Ryder and Tyler both tried to comfort me, assuring me that they were both there for me and would do whatever they could to help me through this. I was grateful for their support, but I felt like I needed some space. A moment to myself to just reflect on everything."I think I want to go for a run in the forest," I said softly.The forest here always felt like a safe place for me, and running might help me release some of the frustration and resentment that had begun to grow inside me.Tyler nodded. "Yeah, that's a good idea. You should go. I've got some pack stuff to sort out first, but I'll meet you there later if you're not back by the time I'm ready."It looked like Ryder wanted to say something, but he was holding his breath and I noticed Tyler's narrowed eyes settling on him with a stern expression.Something was clearly off between the two of them, but I just didn't have it in me to play referee right now.Instead, I headed out to the forest, stripping off my clothes and shiftin
This was Tyler, right? He wouldn't hurt me. So why was he hurting me?I didn't know whether to fight back or submit. Running wasn't an option right now, his teeth would likely tear through my flesh if I tried to move.He was holding me there, gripping me in place, but he wasn't biting down further. He was growling menacingly though.With defeat, I whimpered and went limp in his grip, shocked that Tyler could attack me like this. Completely unprovoked too, which only served to enhance my pain.Suddenly I felt his uncertainty. It seemed like he wasn't sure whether he wanted to snap my neck, while simultaneously, I wasn't sure whether this was the end of the line for me.Without warning, he released me and shifted back into his human form, looking into my eyes as if searching for something."Kate?" he said with uncertainty.I was frightened of him now and took a few cautious steps back, trying to put some distance between us. I didn't understand why he would turn on me like that. My mind
(Tyler's POV)The sound of voices drew me into the living room, but the second I walked in I wished I hadn't. Kate and Mrs Harris were clutching one another tightly, their eyes red and teary. I felt like I was intruding on a really personal moment and quietly tried to back out again without being detected, but my sudden presence had already drawn their attention.“Hey, sorry. I didn’t realize I was interrupting something. I’ll… uh… I’ll be in my room if you need me,” I muttered, stepping backward towards the doorway and making a quick exit to give them some privacy.I was heading to my bedroom, intending to wait there for Kate so that I could be her shoulder to cry on once she and her aunt had sorted out their stuff, but I paused in front of my door for a moment. Something had been gnawing at me for a while and I figured that now might be a good opportunity to address it.With a deep breath, I headed back towards Ryder's bedroom door, knocking on it softly and waiting for a reply. Whe
(Tyler's POV)Heading up to my dad’s office, I dreaded the impending troubles and issues I was going to have to deal with. Two of our allied packs now seemed to have some dispute with one another, and they were pressuring us to pick sides. The situation was going to require diplomacy and skill to navigate, qualities my father fortunately possessed in spades.After a painstaking conversation where he dissected my proposed plan, pointing out every conceivable flaw, I conceded and decided to just sit back and watch the master at work. Listening in on the telephone conversations between the Alphas, I had to admit, he had a knack for placating people who didn’t agree with him. He was firm but not argumentative, making his point clear without alienating anyone.Once that disaster was handled, at least for the moment, I went out in search of Kate. It was starting to get dark, and I was eager to spend some time with her in our wolf forms. We hadn’t had much time for it lately. Either she was
(Katelyn's POV) Standing there, wrapped in the ever-deepening shadows of the forest, my mind struggled to process everything. Tyler's words seemed distant and unreal, like a half-remembered dream.It didn’t make sense, not really. Could my markings really have changed so drastically without me even knowing?But if it was true, and in honesty, I had no reason to doubt him, I suppose I could understand why he might have attacked me.It didn't make me feel much better, though. The memory of his jaws around my neck, the sharp pain and the terrifying helplessness lingered like a ghost on the edge of my consciousness.We stood there quietly, watching one another apprehensively. The air between us was thick with unsaid words and a shared, uneasy understanding.His expression softened, but I could still see concern etched deeply in his eyes.“Shane said you can use the classroom anytime,” Tyler said gently, breaking the silence. “You can go through the books there and see if there’s any inf
The forest was a blur around me as I sprinted through the undergrowth, branches whipping at my face and tearing at my clothes. My heart thundered in my chest, each beat pounding in my ears as adrenaline coursed through my veins.Behind me, I could hear the relentless pursuit of the huge black wolf. Its footsteps were silent, but its deep growls resonated through me, low and menacing and reaching me on a primal level. I KNEW I should be afraid. I KNEW I had to run.The wolf’s jaws snapped dangerously close to my heels, its breath hot against my skin. I pushed myself harder, every muscle in my body screaming in protest as I forced myself to keep going.'It’s just a dream,' I kept telling myself over and over, a desperate mantra that I clung to in the face of my terror. But even as the words circled around and around in my mind, I couldn’t bring myself to stop.I tried to shift, to transform into my wolf form and gain the speed and agility that might save me, but nothing happened and I r
The house was now silent, save for the dull thud of my own heartbeat echoing in my ears. I leaned back against the door, the chill of the wood seeping through my shirt and causing me to shiver while I caught my breath.Ryder sat beside me, his eyes boring into mine as he waited for answers I didn’t have.“It was a wolf,” I said vaguely, not really certain what else to say.“Obviously, it was a wolf,” Ryder replied incredulously, a mixture of disbelief and impatience etched across his face. “I saw it before I closed the door. But who was it? Why was it chasing you?” he demanded, wanting to understand.“I... I don’t know,” I hesitated, shaking my head.My mind was a storm of confusion and unanswered questions. None of it made any sense, but then, dreams often didn’t.Still, there was a gnawing feeling in my gut, a suspicion that tugged at me relentlessly. Was the fearsome creature some kind of twisted representation of my own wolf? Or was it something else entirely? Tyler had said my wo
Morning light streamed through a crack in the blinds, basically blinding me into wakefulness. I was instantly irritated.I groaned as I rolled over, but it was too late, I was awake now. The dream about the black wolf and Ryder meandered its way back to the front of my mind, which didn't do anything to improve my mood. The wolf had been terrifying and I missed Ryder more than ever.With a frustrated sigh, I rolled over again, facing toward Tyler now. He lay there so peacefully, his face relaxed and his handsome features only enhanced by the shadows of the morning light.I loved him so much it hurt sometimes.He shifted slightly, reaching his arm out in search of me. A sleepy smile found its way to his lips when he found me and he shuffled closer, wrapping his arm around my waist and resting his hand on my butt.With his eyes still closed, a sigh of contentment escaped his lips, his feelings mirroring my own.I pressed my hand to his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heart beneath