-Corrine-I didn’t expect to be back in my hometown this soon.This place felt both familiar and foreign in my eyes now. The air I breathed felt different and the ground I stood on felt rough under my shoes.I half-slammed the car door after I got out—Trevor had borrowed one of Andrew’s cars—and while I was waiting for Trevor to come out, I took off my sunglasses and stared at the Alpha house in front of me.The last time I was here I had a terrible experience. There was still a faint trauma settled at the bottom of my heart, but aside from that, I was fine.But there was one thing my heart had not prepared for until now; if I ever met my mom again, what was I supposed to do?“Come on.” I didn’t know when, but suddenly Trevor was already standing beside me. “Dad is waiting inside.”I shot a glance at him, feeling restless at the thought of meeting Dad.Looked like Trevor knew what I had been thinking, because he said, “Mom’s not here. She’s—“ He paused for a moment, “—she still doesn’
-Corrine-I didn’t expect to be back in my hometown this soon.This place felt both familiar and foreign in my eyes now. The air I breathed felt different and the ground I stood on felt rough under my shoes.I half-slammed the car door after I got out—Trevor had borrowed one of Andrew’s cars—and while I was waiting for Trevor to come out, I took off my sunglasses and stared at the Alpha house in front of me.The last time I was here I had a terrible experience. There was still a faint trauma settled at the bottom of my heart, but aside from that, I was fine.But there was one thing my heart had not prepared for until now; if I ever met my mom again, what was I supposed to do?“Come on.” I didn’t know when, but suddenly Trevor was already standing beside me. “Dad is waiting inside.”I shot a glance at him, feeling restless at the thought of meeting Dad.Looked like Trevor knew what I had been thinking, because he said, “Mom’s not here. She’s—“ He paused for a moment, “—she still doesn’
-Corrine-“Fuck!” I cursed, followed by the sound of my body smashing into the mattress. My ears rang, and a sharp pain stung my arm and shoulder.I wanted to punch the mattress and yell in anger. Why did Andrew ask Leana to train me to fight instead of doing it himself?!I had ignored Andrew for the past three days after his ridiculous decision to assign Leana as my trainer. I even refused to be in the same room as him. Call me childish, but shouldn’t he have known Leana and I hated each other?The fact that Leana liked Trevor didn’t change anything—at least not for me.Ever since she found out Trevor and I were siblings, she had stopped giving me those killer looks. Even her words were not as annoying as they used to be. But still, I couldn’t get over it yet.Leana reached out her hand to help me to my feet. “So, is it true?” she said after I stood and brushed the dust off my sweaty arm. “When you beat me, was that only a coincidence?” I returned her mockery with a grumble, but I c
-Corrine-I was drinking for the second time when I heard Leana’s explanation. I choked so hard that water spurted out of my lips. Leana jerked back to avoid being splashed with the water mixed with saliva.“Where did you get that information?” I asked after finishing coughing.At first, Leana seemed hesitant. She didn’t answer my question right away and instead took a gulp of water from her bottle. I bet she was deliberately stalling for time, perhaps hoping I’d change my mind and stop pressing her for information.But when she finished drinking, I was still waiting patiently. She let out a sigh as she closed her bottle.“Trevor and I traced the Ashbridge family’s history and found a possible location where Andrew’s great-grandfather disappeared during a specific period of a few years.” She cleared her throat, glancing at the door. Her unease made me even more certain that this was a major secret that wasn’t supposed to be known by anyone.I suddenly remembered reading about the Ashb
-Corrine-My anger melted right away under Andrew’s touch.I could no longer think clearly; all I could feel was his hands and lips exploring my body.Andrew kissed my shoulder as his hand moved between my thighs. He gently pushed my legs apart, making me sit with them spread. My grip on the towel loosened, and it slipped down to just below my breast.Andrew didn’t waste the opportunity. He pulled the towel off so forcefully it almost tore, then tossed it far into the corner of the room.“Is this what you were hoping for, Corrine, when you wanted to train with me?” he asked, his voice laced with seduction.He pulled back just enough to look at me while his hand was exploring below.I turned my face away. My eyelids fluttered halfway closed as a soft moan escaped me.“Look at me, baby,” he commanded. “And answer my question.”I didn’t follow his command, so he gently grabbed my chin and turned my face back toward him. “Is this what you want?”“N—no,” I stammered, my voice and breath tr
-Trevor-The forest was a playground for werewolves like me. I had explored every inch of the forest in and outside of Wesgrove.But I had never visited a forest like this.This forest seemed to have a life of its own. Instead of exploring a land full of trees, it felt like I’d entered another world, one filled with invisible creatures. They were watching me from the darkness, from places I could not see.I could hear my heartbeat buzzing in my ears.“I feel... strange,” whispered Leana, as if worried someone might hear us. “Do you feel the same way?”I didn’t want to admit that I felt the same. That would be like admitting I was afraid of this place.I deliberately walked with a straight posture and slightly raised my chin. “Strange? What do you mean? It’s a forest. Forests are the same everywhere.”Leana shook her head, disagreeing with my words. “No, Trevor. This place is different. It’s—” Leana looked around and then pressed herself closer to me. “It feels like someone is watching
-Corrine-“Let’s break up.”The bass of the EDM music thumps through the speakers. Its voice was so booming I wasn’t sure what Daniel Harris, my boyfriend, was saying.I frowned while giving him an awkward grin. “What did you say, babe?!” I asked, half shouting.Daniel didn’t smile with me. His expression was so serious that I felt stupid with my attitude. His nostrils flared for a moment before he snorted. “Let’s break up, Corrine Harmon!”Daniel shouted so loudly, together with a pause of silence before the music changed.Everyone at the prom tonight turned to glare at us and I felt heat radiate from my neck, and spread to the veins in my face.“What?” My voice was squeaky like I was choking. I was still trying to laugh and thought Daniel was just joking. I took his arm and wrapped mine around it, then laughed as I pulled him off the dance floor.My friends were still following me and Daniel with their gaze until the music started again and they got distracted.Now we’re standing in
-Corrine- I really hoped last night was just a dream.But when I woke up this morning, my eyes and throat ached, proof that I cried a lot last night.“Corrine, wake up!” My mom knocked on my bedroom door and tried to open it, but I locked it last night in case someone came in and saw me cry.“I heard it from your brother! He dumped you, that bastard!” This time it was my father who spoke, and I rolled my eyes, then pulled the pillow up to cover my face and I groaned.One more lack of Trevor. He couldn’t keep secrets from Mom and Dad.“We won’t stop pounding on this door until you answer our call, Miss!” my mother nagged. She always found a way to get me out of my room.“Okay, okay! I’d wake up!” I shouted after throwing the pillow aside and sitting up.A jolt of dizziness hit me as soon as I lifted my head. I massaged my temples with one hand while my other hand brushed away the blanket wrapped around my legs. When I opened the door, my parents stood behind it. Their arms folded over
-Trevor-The forest was a playground for werewolves like me. I had explored every inch of the forest in and outside of Wesgrove.But I had never visited a forest like this.This forest seemed to have a life of its own. Instead of exploring a land full of trees, it felt like I’d entered another world, one filled with invisible creatures. They were watching me from the darkness, from places I could not see.I could hear my heartbeat buzzing in my ears.“I feel... strange,” whispered Leana, as if worried someone might hear us. “Do you feel the same way?”I didn’t want to admit that I felt the same. That would be like admitting I was afraid of this place.I deliberately walked with a straight posture and slightly raised my chin. “Strange? What do you mean? It’s a forest. Forests are the same everywhere.”Leana shook her head, disagreeing with my words. “No, Trevor. This place is different. It’s—” Leana looked around and then pressed herself closer to me. “It feels like someone is watching
-Corrine-My anger melted right away under Andrew’s touch.I could no longer think clearly; all I could feel was his hands and lips exploring my body.Andrew kissed my shoulder as his hand moved between my thighs. He gently pushed my legs apart, making me sit with them spread. My grip on the towel loosened, and it slipped down to just below my breast.Andrew didn’t waste the opportunity. He pulled the towel off so forcefully it almost tore, then tossed it far into the corner of the room.“Is this what you were hoping for, Corrine, when you wanted to train with me?” he asked, his voice laced with seduction.He pulled back just enough to look at me while his hand was exploring below.I turned my face away. My eyelids fluttered halfway closed as a soft moan escaped me.“Look at me, baby,” he commanded. “And answer my question.”I didn’t follow his command, so he gently grabbed my chin and turned my face back toward him. “Is this what you want?”“N—no,” I stammered, my voice and breath tr
-Corrine-I was drinking for the second time when I heard Leana’s explanation. I choked so hard that water spurted out of my lips. Leana jerked back to avoid being splashed with the water mixed with saliva.“Where did you get that information?” I asked after finishing coughing.At first, Leana seemed hesitant. She didn’t answer my question right away and instead took a gulp of water from her bottle. I bet she was deliberately stalling for time, perhaps hoping I’d change my mind and stop pressing her for information.But when she finished drinking, I was still waiting patiently. She let out a sigh as she closed her bottle.“Trevor and I traced the Ashbridge family’s history and found a possible location where Andrew’s great-grandfather disappeared during a specific period of a few years.” She cleared her throat, glancing at the door. Her unease made me even more certain that this was a major secret that wasn’t supposed to be known by anyone.I suddenly remembered reading about the Ashb
-Corrine-“Fuck!” I cursed, followed by the sound of my body smashing into the mattress. My ears rang, and a sharp pain stung my arm and shoulder.I wanted to punch the mattress and yell in anger. Why did Andrew ask Leana to train me to fight instead of doing it himself?!I had ignored Andrew for the past three days after his ridiculous decision to assign Leana as my trainer. I even refused to be in the same room as him. Call me childish, but shouldn’t he have known Leana and I hated each other?The fact that Leana liked Trevor didn’t change anything—at least not for me.Ever since she found out Trevor and I were siblings, she had stopped giving me those killer looks. Even her words were not as annoying as they used to be. But still, I couldn’t get over it yet.Leana reached out her hand to help me to my feet. “So, is it true?” she said after I stood and brushed the dust off my sweaty arm. “When you beat me, was that only a coincidence?” I returned her mockery with a grumble, but I c
-Corrine-I didn’t expect to be back in my hometown this soon.This place felt both familiar and foreign in my eyes now. The air I breathed felt different and the ground I stood on felt rough under my shoes.I half-slammed the car door after I got out—Trevor had borrowed one of Andrew’s cars—and while I was waiting for Trevor to come out, I took off my sunglasses and stared at the Alpha house in front of me.The last time I was here I had a terrible experience. There was still a faint trauma settled at the bottom of my heart, but aside from that, I was fine.But there was one thing my heart had not prepared for until now; if I ever met my mom again, what was I supposed to do?“Come on.” I didn’t know when, but suddenly Trevor was already standing beside me. “Dad is waiting inside.”I shot a glance at him, feeling restless at the thought of meeting Dad.Looked like Trevor knew what I had been thinking, because he said, “Mom’s not here. She’s—“ He paused for a moment, “—she still doesn’
-Corrine-I didn’t expect to be back in my hometown this soon.This place felt both familiar and foreign in my eyes now. The air I breathed felt different and the ground I stood on felt rough under my shoes.I half-slammed the car door after I got out—Trevor had borrowed one of Andrew’s cars—and while I was waiting for Trevor to come out, I took off my sunglasses and stared at the Alpha house in front of me.The last time I was here I had a terrible experience. There was still a faint trauma settled at the bottom of my heart, but aside from that, I was fine.But there was one thing my heart had not prepared for until now; if I ever met my mom again, what was I supposed to do?“Come on.” I didn’t know when, but suddenly Trevor was already standing beside me. “Dad is waiting inside.”I shot a glance at him, feeling restless at the thought of meeting Dad.Looked like Trevor knew what I had been thinking, because he said, “Mom’s not here. She’s—“ He paused for a moment, “—she still doesn’
-Andrew-Fucking Gary. I remembered him now. He was Corrine’s classmate—the nerdy one with glasses and a plaid flannel shirt buttoned up to his neck. The one who had tried to protect Corrine with trembling hands when I had asked her to skip class.I didn’t even recognize him as a werewolf back then. And judging by Corrine’s expression, I knew she had just realized it now too.So it hadn’t been because my mind was distracted back then, but because somehow Gary had the ability to make himself unrecognizable as a werewolf to other shapeshifters.Who was he really?“Surprise, surprise.” Gary grinned widely. “I’m so happy I could shock you, Corrine.”“What are you doing here, Gary? And how—“ Corrine swallowed hard. “How?”“You mean, how could you not know all this time that I’m a werewolf? Hm?”Corrine didn’t answer, but I bet that was exactly what she meant. I wanted to know the same thing.“Let’s just say I saw you werewolves years ago, and I haven’t been able to forget about you since.”
-Andrew-The attack the rogues launched on my territory followed the same pattern as when they attacked Moon Dust. They came in large numbers, wreaked havoc, confronted the lycans, and then vanished.Some of the rogues were bold enough to arrive in human form. While the werewolf rogues attacked the outer areas of the mansion, the ones in human form infiltrated the mansion itself, though I wasn’t sure what they were searching for or trying to accomplish.“I’m going after them!” I shouted to Bent.Bent growled in agreement as he drove his claws into the snout of a rogue.I rushed into the mansion and spotted a rogue running upstairs. As he turned into a room, I caught a glimpse of his profile, and I felt a flicker of recognition.He entered my father’s study, and I silently followed. Once at the door, I kicked it open, ready to confront him. Sure enough, he was prepared. He threw several objects at me, which I easily shredded to pieces.The man stood behind my father’s desk, grinning wi
-Corrine-The story of my battles wasn’t long, but I could take pride in every moment of it.Fighting a lycan known as a fierce warrior? Check.Defeating a crazed alpha obsessed with me? Check.I may not have undergone extensive training, but I believed in my abilities.I leaped and struck one of the two rogues in mid-air. The loud thud echoed through the branches and leaves around us. I landed on all fours while the rogue I had hit crashed into the car, his back slamming into the metal.The other rogue landed on the ground, snarling while baring his fangs at me.I mimicked his expression, baring my own fangs in response.His gaze shifted to Eva, who stood some distance behind me, hiding behind a tree.I didn’t wait for the rogue to make his move; I attacked first.My movements were wild and reckless, which allowed the rogue to injure me in several places. But I inflicted significant wounds on his neck and front leg.Both our fur was soaked in blood. Our fangs dripped crimson onto the