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
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