Let me tell you, I didn't even stress like this when I had to write the entrance exam. I have been thinking about this since Sunday and now that I'm here, I am freaking out and there is nothing that I can do.I glance at the door from my seat in Art class. Jake hasn't arrived yet and I'm a complete mess. I need to return his jacket without making it awkward, but it might not go as planned. I clutch my stomach and rest my forehead on the table, forcing myself to take deep breaths. Why am I feeling so anxious about this? It is nothing important to worry about. The image of him flinching away has been on replay in my head since it happened. I still feel stupid. Ugh. I tap my forehead against the table with a soft sigh."Are you okay?" I whip my head up when I recognize the voice. Jake sits next to me and stares at me in concern. I force a smile and nod."Yeah, I'm fine," I lie and try to control my breathing. He lifts a brow and his eyes travel to my arms, which are still clutching my st
I groan with a mouthful of food. I ignore him when he appears next to Ally."Sup?" He falls next to her and puts his plate on the grass in front of him. So he is sitting with us now? Great, there goes my peace and serenity. This, this right here, is my thirteenth reason. I continue eating my sandwich and keeping my eyes glued to the grass. I do not want to look at him. More footsteps approach us and Jake sits down next to Tyler."Hey," he greets us and digs into his food. He appears to have recovered from whatever happened in Art. I click my tongue when I realize that I don't have my bag with me. I will give him his paper later.Ally looks like she is about to explode with excitement. I sigh and cross my legs, placing my arm on my leg and resting my head on my hand. Before I can take another bite, Oliver's voice blares through the air. I snap my head in his direction and see Cora walking next to him. Fuck me! They also walk toward us and Oliver sits next to me. Cora pats the grass, fee
I lean against my locker with my arms crossed, watching the other students rushing to the information board in the main hall. A large group has bundled together in front of the board and the atmosphere is tense. I inhale shakily to get my nerves under control.The school announced that the lists of names who made the team will be placed on the board. Everyone is dying to see whether they made the football, cheerleading, or volleyball team. I have to admit that I am stressed out about this and I am quite sure I made the team.The cheering of some students gets my attention and I smile at their enthusiasm. We are not a lot of students in this school, so the odds are in your favor to make some team. I am waiting for the crowd to disappear before taking a look. I shift my weight from one foot to the other and uncross my arms."Yes, I knew it! I don't know why I even worried about it." I hear Greyson say with relief. He starts a chant and the other jocks join in as they head out of the buil
I look at my watch with a frustrated sigh. My leg bounces in anticipation while I glance around, waiting for Ally. Where is she? She should hurry up, otherwise, we are going to be late. I stand up from the sidewalk near her house and pace in front of her house. I pull out my phone to check whether she has sent a message. Nothing.The front door opens and I smile, but it falters when I see Ally's mom. She looks quite terrible, no offense. Where is Ally? Did something happen to her? I walk closer to the woman with furrowed brows."You here for Ally?" The woman sounds like she has just woken up. I nod my head and she walks to me with a slight limp. When she stops in front of me, I smell the alcohol on her and I have to prevent myself from scrunching my nose in disgust. She pulls me in for a hug. I don't want to be impolite so I put my hands on her back, tapping softly."She left with a guy earlier this morning," she says after she lets me out of her grip. I bite my lip and take a look
"I like outside. I want to sit outside," I whine while Ally drags me to the table where Tyler and the rest are sitting. They found a table for themselves in the cafeteria, so they are no longer sitting with the popular students."Ally, I'm serious. I don't want to sit there." Ally laughs off my complaint and we get to the table."Everyone, this is Kate. Kate, this is . . . Well, everyone. You'll get to know them." I force a smile and give them a small wave. Ally sits next to Tyler, leaving me to choose where to sit. Where am I supposed to sit? I thought she would let me sit next to her. Tyler probably does not want that."Does she have to sit with us? Baby, I thought it would just be you." Tyler says and I cringe at the nickname. Baby? It could have been worse. It could have been way worse. At least it is not "Baby girl".Ally puts her hand on his arm to calm him down. I continue to stand, waiting for her to tell me where I can sit or to say something in my defense. I would have told
My footsteps echo through the empty halls. Most of the students have gone home and the practices for today are over. I had so much more fun at practice today than I expected. We actually stand a chance to do good in the league. We're not enough players, but we will survive.Before I leave, I need to get the books I forgot to take from the locker. I have essays due soon for English Lit and History, but it is nothing I cannot handle.My locker opens with a soft creak, and I search through the piles of books. A paper falls out onto the floor. I bend down to pick it up and notice it is the Art project. It completely slipped my mind. It is already Thursday and between the drawing and painting, we need to start as soon as possible if we want to finish it on time."Hey, Kate." I fall against the locker, startled. What is he doing here? He almost gave me a heart attack."Tyler," I say, my heart pounding in my ears. Why is he still here? I do not want to talk to him, so he better leave befo
As I lay in bed, replaying the whole thing, I realize it was all Tyler's fault. I did nothing wrong. He literally grabbed my face which prevented me from escaping. I should have kicked him in the groin as well.I adjust myself and stare at the ceiling. My mother patched me up, and she gave me some heavy medications for the migraine. Whatever that stuff is, I need to get my hands on it when I get back home. Tyler bit a whole laceration on my lip. He must have used his werewolf's teeth because no human has such sharp teeth.There is a knock on the door and I turn to the door, mumbling that they can come in."Hey. Are you okay?" Oliver remains at the door, resting against the doorframe."Yes, I'm fine." He steps closer to the bed and pats my arm to show some sympathy. I do not know whether he knows what happened or if Mum only told him I am upset. I hope she did not tell him the whole story. I doubt she would do that."Supper is ready, but you don't have to come down if you don't want to.
I sit in a locked bathroom stall, my head resting on my knees. I need to get out of here. It was a foolish idea to come to school today. I thought I would be prepared for the backlash and hate I was going to receive, but I had no idea it would be this bad. Maybe Kate does not die, but her reputation sure does.Everyone heard about what had happened, but they heard Tyler's version. Now, I am the bad guy. So many students believe Tyler and some have even gone as far as to threaten me, or at least tried to threaten me.I lean my head back against the stall and close my eyes.And Ally has been standing there, doing nothing. She is ignoring me, playing the perfect victim. The poor girl who was betrayed by her best friend. I do not understand why she does not want to hear my side. She went as far as to block me. Allison immediately believed Tyler and dismissed me like I was nothing. Maybe I am nothing to her.I sit on the cold floor, inspecting my nails while I wait for the bell again. I a
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