I push the broccoli around on my plate, thoughts racing through my head. I swallow the sigh that wants to escape. I am still trying to process what happened with Jake. The one moment, he spends the night, and then, he tells me to stay away. And the worst of it all is the fact that he was not at school on Tuesday or today (Wednesday, I know. I woke up today and the author informed me it would take too much writing time). None of the werewolves were at school. Not even Allison. Where are they?“Catherine, dear. Are you all right? You are not eating,” my mum says with concern. I look at her and force a smile.“I am just tired,” I lie, and she reaches her hand over the table to me. I take her hand and she squeezes my hand. My dad places his knife and fork on his plate. Oliver has a big assignment and he was with Bianca the whole weekend, so he has to catch up.“Thank you love. It was delicious,” my dad says as he stands up. He gives my mum a kiss on top of her head. He then proceeds to ta
A shaking feeling wakes me from my sleep and I groan in protest. I turn on my side and let out a sigh. Another shake. I groan as I sit up.“What?” I ask, barely able to open my eyes.“You fell asleep on my couch,” a familiar voice whispers and my eyes shoot open. Jake is crouched next to the couch. I look around at realize that I fell asleep at Jake’s.“Shit,” I say and jump from the couch, rushing to gather all my stuff. “I am so, so sorry. I wanted to just finish and then go home. I must have sat for a minute- wait.” I stop and turn to look at Jake who is still crouching next to the couch. A pain shoots through my head. Too much is happening. He is back?“Are you okay?” he asks, standing up.“What time is it?” I ask and he shrugs. I search for my phone and realize it is still on the couch. I rush over to the couch and grab my phone. 06:42. “Bloody hell.” I rub my face before I turn to face Jake.“Could you please take this to school today? Just sign your name at the end, here,” I sa
Cora and I are outside Grayson’s house, dancing to “Dog Days Are Over” by someone. I completely forgot about this song, but it has such a nice vibe. We were the first to arrive, but everyone else followed quite quickly.I laugh as Cora sings along, but she is getting the words wrong. We are both hammered.“You guys want another one?” Grayson asks me and Cora. She nods and I think for a moment. I do not want a hangover tomorrow, but I also do not want to be sober tonight. I nod quickly before joining Cora with the dance we have practiced. She smiles at me and I sway my hips to the beat.Grayson hands us both a cup with alcohol in it. I think it is Vodka since it burns going down. I shake my head, scrunching my nose up. Ugh, it tastes bitter. Cora pulls the same face.Grayson and some of the jocks are dancing with us outside since the DJ is stationed outside. It is a bold move on Grayson’s part to have speakers inside and outside of the house. I will run from the police if they show up.
Jake’s POV: I let out a tired sigh, leaning my forehead against my cabin’s doors. I am exhausted. This mission has been a failure and we basically wasted our time. The hunters were not where Tyler’s source claimed. I should have known that it would not be that easy. We have been looking for them for over three years. They would never just show up somewhere random. I go to unlock my door, but it is already unlocked. I could have sworn I locked it. Did someone break in? I inhale deeply, a familiar scent filling my senses. What is she doing here? I enter and see her lying on my couch, fast asleep. What the? As I make my over to her, I notice the painting on the counter. Oh no, I completely forgot about that. A soft snore escapes her mouth and I chuckle softly. She must have fallen asleep here. I crouch down next to the couch, my eyes glued to her. She looks as tired as I feel. I glance over my shoulder at the drawing. She must have stayed up all night to finish it. I need to wake h
I trail behind the small group, heading to Grayson’s party. I honestly do not know how Wes managed to convince me to go. And then he chickened out because he remembered he had to study for a test. I pull a hand through my hair. I guess Tyler and Allison might need a designated driver back home or a designated walker. Those two are driving me insane. We reach the street of Grayson’s home and the music is booming through the neighborhood. He is going to get the police involved. How can music be this loud? Allison is the first to rush through the small gate on Grayson’s law, but she bumps into Grayson and he spills some, what I can only assume is alcohol, on her dress. Tyler reacts and I let out a loud sigh. Just because it is mating season and these two are beyond horny, does not mean Tyler can fight every male he sees. I push to the front of the crowd, but someone else beat me. “Enough. Honestly, you always have to ruin parties. What is wrong with you?” I see Kate scolding Tyler.
It looks like she wants to cry. She rolls her eyes and turns to the front, ignoring my calls. I run up to her and grab her arm.“Kate, what is wrong?” I ask while turning her to look at me. She stops and looks me up and down, letting out a sigh. She rubs her face, smearing her make-up. Not again. I cannot laugh at her, not now.“Nothing,” she says, but I know she is lying. I tilt my head. She removes her arm from my hand. “Really, nothing. I am drunk beyond comprehension and I am tired, so please leave.” She looks into my eyes, tilting her head with a soft smile. “I am going to say stuff I should not say,” she mumbles, shaking her head. She continues to walk, but I step in front of her. She huffs out a breath and throws her head back.“Let me at least walk you back home,” I offer. Her head stays back and it looks like she is talking to the sky. She drops her head to look at me.“No, I can make it to my own house. I do not need your help. Stop being nice to me,” she mutters the last pa
Kate’s POV: I groan, pulling the blanket over my eyes. Ugh, I am never drinking again. What was I thinking? My head is pounding and my stomach makes a funny noise. I knew I would regret drinking, but I still did it. I slowly remove the blanket from my face, groaning again when the light burns my eyes and worsens the pounding in my head. I sigh as I sit up, the pounding causing my vision to blur. I need to get some water into my body. With a determined sigh, I stumble out of bed toward the kitchen. I trudge down the stairs, reaching the kitchen with a worsened headache. I notice my dad and mum sitting at the island in the kitchen, both drinking tea in silence. “Morning,” I say as I enter the kitchen. My dad chuckles at my state while my mum shakes her head in disappointment. “Morning. How was your night?” my dad asks. I flash him a smile before I pour water into one of the larger glasses. “It was fun, but I am not doing it again,” I admit, causing my dad to laugh. I down the gl
After spending the afternoon cleaning up the house, I fall onto the couch with a heavy sigh. Jake comes out of the bathroom, drying his hands on his pants. He sits down next to me, yawning. “That was not fun,” he states simply, rubbing his eyes. I hum in agreement, my eyes trained on the clean coffee table. My eyes are teary from the dust and I wipe the tears from my eyes. I wonder when Allison’s mother will wake up. She has not moved since Jake put her on the bed. I glance over my shoulder to the room, waiting for movement. I want to go home but do not want to leave her alone. It feels wrong. “I should probably take the bags to the dumping site. Are you staying here?” Jake asks as he stands up. He stretches his back and a few cracking sounds escape. “I will come with you. Let me just leave my number for when she wakes up.” I also get up and walk to the kitchen. I search through the drawers for the pen I saw earlier. I find the pen and write my number on one of the napkins from ano
The alarm rings.06:00I stare at it, the sound cutting through the silence of the house. A sigh escapes my lips as I reach over to turn it off. Everything feels like a vivid dream. One I can’t wake up from.I thought I could handle this, that it was just a silly Wattpad story, but the emotions are real.Too real.The blood on my hands, the lifeless body of my father.I glance down, half-expecting to see the crimson stains still clinging to my skin. I can feel it.I shoot up, the empty feeling threatening to resurface. I shake my head and force myself out of bed, groaning when I hit the ground. I check my messages.Nothing.Jake has vanished, along with Tyler and Allison. They all think I’m some kind of pro-hunter, responsible for the deaths of twenty pack members.And my father.Stumbling to the closet, I sift through clothes. I search for something comfortable. I do not have the strength to curate a proper outfit today, not when I have volleyball practice this afternoon.I pull on a
“Catherine?” The familiar voice cuts through the haze of confusion. I snap my head up, blinking against the light as I search the crowd.“Dad?”My father emerges from the throng of people surrounding me. I squint my eyes, attempting to see whether I am just dreaming or is it reality.“Catherine,” he says as he takes my arms and pulls me up. My legs tremble beneath me, but I manage to find my footing. I stare at him, my mind racing. What is he doing here? Is he a hunter?“What is going on?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper My father nods to the crowd, a silent command that sends most of them retreating a few paces. All but one—a short man with a massive beard—remains.“Ah, Catherine.” The bearded man steps forward, his grin wide and unsettling. “So nice to see you again. I was just about to give up on you.” He extends his hand, waiting for me to shake it. I glance at my father before slowly reaching out and clasping his hand in a limp handshake.“I’m… sorry, but I’m confused,” I
The rope bites into my hands, rough and unforgiving. Something hard digs into my shoulder. I attempt to open my eyes, but they are glued shut.With a groan, I force them open. The room is not brightly lit and I have to adjust my vision.Where the hell am I?My head lolls to the side, my neck protesting the motion. That is when I notice Allison across from me. Her gaze is locked on the door. Her hands are tied behind her, the same as mine. We are both bound to wooden chairs.Glancing over my shoulder, I see the window. Through the window I notice that we must be deep into the forest, the dark green giving our location away."Hey," Allison whispers, her voice barely cutting through the silence. My eyes snap back to her. The thick wood beams overhead give it an almost primitive feel. It gives off basement vibes.“What is going on? Where are we?” I ask, failing to hide the panic in my voice. I clear my throat and shake my head to clear the fog.Allison’s eyes flick back to the door, then
I turn onto my side with a soft huff, tucking my elbow beneath my head as I stare into the oppressive darkness of the wall across from me. A soft sigh escapes my lips.Those stupid messages from the author have wormed their way into my thoughts. The feeling of imminent dread clings to me and it only worsens my stress-ridden migraine. I don’t know what the author has planned for me.And since she’s veered completely off the original storyline, I have no idea what could possibly happen.A thud from the window jolts me upright. What was that?I strain my ears, waiting for another sound, but the silence that follows is thick and suffocating. My skin prickles with unease. I groan, running a hand through my hair in frustration. Seriously? Is the author just toying with me now?I sink back onto the bed, pulling the covers up to my chin as if they could somehow shield me from whatever is coming.The door to my parents’ room creaks open. Heavy footsteps tread past my door, descending the stair
When we finally finish dinner, Bianca goes to Oliver’s room without any explanation. “Does she want dessert?” my mum asks, but Oliver shrugs.“I don’t know what has gotten into her. I’ll go check on her,” Oliver’s voice is tinted with frustration. Bianca has been rather rude tonight.“Do you want dessert?” My mother asks, turning to Jake.“Ooh, yes, please. Can I help?” My mother gives him a scolding look and he puts his hands in the air. He hurries to the couch where my dad is sitting. “Catherine, will you give me a hand please?” I walk behind my mother to the kitchen, glancing over my shoulder at Jake. He nods his head at something my dad says.“Is it just me, or was Bianca strange?” my mum asks in a quiet voice. I giggle softly as I nod.“Yes, but she is always strange,” I joke and my mother laughs.“Perhaps. You and Jake can enjoy the dessert in your room. He does not have to listen to your dad’s conspiracy theories,” my mum says with a wink. I have a wide smile as I take the two
“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 parking 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 give me a tight hug.“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.“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 those lines. He was no
I turn my head in the direction of the voice with a smile. Jake comes jogging to me and I notice the layer of sweat on his forehead. Was he still training? “Hey,” I say when Jake reaches me. He flashes me a smile as he comes to a stop. He is slightly out of breath. “Were you still training? I thought you went home.” Jake chuckles, shaking his head. “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 continues to be adorable. “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 my 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
I watch as Cora falls dramatically to the floor, out of breath. I let out a breathy laugh, sitting down next to her. “Why is volleyball so much worse than cheerleading? I thought I was in good shape, but this- “ she stops talking to take a deep breath, “is so much worse. I think I’m having a heart attack.” She lets her head rest on the cold gym floor. I see her chest heaving up and down. I chuckle at her reaction while I shake my head. “Cheer is nothing compared to this. I hate suicides,” I say, resting my hands behind me to support me. Cora huffs in agreement. I look around the gym and see the floor decorated with girls. Everyone is trying to catch their breath. This coach is one of the most brutal coaches I have ever had. Most coaches focus less on fitness and more on skills, but this one is trying to kill us. Is she a werewolf? That would explain her inability to realize we are merely human. “How am I going to get up?” Cora asks as she tries to lift herself from the floor. Sh
“What?” I ask, failing to hide my frustration. Jake merely raises a brow at me.“What?” he asks as his eyes bore into mine. I open my mouth to talk but snap it close again. I take a breath, thinking of what it is that is truly bothering me. Ah, the girl. “How do you know the girl from the other school’s cheerleading squad? I remember seeing her at the party,” I say, trying to sound nonchalant. Jake has a skewed smile and he chuckles softly.“She goes way back. She was my friend in middle school. They moved here recently.” I bob my head along, suddenly feeling very silly for being jealous.What is wrong with me? I swear it is this world. I am becoming one with the Wattpad world.“Ah, that is nice. Well . . . “ I trail off, trying to think of something to say, but my head hurts too much. “Thanks for the lift and good night. You had a fantastic night,” I say with a warm smile, turning to the front door. Jake pulls me back again.“You remember her from the party?” Jake asks, his hand’s