The air in the Vanderwilson mansion feels thicker than usual, like the walls themselves are holding their breath, waiting for something to happen. My father has been watching me. No, studying me—the way I look at Agatha, the subtle exchanges between us that I thought went unnoticed. Turns out, nothing escapes Alexander Vanderwilson.
I should have been more careful.
Now he’s using his observations to twist the screws, manipulating me with carefully chosen words, always delivered with that smug, knowing look.
“Stay focused, Luis,” he said earlier tonight, swirling his whiskey like he was discussing the weather instead of my life. “For the sake of the pack’s stability, your loyalty to Lilly is non-
PrologueThe woods are a living nightmare.The towering trees, cloaked in shadow, block out almost all the moonlight. Their gnarled branches stretch toward me like claws. The air feels suffocating, damp, and heavy, making it harder to breathe with every step. My legs tremble as though they're refusing to move, but I push forward, even as each crunch of leaves beneath my feet feels like a scream in the stillness.Then I see them. Four massive Lycans.They’re unlike anything I’ve ever encountered. Their sheer size dwarfs even the biggest wolves back home. Their glowing eyes lock on us, burning with raw fury. A chill races down my spine. I can’t understand what we’ve done to provoke them. All we were doing was traveling, following the path Dad had laid out for us. I’ve been good—haven’t I? So why are they here, their murderous gazes piercing through the darkness?“Agatha, behind me. Now,” Dad orders, his voice tight and edged with urgency.I obey instantly, my trembling hands clutching hi
10 years later…The Winter Hill estate is asleep, but I’m not. The darkness outside is suffocating, the chill sharp enough to slice through my thin sweater. My breath clouds in the icy air as I slip out the back door, the world eerily silent, save for the faint whistle of the wind. It’s the kind of quiet that clings to you, heavy and oppressive.I run.I tear through the estate grounds like something is chasing me, though nothing ever is. The pounding of my feet against the earth drowns out the chaos in my head. Pain flares in my ribs where Nick’s fist landed last night, but I push harder. The burn in my lungs, the ache in my muscles—it’s all better than the suffocating weight of my life.I don’t have a wolf. At twenty, I’m still waiting for what every other Lycan gets at twenty. No shifts. No heightened senses. Just me—ordinary, broken, and alone. I’ve spent years chasing the impossible, running until my legs nearly give out, praying to feel that spark of connection. Nothing. Not a wh
A few days later…The Vanderwilson mansion towers before me like a massive, overdramatic birthday cake, all glowing lights and pointy towers. Fancy. Way too fancy for someone who spent the last decade dodging flying plates and Nick's fiery temper. But here I am, clutching my violet gown like it might sprout legs and run for the hills. Honestly, I wouldn’t blame it.The dress is stunning, sure—violet with gold details swirling across the bodice and spilling over the hem. It makes me look like a princess. Scratch that, it makes me look like a princess trying too hard. I feel like an imposter standing outside these double doors, about to face the pack of wolves—literally and figuratively—that make up the Vanderwilson aristocracy.With a breath that’s way too loud in my own ears, I push open the doors.Cue the movie soundtrack! Crystal chandeliers? Check. Gown-wearing Lycans and werewolves who look like they moonlight on magazine covers? Double check. Everyone pretending the world outside
I stumble into the garden.The air is cold, sharp enough to cut through the fog in my mind, but not sharp enough to prepare me for him. He’s standing there, tall and broad, his long dark hair pulled into a messy bun. Loose strands frame his face, and he looks like he’s just stepped out of some gothic romance novel. The moonlight dances across his bare chest, highlighting muscles that could have been sculpted by the gods.And then I notice the tree.The poor thing looks like it’s been through all of his problems. Its bark is cracked, bits of splinters littering the ground. He’s panting, fists clenched, and I can practically feel the heat radiating off him even from a distance.So naturally, I say the first thing that comes to mind.“What did the tree ever do to you?”He freezes mid-breath. Slowly, he turns to face me, his dark, brooding eyes narrowing. For a second, I think I’ve made a horrible mistake. Maybe he’s some kind of forest guardian, and I’ve just insulted his life’s work.But
10 minutes later…The cold bites through my thin dress as I sit in the garden, flicking a broken twig back and forth like it holds the answers to life’s mysteries. My thoughts? A mess. My emotions? A rollercoaster on steroids. One moment, I’m replaying his deep brown eyes and the way his lips crashed against mine; the next, I’m spiraling into what the hell just happened mode. Was it real? Was I dreaming? Did I hallucinate my way into a steamy romance-novel-meets-tragedy scenario?Buzz. My phone vibrates, yanking me out of my daze.Nick: Where the hell are you, you little shit? Get back here. NOW.Oh great. The Lycan version of a rabid dog is after me again. My stomach knots tighter than my last failed attempt at a braid. I stand up, tossing the twig like it’s cursed, and sprint toward the mansion like my life depends on it. Spoiler alert: it does.…I skid to a stop at the back door, chest heaving, trying not to sound like I just outran a pack of wolves. Deep breaths, girl. You’ve got
As I reenter the ballroom, the brightness and noise hit me like a freight train. I plaster on a smile so forced it hurts my cheeks.My eyes dart to Lilly, who’s laughing beside Luis, completely unaware of the chaos swirling in my head. Nick appears out of nowhere, his eyes narrowing when he sees me. “Where have you been?” “Strategizing,” I reply breezily. “You know, how to outshine Lilly on her big night. Think I’ve got a solid plan.”He doesn’t even crack a smile. Typical.“Well, stop whatever you’re doing and get up front,” he snaps, grabbing my arm. “It’s time to meet the Vanderwilsons.” Fantastic. Just what I needed—another round of awkward introductions with him staring at me like this is a soap opera and he’s the star.As I’m dragged toward the front of the room, I can feel Luis’s eyes burning into my back like twin lasers of regret and awkwardness. It’s the kind of look that says, Yep, I messed up, but let’s pretend this isn’t the absolute trainwreck it is. I keep my chin up, tr
The next day...The drive back to Winter Hill feels like an eternity. The car lurches over potholes, each bump jarring me out of my daydreams—or nightmares, really. I sit in the backseat, wedged between my suitcase and a box of Lilly’s wedding decorations. It’s cramped, uncomfortable, and the perfect reflection of my life.Trees blur past the window, their skeletal branches scratching at the sky like they want to escape, too. My thoughts, however, are stuck replaying yesterday.Lilly, glowing like she swallowed a light bulb, introducing Luis. Luis—the man I saw in the garden. The man who looked at me like he knew every secret I was too afraid to admit. The man who is now my sister’s fiancé.The humiliation of it all settles like a brick in my stomach. The universe must be laughing at me, right? "Ha! Look at Agatha, the human doormat. Let’s toss her a forbidden romance for extra drama."I shake my head, trying to will his face away, but nope. There he is in my mind again: brown eyes tha
1 week later... The pain comes fast—too fast for me to react. Nick’s fist slams into my ribs, knocking the wind out of me, leaving me gasping. I double over, clutching my side as a sharp, searing agony radiates through my chest. It feels like my bones are breaking under the weight of his blow, like shards of glass are being driven deeper into my skin with every breath. My vision blurs, and all I can think about is how much it hurts. But the pain is nothing new. I stagger, trying to catch my breath, as Nick steps back, towering over me with that familiar look of disgust. His lips curl into a sneer, and his voice drips with venom. "You worthless piece of trash," he spits, glaring down at me. "You can’t even handle a simple task, can you?" I don’t respond. I’ve learned not to. Speaking only makes things worse. Nick’s hand flies up, striking me hard across the face. My head snaps to the side, and I
The air in the Vanderwilson mansion feels thicker than usual, like the walls themselves are holding their breath, waiting for something to happen. My father has been watching me. No, studying me—the way I look at Agatha, the subtle exchanges between us that I thought went unnoticed. Turns out, nothing escapes Alexander Vanderwilson.I should have been more careful.Now he’s using his observations to twist the screws, manipulating me with carefully chosen words, always delivered with that smug, knowing look.“Stay focused, Luis,” he said earlier tonight, swirling his whiskey like he was discussing the weather instead of my life. “For the sake of the pack’s stability, your loyalty to Lilly is non-
It’s been three days since my awkward run-in with Luis’s father, and his words still echo in my mind. “We value respect and honesty in this house.” The irony of it burns like fire in my chest. If honesty were truly a virtue here, this mansion wouldn’t feel like a tomb stuffed with secrets.But right now, I have a bigger problem: my sister, Lilly.The conversation we had yesterday plays on a loop in my head like a bad soap opera. She’d cornered me in the kitchen after dinner, her voice soft but her eyes suspiciously red. “Agatha,” she started, her tone too careful, too measured, “how do you feel about Luis?”How do I feel about Luis? What does that even mean? He’s the man who saved me from my horrible stepfather, yet he’s also the guy who looks at me like I’m an unfinished puzzle missing the one piece he’ll never find. And now, I’m living under his roof with my sister—his wife.“Uh, he’s...fine?” I’d said, trying not to look as uncomfortable as I felt.Her lips pressed into a tight lin
The journal sits heavy on my lap like it knows its secrets might crush me. I flip through its pages, scanning my father’s meticulous handwriting. His words are calm, measured—a stark contrast to the chaos spinning in my head. The more I read, the clearer the pieces become, but it’s a puzzle I’m terrified to finish.If Luis’s father was involved in my father’s death, does that mean Luis knows?The question feels like a slap. And then there’s Lilly. Could she really be oblivious to something so monumental? Or has she, too, been playing her part in some dark family conspiracy?Caroline speaks up, her voice sharp and biting. “You’re spiraling again. This is why we don’t do detective work at night. Go to sleep before you have an existentia
Standing at the doorstep of the Vanderwilson mansion, I grip the handles of my suitcases as though they’re the only things anchoring me to the ground. The cold air wraps around me, biting at my skin, but I barely feel it. My eyes are fixed on the sprawling mansion before me, its towering arches and intricate stone carvings practically dripping with opulence.“I would have never thought there’d be a day where I’d resent this place,” I mutter internally to Caroline, my wolf. “Is it too late to go back to campus?”Caroline snorts. “Oh, sure. Let’s run back to the campus crawling with rogues. Fantastic idea. You want me to call the ambulance now, or should we wait for the rogue to chew through your leg first?”“I’m just saying,” I grumble. &ld
The deafening wail of the school alarm shatters the silence, yanking my attention away from Luis and toward the door. My pulse quickens as I hear faint but distinct police sirens approaching in the distance.“What the hell?” I whisper, my voice drowned out by the relentless blaring.Luis’s jaw tightens, his gaze darting to the window. “Humans must’ve seen the rogues,” he mutters, his tone laced with irritation. “We can’t deal with this here. If the police show up, we’ll have an entirely different mess to clean up.”“Fantastic,” I say, throwing up my hands. “Just what we need—rogues and cops.”Luis shoots me a sharp look. “Agatha, focus.”“Focusing,” I reply quickly, though my sarcasm doesn’t completely disappear.“Come on,” he says, grabbing my wrist and pulling me toward the door. His hand is warm, firm, and entirely too distracting.Caroline, my wolf, huffs in my head. “I wouldn’t mind if he held onto us forever.”“Not helping, Caroline,” I snapped internally.We slip out of the lib
It’s been a few days since the Matt-kiss disaster, and the memory still burns brighter than a solar flare. Caroline hasn’t let me forget it either, gleefully replaying Luis’s scowl every chance she gets.“Do you think he was mad because he wanted to kiss us? Or because Matt actually did?”“Shut up, Caroline,” I mutter, brushing past a low branch as I stalk through the woods near the Vanderwilson estate.My wolf huffs, the sound full of amusement. “You’re no fun. You know, it’s been three days, and Luis is nowhere to be found. Maybe he’s stewing. Brooding. Imagining all the ways he could—”“Caroline!”“—ruin his brother's existence,” she finishes with a snicker.I roll my eyes and focus on the task at hand. The woods are unusually quiet today, the kind of silence that sets my teeth on edge. Luis may be ignoring me completely, but I’ve thrown myself into something much bigger to keep my mind busy: the rogue problem.They’ve been getting bolder, striking closer and closer to Vanderwilson
The golden rays of the setting sun seep through the campus trees as I sit with Sarah, Ruth, Tyler, Leo, and Matt in the university’s open garden. The day has been filled with laughter and teasing, my friends ensuring I don’t slip back into the somber mood that has clung to me since the rogue attack on my birthday.I find myself smiling more than I expected, enjoying the warmth of their company despite the lingering anxiety in the back of my mind. Since that night, every shadow feels sharper, every sound more threatening. My Lycan, Caroline, has been restless too, pacing in my mind and reminding me that the world isn’t as safe as it seems right now.But for now, I’m choosing to enjoy this. Tyler is telling a story about his disastrous attempt at cooking dinner last week, complete with dramatic hand gestures and exaggerated voices for ever
LUISThe morning air crackles with anticipation. Even before the whispers reach my ears, I can feel the energy shift in the packhouse. Something monumental is happening. By the time I step out of my room, the halls are already buzzing with pack members. Nervous glances are exchanged, whispers hissed under breaths."Alpha Conrad is back."The words hit me like a thunderclap. My father, the former Alpha of the Vanderwilson pack, the one who started a war and left us to fight it, has returned after years of absence. For a moment, I’m frozen. My heart pounds, and Mark stirs uneasily in my mind.Why now?Heavy, deliberate footsteps echo down the grand hall before I see him. The crowd parts like the Red Sea, and there he is—Alpha Conrad Vanderwilson. He’s even more imposing than I remember, his sheer presence dominating the room. His jet-black hair, streaked with gray, is slicked back, and his piercing gold eyes sweep over everyone like a predator surveying his prey. His aura is suffocating
LUISThe night air feels colder than usual, biting against my skin as I pace the balcony outside my office. Agatha.Her name echoes in my mind, unbidden, followed by flashes of her face—those fiery eyes that now burn with an intensity that wasn’t there before, the way she stood her ground against me the day she challenged my authority. And worst of all, that moment on her birthday when I caught her scent. It struck me like a thunderbolt.Mate.Mark growls in my mind, his voice heavy with frustration. You knew from the first time you kissed her.“I didn’t know,” I hissed aloud, gripping the balcony rail until my knuckles turned white.You’re lying to yourself. I felt it. You felt it. His growl deepens, filled with disappointment. And yet, you chose to ignore it. Look where that’s gotten us.I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to block him out, but he’s relentless.Agatha is suffering because of you, and so is Lilly. This isn’t right, Luis.I slam my fist against the railing, the sound ech