The next few days passed by in a whirlwind of activity for me. I picked up my car and started working my new job, pulling a three-hour shift to assist with the lunch crowd. Josephine had decided to stay at the house, too anxious to return to her apartment and unwilling to go to work until her bruises faded.Meanwhile, Killian was out early each morning and came home late at night, fully engrossed in leading the search for Viktor and also the witch. Every evening, he looked more exhausted and frustrated, quickly devouring his dinner before immersing himself in the office to catch up on work. Sometimes he even went on patrol, hoping to catch Viktor lurking around the property, but it always ended in disappointment.I found myself reminiscing about the good times Killian and I had shared the previous week, when we had more time to ourselves. He was so drained at night that he'd collapse into bed and fall asleep almost instantly, even though he'd put his arm around me if I snuggled up cl
My heart hammered against my ribs as Josephine stammered her confession. Killlian's rage was tangible, a storm ready to burst.Gathering my nerve, I stood up and stepped between the two, placing my hand on Killian's arm. “Killian, calm down. It really was a great picture. You’d be proud of it and there’s no harm done. No one will ever know it’s you.”I squeezed his arm, but he shrugged me off, eyes blazing with fury."No harm done?" he ripped, voice a growl. "You think selling my likeness out to a hungry collector of wolf art is harmless? Don't you realize their kind loves to dissect anomalies? One of them will notice the wrong shadow under the jaw, the extra inch in the leg, the glint of something unnatural in the eyes. Then what? Questions. Investigations. Traps in the forest, cameras trained on our den. Can't you see, Josephine? We'll be rats in a maze, hunted for sport!""We have enough Hunters to fucking deal with already," Killian growled at Josephine. “We’ve spent years in this
"I'm really sorry I brought it up. Like you, I never thought it would be such a big deal. I gave her a sympathetic smile. “I know. And I shouldn’t have given in to Viktor, but he can be so persuasive and I was in love,” she said, studying me for a moment. “Have you ever been in love?” she asked. I shifted uncomfortably, my face growing warm as I tried to think of a diplomatic answer. I didn't mind Josephine that much anymore, but I didn't want to discuss personal matters with her either. “Well...I...” “It’s okay, Hailey. We all know that you and Killian didn’t make a love match, but it will work out in the end, you’ll see,” she reassured me. Changing topics, Josephine asked about my phone call. “I wasn’t eavesdropping, but I couldn’t help overhear part of your conversation. You sounded pretty enthusiastic about meeting someone tomorrow.” “Just an old friend from back home. We grew up together,” I explained. Josephine nodded and then said she was going to grab a bite to eat and hi
Pausing at the edge of the tree line, I cocked my head and listened carefully, then sniffed, testing the scents that drifted by. As I waited for Killian to finish checking the area, I acknowledged the crispness of the air. It bit at my nose, cooling my cheeks and ears, but I didn’t mind the temperature. It was yet another perk of my wolf-like genetics. “The patrols have been here recently,” Killian announced. “The area is secure, so we can safely run.” With that, he shifted into the form of a sleek black wolf and I quickly followed suit. The change to wolf form always made me feel exhilarated. My senses were heightened and I could feel the latent strength of my muscles. Stretching first my front legs and then my back, I raised my muzzle to the sky, squinting up at the moon and sniffing the air. An exciting blend of scents assaulted my brain: other wolves, plant life, rabbits and squirrels, but most importantly, Killian. There was something about being in wolf form that made our b
Killian's lips were fast approaching mine when the sudden sound of a gunshot echoed in the dense quiet forest. I whipped my head in the opposite direction and found at least a dozen men standing armed to the teeth staring at us maliciously and immediately I started to panic."Shit!," Killian cursed as he darted his eyes around scouting for danger zones and the numbers of the intruders. I gripped Killian's arms instinctively. I could tell they were Lycan Hunters. It was certainly strange, I had been attacked by Hunters twice since meeting Killian. I knew it wasn't a coincidence. Something or someone else was at play. A wicked malicious game. My best guess Viktor."Killian we should shift and make a run for it," I told Killian. "We won't get far, bullets would come raining down and we'll likely get hit at least twice," Killian balled his fists, "We need to make a stand,""Alpha Killian, it's an honor to finally meet you," Stepping from the shadows, a large man with a nicely styled must
Killian's POVThe forest was alive with the sounds of rustling leaves and chirping birds. The taste of the bitter poison of wolfsbane lingered in my sensory organs and my chest felt like it was on fire. I collapsed to the ground, the damp earth cool against my feverish skin as I struggled to stay conscious. Painful spasms wracked my body as I fought against the poison coursing through my veins.I reached out a trembling hand, my fingers clawing at the roots and fallen leaves as I desperately tried to get back up. Each breath was a struggle, my lungs burning with every inhale. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat sending waves of agony through my body.The trees blurred together, the sun-dappled forest spinning around me as I fought to stay upright. Every step was a battle against the overwhelming fatigue, but I refused to give up. I had to stay alive. I knew passing out was as good as a death sentence for Hailey. I had to get us to safety. Although, by now, my beta and pack member
"You lost, get the fuck away from here," I glared at Adam slowly shifting back to my human form."Lost?" Adam tilted his gaze and took off his leather jacket and then his shirt revealing a slash that stretched from his left shoulder down his right torso. He repeatedly fired shots in my direction but I was too quick of a target to hit. Immediately I shifted back to my Lycan form and dashed into the woods."Don't run away Alpha Killian, the fun is just getting started," Adam yelled and chased after me.The dense woodland was extra silent as I prowled through the underbrush, my keen senses alert to any disturbance in the natural rhythm of the forest. The scent of the Lycan hunter wafted toward me with a mix of sweat, fear, and determination. I could feel him getting closer, his presence like a looming shadow in the woods.I stealthily maneuvered through the foliage, fangs bared and muscles tensed. The weight of the hunter's steps thudded against the earth, sending shivers through the ro
"You have Lost Adam, tell me where Viktor is and j might consider sparing your life," I said crouching down my gaze sweeping down to his open wounds. I could tell he was in a lot of pain, but I didn't want to end his suffering, at least not until I knew his connection with Viktor."You know I told the police it was your kind that killed my wife and son," Adam chuckled ignoring my words, "But they insisted it was a bunch of wild wolves, and the shock probably made me see things that weren't there," "I'm sorry for your loss, but respectfully I don't give a fuck about any of that. you don't get to attack my pack, MY MATE, and expect a pity speech from me," I glared at the hunter panting for breath."A bunch of Lycans Killed your wife, so what?, do you think that legitimizes and justifies your reason and conviction to hate and exterminate my kind?," I chuckled at the silly ideology, "My mate lost her mother to your kind, hunters, does that also mean she gets to hate your kind?,"Adam tur
A week later, the world felt a little flatter. The police had finally wrapped up their investigation. It was a random act of violence, they said. Lucy, just in the wrong place at the wrong time. A stupid, pointless loss. The idea that Aldrich wouldn’t be blamed for anything grated on me, but I knew involving him would open a can of worms I wasn’t ready to deal with. It wouldn’t bring Lucy back anyway.We brought her home, to Stump River. The town was in mourning. Armand was a shadow of himself, the twinkle gone from his eyes. He disappeared for days after the service and I wondered if he’d turned into a bear and wandered off to grieve in the woods. Were his emotions as raw when he was in animal form? Or did he spend his time scratching at trees, trying to claw the pain away? When he finally reappeared, he looked haggard, but there was a strange kind of peace in his eyes.Beth and Josh went all out with the newspaper article. Pictures of Lucy, smiling and laughing, filled the pages.
Morning. I reclined in the seat as Viktor slowly drove the car out of the parking garage. We’d talked on and off throughout the night and I’d finally accepted the truth of what he’d been telling me. I was becoming a werewolf. There’d been anger and tears; he’d apologized, even though forcing my transformation hadn’t been intentional. Eventually, I’d come to a sort of numb acceptance of the fact.However, my whole life was changing now. I wasn’t just Adriana Watson, waitress and journalism student. Now I was Adriana Watson, secret werewolf. From what I could gather from Viktor's ‘crash course in wolves,’ they were social creatures and lived in packs. There was an Alpha who kept everyone in line and made the important decisions, though pack meetings were held to discuss options. Full moons were a time to party and, if you were new to the whole werewolf thing like me, you had no control and transformed once a month. Older wolves could fight the effects if they wished, though most didn’
My heart pounded like a trapped animal as the lycans closed in, their red eyes burning into me. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. These creatures were straight out of a nightmare."Adriana, get behind me," my voice was frantic as I shoved her aside, preparing to shift."Vik..." she whispered, clinging to my arm."Don't worry, Everything will be alright, just need to handle a few stray dogs that's all" I managed a reassuring smile, and then I charged. A towering black wolf replaced me, my fur bristling with tension.The air was thick with the metallic taste of blood and the sharp scent of fear. My senses were on high alert, every hair on my body standing on end. Dozens of pairs of eyes, glowing like embers, focused on me. A massive red lycan charged, but I was faster, slipping beneath its snapping jaws. I countered with a swift attack, his teeth sinking into the lycan's flesh.A deafening howl filled the cavern as the red lycan bucked me off, sending me crashing into the cold, damp
Adriana's povThe metallic tang of blood filled the air, thick and suffocating. Viktor and I stood frozen, our gazes glued to Aldrich's lifeless body slumped on the floor. A single, neat bullet hole marred his forehead. What the hell just happened?The echo of Mr. Greyson's voice shattered the stunned silence. "A pleasure to finally meet you both, Miss Watson and Viktor Donovan... or should I say Viktor Dominique?"My head snapped towards Viktor, relief flooding my chest at his presence. According to him, he was some kind of werewolf. Maybe, just maybe, with him by my side, I had a fighting chance.A nagging worry gnawed at me. If what Viktor said was true, then did that mean I wasn't entirely human? I shoved the thought aside. This wasn't the time to unravel my existential crisis. Getting out of this place alive was priority number one. Viktor could explain everything later.Viktor narrowed his eyes at Greyson, his voice laced with suspicion. "How'd you figure out my real name?"Grey
Viktor's povFollowing a hunch, I hailed a cab and rattled off the address for Greyson's estate. The city was a chaotic mess, a constant symphony of honking horns and shouted insults. I tuned it out, my gut churning with worry. My wolf whined its primal need to find Adriana, to know she was safe.The thought of her alone, grappling with the Change with no guidance, tore at me. Would her body and mind accept this forced transformation? Or would she fight it, a resistance that could be fatal according to Nadia? The icy grip of fear tightened around my heart.But then, a chilling logic surfaced. If she'd spilled the secret, if the wolves knew, she was already a dead woman walking. Was a swift death from the Change preferable to one at my hand? Could I even look her in the eye, deliver the killing blow?Alpha. Duty. The words echoed in my head, hollow and meaningless. Images of Adriana flooded my mind her warm brown eyes, the defiant lift of her chin, the way she'd make me laugh with her
Panic clawed at my throat as Lucy's ragged breaths became uneven. Her pale face, framed by blood-soaked blonde hair, sent a jolt of fear through me. My fingers trembled as I brushed her cheek, whispering her name, but there was no response. A string of curses ripped from my lips. This wasn't right. She shouldn't be hurt, possibly dying. This wasn't her mess. Lucy was pure sunshine, always radiating warmth and kindness. Guilt gnawed at me, reminding me of her playful teasing, the way she'd sashay around with a tray of drinks and a witty comment on her lips. I blinked back the moisture stinging my eyes. Steeling myself, I rose. Moving to the sofa, I sniffed where the unknown male's scent lingered. A scent and a maybe-name –l meager scraps of evidence in a city this size. The scent would be impossible to track, and "Greyson" meant nothing to me. What the hell was I supposed to do? Sirens wailed in the distance, a sharp reminder of the need to leave. Being caught at a crime scene would
The door suddenly opened and I was forced to abandon my conflicted thoughts. Jumping to my feet, I turned to face an obviously surprised Lucy. “Viktor, what are you doing here?” “Hi, Lucy. I… um… ” She walked up to me and kissed my cheek, before moving to take her coat off. “Never mind. I know the truth." “You do?” He stiffened, assuming the worst. “Of course. You’re sorry for your fight with Ria and came here to make up.” “Uh… Right. That’s it.” I latched onto the lifeline she’d unknowingly handed to me. “I’m here to make things right.” Lucy nodded, glancing at Adriana lying on the sofa, her face quickly changing from a happy to grin to real concern. “Oh, is she sick again?” “Yeah. She fainted coming into the building and I carried her up here. She has a fever. I was just going to give her an aspirin." “I’ll get some from the medicine cabinet.” Lucy turned to go. “No. I already checked. There isn’t any. Um… why don’t you sit with her and I’ll go to the store.” I f
I didn't know where she was. Just be quiet, I ordered myself, clenching my jaw. Creeping past the doorway, I peeked into the first room the bedroom. Clothes were strewn everywhere, a mishmash of Lucy's floral patterns and my own dark t-shirts. Her scent lingered, a familiar mix of lavender and something distinctly... her. The bathroom was empty, the towels abandoned in a heap. Back in the living area, a few papers lay scattered on the counter. Junk mail, bills, nothing interesting. But then aha! On a nearby table, Adriana laptop glowed, left open. Sitting down, I scanned the screen, my stomach tightening. My name stared back at me, bold and accusing, next to a picture file I knew for a fact I'd deleted. That little...! Somehow, she'd gotten more copies. Fury surged through me as I clicked on the document titled with my name. The more I read, the deeper my scowl became. By the time I reached the final paragraphs, I wanted to hurl the damn machine across the room. There it was, in bl
“Are you sure you’ll be all right?” Lucy stared at me with a frown. “You still don’t look so good.” We were leaning against the kitchen counter sipping coffee and preparing to start our day. I, however reluctantly, had to head off to meet with Aldrich, while Lucy was going to spend the morning taking a bus tour of the city that I had recommended. Rolling my eyes, I reassured Lucy, yet again. "Honestly, I'm fine. The fever broke last night. My arm's not as sore. It's just a lack of sleep and nerves over this meeting that are making me look less than prime. I'll go see Aldrich and give him this report while you take a tour of the city. Then we'll meet back here for lunch and go shopping." "Why don't you just e-mail the report and come with me?" I sighed. "I wish, but Aldrich hates e-mail. He wants face to face contact. I think he likes to watch people squirm." Seeing Lucy's concerned expression, I added a light laugh. "Don't worry. I'll be fine." "Well… if you're sure." "Go." I