Leo “Willow, wait.” I follow her without knowing why. “What do you want, Leo? You have humiliated me in front of my sister.” “Don’t I deserve to do that? How many times have you humiliated me in front of Liam? And I never complained.” “So, this is payback? With my sister?” She purses her lips. “This is not payback. I met Chloe, and I like her.” “When did this happen? Did you go back to the hospital to comfort her and then went with me to the hotel and kissed me?” “There you go. With your jealousy, again.” I let out an exasperated sigh. “Me? Jealous?” She snorts. “I’m just looking out for you.” “Looking out for me? So, didn't you stomp out of my apartment when you saw a girl walk in? And you didn’t even know her. Were you also looking out for me?” “That was, that was...” “That was?” A smile forms on my lips that I try to fight. I have never seen her speechless before. “I was lonely, not jealous.” “So, it’s true. You just reach out when you need something? Or whe
Willow After Leo has left me alone in the garden, I sit on the grass, thoughts about Professor Malino and Leo come racing in my mind. Leo didn’t seem surprised when I told him about Professor Malino’s plans, but Professor Malino has always seemed like a saint. She was maternal and sweet, not someone who would do something that could kill others. Did Leo somehow find out about my research and that’s why he did all he could to find the videos? How did he even find the videos? I get up to go to the house. I walk in through the kitchen to avoid bumping into anyone, and I lock myself in my room, if it’s still mine. I continue to read a book about werewolves. I honestly started reading for research, but I continue because of the drama. Leo would laugh at me if he found out I read fiction, just like he predicted. I fall asleep, deciding to go to the hotel later, and I’m woken by a knock on the door. “What do you want?” I ask Chloe when I open the door. “Oh, come on.” She chuckles. “L
“What is going on?” Mom asks Chloe outside her bedroom. “Why don’t you ask your favourite daughter?” She replies, and I hear footsteps indicating that she is walking away. She opens the bedroom door and looks at me with a faint smile. “I’ll speak to Chloe later. You know how difficult she can be.” I smile and nod in agreement. My phone rings, and Leo’s name appears on the screen. I press the red circle and put the phone aside. Mom raises her eyebrows, but she doesn’t say a word. “I left the cake downstairs when I heard the commotion. Are you okay?” “It was just me and Chloe being siblings,” I shrug. “But your cheek!” She looks at me with furrowed eyebrows. “It’s okay.” She pulls me by my arm before I protest, and I yelp. “I’m sorry,” she says as she places a pack of frozen peas on my cheek. “For what?” I look up at her as I sit on the bar stool in the kitchen. “Everything.” I raise my eyebrows. “Everything?” This is the worst apology a person can ever get. I glare at her
Liam ‘I hate this! I don’t ever want to look weak, Liam, and that is exactly what you are doing. People talk, and the last thing I want is finding myself discussed by jealous pack members.’ Lucy sends me a mind-link as she paces in our kitchen at Carkeek Park. ‘But all this will soon be over, I am slowly regaining Willow’s trust, and we know that if Mike kidnaps Willow as planned, Leo will make him promises.’ I line up four cakes which we are preparing for the party that will be hosted later at Alpha Hunter’s house. ‘What does Mike know?’ ‘My sources tell me he thinks Willow is Leo’s little sister, something that Leo told people.’ I send a mind-link. Damn the werewolves for their supernatural hearing ability, and we can’t risk other wolves eavesdropping. ‘Why would he say that?’ ‘He was trying to protect her. I still don’t understand why he never showed the same protectiveness toward his mates.’ I growl in frustration. My wolf hates it when Leo tries to get closer to my mate. ‘
Willow I wake up after a much deserved rest, and I head to Professor Malino’s office to ask her if I could see Asclepius. The poor wolf probably thinks that I abandoned him. “You can’t go in there. There are students in the zoology lab, and only a few people know about the garden lab behind it. We can’t open the doors in front of those students.” I nod in agreement. “I just miss him. I’m sorry.” “You can come according to the schedule that we have been following, come back later.” She says authoritatively. “Thank you, professor. I’m grateful that you have kept him safe.” I get up from the seat and I prepare to leave. “It’s my pleasure. Are you okay? I mean you are back from scattering your brother’s ashes.” “I’m fine.” I force a smile. “Did you think about my proposal?” “I did.” “And?” She raises her eyebrows. “I’m not going to get myself involved with that.” I say while still holding on to the doorknob. “But it’s your research. Are you pulling yourself out of your researc
Willow After the most hurtful words from Leo, I find myself at the zoology building without knowing how I arrived. This is Leo’s side I’ve never seen before, and he called me desperate. I stare at the door to the garden lab, and I try to ignore the feeling in my heart that is begging me to open it. I have never opened the door without Professor Malino’s permission, but she has trusted me not to open it without her approval. My heartbeat quickens, because what I’m about to do could get me into a huge trouble. I place my finger on the scanner. My fingerprint gets rejected, and an alarm goes off. The lab glows with red lights, and a loud noise that sounds like sirens fills the room. I run to the door, planning to run away, but I panic, thinking about how the animals in the garden lab are probably distressed. I walk back with hands on my ears, and I try my luck again on the fingerprint sensor, but the alarm gets louder. I’m so getting arrested, and if she did this to test if she cou
Willow I try to turn around to look, but I feel a cold object pressed against my neck, and my heartbeat starts racing. “Get in before somebody sees us,” a low and menacing voice behind me whispers. “Don’t turn around, don’t try to look at me and don’t try any tricks.” I take small cautious steps, and Leo looks at me, his eyes filled with sadness, but not fear. Does he know who the person behind me is? The door creaks shut behind us. Two more men appear from behind me, both of them are holding guns, and I still feel the cold metallic object on my neck. One man points a gun at Leo, and the other one holds his gun and stands in the middle, his eyes darting back and forth between us. “This is simple, your life is in each other’s hands, if she moves without permission, he shoots him.” He glances at the man holding Leo at gunpoint. “And if he moves without permission, he shoots her.” He glances at the man who is holding me at gunpoint. They are all tall, muscular, and they could pass
Leo “Why do you live in this cheap apartment? You are filthy rich.” Marcus, who is one of Mike's bodyguards glances at the door. “Your bravery is something else.” I chuckle bitterly, mad at myself for letting them take Willow. “You have the nerve to make a casual conversation?” “I’m just asking. It looks expensive, but don’t they maintain the doors and everything? Did you hear the creaking of the door when we closed it? It was not loud, but good for dramatic effect.” “I have to admit, I felt it too. I can imagine the poor woman’s face when she heard the door slowly closing behind her.” His friend laughs. “Where did they take her?” I growl. “Easy, tiger. You wouldn’t want us to make a call to get her killed.” He grins devilishly. “She is so young, so innocent, with hopes and dreams.” He says with a shaky voice, and the most theatrical facial expression and a hand on his chest. If he did this under different circumstances, I would be laughing my ass off. “Fuck you!” I bellow. “P
Willow “You managed to protect your little boyfriend?” I shiver as Liam’s warm breath slightly tickles my neck. “I underestimated you.” “I need to turn around. I want to face you,” I try to keep a steady voice. “Anything you want, babe,” he whispers before letting go and taking only two steps back. I turn around to face him, a smile plastered on my face, hoping that he can’t hear my loud heartbeat. I cover the trembling of my voice with a chuckle, “Do you think you've learnt your lesson?” “You think you are now invincible?” He chuckles bitterly. “Let me tell you about Leo, he is acting like he can stand you because he feels sorry for you, and he wants to spite me. Once I’m done with you and out of your life, he will be done, too. He will find a way to get rid of his ridiculous guilt. Leo will never ever get committed to anyone and I feel sorry for you. Ask him if he ever had a girlfriend.” “What do you mean when you say when you are done with me? You don’t own me!” “I can stil
Willow “Like in werewolf books?” I ask in what I hope is a nonchalant manner. “Yeah, you know I never read those, too much fantasy.” She says dismissively. “You watch vampire and werewolf movies, Chloe.” “Yes, to see the hot guys.” I murmur in agreement, and we both end up giggling. “So, he was doing this to imitate what he read in books? He is such a geek.” She rolls her eyes. I let out an uncomfortable chuckle. “What did he say in return?” “He said he accepted my rejection,” she says absent-mindedly. “That was when I felt the intense pain. The pain is gone, but I feel this sadness and emptiness.” “Nnnno! It can’t be,” I mumble. “Can’t be what?” “Nothing.” I shake my head. “It’s just a stupid theory that I have.” “You believe in werewolves?” “Of course not,” I shake my head. “Oh! No, you do,” she says in an accusatory tone. “You are a scientist, Willow. Even a five-year-old probably knows that it’s impossible.” “I assure you, I don’t believe in that,” I say defensively
Willow “Leo, please leave.” I look up at him. My eyes avert to the pencil on the floor. He picks it up and gazes at me. My heart beats faster as his eyes burrow into mine, his face void of emotions. “Leo?” I whisper. His jaw clenches, he exhales, and then opens his mouth as if he is about to say something. Then he walks out. I open my mouth, but I decide against asking if he ate something, or what on Earth is he doing on campus when he is supposed to be recovering? My phone rings as I lock the door to head to my meeting with Jeremy. Jeremy’s name appears as my screen flashes. Jeremy apologetically tells me he has to cancel our plans, informing me he has an emergency meeting with his agent because of his fan meeting. “I’m so sorry, Jeremy. I didn’t mean to get you into trouble.” “You didn’t. I had so much fun. But, why did I risk my career for you?” “You have just said...” “Just in case I’m in trouble,” he interjects. “I know that the cops weren’t happy.” He laughs. “You kno
LeoAfter tossing the entire night, I prepare myself for work in my lab on campus. That’s all I need right now, as much distraction as possible. I feel a growth of my emptiness within. There's Asclepius’ silence, the recently broken mate bond, and Willow’s coldness.It’s a relief that Willow knows what I have done and doesn’t think of me as a saint, but the weight of what I have done still weighs down on my shoulders. Her image of when she was crying and screaming on the floor keeps replaying itself in my mind, causing me to wince.After leaving my car in the parking lot, I head to her dorm room to find her locking up and dressed up in a pretty red dress. She looks up at me, her eyes cold and unwelcoming.“How are you feeling?” I ask her, surprised that my hands are slightly shaking.“I’m okay,” she says dismissively. “What are you doing here?”“You are not okay, you were crying your eyes out yesterday.”“And whose fault is that?” She glowers at me, but gestures for me to get in. “
LeoThe door busts open, letting in about a dozen police officers who throw themselves into my apartment. Their shouts fill my house and three German Shepherds frantically search the area. I watch as three other officers follow the dogs as they move to the sink and away in uncertainty. Two police officers walk to me. I slowly get up, glaring at them before they get to me. How are people going to take me seriously when I look this fucking weak?“What the fuck?” I roar in a low tone, keeping my eyes on them. The rest of the officers are not paying attention. Instead, they search the cupboards, yelling at each other to work faster. “Sir, you are under suspicion.” One officer who looks young, and probably fresh out of the academy, says timidly.“For what?”“Drug creation,” the authoritative brunette lady next to him chimes in. “Sir, we are really going to need you to co-operate. These allegations against you are serious.”“There are other cops in your other apartments. It is said that
“Leo, please give me that,” I hold out my hand. “I’m sorry,” he shakes his head. “I will get you bodyguards if I have to, but I’m not staying.” “You are being unreasonable! You are being a coward.” “Willow, what you are trying to do won’t work. I deserve this.” “Every night before I fell asleep, I imagined myself making a person who created limbicus suffer. When Liam told me it was you, I got so mad, I felt betrayed. I wanted to make you pay.” I blink back the tears. “I never thought I would meet the person who created limbicus and say these words to him, but I want you to forgive yourself. You are a good person, I don’t care what you think.” “How did you buy this?” He wrinkles his nose as he gazes at the packet in his hand. I feel a sting after my ignored speech. “Liam did.” “I thought as much.” He clenches his jaw. “If I go to jail, I think he will set you free. You will be of no use to him.” “Use?” I chuckle awkwardly. “Liam and I started dating before I met you, we didn’t
Willow TW: Mild mention of suicide “Whoa! The hottest TA on campus needs my help?” Jeremy’s still cheerful voice says on the other end. “Jeremy, you are such a flirt,” I force a chuckle. “Only with you.” I force another flirty chuckle. “So, to what do I owe the pleasure?” He asks. “Jeremy...” I hesitate. “I need your help.” “If I help you with whatever you need. What do I get out of it?” “Anything.” “Hmmm... How about a date?” He asks as if the idea has just popped into his mind. “Fine,” I sigh. “A date is okay. We will never ever be together, just to be clear.” “I just want to spend a day talking to you. What do you need, my queen?” “If you said this under normal circumstances, I would be blushing right now,” my lips slightly curl up. “I need you to organize a fan meeting at the location that I will send to you, and it needs to be held right now. Just do something, do some fan signing and stuff.” “Now?”“Two dates?” I plead. “I don’t want to come as desperate to my fan
Willow I walk into Chloe’s hospital room, half expecting her to be asleep, but I find her sitting up, her eyes focused on her phone. “Chloe!” I throw myself in bed next to her and hold her in a tight hug. “Are you my sister?” She places her palm on my forehead. “Are you okay?” “I’m fine,” I chuckle. “I’m glad,” she grins. “Willow, Leo loves you. He can’t even hide it, everyone can see it. His protectiveness, the way he looks at you, and how his eyes light up when you are around.” “He’s supposed to be your man,” I frown in confusion. “We both know he would do anything for you,” she shrugs. “Because he feels guilty. Please don’t make me change my mind.” “Guilty of what? Change your mind about what?” “Chloe, Leo is not the person we thought he was.” “What did he do? Does he have something to do with your kidnapping?” She asks. “No, it’s something else. We had a fight.”“People have fights all the time, I want you to think about it. I'm not asking you to marry him, I just want
I freeze in the middle of the living area, begging my frozen brain to think of an explanation, while trying to keep my eyes away from the sideboard. The room gets quiet gain, and I exhale when I realize that it was a false alarm. “I’m doing this for Marcel,” I whisper to myself to get rid of my guilt. “You still here,” he sighs when he finds me in the kitchen, dishing up for him. “There’s no need to be rude, I just want to ensure that you eat.” I glance at him, in his black pajamas, his almost dry hair tousled, and my senses get bewitched by his scent, which smells like a mixture of wood, leather, citrus and something sweet. “You smell good,” I blurt out. “It’s not too strong, but it’s...I don’t know how to describe it.” “Thanks?” He smiles weakly. “It’s just a lotion. Willow, I told you to keep your distance. I don’t want to put your life in danger again.” He sits on the barstool, and I hand the plate to him. “Luckily, my life is not in danger. Mike is not all that bad.” “He