes, her smile lighting up. "Can you believe it?"I chuckle. "I can believe you’re about to hyperventilate over it."Cora groans dramatically, clutching her side. "Volleyball is no joke. I thought cheerleading was intense, but this? It’s like boot camp.""Tell me about it," I say, glancing at her with a grin."Suicides are actual torture," she grumbles.We step onto the field, and my mood immediately sours.I notice Allison standing next to Tyler and I audibly let out a sigh. Cora looks to me and follows my gaze before she also scoffs.“How did those two get together?” she asks with her gaze still glued to them. I shrug. How am I supposed to tell Cora that they are werewolves? “Don’t know, but don’t look into her eyes.” Cora raises h
“Kate.”I turn toward the familiar voice with a smile. Jake jogs toward me, a sheen of sweat glistening on his forehead. Was he still training?“Hey,” I greet as he reaches me, slightly out of breath.“Were you still training? I thought you went home.”Jake chuckles, running a hand through his damp hair. “I have to work on my distance running. Plus, I knew you needed a lift home, so I waited for you.”I tilt my head slightly, smiling at him. He is too kind.“You waited for me? Aw, thank you,” I say, giving him a quick kiss on his cheek. He blushes at the action and I giggle at his red ears. It’s endlessly endearing.“I want to throw a few more balls. Care to be my catcher?” he asks with a shy smile. I purse my lips, pretending to think about it. Jake laughs while he shakes his head.“Sure,” I say and head back to the field. Jake falls into step next to me and I notice his gaze focusing on my face. I turn to him.He has a deep frown, his hand reaching out to my cheek.I flinch away whe
Jake shoots up and rolls off me. I watch him stop next to me, his hand covering his face.I laugh heartily.Before I can make a remark, Jake curses under his breath. I laugh louder at his reaction as I prop myself up on my elbows. I turn my gaze to him, forcing myself to look away from his trousers.“Shit, I did not mean for that to happen,” he mumbles, still slightly out of breath. “I apologize,” I say with a smile, failing to hide my amusement. Jake chuckles, shaking his head.“Not your fault . . . Well, not entirely,” he says with a shy smile. I hum in agreement before I look at him. He looks too adorable right now.I lean closer to him, placing a soft kiss on his cheek. I pull back but Jake’s hand reaches out to me. His hand guides my head back to him and his lips are against mine again.I giggle softly into the kiss. Jake rolls onto his back, taking me with him. I am flush against his chest as my lips move against his. My hands rest on his stomach and his groan vibrates through
“Catherine, dear.” I hear my mother call from the kitchen and I hurry out of my room. I run down the stairs, skipping a few at the end.“Jake is here,” she says with wide eyes and a smile. I chuckle at her reaction as I make my way to the door.“Thanks,” I say over my shoulder before opening the door. I shudder at the coldness nipping at my nose and cheeks. I wrap my arms around me and watch Jake park in our driveway. I run to the car, careful not to trip over my feet.Jake has barely gotten out of the car before I throw my arms around him, pulling him in for a hug. He laughs into the embrace, picking me up to hug me tightly.“Hi,” I whisper into the embrace. He puts me down slowly and pulls back.“Hi. I missed you,” he says, holding his hand out for me to take. I smile at him and take his hand. We have come such a long way.“Did you get what you guys were looking for today?” Jake and some of the other pack members had to skip school to find something about hunters or something along
“I think that is them,” my mother says while she peeks out of the window. I glance at Jake who is following my dad’s lead to stand up. “Did you also set a plate for Bianca and Oliver?” My mother asks, her voice tinged with anxiety. I laugh at her while I shake my head.“Yes, of course- ““There’s only five plates,” my dad remarks and I snap my eyes to the dinner table. Five?“I apologize,” I say with embarrassment. I just blocked Bianca out of my head. I hear my mother and father making their way to the door. Jake shuffles over to me, helping me set another place for Bianca.“I didn’t know she would also be here,” Jake whispers to me. I hum softly in response.“Me neither. Ugh, and I actually thought tonight could be fun.” I cross my arms, glaring at the door opening.“It will be,” Jake reassures me, putting his arm around me and hugging me. I laugh softly and plant a quick kiss on his cheek. Red ears.“Good evening,” Oliver says with a chirpy tone. I make my way to where my mother
I wake up slowly to warmth, my body curled against Jake’s. My head is nestled in the crook of his neck. His steady breathing soothes me and his arms are still wrapped around me. He holds me as if even in sleep, he refuses to let go. I don’t move. I don’t even think about moving. I stay there, sinking into his steady presence. I focus on the way his scent fills my senses and how his chest rises and falls under my palm.Memories flicker through my drowsy mind. I remember the last time this happened. The couch and the soft hum of the television in the background. I had fallen asleep like this and it was Allison who woke me up. Jake had been holding me then too, just like this. Like he never wanted to let go.The memory makes me tighten my hold on him, burying my face deeper into his neck. He’s here. He’s really here. Safe, warm, real. The relief is overwhelming. Now there is nothing pulling me away. There is no reason to leave this perfect warmth. Carefully, barely even breathing, I li
I trace small patterns on Jake’s arm, my head resting on his shoulder. His hold around my middle is firm, reassuring, his body pressed against mine like an unshakable force in the chaos of my emotions.The tears have not stopped. They keep coming, each one dragging more guilt to the surface. Jake’s arms tighten around me as if he can somehow keep me together when I feel like I might shatter.I focus on the steady rise and fall of his breathing. I try to anchor myself in the warmth of his presence. As I cry, my heart aches for him too. He has suffered because of me, endured so much because of the choices I made. Each sob makes me want to apologize over and over, to take it all back, but I know I never can. The damage is already done. And yet, here he is, holding me, staying with me, despite everything.Something shifts in that moment. For the first time in months, I don’t feel completely alone. Jake’s presence helps me breathe through the pain, grounding me in the moment.Time stretc
My eyes flutter open as I wake up, a soft groan escaping my lips. My body stretches out against the sheets, actually rested. It has been quite a while since I felt this rested. The light seeps through the curtains and covers the room in a muted glow.I blink at the clock beside my bed. The numbers blur together before they finally click. Oh shit.A jolt of panic shoots through me as I sit up too fast, my heart pounding. I’m late. Way too late.Adrenaline kicks in and I scramble out of bed. I yank on a loose hoodie without bothering to check the mirror. My shift at the diner. I was supposed to be there hours ago.I hurry down the stairs, my feet stumbling over themselves while I try to shake off the grogginess. When I reach the kitchen, I freeze in the doorway.Jake is sitting at the table, a plate of breakfast in front of him. My mum is chatting away, smiling like she has not seen him in years. Well, she has not seen him in months. My stomach twists, a strange mix of guilt and grati
The shrill beeping of Kate’s alarm jolts me awake. I groan, my hand fumbling for the offending noise. I finally find the button and silence it. She does not even stir, still tucked into the blanket like she does not have a care in the world.I roll out of bed, rubbing a hand over my face before glancing back at her. Peaceful. Oblivious. Shaking my head, I grab a shirt from the floor and throw it on before stepping out of the room.The faint smell of coffee hit me before I reach the kitchen. Her mom stands at the counter, humming quietly as she flips through a magazine. When she sees me, her face lights up.“Jake!” she says with a warmth I have forgotten. “Oh, it’s so good to see you.”She crosses the room in a few quick steps and wraps me in a hug. I stand there awkwardly for a second, then pat her back.“It’s good to see you too, Mrs. Lauder,” I say, managing a small smile.“Oh, stop it with the ‘Mrs. Lauder.’ It’s Ellie.” She pulls back with her hands on my arms as she beams up at m
The weight of my thoughts lingers as I lay there, staring at the ceiling. It feels wrong. It feels so wrong, being here, tangled in memories, in confusion, in pain. But I can’t leave. Not yet.My phone buzzes and I glance at the screen. Wes.I swipe to answer, the coldness creeping into my chest. “What?”“Where are you?” Wes asks, his voice steady, but I can hear the undercurrent of concern.I sigh while rubbing a hand across my face. “Kate’s.”There’s a pause, too long. “What are you doing at Kate’s house?” His voice is sharper.I feel the heat rise in my chest, anger flaring at the mention of her name. “Why do you care where I am, Wes? She’s the reason four of our pack is dead. She’s the reason you and I were shot. She’s the reason everything’s messed up.”Wes sighs deeply on the other end of the line. “It’s a long story, Jake.”“I’ve got time.”Wes breathes out, and then reluctantly, he begins.“When the bullets were flying, when we were under attack, Kate came crawling to me,” he
Her breathing is soft and even, the sound hypnotic. I lie stiff beside her with my body angled away, but my eyes? They are locked on her face. Peaceful. Unburdened. It pisses me off because I know better.Kate’s betrayal plays on repeat in my head. I see it every time I close my eyes. That bastard hunter leader throwing his arms around her, smiling as if she was making him proud. And Kate? She did not fight it. No resistance, no denial. She stood there, complicit.The rage I’d felt that day... hell, it still burns. My vision tunneled, my wolf practically tearing at the seams, demanding blood. But I did not move. Not fast enough, anyway. The gunfire cut through the chaos first.Two of my packmates dropped before I could even process what was happening. The sound of their bodies hitting the dirt, the coppery stench of blood. It’s still fresh, like it just happened yesterday. The other two... we lost them later. Their injuries were too far gone, too much for even our strongest healers.F
The engine hums to a stop, leaving us in thick silence. My hands grip the steering wheel, knuckles white as I force myself to take a breath. I can feel her sitting beside me, her presence like a weight in the air—one that suffocates and comforts me all at once. I should say something. Anything. But I don’t.Instead, I shove the door open and step out into the cool night. My boots hit the ground with more force than I intend, the sound breaking the stillness. I don’t look back as I head to the truck bed. I lower her bike carefully with automatic movements.“Here,” I mutter, placing it down more gently than she probably deserves. “Your bike.”“Thanks.” Her voice is distant, detached, and it cuts through me sharper than any knife. She takes the bike and heads toward the garage without looking at me. I watch her retreat, torn between wanting to follow and wanting to get as far away from her as possible.I hate her.I hate her for the blood on her hands. For the four pack members I’ll ne
The diner is eerily quiet, the kind of silence that presses down on me as I step inside. The lights are dimmed. The faint scent of grease and coffee linger in the air. My footsteps echo faintly against the tiles as I head to the counter, stopping just short of the counter. From the kitchen, I hear movement. There is a shuffle, the clang of dishes, and then her voice.“We’re closed,” Kate calls out, her tone firm but weary.I do not move. I just stand there, staring at the swinging door that separates us.When Kate pushes through the door, wiping her hands on a towel, her breath catches in her throat. Her eyes lock onto mine. There is a fraction of fear before resignation flickers across her face. Resignation or Acceptance. I can’t tell.“Kate.” I hear the hate in my own voice. It sounds like I want to kill her. I kind of want to.She looks exhausted. She has given up. On herself, on life. On me.I stride forward, crossing the distance between us in two long strides. My hands grip her
The familiar hum of the diner’s lights buzzes faintly against the backdrop of clinking dishes and quiet conversation. I lean against the corner of my truck, parked just far enough from the diner to remain unseen while I watch through the glowing windows as Kate moves through the space like she belongs there. Her apron is tied loosely at the back and her dark hair is in a messy braid. She smiles at a customer and my chest aches in a way I do not want to admit.I had followed Wes straight from Kate’s house, adrenaline buzzing through my veins. My thoughts were chaotic and loud. Seeing Wes give Kate a hug before leaving had been the final straw. How could Wes, someone who had been shot because of her, stand there and act like nothing had happened?Cornering Wes had been impulsive, but I was not in the mood to think twice.Wes did not even flinch when I shoved him against a tree next to the road.“You’re getting real comfortable at her place, aren’t you?” I felt my wolf fighting to take o