I felt like something had shifted, like I had tapped into a part of myself I didn’t even know existed. It was as if I could sense Kate’s every emotion, every hesitation, and somehow, I knew exactly what to say to make her feel better.Kate’s eyes, which had been glued to the floor, slowly lifted to meet mine. I gave her a reassuring smile, hoping it would be enough to ease the tension between us. "Kate," I began softly, "you’re one of the kindest, most selfless, and most attractive people I know. You’ve always had this unique spark that makes you stand out in a crowd. I’ve always envied you for that. You think I’m brave, but honestly, I’ve just been forced into situations where I had no choice but to act tough."I paused for a moment, gathering my thoughts. "Do you know why I came here? It wasn’t because I was brave or strong. It was because I couldn’t cope with my situation anymore, so I ran away. I knew deep down that Michael would find me eventually, but I couldn’t face him or my f
For the next few days, Kate and I made the most of our time at the Ancient Woods Pack. We let loose and enjoyed the freedom that came with our little getaway. With Aunt Carol giving us space, we didn’t bother with anything that could ruin our mood. Instead, we ate good food, went on long walks through the thick woods, and cooled off in the creek. It was a refreshing break from everything.The air at the Ancient Woods Pack was cooler, thanks to the dense canopy of trees, and the temperature felt just right for us werewolves. Lying on the soft grass in Aunt Carol’s backyard, I turned to Kate, who mentioned she’d run out of the powder I’d given her to mask her scent. She decided to stay inside today to avoid any run-ins with Alpha Alex, and honestly, I was a bit worried for her.Over the past few days, we hadn’t talked much about our mate situations. But I knew that before all this, Kate had been pretty optimistic about finding her mate. I thought that after the night we talked about it,
Kate’s face tightened for a moment, but then she said stubbornly, "I’ll leave it to the Moon Goddess to decide." I could tell that she was still grappling with some deep-seated fears about having a mate, probably because of what she’d seen me go through. But I’d already said all I could. All that was left was to support her in whatever choice she made.“Kate, whatever you decide, I’ve got your back,” I said, squeezing her hand. “But once you meet your mate, your body changes. I’ve felt it myself. If you don’t know they exist, it’s one thing. But when you do know and still keep away, it messes with you. It’s like going against what we are.”I started to share with her my own experiences, the intense feelings I’d had with both Robert and Michael. “You and your wolf will crave each other. You'll want to be near them, to touch them. And the more distance you put between you, the stronger that urge becomes.”“You saw what kind of shape I was in when I first got here,” I continued. “If it g
"But Alex also mentioned he was suspicious of you that night because you didn’t have a typical werewolf scent. So, why did you hide your scent? What were you running from?" David asked, his gaze never wavering from mine.I felt a wave of confusion wash over me. Who exactly was David? He had shown up early in the morning at Aunt Carol’s house, but he seemed very familiar with Alpha Alex and had all this information about us. I was trying to piece it all together when Aunt Carol came down the stairs, still wearing the nightgown we first saw her in. Her hair was slightly messy, but she had a relaxed, natural look about her.David’s face softened immediately when he saw her. He walked over to Aunt Carol and casually slipped his arm around her waist. They exchanged a quick kiss like a couple deeply in love, lost in their own bubble. I could almost see the pink hearts floating around them."Oh, the kids are still here, David," Aunt Carol said with a playful complaint, though I could tell sh
The four of us finished our breakfast together.To be honest, most of the time, Kate and I just sat there watching Aunt Carol and David shower each other with affection. I had never seen such a clingy pair of mates. My parents were very close, but they never fed each other omelets during breakfast, let alone sprinkled it with countless kisses. It was clear they were deeply in love, and they weren’t afraid to show it.Kate seemed used to it. She’d been around them long enough to understand their dynamic. I could see why she looked forward to finding her own mate so much and why she was worried about the way I had handled my relationship with Michael. She had built up such high expectations for her future mate bond, and seeing the reality of it—the good and the bad—had scared her.After breakfast, David left to attend to some pack duties, and Aunt Carol had pre-arranged meetings, so they both went their separate ways. Kate decided she needed a nap to recover from the early wake-up call
I followed Alex deeper into the forest, retracing the path we had taken earlier. The forest's lush canopy above created dappled patterns of light on the ground, and with each step, I grew more excited and nervous. It had been a week since I last saw Michael, and my heart beat faster with every step, like a rabbit preparing to leap out of my chest. I could already picture him in my mind—his boyish yet rugged charm, his curly brown hair, warm brown eyes, and that fresh, sweet scent that always enveloped me in comfort."Go straight ahead from here. He's in the clearing," Alex said, pointing ahead.I followed Alex's gesture, my thoughts racing with the anticipation of our reunion. Would Michael sweep me up in a hug or kiss me in front of everyone, then whisk me back to his place? I found myself smiling at the thought—whatever he did, I knew I would be okay with it.Suddenly, a thought struck me: if Michael were to lose control, the Ancient Woods Pack could be caught up in the mess. I didn
When Alex and I first left the house, the sun was so bright that I could barely open my eyes. But somewhere along the way, the sky began to change. Black clouds slowly rolled in, covering the sun and casting a heavy shadow over everything. The air became thick and damp, almost suffocating, as if the whole sky was about to collapse onto me. I could feel the pressure bearing down, making it hard to breathe. The wind picked up, and the branches of the surrounding trees rustled and swayed violently.As I stared at Robert standing before me, all the tension, excitement, and joy I had felt on the way here vanished. My mood grew as gloomy as the darkening sky above.Once, I had imagined Robert as the one who would be with me for the rest of my life. He was supposed to be the person who would offer me a safe harbor, a place where my heart could find rest and peace. I had envisioned a future filled with happiness and contentment. But he shattered those dreams with his own hands. His hypocrisy,
The anger, the pain, all the hatred I had for Robert—honestly, it was gone. Now, I felt nothing at all. He was like a stranger to me, someone so distant that he couldn't even stir a single emotion. But my eyes stayed locked on his twisted grin and those dark, malicious eyes of his.I was starting to regret telling Alex to leave. Robert was clearly unhinged, and he looked like he could snap at any moment.“You’re still as stunning as ever, Cecily, my mate,” Robert’s voice was oily and made my skin crawl. He sounded like a creep, a total pervert.I noticed his eyes were fixed on my bare thighs, his gaze crawling up my legs like a swarm of maggots. I felt sick to my stomach. I regretted running away from Michael. Michael was the only one who’d ever made my heart race, and I’d stupidly walked away from him.“I’m not your mate anymore. Your mate is Alison. You picked her, and I’ve already rejected you,” I shot back, my voice cold.“Don’t mention that b*tch’s name,” he snapped.Robert cut m