Eventually, Ryder and I managed to pull ourselves out of bed, but it was obvious that neither of us was particularly enthusiastic about it.The morning sun blazed even more furiously through the blinds in my bedroom, reminding us that the day was going to continue on, with or without us.After getting dressed, I found myself in the kitchen, rummaging through the pantry cupboard looking for something quick to eat. I found one of Tyler's protein bars and figured it would have to do.I was busy tearing the packet open with my teeth when I was startled by a voice that came from just behind me.“Does Tyler know you’re eating his protein bars?” Ryder asked as I spun around to face him, clutching at my chest.I breathed a sigh of relief after confirming it was him.“Jesus, you scared me!” I exclaimed, letting out a deep breath. Then I scoffed, going on to answer his question, “No, I’m gonna blame you,” I teased before taking a bite.Ryder chuckled, shaking his head as he leaned against the c
(Tyler's POV)I arrived home from classes feeling a mixture of excitement and relief. The day had been long, filled with boring classes about Werewolf History and a grueling hand-to-hand combat session with Luke that I was still recovering from. The fact that Kate had messaged me to let me know she had passed her test also didn't help. After she had told me the good news, all I could think about was coming home to celebrate with her.I'd decided I would either take her to dinner or we could stay home and I'd make her favorite food to celebrate. Whichever she was in the mood for.I knocked on her bedroom door, eager to see her beautiful smile and to hear all about the test, but when I peeked inside, the room was empty.Disappointment crept over me and I frowned, but I figured that meant she was with Ryder, seeing as they had now 'made up'.With a deep breath, I tried to mentally prepare myself for whatever it was I might see. This morning had taken me by surprise, and I didn't want to
(Tyler's POV)The scene before me felt like something out of a nightmare. Mrs Harris was lying on the floor, blood streaming from her nose and staining the carpet beneath her. For a moment, I could only stare, my mind struggling to process what I was seeing.After what felt like an eternity, I finally regained my senses.“Ryder!” I yelled, my voice filled with panic as I rushed to Mrs Harris’s side. I lifted her onto my lap, but she was like dead weight in my arms, completely unresponsive. My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to feel for a pulse, but my hands were shaking too much to tell if there was one.I heard Ryder’s footsteps thundering up the hallway toward me. “Jesus Christ,” he muttered when he stopped in the doorway, his face pale as he took in the horrific scene.“Find Kate!” I ordered, my voice firm despite the chaos all around me.I couldn’t think about anything else right now. I needed to help Mrs Harris, and I needed to find Kate.Ryder sprang into action, rushing in
(Tyler's POV)The weight of everything that had just happened bore down on me as I helped Ryder get Mrs Harris into the back of my car. She moved robotically, like she was in a daze, barely acknowledging anything around her.I sped home with no regard for traffic signs or speed limits, the urgency of the situation making everything else seem unimportant.“Call Dad,” I ordered, trying to keep my voice steady.Ryder didn’t hesitate. He pulled out his phone, his fingers trembling slightly as he pressed the 'call' button.I could hear the faint sound of the call ringing through the otherwise silent car, the tension so thick I could barely breathe.“Dad!” Ryder exclaimed, his panic obvious. “Dad, Kate’s gone! Mrs Harris—there was an attack! Kate’s gone!”He was almost incoherent, and I could only imagine the confusion on the other end of the line as our dad tried to make sense of the tiny snippets of jumbled information.“Put it on speaker,” I said, needing to be part of the conversation.
(Tyler's POV)The night had turned into a chaotic blur, fueled by the fear and adrenaline that coursed through my veins like wildfire.Dr Kelly finally arrived to take a look at Mrs Harris. I had been right, her nose was broken. He managed to reset it and stitch it up, saying that it should heal straight.He was obviously filled in on all the necessary details of what had happened and when he was done with Mrs Harris's nose, he went on to suggest she take something to help her sleep.She protested though, her voice shaky as she insisted on joining the search for Kate."Mara, you're no use to anyone in this state," my mom had told her, gently but firmly.It took some convincing, but eventually, Mrs Harris relented, allowing Dr Kelly to administer the medication that would finally let her get the rest she so badly needed.She was moved to one of the spare bedrooms upstairs and my mom stayed with her, not just to care for her but also to be there just in case Kate somehow came back.Mean
(Tyler's POV)Shane barely had time to react before Ryder grabbed him by the collar, pushing him against the doorframe. His fury was palpable, and I could see the tension pulsating through every muscle in his body.“Ryder, let him go!” Dad’s voice cut through the chaos, firm and commanding.He hesitated, his grip tightening momentarily before he released Shane, who staggered back, his expression a mixture of shock and confusion.“Who did you tell?” Ryder repeated, his voice lower but no less intense as he pointed an accusing finger at Shane.Shane straightened his shirt, taking a deep breath to steady himself before he spoke. “Who... Who did I tell what?” he stammered, his eyes darting between all of us as he tried to understand what he had just walked in on.“Kate’s been taken,” I said, stepping forward. “We think someone may have known the truth about what she is.”Shane’s eyes widened in shock, and I could see the color drain from his face. “Taken?! Bu... But how?!”“There's no tim
(Tyler's POV)I followed Ryder down the stairs, grabbing him by the shoulder when we reached the bottom. "Where are you going? Are we going to Stanford?" I asked, assuming that must be Ryder's plan.He scoffed, turning to face me with a look of incredulity."Are you insane? That's like a 12-hour drive. We'd be better off just waiting until he wakes up and trying to call him again," he replied with frustration and annoyance.I shrugged. "We could fly?" I suggestedRyder shook his head. "How long is the flight? We'd still have to pack, drive to the airport, fly there, that's if there's even a flight available at this ungodly fucking hour, and then when we get there, we would still need to get a car, drive to the university, find this Dr. Prince guy, make our threats, then pick up the trail from there. It's too complicated, and it's not going to save us any time," he explained, clearly having already considered the option.I shook my head, refusing to believe that there was literally not
(Katelyn's POV)The world came back to me in fragments. I felt groggy and disoriented, as though I had been dragged out of a deep, dreamless sleep.I blinked my eyes open, searching the room around me, but it was unfamiliar. The light was dim, casting soft shadows on the dark wooden furnishings. The bed I was lying in was large, the crisp, white sheets cool against my skin.Everything about the room screamed luxury. Thick curtains, polished floors, plush decor, and a large, ornate mirror on one of the walls.It wasn't comforting though. I didn't know where I was and now I was trying to figure out how I had gotten there.I sat up slowly, rubbing my temples as a dull ache throbbed behind my eyes. Where the hell was I? My memory was foggy, the details slipping through my fingers every time I tried to grasp them.I climbed off the bed, my limbs feeling much heavier than I remembered them being. It almost felt like I had been sedated or drugged or something. The thought made me feel sick a