MalcolmOverhearing Miss Vargas and Summers' conversation earlier conveyed there would be a frat party tonight, which meant one thing: Trouble. Underage drinking. Drugs. Loud and obscene music. Potentially another missing girl. I had to keep an eye on things at the frat house first. I needed more information. I yanked the ball gag from Professor Belford's mouth. "Start talking?""No."A muscle beat in my jaw as I paced back and forth, running a hand down the length of my face. I was not particularly eager to abuse my powers, but quite frankly, I didn't have time for this. Ella was out there somewhere, probably alone and scared. Maybe even hurt and hopefully very much alive.I kneeled to his eye level. "Look at me." Heat rose inside my sockets, and my eyes widened with every blink, the golden specks reflecting in his bulging eyes. A rumble erupted from my chest, and the sound echoed around us. "Oh, my…" His arms trembled, testing his restraints. The color blanched from his face as sh
CatalinaAfter searching a few stores for a dress, we found one that matched a pair of heels Eden already had in her closet, which has become my second favorite place. The girl had style. I barely made it past the threshold of the frat house before my phone vibrated.Douchebag: What are you up to?Me: NothingWe strolled in, trying our best to act casual, and grabbed an hors d' oeuvre from a tray passing by. Talk about fancy. "What is this?" I held it up while inspecting it.Eden giggled. "Mini zucchini and goat cheese tarts." She shoved the tiny morsel into her mouth. I did the same, and surprisingly the taste of lemon, thyme, and Parmesan danced in harmony over my buds. "That is delicious." I glanced down at my phone, absentmindedly wiping the remnants of cheese onto my dress. Douchebag: Liar.Me: Seriously, you're texting me to start shit? Get a life, bro. Someone tapped me on the shoulder. "Boo!""Ahhh!" Eden and I jumped an inch off the ground. "What are you doing here?" I
Catalina Days later… After countless hours of typing away to finish my research paper. I was standing in front of the class with tears stinging my eyes. I sniffled, wiping at my runny nose with my sleeve. Amelia, that bitch! I knew when she collected my research paper in class the other day something was up. I was not too fond of the fact she was the TA for my class. I believed Amelia purposely didn't give Professor Wright my research paper. The sear embarrassment I felt in front of the class at that moment was all her fault—her life's mission was clear; she wanted to destroy me. Still, I couldn’t allow this to get in my way of what I really wanted. I mostly wrote it to impress him. I wanted Professor Wright to deem me worthy of his attention, and eventually of his affection. Crazy talk I know but being his was what I longed for. I just hoped he would hear me out after he had time to cool down. The man was so upset during the lecture, I swear I saw him sweating bullets. After clas
"Fuuuuck!" My office was trashed. What's a broken lamp? I chucked it against the wall, which shattered into a million pieces. That wasn't supposed to happen. My student wasn't supposed to see me shift or naked. No one was supposed to know my secret. My thoughts were zooming through my head so fast I couldn't keep track of them. And what made things worse was I was backed into a corner, forced to make a deal with her. Yes, I was glad to be rid of Amelia, but the last thing I needed was the girl who caused a fluttering in my chest and my cock to throb around me more than she already was. Bad idea. How will I keep my Panther under control now? My transitions were happening more erratically without my amulet. And the moment my panther got a whiff of her urine, it yearned to make things official, claim her as my mate with a bite that would leave her scarred for life. So, with all my might, I resisted, went to war fighting my way back before my Panther made the ultimate mistake. I could
Catalina Today, we had a substitute in Professor Wright's class, and it left an uneasiness in my stomach considering everything I had learned and how he ran out of my dorm a few days ago. No one had seen him, and he hadn't answered any of my emails. What if something happens to him? What if he ends up like Professor Belford? My chest rattled from my pounding heart, I couldn't chance it, so I was standing here about to do the unthinkable. My fist banged against the door. The door opened, and Professor Wright greeted me with wide eyes and no shirt on, muscles on full display in gray sweat. Damn, he looks good enough to eat. "Mrs. Vargas, what are you doing here? How did you get my address?" I could sense by his tense posture that he had no intention of inviting me in, so I invited myself in as I rubbed my shoulder against his. Professor Wright did not like my intrusion, but there was a twinkle of curiosity in his eyes. "I have my ways," I batted my eyelashes at him. "But honestl
MalcolmSweet Dreams. Really, Malcolm? That's what I texted Catalina back after the beautiful moment we shared in the clock tower, the way her lips and her taut frame molded perfectly to mine. I had this girl's heart in my hand, and if I weren't careful, I was bound to break it. It was the last thing I wanted to do, for I was terrible at love, and I had to keep reminding myself to stay away from her; Plus, she was my student. The more I found myself trying to stay away, the more I fell into her. A chase ensued and we were both running from something; Something that seemed too impossible to be real.Colliding with one another blurred the lines between teacher and student; though a relationship between us was forbidden because I was in a position of power. So, it was the best thing to do for the both of us, but my fucking panther, the urge to mate, claim her as mine won't listen. It didn't help that her alluring scent of lavender had me drooling every time she was near. That had to sto
Catalina The Winter Ball "Why did I let you guys talk me into this? I don't even have a date?" "Girl, you're fabulous and fierce. You don't need a date." "What she said." Roman took a swig from the flask he snuck in here. I shook my head at him. "What she said. You are seriously whipped, bro." "Shut up." He bumped me with his shoulder. "C'mon, you two, we are here to dance and have fun." Katy Perry's song Last Friday came on the speaker, and Eden did her usual happy dance and jerked me by the arm, dragging me to the dancefloor so fast I almost tripped over my dress. "This song brings back so many memories of the night we got shit-faced." She laughed, spinning us in a circle. Yeah, from what we can remember anyway… Roman moseyed on over doing a groovy shuffle move. "Yeah, we got kicked out of Road Dog because you too were doing stripper moves on the bar." "What can I say they weren't ready for the Catalina twerk, ah!" I swung my hips in a figure-eight, swinging my hands in
A Month Later… Things on campus were finally getting back to normal. Dean Sandoval resigned after the truth about Amelia and her friends came to light. Of course, only a few people knew the truth thanks to a cover-up by the media. The higher-ups agreed it wouldn't be a good look for Rockrimmon to have rumors of witches roaming the campus. It was the burden we, unfortunately, had to carry with us always; however, there were good things to look forward to. This afternoon we were welcoming the new dean in the student center named in honor of Ella Lindsay and Fred Belford. The Lindsay Belford Student Center. After the witches had melted away, Ella's body was discovered in the woods near the frat house. Cause of death: stab wound to the heart. They believe the witches used a cloaking spell to conceal her body from view. I visit her grave every Friday before class, knowing we could have easily shared the same fate. " I'm sorry, we couldn't save you, Ella. I promise something like this wil
Catalina I gazed at my reflection, fingers trembling as I adjusted the delicate lace of my wedding dress. The mirror revealed a woman I barely recognized - poised, radiant, on the cusp of a new chapter. Yet beneath the surface, butterflies danced in my stomach."You've got this, Cat," I whispered, meeting my own eyes. "Remember how far you've come."Memories flooded back - late nights in the library, stolen glances across the lecture hall, that fateful day I'd mustered the courage to ask Professor Wright for an extension. Who could have imagined where that simple request would lead?I smoothed my hands over the silk bodice, tracing the intricate beadwork. Each tiny crystal felt like a milestone on our journey - first kiss, first shift, first "I love you." My chest tightened with a heady mix of excitement and nerves."Deep breaths," I reminded myself. "Malcolm is waiting."At the thought of him, a smile tugged at my lips. My brilliant, passionate Malcolm. The man who saw past my fumbl
MalcolmI adjusted my tie for the hundredth time, staring at my reflection in the full-length mirror. The man looking back at me was both familiar and foreign - the same dark eyes and strong jawline, but there was a softness there now, a vulnerability I'd never allowed myself before."You clean up nice, old man," I muttered, smoothing down my jacket.My fingers trembled slightly as I fiddled with my cufflinks. In just a few hours, I'd be marrying Catalina - the thought both thrilled and terrified me. How had I, Malcolm Wright, confirmed bachelor and reclusive academic, ended up here? Catalina's acceptance of my true nature was the first crack in the walls I'd built around myself."You know," I muse aloud, "I used to think laughter was a frivolous distraction from serious academic pursuits."My best man, Roman, raises an eyebrow. "And now?""Now," I chuckle, "I can't imagine a day without hearing Catalina's laugh. It's like... sunshine breaking through storm clouds."Roman grins. "Who
CatalinaThe sunlight streamed through the window, bathing the room in a warm, golden glow. It illuminated the diamond nestled delicately on my finger, causing it to shimmer and sparkle like a tiny star. As I shifted my hand, the light refracted, scattering soft, colorful rainbows across the wall, each glimmer more dazzling than the last. I found myself mesmerized, unable to tear my gaze away from this exquisite gem—a perfect embodiment of Malcolm's deep love and unwavering commitment to me. Each time I caught a glimpse of it, my heart would flutter with a mix of joy and warmth, a gentle reminder of the bond we shared and the promise that lay within that beautiful stone."I still can't believe it," I whispered to myself, twirling the ring around my finger. The weight of it was unfamiliar but comforting, like Malcolm's strong arms around me.I closed my eyes, allowing myself to sink into the cherished memory of his proposal. The warmth of that moment wrapped around me like a comforting
CatalinaI was the luckiest woman on earth when, just a short time after we met, Malcolm proposed marriage to me. It seemed like such a dream—but every time I glanced down at the gorgeous ring on my finger and remembered that special moment it became real again. To say I was surprised would be an understatement.But a part of me has always wondered if it's because we already have one child—but the little things he does for me every day prove otherwise. The way he looked at me, his touch…it all filled in the gaps and made our love real again. I just needed to stop second-guessing our relationship; especially after everything that we had been through; he deserved at least that. Plus, Malcolm had put his life and career on the line for me time and time again. It wasn't just his love that made me realize how special he was; it was also the way he treated me. He made sure to take care of me, even when I didn't feel like it. And every time I felt like giving up, he was there to remind me wh
MalcolmToday was the day I would ask Catalina to marry me, and we'd been through hell together—so it seemed only fitting that she have everything within my power. She deserved nothing less. She deserved the world, and I would give it to her. I'd been planning this proposal for months, and even though I was nervous as hell, I couldn't wait to see her face when she realized what was happening. Our relationship had been rocky from the start, but I knew that deep down we were meant for each other—and this moment would prove it once and for all.Roman and Emily were in on the surprise. Catalina thought they were going out to dinner because the curse had been lifted over Emily and she wanted to celebrate and spend time with her like old times. She had no idea that she was about to be proposed to.Roman and Emily took Catalina to an Asian fusion restaurant downtown. The ambiance was perfect for a romantic evening out. Catalina loved it and couldn’t stop talking about how much she loved Asia
Malcolm My bones cracked and popped at a rate that my mind couldn't keep up with. Then I leaped out onto the porch and ripped into the first witch that caught my eye. But they keep coming and chanting, and the chanting got louder. So I had to kill them faster to stop the ringing in my ears. The more blood I tasted on my tongue, the deeper it drove me into insanity. When there was a clearing, Roman and Catalina dashed to the car, and I lost sight of them. Ms. Cleo was surrounded by witches. I fought my way to her, slashing through the witches with my heavy paws, feeling the power of rage inside me.The witches were no match for me; their blood spilled out as I growled with fury, and the thunderous of my voice echoed in the sky. The witches scrambled away in terror, and I reached Ms. Cleo. She was trying to extinguish the fire engulfing her home. but it was already too late.I watched helplessly as the flames engulfed her house until there was nothing left of it.Ms. Cleo collapsed to
"Do you hear that?" I asked her.She nodded. We both looked up at the ceiling of the tunnel, where the light from our flashlights began to bounce off something shiny above us—something wet and dripping down onto us like raindrops falling on leaves in summertime. "What is that?" I asked. "Blood," Bex said. We looked at each other and then back down the tunnel, where we could see the light from our flashlights reflected in several eyes staring back at us. There was nothing else to do but run. I don’t know if you have ever been chased by a coven of creepy witches, but it's not something I would recommend. The witches were angry, and they were fast. We ran through the tunnels as if we had been born with wings on our feet, but it was no use. The witches were gaining ground.The tunnel narrowed, and the walls were closing in around us. We ran faster, but it was no use. They had us cornered. There was nowhere else to go except back where we had come from. The witches were right behind us whe
CatalinaBex pointed at the tree again. "Is this where we need to be?" She asked again. The witch nodded, then walked away with a wave of her hand as if dismissing us. Bex and I looked at each other with wide eyes. Then we started walking toward the tree. We stood in front of it for a moment before Bex took my hand and pulled me behind her into a large hole in the ground.I looked around in awe. The tree roots were everywhere, and it was like we were standing inside a cave made of earth and trees. There were torches on the walls that lit up the space well enough for us to see where we were going. I had no idea where we were headed or what would happen when we got there, but at that moment, all I could think was how beautiful everything looked under the light of those flames. "Stay close to me," Bex whispered as held onto my hand.I nodded and followed her deeper into the cave. I didn't know how long we walked, but eventually, it opened up into a large room with what looked like painti
"We need to try," I said as my voice cracked. "There's no other choice." Ms. Cleo nodded and began to chant again. I stood there watching her, wondering if this would be our last chance at saving Emily.I looked at the table, trying to focus on it. My eyes seemed to be glued to it, and I couldn't look away. I could feel my heart racing as the minutes passed by. The room was silent except for Ms. Cleo's chanting, which had become louder and more intense. I looked at the table again and saw that it was beginning to move. At first, I thought it was just my imagination, but then I saw that the table itself was moving. It started to shake violently, like an earthquake had hit us. Ms. Cleo stopped chanting and stood up from her chair, looking around the room as if she were trying to figure out what was happening.The table continued to shake, and then, without warning, it flipped over, sending all of the items on top of it flying into the air. Ms. Cleo screamed as she tried to catch them bef