Leo Liam and I stare at Willow as she walks away. I walk away from Liam to walk after her, but Liam casually jogs, and stands in front of me to block my way. “Stop trying to turn my girl against me, or I’ll...” “Your threats are getting old.” I cut in dismissively, gazing at the corridor where Willow was a few seconds ago. “I can’t wait for the day you regret...” My smart watch buzzes, signalling the ringing of my phone. I grimace when I see Mike’s name, and I wave Liam off before walking back into my apartment to take the call. “Bro,” I say, while I try not to sound too annoyed. “Bro, we’ve run out of stuff. When will you deliver?” “How soon do you need it?” I exhale. “You can send it today. You always make extra.” “Well...” I trail off, wondering if this is a good time to tell him that I want to stop making limbicus. “Don’t tell me you have been slacking off.” His words me out of my train of thoughts. “I'm out of town.” “Really? They said they saw you outside my club,
Leo I use my snout to point at the end of the forest, showing Willow that she should leave, and she eyes me with doubt written on her face. I point again and she glances at Poseidon, Alpha Hunter's wolf, and her heart beats fifty times louder than before.She takes one step forward. The alpha growls and takes a threatening step towards her, while baring his sharp teeth. This causes her to take five steps back, then she runs further into the forest. Fuck! How am I going to fight for myself and protect her at the same time? Alpha follows her, taking slow, menacing steps. She looks back once, then she continues to run. By the time we reach her, we find her climbing a tree. My dad lets out a satisfied groan as he looks up at her, the glint in his eyes making my stomach churn. ‘Only if she knew that we could turn into humans and climb trees as well.’ ‘Are you my real father?' I glare at him. ‘I wish I wasn’t.’ He retorts. ‘I thought as much. You think I’m in love with a girl, and
Willow The big black wolf that protected me runs further into the forest, and he is followed by the other, more scary and bigger black wolf that looks at me like it’s mad that I exist. “Don’t go!” I shout at the wolf which had turned into my friend, but it seems not to hear me, or it probably thinks I’m crazy. I prepare to climb down the tree to go to help my wolf friend. I look down and four wolves walk towards the tree. I freeze, hoping that they won't notice me, but they stand right under the tree that I’m on. I suspected that these wolves could communicate, but now I’m really sure. “I know you guys understand me. I tried to threaten you with fake wolfsbane, but here you are, still fighting.” The female wolf with dark brown fur growls in response, and the other wolves do the same. “I can’t believe I’m arguing with wolves,” I chuckle nervously, and they growl amongst themselves. Where is Liam when I need him to talk to the wolves or to translate? “Liam?” I whisper, as if my
I open the door to create enough space for me to walk out, and as soon as I’m outside, I quickly close the door behind me. Professor Eleanor Malino smiles, showing me her straight white teeth and the warm smile again. I notice her green eyes light up behind her glasses, and I feel myself getting conflicted. My mind tells me she is danger, but my heart tells me I can trust her. “I know what’s going on, Miss Gordon.” She says calmly. “May I come in?” “Well...” I falter. “Students have been complaining about you.” “Did they tell you why?” “The security department was called by students who claim to be afraid of you. That’s all I know for now.” And they sent her for that? Not the security officers? She obviously knows more than she is telling me. I open the door to let her walk in, and I can't help but look at her white floral maxi dress. She is wearing white flip-flops, and her chestnut hair is in a simple ponytail. She also has a white cardigan on, and her whole look seems so h
“Liam? Why are your eyes red?” I repeat the question. “Probably an allergic reaction.” He shrugs. “You should see a doctor.” “I will.” He says dismissively. “Where is the wolf anyway?” “I will speak to Professor Malino to arrange your meeting with the wolf. It's in her lab.” “Malino?” His eyes widen. I nod in response. “Nope, I’m good. Can’t I sneak in?” “No, the lab is highly secured.” I remind him. “I know people who work at the lab. I will find a way to sneak in.” “Why won’t you let me ask her?” “We have history, and we really, really don’t get along.” “With Professor Malino? What did you do?” I eye him suspiciously. “Why do you suspect that I’m the one who did something wrong?” “Because she is sweet, calm, and motherly. So, for the two of you not to get along, you must have really crossed her.” “Sweet? Calm? Motherly?” He titters. “Yes, she is.” He chuckles. “Don’t ask her. I’ll find a way to get in before I go to sleep.” "May I come in then? Or is
Leo (On the day they took him to the lab)Willow keeps looking back as she exits the garden, and I stare at her in disbelief. She doesn’t realize how brave she is and how she saved my life. Professor Malino walks her out, and when she comes back, she tosses a bag on the grass of the wildlife section of the garden. “I will be in the students’ lab when you are done.” She says before walking out. I shift to my human form, my body feeling stiff after so many days as a wolf, and I get dressed. I pick up Trillium, the rabbit and rub her head before exiting the garden. Thereafter, I press the button to close the doors of the garden lab. I walk into the students’ zoology lab where Professor Malino is sitting on a high chair and scrolling through her phone. Then, I stand next to the door, and she turns to face me. “Professor M, why did you bring clothes that fit me?” I say while looking at the grey tracksuit I’m wearing, surprised that it is the perfect size for me. “When I saw the vid
LeoI stare at Mike’s text, and my hands start shaking. He will always use Willow to keep me in this illegal business, and if anything ever happened to her, I could never forgive myself. She has been through so much already, with her family, her boyfriend getting married and spending a night in a forest with wolves. I take a deep breath while Professor Malino’s words echo in my mind, ‘You are not a coward.’ I call Mike, and the moment he picks up, I don’t give him a chance to say another word. “I told you I wasn’t around! You’ll get the merch tomorrow, and don’t you dare test me, Mike! You can't threaten a man's family.” “My customers are soon going to experience withdrawal symptoms. If you love your sister, you will make the delivery by tonight.” He says calmly, and then he hangs up. I throw my phone on the bed, and I pace back and forth in my room. If Willow finds out that I’m the creator of limbicus, she is really going to hate me for the rest of my life. If something happens
Willow I toss in bed for the entire night, while thinking about Leo. I know I feel something for him, but what I feel for Leo is not as strong as what I feel for Liam. Although, I would never let anything happen between Leo and I. One heartbreak is enough, I can’t handle another. My alarm rings, bringing me out of my train of thought, and I get up to prepare for CHEM 475 class. When I’m outside my room and trying to lock my door, a group of students who are passing by steal glances at me, and their loud laughter turns into whispers. I ignore them and I walk to the lecture hall. On my way to the lecture hall, I see a student staring at me, then another, and then, more gawking eyes. To avoid the stares on campus, I try to walk faster to class, but the tight knot in my stomach doesn't disappear, and it makes want to go back to lock myself in my dorm room. I have always been a weird girl who doesn’t spend time with anyone, but now I’m a weird girl who walks around with a wolf, and th
Leo As Willow walks out, Chloe gazes at her, then shifts her attention back to me, takes Willow’s seat, and starts eating the crab left on the plate. I raise my eyebrows, “I thought you were going to talk to her.” “No, I’ll see her later,” she says dismissively. “Right now, I need to talk to you,” she sips the mojito mocktail that Willow left behind and she smiles, noticing my confusion. “Talk to me about what? Do you want to order something?” “Maybe a drink later. I want to talk about us, but before that, I want to talk about Willow’s kidnapping.” She says casually. “I have handled it. What about it?” I ask defensively. “You are pretty defensive for someone with scars. They need to pay for what they did to both of you. Do you know why they kidnapped her?” “No,” I shake my head and immediately regret it. Wrong answer. “I think I should hire a PI to find out, and I will find her a bodyguard. They can’t kidnap her without a reason. Unless you are hiding something from me.” She
Willow “No, that’s impossible.” I shake my head. “I’m serious, Leo makes limbicus and sells it to Mike, who sells it to other drug dealers. Why do you think they never found the lab results of the drug used to spike your drink?” I gasp. “Did Leo bribe the hospital staff?” “No, I thought you knew that limbicus is untraceable.” “But Marcel...” “Marcel confessed, remember? And he had the limbicus with him.” “No, not Leo.” I shake my head. “Think.” He looks at me, his green eyes daring me to deny what I already suspected. “Leo kept saying I was going to hate him if he told me the truth.” “See?” He raises his eyebrows. “I’m going to kill him,” I say between my teeth. “No, calm down.” He puts his arm around me. “Don’t tell me to calm down, you are also a traitor. You watched me befriend him and you didn’t say a word.” I remove his arm and I glare at him. “I, I didn’t want you to think I was jealous and bitter.” “No, you should’ve said something.” “I told you not to work with
Willow “Did you kill someone?” I ask him. He remains quiet for a few seconds, and I wait impatiently. “No,” he finally says. “Then it can probably get fixed.” “ I wish...” He exhales. Then he looks at me, his face filled with sadness. “I’m sorry for making your life a mess. I’m the one who went to the club, and I’m the one who went to the apartment when you told me to stay away.” I say to him. “It’s not your fault, this is all me.” The waiter comes back to take his food and drinks order, and I also order a drink. "Don't worry, I'm going to pay for our meal," I say to her. "No, you can order anything, you are not allowed to pay.""How much did my friend give you?" I eye her suspiciously, worried that she might be left with little money. She chuckles, breaking eye contact."Okay." I hold my hands up in defeat. "I'm sorry for being nosy." She laughs before walking away."Mike," he sighs. "He gave her ten thousand dollars, we are probably going to use $1 500 because the restura
Willow Alpha or Mike or whoever his real name is unfastens the blindfold, and after my eyesight has adjusted to the light in the car, I look out of the window of the limousine to realize that we are back in Seattle. “Champagne?” He asks casually. I glare at him, and he chuckles. “Oh! The walls have gone up again. You don’t trust me.” “I have never trusted you,” I mumble. “But you seemed so comfortable in the penthouse, I almost thought we were friends.” I shake my head in disbelief. I felt a little comfortable, but I couldn’t befriend my kidnapper. “You are a lunatic!” He winces. “I’ve been called worse.” “Really? I can’t imagine why.” I roll my eyes. He titters. “Your coldness towards me came out of nowhere.” “It did?” “Yeah, ” He grins. The car stops, he gets out and holds out his hand, but I walk out without taking his hand again, and he chuckles. I look around the parking lot and my jaw drops when I notice that we are at Preston, one of the fanciest restaurants. He hol
WillowI stay in the bathroom for some time, looking around for a way out. I look up at the air vent. If I can find a screwdriver or a pair of scissors to open and climb into this, I can probably move through the ceiling and find myself elsewhere, but what about Leo? What if they hurt him?“I hope you are okay, Leo.” I whisper, and I walk out of the bathroom to face the poker face. I find him sitting on the couch and scrolling through his phone. “You have been in the bathroom for an entire hour.” He says without looking up. “I was fascinated by the walls.” I roll my eyes at him. “There’s no need for that smart mouth. I’m the one in charge.” He slightly tilts his head up to glance at me.“Yeah, you have made that clear,” I retort.He sighs and continues to scroll through his phone.“You have a nice bathroom, by the way, I almost took a bath,” I say to get rid of the uncomfortable silence and to try to distract him from texting people he might be sending over to kill me or ship me of
The 6’2" lean men in suits who look like cloned bodyguards form a wall behind Marcus, standing at attention in front of the cars, and he stands in front of them, wearing a wife beater, facing me and folding his bulked arms like the boss he fancies himself to be. “It’s you, again.” I make an exasperated sigh. He chuckles. “Don’t look so disappointed. You know I run this operation.” He grins arrogantly. “No, Mike runs this operation. You are just an errand boy.” He growls in response. “Just be grateful that you are still under the boss’s protection, or you would be screaming like a girl right now. I know you are going to mess up again, and I can’t wait.” I stare at him when it finally clicks. Marcus hates me because I’m valuable to Mike, and he hates the fact that his boss needs me more than him. I ignore his empty threats. “So, ten men, huh? I didn’t know you were so afraid of me.” “These men are here to keep you in control, because you need to be tamed like the animal that you a
Leo After my call with Mike, I glare at my phone as if he would pop out of it, and then I close the trunk of my car, which is filled with packets of sky-blue powder.I call Chloe, and it takes me straight to voice mail. I decide to deal with Mike and keep Willow safe before trying to find Chloe. If they will trade Willow for the limbicus. ‘What is my name?’ Asclepius interrupts my train of thought. ‘You know your name. Why are you asking me?’ I let out a deep sigh because I know where this conversation is heading. ‘You know how creating and selling this makes me feel. You were born to heal, Leo. Not to harm.''I know,' I respond to my wolf dismissively as I open the door of my car. 'Haven’t you learned anything out of Marcel’s situation? Do you want to take more lives?’ I grimace at his comment before burying my face in my palms. 'No need to make me feel guilty. Luckily, I’m the one who sells limbicus, not you Mr Holy, and I’m Leo, not Asclepius.''But we are one, and you know t
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 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