Becca's POV"Mum?" I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper."What are you doi..." My words trailed off as my mother pushed past me, ignoring my attempt to stop her.SLAP.The loud sound of my mother's palm colliding with Bas’s cheek echoed through the apartment. My eyes widened in shock, and I took a step forward, ready to confront her, but my words caught in my throat."How dare you!" she yelled, glaring at him with fury. "You promised you’d never come back."What?!"Haven't you done enough?" she screamed, her voice filled with anger and pain.Bas remained silent, his gaze fixed on the floor as my mother continued to berate him. Her hand raised again, poised to strike, but I was quicker. I grabbed her wrist, stopping her mid-air."That's enough," I said, my voice stern as I looked her in the eye. Her wide eyes met mine, filled with shock and disbelief."Bas, can you give us a minute?" I asked, still holding my mother's wrist."Becca..." he began, concern evident in his voice."J
Bas POVDays had passed since Becca's confrontation with her mom, and she hadn't spoken about it since. I had tried to bring it up, but she always pushed it away, insisting she was fine. But I knew Becca—she wasn't fine."I'm off to Lola's place. Her bachelorette party's coming up," Becca said, slipping into her dress. I walked up to her and helped with her zipper, my fingers lingering on the small of her back."Have fun," I said, pressing a gentle kiss to her back. "And tell Lola I said hi."She turned to face me, a smile on her lips. It was the same smile she always gave me, warm and reassuring, but her eyes told a different story. They held a sadness, a heaviness that she couldn't hide."I love you," she said softly, capturing my lips in a quick peck."I love you too," I replied, my voice filled with as much warmth as I could muster.I watched her as she left, the door closing softly behind her. The room felt emptier without her presence, and I sighed, running a hand through my ha
Bas POVI glanced at the gun held tightly in George's hands and then back to his glaring eyes. He was pissed—so pissed I could see a vein pop up on his forehead."I know you blame me for everything that has happened to your daughter, and that's okay. You can blame me," I began, my voice steady despite the tension in the air."Hate me all you want, but please don't let go of Becca."I could see their expressions softening as I spoke, the hard edges of their anger beginning to melt away."She acts like she's okay, but I can see it in her eyes—she's scared," I said, my gaze falling on Laura. "She needs her parents.""It didn't seem that way the other day," Laura spoke, her voice trembling. "We tried our best to always be there for her, but despite everything, we still failed her. We couldn't even protect her, and it haunts us. But how...how could she still be with you?" Her voice cracked with emotion, tears welling up in her eyes.I took a careful step forward, but George was quick, pull
Becca's POV"Becca," my mum began, taking a tentative step closer. Her voice was soft, laden with the weight of all the unsaid apologies and regrets.Ever since my last confrontation with her, I'd tried my best to project happiness, to pretend I was okay. But the ache of not having my parents by my side was ever-present, a constant, gnawing void. I clenched my hands, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill. I couldn't break down, not in front of them. I needed to show that I was fine, strong, and no longer their little baby girl."Becca," Mum called again, now standing directly in front of me. Her eyes were glistening with unshed tears. "I'm so sorry.""I... I just couldn't bear the thought of losing you," she said, her voice breaking. "I was so focused on that fear, I forgot about your happiness."I swallowed hard, the tears hovering so close to the surface that I feared if I blinked, they'd come pouring out."We should have been there for you," my father said, his voice thi
Becca's POV "Hi, Becca. It's nice to see you again," Naomi said, her voice soft but steady.I blinked, trying to process the sight of her standing there. It felt like a dream, a surreal moment I hadn't dared to hope for."Naomi," I whispered, my voice barely audible as the flood of emotions caught in my throat.Naomi smiled, that familiar, comforting smile I had missed so much."Wh...where have you been?" I asked, my voice trembling with a mix of relief and confusion."I'll explain everything to you, I promise," Naomi said gently. "But today's about Lola. Let's focus on her and make this a celebration to remember."Lola beamed, wrapping her arms around both of us, pulling us into a tight, joyous embrace. "Yeah, Becks, Naomi is right. Come on, let's get drunk like there's no tomorrow!"I tried my best to stay focused, to laugh and smile with everyone else, but no matter how hard I tried, my eyes kept drifting to Naomi. It had been four years since she left, and now, out of the blue, s
They say the day a mother gives birth is like unlocking a treasure chest of infinite wonders. Each precious moment sparkles with the uniqueness of a new life, making it a day as extraordinary as the universe itself. My mother always told me that I was her greatest gift."Look at her, George," my mother murmured, her voice a melody of affection. "Our little Rebecca, a gift from the heavens.""She's perfect," my father declared, his eyes locking onto me. In that moment, everything felt just right. After a decade of hoping and waiting, the sound of a baby's cry filled the room, but not just any baby their baby, their precious child. Things were finally taking a turn in their favor.But joy is often fleeting, as we were about to discover.His footsteps reverberated through the hallway, each resonating thud announcing his impending arrival. The echoes weren't just in the hallway but in the hearts of those within."Such a beautiful baby," he remarked with a smirk, his voice a chilling melo
"No, no, no," Lola, my best friend, barged into the room as I lay on my bed. "What are you wearing?" she asked."My pajamas," I replied, my voice muffled by the pillow."Come on, Becca, it's your 18th birthday. You can't mope around all day doing nothing." Lola wasn't taking no for an answer, and today, of all days, I was not in the mood for a celebration.I wasn't a fan of birthdays; they felt more like ticking time bombs. It wasn't like anything special would happen. As my birthday approached, it drew nearer to the day I met my fate. Dread lingered, but I wasn't scared. I had trained all my life for this moment, and I couldn't wait to stab Sebastian straight in the heart.Lola, undeterred by my gloomy disposition, held up two different dresses. "This or this?"I sighed, reluctantly lifting my head. "Lola, you know I hate parties.""Yeah, but you're going to love this one. Unlike your other birthdays, you should go out sometimes and have fun. So, no excuse you are going out.""She's
The air hung heavy as I drove away from the party. Deep down, I knew this was a terrible idea. I should have stayed indoors, perhaps focused on training or delving into research to find a way to end the werewolves. However, against my better judgment, I succumbed to Lola's insistence. It wasn't her fault; I couldn't blame her. It was all the werewolves' fault, and that's precisely why I had to put an end to this. Clenching the steering wheel, I accelerated into the city, heading towards the one place that offered solace – home.Upon arriving, I slipped into the house but froze at the sound of my mom's gentle sobs."I'm sorry; I promised I wasn't going to cry," she confessed, wiping away her tears."It's okay, honey," my dad consoled her. "We have to be strong for her."My chest felt constricted, as if I couldn't breathe. I couldn't let them see me in this vulnerable state. Quietly, I slipped away, stumbling upon something as I did. Looking up, I sighed in relief that my parents hadn't