Amelia is in the fridge again, shuffling through it like she’s hunting for treasure. I glance at Luis, standing quietly in the corner, and my stomach does flips. He’s been silently judging me from that spot for what feels like forever. I’ve been avoiding him since I got here, and now, without any distractions, the tension between us could cut through butter.Luis clears his throat, making me jump out of my skin. Seriously, how does he make a noise so quietly terrifying? "So, Agatha... are you excited for your first day at university tomorrow?"What kind of question is that? Like I don’t already have a million things to worry about. I blink and finally look at him. The moment our eyes meet, I swear the air around us crackles. I can’t breathe for a second. His gaze is laser-focused, like he’s trying to figure out the secret code to my brain. It’s... unnerving.I quickly swallow and try to act cool. Cool, Agatha. You’ve got this. "Uh, yeah. I guess. I’m, like, a tiny bit nervous, though."
2 weeks later....The three weeks leading up to Lilly’s wedding have been a blur of chaos and confusion. Honestly, it’s like everything is happening at warp speed while I’m stuck in slow-motion. It’s like the universe put my life on pause and is now cranking the volume up to max. Meanwhile, I’m here, struggling to keep up and not trip over my own two feet.University was supposed to be my big fresh start. I imagined making new friends, exploring new experiences, and—of course—getting as far away from Nick as possible. But no, reality had other plans. Instead of new friends, I got loneliness. Instead of fresh starts, I got a series of awkward silences and the creeping sensation of being stuck in an episode of The Twilight Zone.I don’t even know where to begin with Amelia. She was this cheerful ray of sunshine when I first arrived, but now? Now she’s a walking, talking mood swing. One minute, she’s all warm and welcoming, and the next, she’s shooting daggers with her eyes and making com
11:49 pm…The night before Lilly's wedding feels like it's dragging on forever. I lie in bed, staring up at the ceiling, feeling like I’m stuck in some weird dream that just won’t end. The whole house is buzzing with wedding madness, but my brain is... well, it's everywhere. I can’t turn it off. Secrets, lies, everything just feels like it's stacking up, one heavy brick after another.I toss and turn, feeling like I’m swimming through a sea of thoughts. I mean, seriously, who knew weddings could be so... overwhelming? The house has been nonstop chaos for the last few days—people everywhere, flowers everywhere, that sickly sweet smell of expensive perfume that makes me feel like I’m suffocating. I hear people laughing and gossiping about Lilly and Luis, the "perfect" match between the Winter Hill and Vanderwilson packs. But honestly? Every word just feels fake, like someone put the perfect filter over everything and no one’s willing to admit the cracks.Somehow, in the middle of all thi
01:01 am…The kitchen is eerily quiet, the only sound is the low hum of the refrigerator, as Luis and I stand facing each other like two awkward turtles in a staring contest. The lights are dim, making it feel like we’re trapped in some cheesy romantic movie. I can almost hear the violins playing in the background, the tension so thick you could cut it with a butter knife.“So,” I begin, trying to sound casual even though my heart is doing somersaults in my chest. “How’s your day been?” I instantly regret asking. That was the worst question ever. It’s like I’ve never had a conversation before.Luis doesn’t answer immediately. Instead, he takes a deep breath, like he’s preparing to say something important. “It’s been okay,” he replies after a long pause. “But it’s been a little… off.”I blink, unsure of what to say next. “Off? Like... off like a lightbulb or off like a phone on low battery?” I say, trying to make a joke.Luis stares at me for a second, his face blank, then suddenly burs
The morning is freezing. Like, “I can see my breath” freezing. The air is biting through the mansion like it has some serious business to do. I swear the walls of this place are colder than my ex’s heart. Today’s the day Lilly gets married to Luis. Yippee. It’s the grand event I’ve been looking forward to... not really. The whole thing feels like one big, fancy drama. I’m just supposed to be there, smiling and pretending everything’s fine. Like I’m not the one who’s about to start crying in the middle of the ceremony. So, yeah, no pressure.As I walk down the hallway, I can hear people laughing and chatting. I’m like, “How are they so happy? What’s going on here?” The guests are already piling in with their shiny dresses, sparkly jewelry, and that fake joy that screams, “I don’t know what I’m doing here, but I’ll act like I do.” I try to relax my shoulders and not look like I’m about to cry or throw up or both.“Agatha!” My mom’s voice stops me in my tracks. She’s standing by the firep
The Vanderwilson estate tonight looks like it jumped out of a luxury catalog. Everything screams, "We’re rich, we’re powerful, and we’re going to rub it in your face." The chandeliers sparkle like they’re in competition with the stars, and the floral arrangements are so perfect they make you want to apologize to your houseplants.But the atmosphere? Oh, it’s tense. You can practically cut it with one of the fancy butter knives on the tables. The reason? Rogues. Those pesky rogue wolves are the uninvited party crashers no one wants but everyone is secretly expecting. Even the guards stationed at every exit look like they’d rather be anywhere else—maybe hiding under a table.I’m trying my best to blend in with the crowd, which, to be honest, isn’t hard since I’m wearing a dress so tight I’m one deep breath away from becoming a headline. But the real show tonight is Lilly and Luis. They’re doing their best impression of a perfect couple, all smiles and tender touches. Luis even has his ha
With just a week until my 21st birthday, I’d braced myself for a quiet countdown to inevitable disappointment. Instead, chaos has taken over my life, thanks mostly to Matt.Luis’s younger brother has turned out to be a walking sitcom. Spending almost every day with him after school has been like starring in my own comedy series. We escape the grandiosity of the Vanderwilson mansion and stumble into moments that feel stolen from a rom-com blooper reel. The kiss after Lilly’s wedding night? It still hangs between us like an awkward third wheel. Matt pretends it didn’t happen, though his lingering looks tell a different story. I’m just grateful he hasn’t brought it up because I might combust from embarrassment.School, which used to feel like a prison sentence, has morphed into something out of a buddy comedy, thanks to Matt introducing me to his friends.First, there’s Sarah. She’s the kind of person who’d laugh at her own jokes before she finishes telling them. Her wild blonde curls mat
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
Lilly paced the length of her lavish bedroom, her steps brisk and uneven. The grand space, adorned with gold accents and rich, dark wood furniture, suddenly felt suffocating. She had barely slept the night before, her mind gnawed by insecurities and half-formed suspicions.Her Lycan's voice slithered into her thoughts, smooth yet insistent. “It could be someone you know.”She froze mid-step, her hands gripping the silk sash of her robe. “No,” she whispered, shaking her head as if to ward off the idea. “Luis wouldn’t—he couldn’t.”“Men can be foolish,” her Lycan continued, a bitter edge creeping into its tone. “Even the strongest can stray. And haven’t you noticed how distracted he’s been lately?”Lilly’s jaw clenched. She had noticed. How could she not? Luis, once the epitome of attentiveness, had grown distant. His eyes often seemed far away, his thoughts tethered to something—or someone—else.Her fingers itched to confront him, to demand answers, but she wasn’t ready for what those
The moment we step into Winter Fall, it feels like we’ve walked into a horror movie. The trees are taller, their twisted branches reaching for the sky like they’re trying to grab the moon. The air is cold, but not the kind that makes you shiver—it’s the kind that sinks into your bones and whispers, Turn back while you still can.“This place gives me the creeps,” I mutter, my eyes darting around the shadows that seem to move even when the wind isn’t blowing.Luis, as usual, is completely unfazed, his smirk as irritating as ever. “You just don’t appreciate the thrill of adventure.”“Adventure?” I snort. “I’ve had plenty of adventures. Like that time your sister and I were running for our lives on campus because of rogue wolves. Or have you forgotten that little detail?”Luis shrugs, clearly unimpressed. “That was different. This is a controlled adventure.”“Controlled?” I roll my eyes. “This is a suicide mission with extra steps, Luis.”We press on, the glowing symbols on Luis’s map cas
The journey to Winter Fall begins in the ungodly hours of the morning, when the sun hasn’t even thought about rising. I’m trudging along behind Luis, muttering complaints under my breath like a grumpy old woman. Luis, on the other hand, is whistling cheerfully, completely out of sync with the danger we’re walking into.“Do you ever stop being insufferably chipper?” I snap, glaring at his back as we navigate through the dense forest.He turns to flash me a dazzling grin, his teeth practically glowing in the moonlight. “Nope. Someone has to keep the morale up, and you’re clearly failing.”“Oh, please,” Caroline chimes in, her voice oozing sarcasm. “Let’s all applaud the shiny-haired prince of bad decisions. What could possibly go wrong following him into rogue territory?”I snort, shoving a branch out of my path. “Luis, just so we’re clear, I’m only doing this because I don’t have a better plan.”He claps me on the back like we’re old friends going on a road trip instead of two people s
The door slams shut behind Amelia, her footsteps echoing down the hall like an announcement of her righteous irritation. I flop onto the couch, groaning dramatically. “Luis,” I say, my voice muffled against the cushions. “Why is my life like this? Why can’t I have normal problems, like running out of coffee or forgetting my Nest-fix password?” Luis chuckles, settling into the armchair across from me with the ease of someone who doesn’t understand the concept of stress. “Normal is boring. You should thank me for making your life interesting.” I shoot him a look. “Oh, sure. I’ll send you a thank-you card as soon as I find one that says, ‘Thanks for the chaos and potential death.’” He leans back, stretching out like a smug cat. “You’re welcome.” Before I can launch into a tirade about his insufferable smugness, he pulls an ancient-looking ledger from the stack of dusty books on the coffee table. “Here,” he says, flipping it open. “What’s that?” I ask, sitting up. “Proof that
I pace the room like a caged animal, my nerves unraveling with every frantic step. My mind is a storm of questions and doubts. “What about Lilly? What about the pack? What about everything?” I whisper-yell to myself, clawing at my hair as if I can physically remove the panic from my head. “And Alexander! Oh my gosh, Alexander! He’s going to kill me! Or Luis! Or both of us!”Luis stands by the bookshelf, leaning casually against it, arms crossed like he doesn’t have a care in the world. His calmness is maddening. His blue eyes, sharp and unyielding, follow my every move, his expression unreadable.“Luis!” I stop pacing and point an accusing finger at him. “Say something! Don’t just stand there looking like you’re posing for a cologne ad!”His lips quirk into an infuriating smirk. “What do you want me to say, Agatha?”“Oh, I don’t know! Maybe something useful? Like, what does this mean? What do we mean? Or—wait. Do we mean anything at all?”Luis pushes off the shelf, his movements slow
The clock strikes midnight, and moonlight pours through the tall windows of the Vanderwilson library. The old wood creaks under the weight of silence, the kind that feels heavy enough to suffocate, but somehow thick enough to drown out the world. I sit cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by piles of yellowing ledgers and crinkling letters. I can almost feel the dust from centuries of forgotten words settling on my skin, but none of it is as suffocating as the weight in my chest.My fingers trail over the pages, tracing faded ink like I’m trying to read between the lines of my own life. But nothing makes sense. Every word is a riddle, a code that refuses to unlock itself."This feels pointless," I mutter, tossing another letter aside. It flutters to the floor with a dramatic thud, and I scowl at it like it personally offended me. "Every page is either vague or full of half-truths."Caroline’s voice flickers in my mind like a distant echo, low but persistent. You’re getting frustrated
Later that evening, the Vanderwilson mansion feels like a powder keg waiting to ignite. The air is heavy with unspoken tensions, and I’m ready to light the match. My steps echo down the grand hallway as I head toward Luis’s study, each one filled with more determination than the last.Pushing the door open without knocking, I find him seated behind a mahogany desk, casually scrolling through his tablet. The picture of calm composure.“Luis,” I say sharply, and his head snaps up, his dark brows knitting together.“Agatha?” His voice holds a mix of curiosity and concern. “You look like you’re ready to murder someone. Should I call for backup?”I slam the door behind me, the sound reverberating through the room. “If I were you, I’d start worrying about who I’m coming for.”He leans back in his chair, clearly trying to mask his surprise with nonchalance. “Alright, what’s this about?”I take a deep breath, trying to organize my thoughts. “I think your father had something to do with my dad
The air at Winterhill Estate feels heavier than I remember, a weight pressing down on my chest as I step through the grand entrance. The scent of pinewood and old leather still lingers, a haunting reminder of my childhood. I don’t bother greeting the maids or acknowledging the curious stares of pack members as I stride past them. My goal isn’t small talk or nostalgia; it’s answers."You're doing the right thing," Caroline murmurs in the back of my mind, her voice low and deliberate."Am I, though?" I reply, glancing at a portrait of my mother hanging on the wall, her smile eerily serene. My stomach churns. This place is a mausoleum of lies, and I’m here to dig up its secrets.The first stroke of luck is that Nick isn’t here. He’s off dealing with rogue attacks, which means I don&r
The mansion is too quiet, a silence that feels heavy, like it’s hiding something. Or maybe it’s just me hiding something. Either way, I can’t shake the tension hanging in the air, especially when Lilly is around. She’s been watching me more closely lately, her sharp eyes darting between Agatha and me like she’s trying to solve a riddle no one gave her the clues to.Mark is restless, pacing in the back of my mind. “You’re being obvious,” he mutters, his tone laced with amusement.“Am not,” I hiss back internally.“Are too. She’s staring at you right now.”I glance up, and sure enough, Lilly is watching me from across the hall with that signature Vanderwilson scrutiny. I force a smile, which she