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
The car hummed softly as we drove deeper into the Ancient Woods Pack territory. The once imposing presence of Alpha Alex had faded into the distance, allowing a momentary reprieve from the tension that had filled the air. As soon as Alex was out of earshot, I turned to Kate, my curiosity getting the better of me."What happened to you just now?" I asked, my voice filled with concern. "You've been out of your mind since we left the car."Kate’s hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly that her knuckles turned white. They were trembling slightly, and I could see the fear in her eyes. It was unsettling. Kate, who was always so strong, so composed, was now teetering on the edge of losing control."I..." she started, her voice barely a whisper. But then she fell silent, her lips pressed together in a thin line as if she were struggling to find the right words.The soft glow of the pack's houses became visible through the trees, signaling that we were nearing our destination. Alpha Alex
I struggled to find the right words, my mind racing as I tried to piece together an explanation. "It was an emergency at the time. No one had the chance to react or even think about it," I said, my voice faltering under Aunt Carol's piercing gaze.But Aunt Carol wasn't convinced. She shook her head, wagging her finger at me. "No, no, no, that doesn’t make sense. Even if no one reacted immediately, what about afterward? Robert could have forced his mark on you. He wouldn’t have given up so easily. And during the week you were locked up, he didn’t cause you any trouble. So why didn’t your parents do something about it?"Her questions left me speechless. I had no answers that could satisfy her sharp intuition."The only possibility," Aunt Carol continued, "is that they couldn’t do anything. Or that your second mate prevented them from intervening. What kind of identity would make an Alpha’s successor in a powerful pack this afraid? What kind of power would make your parents unable to pro
Kate and I carried our luggage upstairs, our footsteps echoing softly in Aunt Carol's warm, wooden home. The house had a comforting feel, with its rustic wooden interior and charming cloth decorations. It was a reflection of Aunt Carol herself—welcoming and kind.We chose two rooms next to each other, and after briefly unpacking, I decided to check in on Kate. Just as I reached for my doorknob, the door to Kate’s room swung open from the inside. We both froze, staring at each other with matching expressions of surprise.It was a funny coincidence, and we couldn’t help but smile.I could tell that we both had things weighing on our minds, things we needed to talk about. So, still smiling, I said, "Come to my room."Kate nodded, and soon we were sitting together on the small sofa in my room’s cozy living area."What's going on with you and that Alpha?" Kate asked, her voice laced with curiosity."What exactly are you planning to do with that Lycan prince?" I asked at the same time.We b