Alison didn’t see it coming. My slap was so hard that it wiped some of the powder off her face and left my palm stinging. I could see the clear handprint on her cheek as she slowly turned back to look at me, her eyes wide with disbelief and burning with hatred.She covered her face, and I could tell she was shocked that I actually hit her. Her eyes narrowed, filled with rage. I braced myself, ready for her to come at me, but I wasn’t scared. If she wanted to fight, I was more than ready.Mia, my wolf, was also riled up. She was practically screaming in my head, furious at the insults Alison had thrown at us. If Michael were here, he’d probably say Alison had earned herself a good punishment.“BTCH! How dare you hit me?!” Alison was losing it, screaming at me like a wild animal. “You disgusting, despicable btch, go to hell!”I saw her eyes flash, and suddenly, her wolf started to take over. She lunged at me with all her strength. But Mia was right there with me, pushing her power into
We left Alison behind without a second thought and made our way back toward the dorms.“Honestly, I didn’t even know I had it in me to do that,” I said, looking down at my hands. “This was the first time I’ve ever fought anyone.” It was a weird feeling, realizing just how strong I’d become without noticing. I guess hanging out with someone like Michael had made me overlook it.A thought crossed my mind, and I turned to Kate. “But is it really okay for you to show up in front of her like that? She’s supposed to be Luna someday. Aren’t you worried she’ll come after you later?”Kate just shrugged, not bothered at all. “With Robert no longer in line to be Alpha, who knows if she’ll even get to be Luna? A lot of the people who used to suck up to her have already abandoned her. And even if she does become Luna, no one’s going to respect a leader who treats her pack like that.”It clicked for me then—why Alison had confronted me alone today. She used to always have her group of loyal followe
Kate seemed startled by my sudden outburst."Hey, buddy, calm down," she said gently. "I know this is a bad situation. He’s gone too far by treating you like this."Her words of support made me feel a little better, but I was still frustrated and overwhelmed."But you can’t just leave," Kate continued. "If he’s keeping that close of an eye on you, he’ll find you wherever you go, and eventually, you’ll end up right back where you started.""You're right." I sighed in defeat, my shoulders slumping. I glanced at my phone and saw that I only had an hour before my next class. After that, Michael would come to pick me up, and I’d be back in his little castle—locked away from the world. The only difference now was that I had the college as a brief escape. But in reality, I was still his prisoner.Kate went to a nearby food truck and bought a sandwich, which she handed to me. As I took a bite, I imagined it was Michael’s head I was sinking my teeth into, which brought a small, vindictive smil
I stared at my reflection in the mirror, utterly shocked. Kate had transformed me into someone else entirely. The girl in the mirror had shoulder-length blonde hair, bright red lipstick that made her lips look full and ripe like cherries, and freckles scattered across her cheeks. My usually plain brown eyes were now a striking blue, thanks to the contact lenses Kate had given me. My eyelashes were thick and defined with mascara, accentuating the black eyeliner and brown eyeshadow that made my eyes look far more alluring than usual.I blinked, and the girl in the mirror blinked back. She was wearing a red sling dress that barely reached her thighs. The dress was bold, with an irregular design and a shade of red as bright as the lipstick on my lips. The low-cut neckline exposed more than half of my chest, the fabric tight and emphasizing every curve. A pair of shiny gold earrings dangled from my ears, and a thin chain with a pearl hung around my neck.She didn’t look bad—just not like m
Ten minutes later, I stepped out of the dorm, a small bag slung over my shoulder and a pair of red high heels clicking against the floor. As I descended the stairs, I noticed several people glancing in my direction. Their stares were different from those I had received earlier that morning. Instead of fear, their eyes held curiosity and envy. However, they didn’t linger on me for long, likely sensing some residual aura from being around Michael and the others, despite my lack of scent.As I made my way toward the parking lot, I encountered a minor setback: I bumped into Robert.He looked worse than Alison, utterly disheveled and dispirited. It took me a moment to recognize him, and by the time I realized who he was, it was too late to avoid him. We ended up passing each other face-to-face, my heart skipping a beat in the process.Thankfully, Kate's makeup skills and the butler's powder proved effective—Robert didn’t recognize me. I continued walking as if nothing had happened, maintai
The rest of the drive was quiet. Kate was worn out from driving, and I was overwhelmed just hearing Michael’s name. The sunset was stunning, but it didn’t lift my spirits at all. For the first time, I felt that maybe freedom wasn’t as sweet as I thought.There was this weird emptiness inside me, like I’d left something behind, something important. It felt like I was a kite, flying farther and farther away, but someone else still held the string.As we drove on, I changed out of my red dress, wiped off my makeup, and slipped into my favorite comfy clothes. But even then, I couldn’t relax. I just leaned against the passenger seat, staring out the window as the sky turned darker, feeling my heart sink along with it.Where was Michael now? Had he already figured out I left without saying goodbye? He’d be furious, for sure. The thing he hated most was losing control. And if he knew, he’d probably lock me up for who knows how long.A bitter smile crept onto my face. The crazy part was, a sm
Werewolves are a strange and intricate blend of man and beast. The wolf brings raw strength, ferocity, and instinct, while the human side offers wisdom, strategy, and a resilient spirit. It’s a balance that makes werewolves nearly invincible. When one is hurt, the other heals or comforts, and together, they become a formidable force. Only a rare few things can disrupt this powerful bond—one of them being harm to the wolf within.This is where the Hunters come in. Born out of a need to maintain order and keep evil werewolves in check, Hunters discovered a cruel but effective way to harm us. They use silver arrows, their tips coated with a substance known as wolf poison. On its own, the poison is harmless to humans. But to our kind, it’s lethal. It weakens the wolf inside, cutting off its ability to heal or protect. Without our wolves, we’re just like any other mortal being—fragile and vulnerable.But it wasn’t wolf poison that had me feeling so hollow and miserable right now. The pain
The forest was cloaked in darkness, the only illumination coming from the dim headlights of the car. The air was thick with anticipation, and even though the night was still, there was a tension that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. The howl we heard was not just any howl—it was a powerful, commanding sound that reverberated through the trees. It was a howl that demanded respect and attention, one that seemed to signal the arrival of something, or someone, important.Kate and I stood frozen, our eyes darting around, trying to catch a glimpse of the wolves that we knew were out there. The howl was soon followed by others, each one slightly softer, as if in deference to the first. It felt like the entire forest had come alive with the sound of these wolves, and it wasn’t long before I could sense them all around us, hidden by the shadows, their presence undeniable.My heart pounded in my chest, and I instinctively reached out to grab Kate’s hand. To my surprise, her h
During that time, Joanna was always off somewhere, traveling by herself. No one knew where she went. She would leave for long stretches, sometimes disappearing for years, and didn’t bother checking in with anyone. Naturally, her parents freaked out, not knowing if she was safe or if something bad had happened to her.As I sat there by the water, Sasha handed me a drink. It was this weird, green liquid that I wasn’t sure about at first, but after a sip, I realized it was lemon tea, with a hint of mint. Not bad at all, really refreshing."And then?" I asked, curious about what happened next with Joanna.Sasha sighed, shaking her head like she regretted it a little. “Well, her parents eventually went to Michael's dad for help. Since Michael was good at handling this kind of stuff, his dad put him in charge of finding Joanna.”I sipped my drink again, enjoying the way the mint cooled me down from the inside. "So, Michael went after her?"Sasha looked at me with a mix of guilt and understa
Joanna might be an amazing actress, but honestly? She's not fooling me. It's like she's playing a role, trying to be someone she's not—probably because she can't stand that Michael and I are together. I could feel her trying to mess with us, but I wasn’t about to let her win. If she wanted to act, well, I could act too.The sunlight felt warm on my skin as I stood there watching her. I smiled confidently, letting Joanna see me looking totally unbothered. She dove into the water with all the grace of a fish. I had to admit, she did have an incredible body—she was rocking a white bikini that had these thin straps crisscrossing over her chest and waist, making her look like some kind of living sculpture. Even the lower half of her bikini had those same crisscrossing straps under her belly button. Honestly, it was a look.Meanwhile, Sasha was already in the water, her swimsuit much louder and flashier than Joanna's. She was wearing this fluorescent green bikini with stripes and a skirt th
Joanna’s POV“So, I’m not the kind of girl who lets a man push her around. After all that happened, I left anyway. But no matter how long I stayed away, I’d always get messages from Michael. Some of them were about family stuff, other times he’d talk about finding his mate or being engaged or something. Honestly, it was pretty confusing for me during that time.”Despite saying she was troubled, a small smile crept onto Joanna's face as if remembering something amusing.“Eventually, I figured out that all of those excuses were just Michael’s way of trying to get me to come back. There was never a fiancée or mate. It was all just a big story. So, I was a little surprised when I heard this morning that you two were mates. But, hey, you’re mates arranged by the Moon Goddess, so everything should be fine, right?”Joanna finished her little story with a bright smile, clearly satisfied with herself. But me? I was furious. My fists were clenched so tightly, I could feel my nails digging into
It wasn't until Michael had completely disappeared from view that I became aware of the unsettling stare from behind. I could feel Joanna’s eyes boring into me, but I refused to acknowledge her directly. Instead, I turned and made my way toward my room, hoping to escape the tension she brought with her presence.But, of course, Joanna just happened to be standing in my path.She wore that same infuriating smile, the one that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "Your relationship with Michael seems... strong. You’re quite adorable when you're with him, Cecily."Her words dripped with something—sarcasm? Malice? It was hard to tell. I wasn’t sure what she was getting at, but I didn’t care to find out. I wasn’t in the mood to engage with her."I'm heading back to my room," I said, keeping my tone as neutral as possible."I know I upset you yesterday, and for that, I’m truly sorry," Joanna replied, taking a step closer as if that would make her words more sincere. "I didn’t mean to offend you. Le
Joanna's giggle echoed through the room, its beauty contrasting with the venomous intent behind it. Her voice was as sweet as a siren’s, but I could feel the malicious undertones. "Former friends, Sasha? That's not quite accurate. Michael and I were more than friends."I knew Joanna was up to no good. I had seen it in her eyes the moment I met her. Whatever her goal was—whether to make me jealous, provoke anger, or worse—I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of seeing me unravel.She turned her gaze toward Michael, who remained focused on his coffee cup, now almost empty. He hadn’t acknowledged her presence, which gave me some comfort, but Joanna wasn’t finished. "If you two are truly mates," she said, her voice dripping with false innocence, "may I ask, was it the Moon Goddess who arranged this, or did Michael choose you?"Her question cut deep, even though it was wrapped in a seemingly casual tone. I clenched my fists under the table, my wolf surging with rage. Joanna was impl
"Would you like to come downstairs for breakfast, or should I bring it up to you?" Michael asked, his voice soft and tender. As he spoke, he reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair away from my face. His touch sent a warm shiver down my spine, the closeness between us undeniable.I found myself smiling at Michael, wondering how I hadn’t fully appreciated this side of him before. I had always been so caught up in our arguments, his domineering ways, and the battles for control that I had somehow missed these moments where he could be... sweet. The realization washed over me—there was more to him than the arrogance and possessiveness I had been focusing on. If I allowed myself to let go of the tension between us, there was an undeniable pleasure in being with him.“I’d like to go downstairs to eat,” I replied with a soft smile, feeling more at ease than I had in a while.We walked down the stairs together, and I found myself momentarily at peace. But as we descended, my mind wande
The night had ended in a comfortable silence, with both of us content in each other's presence. By the time I had finished my tasks, Michael was still seated at his desk, absorbed in a pile of paperwork. His brow furrowed in concentration, and I didn’t have the heart to disturb him, nor did I want to leave his side. So, I watched him, feeling the steady calm he radiated.Before I knew it, I had dozed off in the warm cocoon of the study, lulled by the scent of Michael that filled the room. It wasn’t long before I felt someone gently lift me. I knew it was Michael, and feeling safe in his arms, I allowed myself to drift deeper into sleep.When I finally woke up, the morning light was already creeping in through the curtains. My body felt well-rested and refreshed. At some point during the night, I had been changed into my pajamas, and I couldn’t help but wonder if Michael had been the one to wash and dress me while I slept. A small smile tugged at my lips at the thought.I glanced to my
"Oh god, absolutely not," Michael exclaimed, his voice laced with frustration. "Yes, we had a relationship in the past, but we broke up a long time ago. Joanna came by a few times after that, but it wasn’t for me. She had business with Samuel and others. I was too busy to even notice when she came or left. But I swear, Cecily, nothing happened between us after we ended things."I turned to face him, my mind clouded with uncertainty. Should I believe him? Jealousy burned inside me, poisoning my thoughts. The mere idea of him being intimate with Joanna made my skin crawl."My little wolf," Michael's voice softened as he lifted my chin gently. His expression was tinged with regret. "If you want me to apologize for my past, I can. But remember, I’ve lived a long life, Cecily. I’m not a saint—I’ve had relationships, felt emotions, just like anyone else. But if you're blaming me for something more than that, it's unfair. I’ve never been in two relationships at the same time. When I met you,
"I can't just pretend nothing happened, especially after my wolf reacted the way it did." I shrugged, trying to stay calm. "I need to know, Michael. I'd rather hear it from you than find out through Sasha."Michael hesitated, his brown eyes locked on mine as if weighing his options. I held his gaze, determined to get the truth. If he wanted honesty between us, he needed to practice it too."Okay," he muttered, running his hand through his hair, clearly uncomfortable. "She's... a friend."A friend? Joanna's behavior toward Michael was far from friendly. It was passionate, intense—nothing like the casual interactions between Sasha and him. I took a deep breath and asked the question I had been avoiding but couldn't ignore any longer."An ex-girlfriend?"Michael's expression stiffened. He didn’t nod, but he didn’t shake his head either. Silence hung between us, thick and heavy. I knew the truth was coming, but it didn’t make the waiting any easier. If Michael wanted me to be honest with