“You have no idea what I am,” Lucian growls, his breath hot against her skin. Chloe’s heart races, fear and desire twining together. “Show me,” she whispers, daring him to unleash the beast within. A town full of secrets. A man who’s more than he seems. And a hunger that could destroy them both. Journalist Chloe Reynolds came to Blackthorn Ridge for a story. What she found was a town haunted by silence—and something far more terrifying than shadows lurking in the dark. Wolves are circling, bodies are vanishing, and the people warn her to leave before the night closes in. But Chloe can’t leave. Not after meeting Lucian, the brooding, dangerously magnetic leader of a mysterious pack. His gaze ignites something primal within her, something she can’t resist. Each heated encounter pulls her deeper into his world, where the line between desire and danger blurs.
View More(Chloe’s POV)
I should’ve known something was off the moment I drove into Blackthorn Ridge. The town looked like it had been plucked straight from the set of a horror movie—gray clouds permanently hovered in the sky, and the only gas station attendant I’d met so far looked like he belonged in a Stephen King novel.
The road into Blackthorn Ridge felt like it was leading me to the edge of the world. The deeper I drove, the more it seemed like civilization was being swallowed by the thick woods that lined either side of the narrow two-lane road. The trees pressed in close, their branches intertwining overhead, creating a canopy that blocked out the afternoon sun.
I glanced at the dashboard clock. 4:37 p.m. Not too late, but somehow the dim light made it feel like it was midnight. Maybe it was the oppressive, brooding forest that loomed on either side of the road like it was waiting to swallow me whole. Perfect. Exactly what I needed—some creepy, backwoods mystery town to launch my journalism career.
The fading autumn light turned everything a dull gold, casting long, eerie shadows across the road. The leaves, which should have been bright oranges and reds, seemed muted somehow, as if the forest itself was trying to hide. Everything here felt dense, heavy. It was like stepping into a different world, a place forgotten by time.
I rolled down the window a crack, letting in the crisp October air. The scent of damp earth and pine filled the Jeep, reminding me of hikes I’d taken as a kid with my family in the Adirondacks. But those forests had felt alive, warm, and welcoming. This one? This one was silent. Watchful.
I tightened my grip on the steering wheel, leaning forward as if that might somehow help me navigate this oppressive place. My GPS had given up about twenty miles back, the screen showing a constant searching for signal. Great. I wasn’t sure if I was more irritated by the loss of technology or the growing feeling that I was driving straight into some horror movie cliché.
"Small-town mystery, they said," I muttered to myself, glancing at the rearview mirror where nothing but the empty, desolate road stretched behind me. "It’ll be a great experience for your career, they said."
Yeah, sure. Because driving into a town that looked like it had been plucked out of a creepy ghost story was exactly how I envisioned my journalism breakthrough.
I flicked the radio on, more for the company than anything else, but all I got was static. I twisted the dial, hoping for at least one station, but it was all white noise, the eerie kind that sent a shiver up your spine, like something might be lurking just beneath the surface. With a sigh, I turned it off. The silence pressed in again, heavier than before.
My mind wandered back to the files I’d received before I came here—reports of strange animal attacks, bodies found near the forest, half-devoured but... not entirely. No one had said the word werewolf out loud, of course, but the whispers were there, buried between the lines of official reports. The locals were tight-lipped, but there had been rumors. The kind of rumors that had the hairs on the back of your neck standing up.
Focus, Chloe. There’s no such thing as werewolves.
Still, the strange patterns, the full-moon connections, the unease in the town’s voice when I’d called ahead to make my reservations—everything seemed... off. Not just in a "there’s a wolf problem" kind of way, but in a way that made my stomach knot with an excitement I hadn’t felt in years.
The kind of excitement that makes you want to dig, to uncover what’s hidden just beneath the surface. I had a nose for this kind of stuff—mysteries, hidden truths. And Blackthorn Ridge felt like a town built on them.
Finally, the faded sign for Blackthorn Ridge came into view, leaning at an awkward angle as if it was barely clinging to the idea of being a welcoming gesture. The sign was old, the wood splintered and the paint cracked, but what caught my attention was the graffiti. Someone had scratched out the population number and drawn a jagged question mark over it, like even the locals weren’t sure how many people still called this place home.
I pushed my sunglasses back onto my head, flicking a look at the shabby "Welcome to Blackthorn Ridge" sign as I passed. I muttered to myself, "Welcome to the middle of nowhere, Chloe. Try not to get murdered."
Not that I was actually expecting to get murdered, but this assignment wasn’t my first choice. I could’ve been in New York, writing for a big-name magazine. Instead, I was here. A dusty, forgotten town nobody’s ever heard of, with nothing to do except unravel the mystery of some animal attacks. Great. This was my big break?
I slowed down, turning into the main street, which was little more than a stretch of road lined with old brick buildings. The town wasn’t what I’d call deserted, but it was eerily quiet for a late afternoon. A few people drifted along the sidewalks, heads down, hands shoved into the pockets of their jackets, not one of them meeting my gaze as I passed.
I caught the eye of an elderly man sitting on a bench outside what looked like the general store. He was smoking a pipe, the plume of smoke swirling lazily around his head as he stared at me with such intensity that it made me squirm. His eyes followed my Jeep as I rolled by, the same way a predator might watch prey that’s wandered too close.
“Friendly bunch,” I muttered, pulling the Jeep up to the curb in front of the Blackthorn Inn.
The inn looked like it had been plucked straight out of a Victorian ghost story—tall and narrow, with peeling white paint and ivy creeping up the sides. The porch sagged under its own weight, and the windows, dark and streaked with grime, gave the building an ominous, neglected look. If there was ever a place destined for a haunting, this was it.
I grabbed my bag from the passenger seat and stepped out, glancing around. The air was crisp and cold, the smell of wet leaves and wood smoke curling in the breeze. The shadows were growing longer as the sun sank lower behind the trees, casting the town in a dusky, golden light that somehow only made the place feel even more isolated.
I took a deep breath and forced a smile. “Alright, Chloe. You’ve handled worse. Just check in, get settled, and figure out what the hell is going on here.”
With that pep talk in mind, I headed up the creaky wooden steps and pushed open the door to the inn. A bell above the door jingled weakly, and I was greeted by the smell of musty wood and... something else. Something faint, but metallic. Like old blood. I wrinkled my nose as I stepped inside, scanning the dimly lit lobby.
A large, dusty chandelier hung overhead, casting weak, flickering light over the cracked wooden floor. The furniture looked like it hadn’t been updated in decades—heavy, dark pieces that seemed out of place in the small, cramped space. There was a reception desk near the back of the room, but no one stood behind it. The woman looked like she hadn't smiled since the Clinton administration.
“Hello?” I called, setting my bag down and walking toward the desk. The old wood creaked under my feet, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched. I turned slowly, scanning the shadows near the stairwell, half-expecting someone—or something—to be lurking there.
Nothing. Just empty space.
I was about to call out again when a woman appeared from a back room, wiping her hands on a dish towel. She was tall and gaunt, with gray hair pulled back into a tight bun and sharp, hawk-like eyes that assessed me with a cool indifference. Her face was expressionless, her lips pressed into a thin, colorless line.
“You must be the journalist,” she said, her voice flat and emotionless.
For a moment, I was taken aback. How did she know who I was? I hadn’t introduced myself yet, and the town wasn’t exactly buzzing with activity.
“Yeah, that’s me,” I said, trying to sound casual as I moved toward the desk. “Chloe Reynolds. I’m here for a room.”
The woman gave a short nod and turned to the wall of keys behind her. She didn’t ask for ID, didn’t check a computer or a ledger. She simply plucked a key from the wall and set it on the counter between us.
“Room 4. Top of the stairs, last on the left,” she said, her voice still devoid of any warmth.
I hesitated, glancing at the key before reaching for it. “Thanks,” I said. “Anything I should know about the town? Seems... quiet.”
Her eyes flicked up to meet mine, and for a split second, something flickered behind them. Something dark. “Quiet’s good,” she said, her tone even more clipped than before. “People who come looking for noise don’t last long.”
I raised an eyebrow, unsure how to respond. Before I could think of something witty—or at least less awkward—she spoke again. “Don’t leave your window open at night. The wind here is... unpredictable.”
I blinked. “Unpredictable? It’s wind.”
Her lips twitched, though it didn’t come close to a smile. “You’ll see.”
And with that cryptic remark, she turned and disappeared into the back room, leaving me standing in the empty lobby with nothing but a brass key and a growing sense of unease.
Great. Wind. That’s what I need to be worried about. Not the fact that I’m clearly in the set of some supernatural thriller where I’m the only one who didn’t get the script.
My room, as promised, was at the top of the creaky staircase, last door on the left. The door itself was old, the wood splintered in places, and the brass knob felt cold and worn under my fingers. I unlocked it, pushing it open with a low groan from the hinges.
The room was... well, quaint was a generous word. Small bed, a nightstand, and a window that looked out over the darkening town. The wallpaper was peeling in some spots, and the floorboards creaked ominously underfoot, but it was clean. That was something, I supposed.
I dumped my stuff on the bed, and flopped down next to it with a groan. “Why am I doing this?” I mumbled into the pillow.
My phone buzzed, and I half-heartedly fumbled for it in my bag. It was a text from my best friend, Sarah.
Sarah: Did you die yet?
Me: Nope, but this town smells like it might. Seriously, it’s like a Tim Burton fever dream.
Sarah: Sounds sexy. Maybe you’ll meet some brooding guy with a dark secret.
I snorted. Yeah, right. If the guys in this town were anything like the gas station clerk, the only dark secret I’d find was their extensive collection of roadkill.
With a sigh, I tossed my phone aside and stood up, glancing out the window. The forest loomed in the distance, dark and sprawling, its edges blending with the shadows that had already begun to claim the town. The sun had nearly set, casting everything in a deep, amber glow, and as I watched, a low mist began to roll in from the woods, curling along the ground like fingers stretching out toward the town.
I shivered, though the room wasn’t cold. Something about this place... something wasn’t right. I could feel it.
The forest was closer than I’d realized, stretching out endlessly beyond the town. It was beautiful in a way—wild, dark, mysterious. Like it held something ancient, just waiting for someone dumb enough to find it.
And I guess I was that someone.
I turned away from the window, pulling my laptop from my bag and setting it on the small desk near the bed. Time to do some digging.
(Chloe’s POV)The cabin was too quiet. The sounds of the fight still echoed in my ears—Alaric’s snarls, the crash of bodies slamming into the walls, the vicious growl of Lucian’s wolf as he tore into his enemy. But now, all that was left was the crackle of the fire and the sound of my own ragged breathing.I stood frozen, my eyes locked on Alaric’s limp body sprawled on the cabin floor. His chest was still rising and falling, but each breath was shallow, labored. Blood trickled from the deep gashes Lucian had left across his chest, pooling beneath him in dark, crimson streaks. My hands trembled at the sight, a mixture of fear and adrenaline still coursing through me.Lucian stood over Alaric, his chest heaving with the effort of the fight, his body still coiled with tension. Even in his human form, he looked wild, dangerous—his skin slick with sweat, his fists still clenched at his sides. He hadn’t moved since Alaric had passed out, like he was waiting for him to spring back to life a
(Chloe’s POV)The cabin was quiet, the only sound the faint crackle of the fire Lucian had lit. The dim light from the flames danced across the walls, casting long, flickering shadows that made the small space feel even smaller. My mind was spinning, racing with everything that had happened over the last few hours—the confrontation with Alaric, Lucian’s promise to protect me, and now, this eerie calm before the storm.The air was thick with tension, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were being watched. I kept glancing toward the windows, even though they were boarded up, half-expecting to see a pair of glowing eyes staring back at me from the darkness. But there was nothing. Just the quiet, suffocating silence.Lucian had been pacing for the last twenty minutes, his movements restless and agitated. I could see the tension in his body, the way his muscles coiled tight beneath his skin, ready to spring into action at any second. His wolf was close to the surface. I could feel it
(Lucian’s POV)I’d known from the start that bringing Chloe into my world would put her in danger, but hearing Alaric say the words out loud had made it real. Caius didn’t just see her as leverage anymore—he saw her as a threat. She was marked, bound to me in a way that made her more than just an outsider. She was part of this now. And Caius would never stop until he got what he wanted.He won’t touch her, I promised myself, my jaw tightening as I stared into the fog where Alaric had disappeared. I’ll kill him first.But it wasn’t just Caius. It was the pack. It was all of them. Alaric had been the messenger, but Caius’s influence was everywhere, spreading through the town like poison. The wolves here weren’t just loyal to Caius—they feared him. And that fear would drive them to do whatever it took to please him.I turned back to Chloe, who was standing by the doorway, her arms wrapped around herself as she stared out into the night. I could feel the tension in her, the weight of ever
(Chloe’s POV)The world felt different now.I lay in the quiet stillness, my breath still coming in slow, steady waves as I tried to process everything that had just happened. My body was still humming, every nerve alive, every inch of my skin sensitive to Lucian’s touch. I could feel the weight of him beside me, the warmth of his body pressed against mine, and yet, something deeper had shifted.The bond.It wasn’t just a physical connection anymore. It was something much more intense—something I couldn’t quite explain, but could feel with every heartbeat. The mark on my neck still tingled, a constant reminder of what had just happened, of the moment Lucian had claimed me as his own. His bite was a symbol of the bond we now shared—one that was permanent, unbreakable.I turned my head slightly, glancing at Lucian. His arm was draped over my waist, his breathing slow and even, but I knew he wasn’t asleep. There was a tension in him, a kind of quiet conflict that I could sense even now.
(Chloe’s POV)I was pretty sure no one had ever told me I’d be claimed by a werewolf. But, to be fair, I hadn’t exactly planned on falling for one either.Lucian’s hands were still gripping my hips, his breath warm against my skin, and I couldn’t help but smile at the wild look in his eyes. There was something unfiltered about him now, something that said he wasn’t playing by the usual rules. His wolf was close, and I could feel it—not just in the way his touch sent fire through my veins, but in the way he was looking at me. Like he’d finally stopped holding back.“Well,” I said, my voice soft but teasing, “when you said you had a complicated past, I didn’t realize you meant this level of complicated.”Lucian let out a low chuckle, his grip tightening just slightly. “You have no idea.”“Oh, I think I’m starting to get the idea,” I replied, raising an eyebrow. “Marked by a werewolf, bound to you for life. This is definitely a step up from dating a guy who never called back.”Lucian’s l
(Lucian’s POV)I’d marked her. Without even meaning to, without a bite, without even taking her to bed—I had claimed Chloe, and now there was no turning back.Standing there in the mist, with Chloe in my arms, I could feel the bond pulsing between us, alive and undeniable. It wasn’t just the heat of the moment or the intensity of the danger that had forged it. It was deeper than that. Primal. The wolf in me had recognized her as mine long before I was willing to admit it, and now the truth hung in the air between us like a dark promise.She was mine.And I couldn’t stop the guilt gnawing at me. I had brought her into this world—this dangerous, brutal world—where the pack would see her as nothing more than a weakness. A point of leverage. Something to exploit if they ever wanted to come after me.But the wolf didn’t care. He saw her, felt her, and the bond between us was more powerful than any warning or threat from the pack. It was part of me now. Part of us.“I’m yours,” she had whis
(Chloe’s POV)We stood there in the middle of the street, the mist swirling around us like it had a mind of its own, but all I could focus on was Lucian—his arms around me, his breath soft and steady against my hair. The warmth of his body was the only thing keeping the chill of the night at bay, and for a moment, I let myself sink into the feeling. The danger had passed, at least for now, but the tension between us was still thick, like an invisible thread tying us together, pulling us closer.I didn’t know what had just happened with Caius, didn’t fully understand why he’d called me Lucian’s “pet” or how I could possibly be “claimed” by a man I hadn’t slept with. But I knew one thing for sure—I wasn’t going to let Lucian push me away again. Not after everything we’d been through. Not after the way he’d protected me, the way he’d held me like I was something precious.But there were still questions. Too many questions.I pulled back slightly, just enough to look up at him, and saw th
(Chloe’s POV)The air felt like it had been sucked out of the world. For a second, I couldn’t move. My body went rigid, the icy knot of fear tightening in my chest as the words echoed in the mist.The lone wolf and his little pet.The three figures stood in the street like shadows come to life, their glowing eyes locked on Lucian with predatory intent. They moved in sync, their bodies fluid, graceful, and there was something in the way they carried themselves—something dark and dangerous—that sent a shiver down my spine. I could feel it in the pit of my stomach: these weren’t just men.They were like him. Wolves.Lucian stood in front of me, his back to me, but I could feel the tension radiating off him in waves. His body was coiled tight, his fists clenched, his breathing slow and steady, but I knew better. He was holding himself back, barely restraining the wolf inside.I swallowed hard, my pulse racing as I took a step closer to him, wanting to feel some kind of connection, some ki
(Chloe’s POV)I paced back and forth in my room, my mind racing in a thousand different directions. The adrenaline still hadn’t worn off, and neither had the heat from Lucian’s kiss, the ghost of it lingering on my lips like a spark waiting to ignite. I pressed my fingers to my mouth, trying to calm the flutter in my chest, but every time I closed my eyes, all I could see was him. His hands on my waist, his body pressed against mine, the way he looked at me like he was about to lose control.But there had been something else, too. A shadow behind his eyes. A warning.Something was out there. Something dangerous. And Lucian had practically ordered me to stay put, to stay safe, like he was expecting whatever it was to burst through the walls at any second. It should have scared me. Hell, any normal person would have been terrified.But I wasn’t normal.I was... curious. Too damn curious for my own good.I stopped pacing, running a hand through my hair as I stared at the door. Every inst
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