I drove back to the cabin, stopping first at the Kennedys' house. It was a simple brick ranch with a few scraggly bushes in the yard and some hopeful spring bulbs peeking through the dirt. I snuck around to the back door, hoping they wouldn't think I was being too forward, just dropping by to see if there were any messages.As it turned out, they were perfectly happy to help. Stephan even had news, Viktor was considering my request and would get back to me in a few days. I thanked them, trying to hide my disappointment at the vague answer. Back in the car, I drove around the wooded area between their house and the cabins.Parking, I slumped in the seat, a dark cloud hanging over me. "Considering it?" "Get back to me in a few days?" Who did he think he was? Some kind of famous artist? This was a huge opportunity for him! If Greyson liked the article, Viktor could be a star. His name and work splashed across the art world. Galleries, talk shows, sky-high prices for his photos, people
Okay, calming down, I took a deep breath and explained what I found to Beth, trying to keep my voice steady. She listened intently, then frowned and called Josh in from the den. Apparently, staying out of the way when your wife is painting is one of the secrets to a long and happy marriage, according to Beth.After hearing the story, Josh furrowed his brow and decided to check things out himself. "Hold off on the police for now," he said. "This is a small town, and we don't have our own force. The OPP - the Ontario Provincial Police - are in charge, but it covers a big area. It could take an hour for a patrol car to get here, depending on where they are. I'll take a look around the cabin. If someone really broke in, then we'll call.""But what if there's someone still inside?" I worried, twisting my hands together. The thought of Josh facing a dangerous intruder made my stomach clench."Honey, did you have anything super valuable in there?"I mentally scanned my bags. "Not really. Ju
Viktor's POVFrustration bubbled up in my chest as Stephan's laughter echoed through the room. He was just teasing, I knew, but his words stung a little more than they should have."Easy there, Viktor," he goaded, amusement lacing his voice. "If she's just some human female, why let her get to you?"I gritted my teeth. "How many times do I have to tell you? She's not getting to me.""Sure, boss," he said, skepticism dripping from the word. "I must have imagined why you kept Daniel and me away from her yesterday."Heat crawled up my neck. "The less she saw of the pack, the better," I muttered, trying to sound indifferent."And the less she drove herself around with a concussion, right?" he countered, a knowing smirk spreading across his face."She was dizzy," I defended, my voice clipped. "It wasn't safe."Stephan's smirk widened. "And what about last night, Viktor?" I spun around, ready to deny his accusation, but he cut me off with a chuckle. "You said you were going to see Lucy, but
Leon Aldrich's povt stiffly in the burgundy plush chair, directly in front of the large, leather-topped desk. The room was dimly lit and cool, despite having the means to pay for better lighting and heating. I paid no attention to my surroundings; the walls lined with leather-bound books, the stone fireplace, the expensive Persian rug, and old oak flooring. I knew they were there, but I kept my focus straight ahead. My hands rested on the report in my lap, my finger tapping impatiently on the manila cover.I watched my lawyer, Anthony Greyson, with grim amusement. He never showed his displeasure through words or expressions; the tapping finger was his only sign of disappointment with my decision. Finally, after waiting for him to break, which he never did, I shifted in my chair and spoke. "So, is there anything else to report?""No, sir. Ms. Watson's file remains unchanged. She has a distant yet cordial relationship with her mother. There are no close friends or romantic interests i
Adriana's povI pulled into a parking spot on Stump River's main street, shutting off the engine. It was Monday morning, and the town was practically deserted. A few cars dotted the street in front of sleepy shops, and pedestrians strolled leisurely on the sidewalks a pace I'd never experience in the Chicago rush.For a moment, I just sat there, absorbing the scene. No exhaust fumes, no angry honking, no towering buildings blocking the sun. Life here seemed impossibly quiet, almost like stepping back in time.I scanned the street until my eyes landed on my target: Miller's Service Station across the way. The low brick building was painted white with a red and blue sign proudly displaying the owner's name and hours. A single pump sat out front, flanked by two large garage bays for repairs. The front office had a big plate glass window, offering a clear view inside no metal bars here, I noted absently. Someone was moving around, but the glare from the sun made it impossible to tell wh
I sat up straighter, took a deep breath to calm myself, and straightened my clothes. Then, I casually glanced across the street. Darn it! He was still inside. I'd been hoping for just one more glimpse... No! Stop that. He was practically an interview subject, and getting personally involved was a bad idea. It clouded your judgment about what they said. Besides, Viktor was with Lucy, and I didn't poach on another woman's territory.A tiny voice in my head chimed in, reminding me that the waitress had made the relationship sound pretty loose maybe more "friends with benefits" than anything. I grimaced. It didn't matter either way. Sure, the guy was undeniably good-looking a sexy, bad-boy kind of vibe – but I barely knew him. The little conversation we had wasn't exactly friendly. Lucy could have him... couldn't she? Then why did the thought of him with the waitress bug me so much? I realized I was scowling and forced myself to relax my face.Throwing my hands up figuratively in defeat
"No? You hopped over my fence on Saturday. You parked outside my place on Sunday thanks for the tip, Stephan and today you planted yourself in the diner across the street, watching my every move. Sorry, sweetheart, but that's stalking.""I wasn't watching your every move.""Correction," he countered, "you couldn't see inside the diner, but every time I stepped out, I felt your eyes burning into me.""I only came out once," I mumbled, crossing my arms and pouting at the building behind him. A beat later, I winced. Stupid! How would I know he only came out once if I hadn't been watching him? Way to blow your cover, Ria.He smirked. "Stalker."I shot him a sidelong glance. Hands shoved casually in his pockets, he wore an expression of infinite patience, as if he could wait all day for my confession.Taking a deep breath, I ruffled my hair, frustrated heat rising to my cheeks. "Okay, okay. Fine. Maybe I was... stalking you a little."A triumphant grin split his face. "See? Admitting it wa
Adriana's povI checked my watch again. 6:30 on the dot. Here I was, outside the Broken Antler, wiping sweaty palms on my jeans. Hopefully, I wasn't overdressed for an interview, but considering the dive Viktor had picked, my usual office attire wouldn't have flown. Instead, I went with dark wash jeans, a cute T-shirt, and some chunky jewelry to spice things up.Clothes weren't everything, but looking good always gave you a confidence boost, and that's exactly what I needed right now. Bars especially ones that looked like this weren't exactly my scene, especially not solo. The outside wasn't exactly inspiring: faded paint, cracked cement, a burnt-out sign. It somehow fit Viktor personality – rough around the edges.The guy was a jerk, loved to needle me. How I was going to survive an interview without throttling him was beyond me. But hey, there was a hefty sum of money already deposited in my account, with the promise of more to come. Thanks to Aldrich and his mysterious client, G
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