The cabin was quiet, save for the crackling of the fire. The warmth spread through the small space, but it did little to ease the storm of thoughts whirling in my mind. The flames flickered, their glow casting long shadows on the walls, dancing in rhythm with the occasional gust of wind that rattled the windows. The scent of burning wood mixed with the faint lingering traces of coffee from earlier, grounding me in the present despite my spiraling thoughts.Nolan had settled into the armchair across from me, his posture relaxed, yet his watchful gaze never wavered. He was here, steady and unwavering, like an anchor keeping me from completely drifting away into my uncertainty. Despite the exhaustion weighing me down, sleep refused to come. My body felt tense, my mind restless. Every answer Nolan had given me only led to more questions, more uncertainty. It was like standing on the edge of a vast ocean, staring into the waves but too afraid to step forward, not knowing how deep the wate
Morning came slowly, creeping in through the curtains in muted shades of gray. The fire had long since died out, leaving behind only a faint scent of smoke and the lingering warmth that barely touched the chill in the air. I shifted beneath the blanket, my body stiff from sleeping curled up on the couch. Every joint in my body protested as I moved, the discomfort a reminder of just how exhausted I had been the night before.For a moment, I had forgotten where I was. The weight of exhaustion made my mind hazy, and for a fleeting second, I could have believed I was somewhere else—somewhere safer, somewhere simpler. But the quiet presence in the room reminded me that reality was much different now.I turned my head slightly, catching sight of Nolan. He was still here, exactly where I had last seen him, sitting in the armchair, his long legs stretched out, arms crossed over his chest. His breathing was slow and even, but I could tell he wasn’t entirely asleep. His presence was reassuring,
The drive to the diner was a quiet one. The trees lining the road blurred past, their branches swaying under the weight of the wind. My grip on the steering wheel was tight, knuckles white, as I tried to steady the storm of emotions brewing inside me.I kept replaying Nolan’s words from this morning in my mind—one step at a time. But each step felt heavier than the last, each moment spent in this town pulling me deeper into something I didn’t fully understand yet.When I arrived, the diner was just beginning to pick up with the usual morning crowd. Locals gathered in booths, drinking coffee, sharing idle chatter about the day ahead. The familiarity of it was almost comforting. Almost.Jace was already waiting for me in a corner booth, a cup of coffee in front of him, fingers idly tracing the rim of the mug. His gaze lifted as I approached, studying me carefully."You look like hell," he said by way of greeting.I huffed a small laugh as I slid into the booth. "Thanks. You always know
I was running away. Not in the metaphorical sense—the literal one. My old Honda Civic sped down the highway, its engine groaning like it shared my exhaustion. Each mile put more distance between me and the life I’d left behind. The city that once felt like a bustling maze of possibilities had become a gilded cage. My ex-husband, Daniel, held the keys, and every turn was a dead end. Now, with nothing but the clothes in my suitcase and a half-tank of gas, I was finally breaking free.It wasn’t just Daniel I was escaping. It was the crushing indifference of my family, the pitying stares of so-called friends who thought I should be grateful. “He has money,” they’d say. “Why can’t you just be happy?” Happy. Like I could be happy with the bruises that lingered long after his apologies, or the cutting words that made me shrink until I barely recognized myself.The low-fuel warning chimed, snapping me out of my thoughts. I glanced at the dashboard clock: 10:17 PM. The highway stretched endles
The next morning, I woke up in the small motel on the edge of town. The bed was stiff, the blankets thin, but I had slept through the night without waking in fear. That alone was a luxury I hadn't known in years. I stepped outside, stretching in the crisp morning air. The town was just waking up, the smell of coffee and fresh bread drifting from the nearby bakery. The streets were quiet, only a few cars rolling down the main road. It felt peaceful, yet there was a certain energy here—something I couldn’t quite place. The town had a heartbeat, a rhythm that pulsed beneath its seemingly quiet surface. Deciding to explore, I made my way to the diner from last night. Linda greeted me with a warm smile. “Morning, hon. Decided to stick around a little longer?” she asked as she poured me a cup of coffee.“For a few days, at least,” I said, wrapping my hands around the warm mug. “I still don’t know if I’ll stay for good.”Linda gave me a knowing look. “You wouldn’t be the first person to sa
The morning air was crisp as I stepped out of the motel, taking in the peaceful charm of Willowridge. The town was already awake, the scent of fresh bread wafting from the bakery, mixing with the rich aroma of coffee drifting from the diner. The streets weren’t crowded, but people moved about, greeting each other with warm smiles and easy conversation. It was a stark contrast to the life I had left behind.I walked leisurely down the main street, peering into the quaint little shops. A bookstore with a weathered wooden sign caught my attention, and I made a mental note to stop by later. A few doors down, a flower shop displayed vibrant bouquets in the window, adding splashes of color to the street. Everything about this town felt welcoming, almost as if it had been waiting for me to arrive.Then, my phone buzzed.I ignored it at first, unwilling to let anything disrupt the small moment of peace I had found. But then it buzzed again. And again. Reluctantly, I pulled it from my pocket a
Sitting across from the real estate agent, I watched as she flipped through a thick binder filled with rental listings. The scent of coffee lingered in the air, and the quiet hum of the office made the moment feel almost surreal. I was truly doing this—looking for a place of my own, somewhere safe, somewhere I could finally breathe."Alright, let's see what we have," she said, adjusting her glasses. "Most of the rentals in town are apartments or small houses, but I have a few options that might interest you."She slid a few sheets of paper across the desk. The first was a small one-bedroom apartment above the bakery. Convenient, but too close to the noise of town."This one is right in the heart of town," she explained. "It’s great if you like being near everything."I shook my head. "I think I want something quieter."She nodded and moved to the next listing. "Alright, how about this one? A little house on the outskirts, with a charming front porch and a tiny backyard. It's got a lot
The drive out to the cabin was peaceful, the kind that made me feel like I was leaving the rest of the world behind. Tall trees lined the road, their branches forming a canopy that filtered the sunlight into dappled patterns across the gravel path. My fingers twisted in my lap, a mix of anticipation and nerves bubbling in my stomach. I hadn’t expected to find something I felt so drawn to so quickly.The real estate agent, Melissa, gave me a reassuring smile as she pulled the car into a small clearing. "Here we are," she said. "It’s even better in person, I promise."She wasn’t wrong. The pictures hadn’t done the cabin justice. It was nestled perfectly among the trees, the wooden exterior rich and warm in the afternoon sun. A stone chimney jutted up from the roof, and the front porch had a wooden swing that swayed gently in the breeze. It looked… perfect. Like home.My breath caught as I stepped out of the car, taking in the scent of pine and earth. This was it. This was where I wanted
The drive to the diner was a quiet one. The trees lining the road blurred past, their branches swaying under the weight of the wind. My grip on the steering wheel was tight, knuckles white, as I tried to steady the storm of emotions brewing inside me.I kept replaying Nolan’s words from this morning in my mind—one step at a time. But each step felt heavier than the last, each moment spent in this town pulling me deeper into something I didn’t fully understand yet.When I arrived, the diner was just beginning to pick up with the usual morning crowd. Locals gathered in booths, drinking coffee, sharing idle chatter about the day ahead. The familiarity of it was almost comforting. Almost.Jace was already waiting for me in a corner booth, a cup of coffee in front of him, fingers idly tracing the rim of the mug. His gaze lifted as I approached, studying me carefully."You look like hell," he said by way of greeting.I huffed a small laugh as I slid into the booth. "Thanks. You always know
Morning came slowly, creeping in through the curtains in muted shades of gray. The fire had long since died out, leaving behind only a faint scent of smoke and the lingering warmth that barely touched the chill in the air. I shifted beneath the blanket, my body stiff from sleeping curled up on the couch. Every joint in my body protested as I moved, the discomfort a reminder of just how exhausted I had been the night before.For a moment, I had forgotten where I was. The weight of exhaustion made my mind hazy, and for a fleeting second, I could have believed I was somewhere else—somewhere safer, somewhere simpler. But the quiet presence in the room reminded me that reality was much different now.I turned my head slightly, catching sight of Nolan. He was still here, exactly where I had last seen him, sitting in the armchair, his long legs stretched out, arms crossed over his chest. His breathing was slow and even, but I could tell he wasn’t entirely asleep. His presence was reassuring,
The cabin was quiet, save for the crackling of the fire. The warmth spread through the small space, but it did little to ease the storm of thoughts whirling in my mind. The flames flickered, their glow casting long shadows on the walls, dancing in rhythm with the occasional gust of wind that rattled the windows. The scent of burning wood mixed with the faint lingering traces of coffee from earlier, grounding me in the present despite my spiraling thoughts.Nolan had settled into the armchair across from me, his posture relaxed, yet his watchful gaze never wavered. He was here, steady and unwavering, like an anchor keeping me from completely drifting away into my uncertainty. Despite the exhaustion weighing me down, sleep refused to come. My body felt tense, my mind restless. Every answer Nolan had given me only led to more questions, more uncertainty. It was like standing on the edge of a vast ocean, staring into the waves but too afraid to step forward, not knowing how deep the wate
The warmth of the fire flickered against the walls of the cabin, casting shifting shadows that danced across the wooden beams. I sat curled up on the couch, my knees tucked under me, watching the flames as they crackled softly. Nolan sat in the armchair across from me, his posture relaxed, but his gaze sharp, watchful. He hadn’t said much since deciding to stay, but his presence alone carried a weight I couldn’t ignore.I should have felt awkward. I should have told him to leave. But instead, there was an odd comfort in knowing I wasn’t alone.Nolan stretched out his legs, resting an arm over the back of the chair. “You look like you have something on your mind.”I exhaled slowly, rubbing my hands over my arms. “I have a million things on my mind.”He nodded, like he had expected that answer. “You want to talk about any of them?”I hesitated, glancing over at him. His expression was unreadable, but there was patience there, an openness that made me feel like he wasn’t asking just to b
The quiet of the cabin stretched on as I lay curled up on the couch, my phone resting on the armrest beside me. Jace’s last message lingered in my mind, the words repeating like a quiet echo.I know you can. But that doesn’t mean you have to.I wasn’t sure how to feel about that. I had spent so much of my life being told that I had to be strong, that I had to endure, that I had to do things on my own. The idea of leaning on someone, of letting someone be there for me, felt foreign. Uncomfortable.And yet… a part of me wanted to believe it. Wanted to believe that for once, I didn’t have to fight every battle alone.A knock on the door shattered the silence, making me jolt upright. My heart hammered against my ribs as I turned toward the door, my fingers tightening around the blanket draped over my shoulders.Another knock, this one firmer.I hesitated before pushing to my feet, my steps slow and cautious. I wasn’t expecting anyone. Jace had texted, but he hadn’t said he was coming. And
The weight of Nolan’s words pressed against my chest as I drove back toward my cabin, I had snuck away when they were both 'checking the perimeter'. The roads were nearly empty, the town still waking up, but I barely noticed anything beyond the thoughts tumbling through my mind.Omega.Unclaimed.Different.I gripped the steering wheel tighter, my knuckles turning white. Every answer I got only seemed to open more questions, leaving me more lost than before. I had come to Willowridge to escape, to start over—but now I wasn’t sure if I had stepped into something even more dangerous than the life I left behind.The trees lining the road stretched high, their dense branches forming a canopy that cast shifting shadows across the dirt path. The deeper I drove into the forest, the more isolated I felt. The cabin was nestled in the quiet embrace of nature, but for the first time, that solitude didn’t feel comforting.My cabin was still and untouched when I pulled up, the thick forest surroun
I barely slept that night.The weight of Jace’s words settled deep in my bones, making rest impossible. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw that man from the diner—his golden eyes flashing, the knowing smirk on his lips, the way he said omega like it meant something more than I could comprehend.What did it mean?And why did it feel like my life had just been ripped out from under me?By the time morning arrived, my exhaustion was a physical ache, a dull throbbing that settled behind my eyes. My mind was too restless to sit still, my thoughts looping in endless circles. I needed answers. I needed clarity.I needed Nolan.Jace had left early, mumbling something about checking the perimeter. The cabin had felt stifling after he left, too quiet, too empty, leaving me alone with my spiraling thoughts. I couldn’t take it anymore. Before I could overthink it, I grabbed my keys and left, the crisp morning air biting at my skin as I drove through the sleepy town streets.The mechanic shop was
The quiet in Jace’s cabin felt suffocating, wrapping around me like a heavy blanket. My mind churned, replaying every word he had said, trying to make sense of the impossible. My breath was uneven, my pulse still racing from the weight of the truth.**Omega.**The word echoed in my mind, hollow and unfamiliar. I had heard it before—in books, in documentaries about wolves—but what did it mean for me? I wasn’t an animal. I was just… me. My fingers dug into the fabric of the couch as I tried to ground myself, to pull myself back into something solid.Jace stood near the fireplace, arms crossed, watching me carefully. His gaze wasn’t unkind, but it was unrelenting, like he was waiting for the reality to settle over me. I needed air.I shot up from the couch, ignoring the way my legs trembled. “I need to go.”Jace’s eyes narrowed. “Go where?”“Anywhere that isn’t here,” I snapped, running a hand through my hair. “I just—I need space to think.”He sighed, pushing away from the fireplace. “
The silence between us was thick, pressing down on my chest like a weight I couldn’t shake. I stared at Jace, my pulse still hammering from what he had just said.You’re an omega.The words felt foreign, like they belonged to someone else, some other reality I hadn’t stepped into yet. I opened my mouth, then closed it again, unsure of where to even begin. My fingers curled into fists at my sides, my breath coming unevenly as I tried to grasp onto something—anything—that made sense.“You expect me to just… accept that?” I finally said, my voice quieter than I intended.Jace sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. The movement was tense, restrained, like he was holding himself back. “I expect you to listen. Whether you accept it or not is up to you.”I let out a sharp breath, shaking my head. “No. No, this is insane. I don’t even know what that means. An omega? That’s just—” I scoffed. “That’s just some ranking in a wolf pack. Not real life.”Jace’s expression darkened slightly. The war