Adriana's POV My eyes fluttered open, disoriented. My tiny Chicago apartment? Nope, way past that. Canada, searching for that elusive photographer. Stump River, rented cabin, then… oh crap. I bolted upright, a groan escaping my lips as my head throbbed in protest. "Hold on there, tiger," a deep, sexy husky voice rumbled from the side. I swiveled my head, wincing at the sharp pain that shot through it. "Ow!" My head screamed again, forcing me to cradle it in my hands, elbows propped on shaky knees. Holding it up felt like a monumental effort. Memories of the events leading to my current throbbing discomfort flooded back, sending a jolt of fear through me. A quick body scan revealed only a throbbing head, relief washing over me. "See? I told you to take it easy." The voice chuckled dryly, instantly sparking irritation. This jerk, whoever he was, found my pain amusing? Squinting through the ache, I tried to make out the figure across the room. Unfortunately, the harsh sunlight st
Ugh, the nerve of that guy! I stalked over to the passenger side of the car, slammed the door shut, and strapped myself in. He lumbered over at a snail's pace and finally climbed in. He fiddled with the seat and mirror for ages before starting the car. "Where are you staying?" he asked curtly. "The Kennedys'," I replied. "Rented a cabin. Turn left at the—" "I know where they live," he cut me off, his lips a thin line. The rest of the ride was torture. Awkward silence stretched between us like a bad joke. Finally, we pulled up to the cabin. I practically leaped out of the car as soon as it stopped, grabbing my groceries from the back seat. But then I hesitated. He was leaning against the car, watching me with an unreadable expression. "Uh, how are you getting back?" I blurted out. "Don't worry about it, sweetheart," he said, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips. "I can manage." Ugh. As much as I hated to admit it, my mom drilled manners into me. "Thanks for the ride," I m
The phone glowed accusingly on the table, Aldrich's name mocking me on the screen. There was nothing good to say. Lying to him felt like an insult to his intelligence, and I was sure those sharp blue eyes could see right through my pathetic attempts at evasion.The interview had been an ordeal. His gaze held mine with an intensity that made me squirm, like he was trying to crack my skull open and examine my thoughts. The background check had been insane - family, health, school records, references, even a police report! Given the kind of money involved, I guess I couldn't blame Mr. Greyson for being careful. Still, it felt a little excessive.Sitting in that opulent office, I tried to project an air of calm while Aldrich peppered me with questions. He danced around the specifics of the job, leaving me feeling like I was on trial. He'd ask a question pleasantly, then switch gears, only to circle back and rephrase it with a suspicious edge.I knew I had nothing to hide, and yet I felt a
My hazy features refused to come into focus, but my eyes remained clear and deep blue as I gazed at her. I tried to inch away, still fearful, but my limbs refused to cooperate. Leaning closer, the man covered my mouth with his and kissed me softly.I knew I was dreaming, but everything felt so real. The roughness of his hand against my skin, the warmth of his breath, the softness of his lips... I felt myself relaxing and sighing as I sank into the kiss. It was strange how the nightmare had turned into a sex dream, but I was ready to enjoy the fantasy my mind was creating.Suddenly, our location changed. Now in my bed at the cabin, the man was still with me, kissing me passionately. The heat between us was intense as his hands explored my body. His touch sent shivers down my spine, and I gave in to the pleasure he was giving me.As he trailed kisses down my body, I moaned in delight. His touch was electrifying, and I arched my back in anticipation. When his fingers finally found their
Ugh, what am I doing here? I found myself parked in front of Viktor's place, not even realizing I'd turned off the main road. One minute I was lost in a daydream, the next my foot's hitting the brake and my hand's on the gearshift in park.Great. Just great.Staring at the locked gate, I chewed on my lip. Sneaking in again was definitely not the plan. So why was I even here? There was nothing to gain from staring at a metal barrier. Yet, something...something drew me to this place.Viktor, maybe? The guy was shrouded in mystery, and I've always been a sucker for a good puzzle. What was the big deal with him anyway? Why was Greyson paying me to dig up dirt on a photographer? Was it just the pictures, or was there something more? And why the intense need for privacy? Gated entrance, mile-long driveway, living in the middle of nowhere - it all seemed a bit much for a city girl like me. Maybe, just maybe, if I ever got to talk to the guy, I'd get some answers.Well, brooding wouldn't get
I was mindlessly eavesdropping, catching snippets of conversations around the diner.Suddenly, a name snagged my attention Viktor. I swiveled on my stool, searching for the source. Two women chatted at a nearby table, then a group of men... Finally, in the far corner, I spotted them.Discreetly, I scooted closer, grateful for my good hearing. "...Viktor's busy fixing up that old place he bought from the Nelsons," a man with greying temples was sayingHis calloused hands, strong even holding a coffee cup, spoke of hard work. Despite his newish jacket, I pegged him as an auto mechanic with grease smudges under his nails. Proud of my deduction skills, I turned to the other man, who I assumed was a farmer."Thanks Ben," he said. "Love that old truck. Doesn't need to be done right away... if Viktor even has time.""Alright then," Ben replied. "I'll give him a call. Actually, he'll be here tomorrow. Covers for me on Mondays, pumps gas and fixes stuff while I catch up on paperwork. I'll ment
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
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