Liam should be here already. I have never spent more than ten minutes in this forest without him magically appearing, but tonight, it has been an hour. The wind stings my eyes as I pace back and forth between the towering trees.Then I hear cheers and people clapping. My heart beats louder, warning me that I have moved too far into the forest and no one would find me if something happened to me. I contemplate going back to campus to take a nap while I wait, but I miss him too much and his phone is off, so a few more minutes of waiting won't hurt.My curiosity gets the better of me, and I slowly walk towards the noise, while praying that it is not a cult whereby they celebrate making a human sacrifice. I see Liam and Lucy and kissing as if it is a wedding ceremony, then the cheers get louder. I blink, hoping to wake up from this nightmare, but every time I open my eyes, I discover that I’m still in the dark and Cursed Forest dimly lit by the crescent moonlight.I take a few steps ba
Leo"What the hell did you just do?" Liam charges towards me as he shifts mid-air. "You wanted to kill her!" I send him a mindlink. "I just wanted to reject her.""But you don’t know the effects of your rejection on her.""Why are you concerned about her? She is my girlfriend. Do you want her?" He growls."Don't be ridiculous.""You can have her, I couldn’t care less. She is of no use to me. Let me reject her fir..." "She is your mate!" I snap."You should look in the mirror. You rejected three mates. You have no right to judge me.""You are not going to reject her!""I can't have a human mate, man. Especially since there is a possibility of..." He trails off. "Being the alpha in the future?" I interject, the bitterness in my tone unmasked. "I don’t see why not. Especially since your dad can’t stand..."I hiss at him, and I growl while aiming at his neck, but I stop myself. After all, the pack, especially my dad, shouldn't find out about my secret visits. "You think you are invi
"What on Earth have you done?" Chloe, my sister whispers while she glares at me, and then her attention shifts to Liam and the stalker who are walking away. She stares at the two guys until they are out of sight, and they look like they know each other "What do you mean?" I ask her."Huh?" She says absent mindedly. "You can stop staring. They are gone.""Those guys are out of league. How did you manage to get them both?"I leave her standing, and then I go to the waiting room on the third floor to find mom alone, crying and looking at my brother's picture on her phone. I sit next to her, and hold her hands to try to comfort her. "Mom, we are going to be okay." Tears stream on my face."It's all your fault. You told me to leave, and I couldn't say goodbye to my son." Her eyes are filled with rage. "I didn't know that he would..." I trail off."I have a feeling you sneaked in and killed him because you were jealous of how close we were.""Mom, I loved Marcellus." I say defensively,
LeoWhat did I just do? I kissed a human who might probably get her head filled with useless romantic notions about us. Even if she was my mate, I would've rejected her right away. Hence, I want to ensure that Liam doesn't reject her until I expose him. Having a human mate might be the most humiliating thing. Worse, if she was my mate, Alpha Hunter would be proven right, that useless excuse of man who calls himself my father. The kiss was the best I have ever had in my life, but I hope her loneliness doesn't get her attached to me. I care about her as a person, but I would never let her get that close to me. I get up, and write a note, informing her that my flight is up, and she can check out whenever she wants, and the hotel would send me a bill for extra costs that I will settle. When I get off the plane in Seattle, I drive to my lab apartment in Tacoma to prepare myself for the continuous deal with the devil, but this time, I feel more guilty than I ever did before. With each s
I stare at Liam's name as my phone rings, and I decide to get back to him when my guilt has died down. I get up and go straight to the living room, and I find a note from psychic or stalker or whatever his name is. After reading the note about him catching his flight early, I take a quick shower and head to the airport.When I arrive in Seattle, I take a cab to THC club in Tacoma, the club that I hate the most for its high sales of limbicus, but it is the only club that is open during the day. The club is midnight dark, and illuminated by neon lights. There are people dancing, there’s kissing and smoke that is enough to fill the entire city. The smoke makes me cough, and I look around for a place where there is a possibility of not being disturbed. I head to the bar, the staring eyes making me feel like a lamb in a lion’s den. “Hi baby girl. What do you drink?” A large man in a biker’s jacket sits on my right as soon as I sit down. I sigh. I just wanted to be sad and alone, but h
"What is really going on?" I look into Liam's green eyes. "Nothing babe, just ignore him. He is obsessed with you. Ignore him wherever you see him.""You said you wanted to tell me something." "I just wanted him to leave." He sits on the bed and puts his arm around me. "I haven't washed my body in days." I try to move away from him. "I don't care." He smiles, and kisses my head. Then, once again, I feel conflicted about my feelings for him. "I will pay you back for my medical bill, but in installments," I place my head on his shoulder and I wrap my arm around him."No babe, don't pay me. I just want you to be okay. What really happened? Where were you three nights ago?""Huh?" I ask, even though I heard his question. "Where were you three nights ago?" "I was at the hospital. I heard you came to see me." "Before that, when you were at home in Minnesota."His phone rings and I take a peek. I glare at him as he glances at me."I have to take this," he turns the screen away. "Of
When I wake up, I find myself laying in bed and staring at the ceiling, with the relief that I woke up before my alarm clock rang. I finally pick up my phone and realize that the class will be starting in an hour! I didn’t set an alarm clock, and I should already be in class with Dr. Brown, in order to prepare for the lesson.I yank myself out of bed to take the quickest shower of my life, and I wear the first dress that I set my eyes on, with my heart already drumming as I think of my 15 minutes run to the chemistry lecture room.“I’m sorry I’m late, Doctor Brown,” I say breathlessly as I enter the empty lecture hall twenty minutes before class. “Hello Willow Gordon,” he looks up from the computer with a wide grin. Doctor Brown is the stalker? “Couldn’t my life be any worse?” I freeze on the doorway, and cover my mouth with my hand when I realize that I said it out loud. “Is that a nice thing to say to your new boss?” He raises his eyebrows. “No,” I shake my head. “Did you stu
Liam: Flashback I am holding the head of the dead rogue wolf in my hand, and it is in wolf form with its mouth open and its tongue out. I am welcomed by deafening cheers when I walk through the door of the wooden house, wearing my shorts with my body covered in sweat, dust and bruises that are already healing. "How are you, son?" Beta Duncan, who is my adoptive father, gets up from his seat, and walks towards me, standing taller than usual, and he pats my back with a wide grin that he struggles to hide. I just nod to indicate that I'm okay. I drop the head on the table, in the centre of the meeting house where the elders are gathered, and look I around the elder pack members who are looking back at me with pride on their faces. "If my daughter’s head wasn't filled with ideas about romance, I think the moon goddess would've chosen you for her." Alpha Hunter says with his lips curling up a little. I smile sheepishly, and I feel the pride surging within. "It was my daily ple
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 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
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. ‘
“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
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
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 when Liam is un
I arrive at the house from the hotel room, bracing myself for insults and screams that are about to emanate from my mom. I press the doorbell and Chloe’s eyes widen when she sees me before replacing her bewildered facial expression with a smirk. “What. The. Hell?” I eye her suspiciously. “You made it,” she exhales. “That’s not how you should greet your sister.” “Yes, because we adore each other so much.” I roll my eyes. "Come on, am I not even going to get a hug?" “Why don’t we keep things the way they have always been?” “Wow!” She shakes her head. “Where’s your mother?” “Please don’t cause a scene.” She looks at me pleadingly. “I’m here for Marcel, and I will be out of your hair.” I walk past her, and she follows behind. I find my mom wearing the most elegant black maxi dress and her face radiant, with her golden hair perfectly framing her face. She is walking around the room, ensuring that everyone is okay and thanking them for coming. She stops dead in her tracks when
"Hi Marcel, Marcellus, young warrior." I appear on the video, doing an awkward curtsy. "Or whatever your name means. I’m lazy to look for its meaning on the Internet again. Like, why would your parents give you such an old name?" The room gets filled with laughter. "Anyway, here it is, your prediction of my life when I was five years old. The time for me to kill people with experiments has finally arrived." I press every button of the remote, but the video doesn’t pause or stop, and no one makes an attempt to get it to stop. I close my eyes as my humiliating video continues to play. "I’m going to work on my research soon. I hope to find a cure, because I’m jealous, and I don’t ever want you to enjoy the advantages of being a hot 300-year-old mysterious vampire in high school." Laughter fills the auditorium, and I wonder if they are laughing at what I’m saying on the video, or at me for looking so embarrassed. "And, I don’t want to find myself walking with you in the future, and
I groan at the sight of light through the window, I haven’t slept a wink. Every evidence points in the direction I have suspected but dismissed. Leo and Liam might have some connection to werewolves, but how do I even ask about this without sounding crazy? ‘I’m a scientist, I don’t believe in fiction.’ I keep saying in my mind. “You are still awake? ” Liam’s deep voice caresses my ear, and I get startled, almost dropping my phone. “Yeah, research.” I say dismissively. “I’m proud of you, babe.” He kisses my forehead. “Now go take a shower while I prepare you something to eat.” “But the presentation will start three hours from now.” I groan. “That means, you are already late.” I close my eyes, and he gets off bed, and comes to my side. He carries me to the bathroom, and I complain all the way. I decide to get back at him, and I take off my pyjamas, wondering how he would react if I show that I’m seducing him. He chuckles. “Willow, it won’t work,” and leaves instantly. ‘He is no