I double over, clutching at my sides as an overwhelming heat courses through me, radiating outwards, consuming every inch of my body. My bones feel as if they’re shifting, bending, molding into something else. The realization hits me like a punch to the gut—I’m shifting.
The room around me fades as my vision blurs, replaced by a hazy mix of pain and power, a rush so intense that I can barely breathe. Gasps erupt around me, but I barely register them. All I feel is the raw force exploding within me, taking control, claiming every part of me.
Nick stumbles back, his face twisted in shock as he realizes what’s happening. But Luis doesn’t falter. He watches me, eyes wide with awe, his Lycan form standing tall and ready.
I meet his gaze, feeling a strength I’ve never known—a power that’s mine and mine alone. And in this moment, in the midst of chaos, I know that I’m no longer the weak girl they all thought I was.<
I move into my new dorm room with the bare essentials. The university feels distant and unfamiliar after all that happened back at the mansion, the cold reminder of the attack still clinging to me. It wasn’t long ago that I’d looked forward to the quiet of these halls, the endless nights of study sessions, getting away from my old pack, getting away from Nick, the carefree laughs with friends, and the steady rhythm of a life separate from the Vanderwilson pack.But now? Everything is different.Caroline, my Lycan, is quiet this morning. It’s odd since she’s usually chattering or throwing sarcastic comments my way. Ever since she arrived, she’s been a shadow I can’t shake off—and surprisingly, I wouldn’t want to.“Oh, come on. Just because I like to talk doesn’t mean I’m a shadow. Besides, admit it—you’d miss me if I went silent.” Caroline’s voice is a playful hum in my head.I let out a soft laugh. She’s right. In an odd way, Caroline’s presence has been my lifeline, especially sinc
Chapter 20: Ghosts of the PastThe air feels heavy, suffused with an intensity that makes every nerve in my body stand on edge. Luis steps in front of me, his shoulders squared, his Alpha aura rolling off him in waves as he faces the eight rogue wolves standing in the middle of the quad. Their presence feels like a scar torn open, bleeding memories I’ve buried so deep I almost convinced myself they weren’t real.But now, the edges of those memories are fraying, unraveling in my mind like threads I can’t grasp.Caroline growls softly in my head, her voice sharp and protective. “Stay alert. Something’s not right here, Agatha. I don’t trust them.”Neither do I.I watch them carefully, trying to process everything about them. The woman with snow-white hair stands out first, her long, straight locks gleaming like moonlight. Her blue eyes are cold, distant, as though she’s weighing the cost of standing here. Next to her is a woman with copper-colored hair that cascades over her shoulders, h
PrologueThe woods are so dark and creepy, like something out of a nightmare.The trees are huge and packed together, making everything feel even scarier. I can barely see a thing. My legs feel glued to the ground, and my heart is beating so loud I swear everyone can hear it. Every time I take a step, the leaves crunch, and it makes me want to stop moving altogether. I don’t want to make a sound.There are four werewolves surrounding us.They’re massive, way bigger than any werewolf I’ve ever seen back home. Their eyes are glowing like they’re really mad at us, but I don’t understand why. We didn’t do anything wrong! We were just traveling, heading to the Vanderwilson pack like Dad said, doing normal stuff. I’ve been good. I’ve done everything Dad told me to. So why are they so angry?“Get behind me, Agatha,” Dad says again, his voice all tense, so I quickly move behind him, my heart pounding harder. I grab his jacket, holding on like my life depends on it. It kinda does, though, righ
10 years later…It’s early, far too early for anyone to be up in the Winter Hill estate. The sun hasn’t risen yet, and the chill in the air is sharp, biting at my skin as I slip out of the back door. It’s quiet—the kind of quiet that presses down on you, heavy and cold. The wind whistles through the trees, but it’s nothing compared to the storm swirling inside me.So I run.Running is the only thing that keeps me sane. When I’m running, I don’t have to think. I don’t have to feel. My feet hit the ground with a rhythm that drowns out everything else. The pain in my muscles is a welcome distraction from the memories clawing at the back of my mind.I don’t have a wolf yet, so I don’t shift like the others. Most people my age are already well into their prime, their wolves guiding them, strengthening them. But I’m different. I’ve always been different. Lycans get their wolves at thirteen, but here I am at twenty, still waiting for mine. It's not like I haven’t tried. I’ve run miles, pushi
A few days later…The grand Vanderwilson mansion looms ahead like a castle pulled from a fairytale, its tall towers and ornate windows gleaming under the evening sky. But I can’t feel the magic. My heart races with every step I take toward the ballroom doors. It’s been years since I last set foot in a place like this, and I’m not sure I even belong here anymore. My hands tighten around the delicate folds of my gown as I stand just outside the massive double doors.The icy violet fabric cascades around me in soft waves, sparkling in the dim light with its intricate gold detailing that snakes down the bodice and fans out along the hem. The gown is beautiful, like something out of a dream, but it feels wrong on me, like a costume I’m forced to wear. I’m no longer the girl who used to attend these grand events with my family. That girl died long ago, the night I watched my father’s life slip away.I take a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside me. My heart pounds so loudly in my ea
I come face to face with a man I’ve never seen before, yet it feels like I’ve known him forever. His presence is like a force of nature, strong, magnetic, and impossibly intense. His long, dark hair is tied back into a loose man bun, strands escaping here and there, giving him a wild yet controlled look. His deep brown eyes, however, are what really capture me. They’re like bottomless pools, dark and endless, pulling me in as if they’re drowning me in some strange, unexplainable way. It’s unsettling. I can’t tear my gaze away from him, and for a moment, I forget how to breathe.He’s standing there, shirtless, chest heaving from whatever inner battle he was fighting with that poor tree. His fists are still clenched, his muscles taut under the pale moonlight. I have no idea what possessed me, but before I know it, I blurt out the first thing that comes to mind."What did the tree ever do to you?"There’s a pause—a long, silent beat where he just stares at me, brow furrowed, as if he’s d
10 minutes later…The cold night air bites at my skin as I sit alone in the garden, trying to make sense of everything. My mind is racing, but it’s also clouded, as if I’m grasping at smoke. The night, the garden, the man... It’s all tangled up in my head like a jumbled puzzle, pieces that don’t quite fit together.I replay it over and over again. His deep brown eyes sinking into mine, his laugh, that strange connection we both felt. The kiss—just the memory of it sends a jolt through my body, my skin still buzzing with electricity. And then… how quickly it ended. How he walked away as if nothing had happened, leaving me standing there, alone in the garden, wondering if it was all just in my head.But it wasn’t, was it? It felt too real, too intense to be imagined. And yet, I don’t even know his name. I don’t know anything about him. He’s a stranger. A stranger who somehow made me feel more alive in a single moment than I have in years.My fingers fidget with a twig, snapping it in ha
My breath catches in my throat. “And now, I’d like to introduce the man who’s made all of my dreams come true. My fiancé, Luis Vanderwilson,” Lilly announces, her voice full of joy. The room erupts into polite applause, and I feel the blood drain from my face. Luis. The name echoes in my mind like a cruel joke. I watch in slow motion as Luis steps up beside her, his tall, striking figure drawing every pair of eyes in the room. He’s dressed in an immaculate black suit, his presence commanding and effortless. And yet, I can’t reconcile the man standing before me—the man beside my sister—with the one I met in the garden. The one who laughed at my joke, whose touch lingered too long on my skin, whose kiss felt like electricity. The one who, for just a moment, made me feel alive in a way I hadn’t felt in years. Now, here he is, being introduced as Lilly’s soon-to-be husband. I feel like the ground is crumbling beneath my feet.
Chapter 20: Ghosts of the PastThe air feels heavy, suffused with an intensity that makes every nerve in my body stand on edge. Luis steps in front of me, his shoulders squared, his Alpha aura rolling off him in waves as he faces the eight rogue wolves standing in the middle of the quad. Their presence feels like a scar torn open, bleeding memories I’ve buried so deep I almost convinced myself they weren’t real.But now, the edges of those memories are fraying, unraveling in my mind like threads I can’t grasp.Caroline growls softly in my head, her voice sharp and protective. “Stay alert. Something’s not right here, Agatha. I don’t trust them.”Neither do I.I watch them carefully, trying to process everything about them. The woman with snow-white hair stands out first, her long, straight locks gleaming like moonlight. Her blue eyes are cold, distant, as though she’s weighing the cost of standing here. Next to her is a woman with copper-colored hair that cascades over her shoulders, h
I move into my new dorm room with the bare essentials. The university feels distant and unfamiliar after all that happened back at the mansion, the cold reminder of the attack still clinging to me. It wasn’t long ago that I’d looked forward to the quiet of these halls, the endless nights of study sessions, getting away from my old pack, getting away from Nick, the carefree laughs with friends, and the steady rhythm of a life separate from the Vanderwilson pack.But now? Everything is different.Caroline, my Lycan, is quiet this morning. It’s odd since she’s usually chattering or throwing sarcastic comments my way. Ever since she arrived, she’s been a shadow I can’t shake off—and surprisingly, I wouldn’t want to.“Oh, come on. Just because I like to talk doesn’t mean I’m a shadow. Besides, admit it—you’d miss me if I went silent.” Caroline’s voice is a playful hum in my head.I let out a soft laugh. She’s right. In an odd way, Caroline’s presence has been my lifeline, especially sinc
I double over, clutching at my sides as an overwhelming heat courses through me, radiating outwards, consuming every inch of my body. My bones feel as if they’re shifting, bending, molding into something else. The realization hits me like a punch to the gut—I’m shifting.The room around me fades as my vision blurs, replaced by a hazy mix of pain and power, a rush so intense that I can barely breathe. Gasps erupt around me, but I barely register them. All I feel is the raw force exploding within me, taking control, claiming every part of me.Nick stumbles back, his face twisted in shock as he realizes what’s happening. But Luis doesn’t falter. He watches me, eyes wide with awe, his Lycan form standing tall and ready.I meet his gaze, feeling a strength I’ve never known—a power that’s mine and mine alone. And in this moment, in the midst of chaos, I know that I’m no longer the weak girl they all thought I was.
I stare at him, a dozen questions spinning through my mind, but none of them make it to my lips. My anger softens, just a little, replaced by a kind of dread I can’t ignore.“So, that’s it then?” My voice is quieter now, almost hollow. “You married Lilly because it was necessary… to protect the pack?”He nods, his face etched with a weariness I hadn’t noticed before. “My father insists on it. He doesn’t understand any other way to strengthen our standing. He won’t let the pack be vulnerable to outside threats. Not again.”The weight of his words settles into me, dragging me down with it. I realize that this isn’t just about Luis or Lilly or me; it’s about something much bigger. An entire world I barely understand, with power plays a
With just a week until my 21st birthday, I’d expected a quiet countdown to the inevitable disappointment. But nothing has gone as I thought it would. Everything has shifted unexpectedly, thanks mostly to Matt.Luis’s brother has been a surprising source of comfort and ease in a world that often feels cold and isolating. We’ve been spending almost every day together after school, slipping away from the Vanderwilson mansion to find small pockets of peace in our own little world. I haven’t been able to explain the kiss that happened after Lilly’s wedding night; it lingers between us, unaddressed but impossible to forget. I’ve caught Matt’s eye lingering on me a few times, his lips twitching as if he’s about to bring it up, but he hasn’t. And for that, I’m grateful.School itself has felt lighter too, an u
The Vanderwilson estate glimmers with an unsettling beauty tonight. Crystal chandeliers throw a gentle cascade of light over the finely dressed crowd, illuminating a scene fit for royalty. Every inch of the space is swathed in elegance, roses and lilies intricately woven together to symbolize the unity of two powerful families. Yet beneath the polished perfection, unease permeates, a tension too thick to ignore. Even the small groups gathered in laughter seem subdued, glancing around nervously as though expecting something terrible to happen at any moment.The recent news of rogue wolves attacking our pack members hangs heavily over us all, like a dark cloud looming over the light-hearted celebration. Whispers ripple through the hall, and though no one dares speak too loudly, the tales of bloody attacks are inescapable, traded between guests who think no one’s listening. The guards stationed by every doorway and the furtive glances between guests make it clear—the wolves are not as
The morning begins with a cold bite in the air, seeping through the walls of the mansion and settling like a chill in my bones. Today, Lilly will stand at the altar with Luis. It’s the culmination of every whispered plan, every carefully orchestrated lie, and every pang of heartbreak I’ve endured since the moment I realized I would never be enough. I’m expected to play my role, to wear my smile like a mask while they speak their vows. I’m just another shadow in a room flooded with light.As I walk down the hallway, I hear snippets of laughter and conversation. Guests are already arriving, bustling in with their dresses and jewels, their faces lit up with joy and anticipation. It’s all so... painfully normal. I force my shoulders to relax, trying to ease the tightness in my chest, but every step feels heavy, like I’m dragging a weight too unbearable to carry.
01:01 am…The kitchen is dimly lit, shadows stretching across the floor as the silence thickens between us. Luis and I stand there, facing each other, and I feel the weight of all the unspoken words, the truths neither of us can bring ourselves to admit. The space around us seems to shrink until it’s just the two of us, locked in this moment, connected in ways I can’t fully understand but feel deep in my bones.A soft sigh escapes me, and my voice comes out in a whisper, filled with a vulnerability I rarely allow myself to feel. “Sometimes, in moments like this… I miss my dad. It’s like I still hear his voice, especially when things get too hard.” I pause, looking down as a wave of emotions I’ve held back for years begins to rise. “He was my everything. Losing him felt like… losing myself.”
11:49 pm…It’s the night before Lilly’s wedding, and sleep eludes me. I lie in bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind racing with everything that has happened in the last few days. The anticipation, the secrets, the lies—every single moment weighs on me. I toss and turn, trying to ignore the ache in my chest that grows stronger with each passing second.The last three days have been a whirlwind. The house has been a constant flurry of people, all bustling with excitement, the air thick with the scent of fresh flowers and expensive perfume. Everywhere I go, I hear laughter, music, and the endless chatter about the “perfect union” between the Winter Hill and Vanderwilson packs. But every word spoken feels like a lie I can’t escape.Despite everything, Lilly and I… bonded. Really bonded. For t