It was almost 5 am before Marcella slowly stirred from her sleep. Blinking away the remnants of her dreams, she felt a surprising sense of peace wash over her at the comforting scent of her surroundings before realising she was still in her Nana's room. She recalled feeling exhausted from all the crying the previous day before she had fallen into a restful sleep and now that she was awake it was as if the weight that had burdened her had been momentarily lifted, replaced by a glimmer of hope that flickered within.Sitting up in her Nana's bed, she couldn't help but marvel at the change in her emotional state. Just hours ago, she had felt overwhelmed, lost in a sea of worry and uncertainty. But now, a flicker of optimism danced within her, whispering promises of resilience and strength.A little sense of confusion mingled within her as she got up from the bed while taking a moment to collect her thoughts. How could she feel this sense of calm amidst the turmoil of her Nana's condition
As Esmeralda slowly regained consciousness, she let out a pained groan as her head throbbed as if a thousand hammers were pounding inside her skull. Blinking her eyes open, she found herself in a poorly lit room, its cold and damp floors making her body ache. Disoriented and still a bit groggy, she slowly sat up and she tried to make sense of her surroundings.She lets out a yelp in shock as she realised she wasn't alone and her gaze fell upon the other women sharing the cell with her and observing her, their haunted expressions creeping her out slightly as she noted the various splotches of bruises that marred their bodies, and their hollowed cheeks and sunken eyes mirrored the toll that starvation must have taken on them. She noticed that they were all young, most likely still in their twenties or early thirties.Where the fuck was she?"What is this place? Who kept us here?" She inquired as the women seemed to huddle closer into themselves. Undeterred, she pressed on, "Can you tell
Marcella sat in her usual spot in class, her mind far away and consumed by a whirlwind of worries and concerns as the sound of her professor's voice became a distant hum. It was a good thing she had read ahead of the class and completed the semester coursework for all her classes she mused as her eyes glazed over while she stared blankly at the PowerPoint presentation as the words written there blurred into an incomprehensible jumble. Her notebook lay open in front of her, its pages untouched while the pen in her hand remained motionless. She was physically present in the classroom, but her mind had wandered far beyond the confines of the lecture hall.Images of her Nana, frail and vulnerable in the hospital bed and Esmeralda's radio silence had added another layer of unease to her problems. As Professor Lucas continued to lecture, his words washed over Marcella like distant echoes. She tried to grasp onto the threads of his teachings, to focus her attention on the subject matter at
Lucas blended into the background effortlessly as he stayed hidden in his usual spot; a discrete corner of the bar, his presence seemingly unnoticed by the bustling crowd except for a few ladies who kept giving him appreciative glances despite the stern look on his face.The bar was filled with loud music, the chatter of patrons and the clinking of glasses with everyone seemingly having a good time without knowing the danger they were in; he was almost certain there were several werewolves among them and he had come here every night since discovering the truth about their ability to cloak their scents, determined to keep a watchful eye on his mate. Yeah, he was resigned to calling her his mate in his head now.As he stood there, his sharp senses on high alert, he strained to catch every word spoken in the crowded space hoping to pick up anything useful that would help him find the rogues but it was like searching for a needle in a haystack, as the multitude of voices blended into an
Marcella resumed her next shift earlier than usual and went in search of Big Ben to inform him of her findings and the confirmation that Esmeralda was indeed missing. She told him of her worries about the possibility that the previous girls who had stopped coming might have suffered the same fate, and she was worried for her friend. He had given her his full attention even as he was cleaning some glasses on the counter and was nodding with a sympathetic look on his face; however, his response caught her off guard.His expression tightened as he leaned in closer on the counter, his voice lowered to a near-whisper. "Look, Princess, I get that you're worried about your friend and the others, but you need to be careful. This is a dangerous path you're treading on."Her eyes widened slightly at his warning. It wasn't the response she had anticipated. She had hoped for his support and perhaps even his agreeing to form an alliance and try to find out what was going on. She couldn't help but
The hospital room felt hushed, suffused with an eerie stillness that mirrored the void that had settled within Marcella's heart. Her steps faltered as she re-entered the room she was in just a few minutes ago.She remained by the door as her eyes settled on the figure lying motionless on the bed and just stood there, her body frozen, unable to fully comprehend the reality of the situation. Her Nana hadn't called her because she was getting better; she had called her to come so she could say her final goodbyes and she didn't realise it until it was too late. She approached the bed with hesitant steps, her fingers trembling as she reached out to touch her hands. They still felt warm and it was almost easy to believe that she was just only asleep if not for the faint flatlining sound coming from the electronic monitor. She stared around the room that had become so familiar and yet so alien all of a sudden until her gaze drifted to the flowers she had come to drop earlier that morning b
Marcella watched through tear-stained eyes as Professor Lucas stood near the doorway, preparing to leave. A distant part of her acknowledged that under different circumstances, she would have been ecstatic at the prospect of being in such close proximity with him but in that moment, the emotions from her recent loss overshadowed any other feelings.As the words tumbled out of her mouth begging him to stay, she felt embarrassed at showing such vulnerability and had an apology ready at the tip of her tongue before he surprised her by returning to settle on the couch beside her. He pulled her in towards his chest and she snuggled closer, grateful for the comfort. She didn't know why she had such faith in him but she was sure he wouldn't take advantage of her in her vulnerable state. She still didn't understand how he knew to come to the apartment complex but she had felt as if she could finally breathe when she had seen him; almost as if her pain had been halved just by his mere presenc
Lucas left Marcella seated in the sitting room and went to the guest room to inform Anna of their new guest, which he figured she already knew about given the knowing smile she had on her face as soon as she saw him enter her room."How is she holding up?" She asked, concern etched in her voice.He gently closed the door behind him and leaned against it, looking tired all of a sudden. "Kind of okay for someone who just lost their only surviving family member. I couldn't bear the thought of leaving her all alone at her place in her grief."Anna nodded understandingly, "The bond is helping her manage the grief well. You did the right thing, Lucas. Providing her with a safe space and support during this difficult time would help her move on faster."She got up from her bed before coming to grasp his forearm, offering a comforting touch. "I can see how much she means to you, even if she may not fully realise it yet."A flicker of vulnerability crossed Lucas's features briefly before his g
Marcella's apartment felt different as she moved through it while packing up her belongings. It was still quite early in the morning and finally learning the truth about Lucas, about their bond and the depth of his suffering, had transformed her world. There was nothing left for her in Willowdale now; she had to find Lucas and make him understand that she had always wanted him, no matter the circumstances.With each item she placed into her suitcase, she thought about the life she was leaving behind– her friends and the place where she had grown up. After packing all her essentials, she took one last look at the apartment, a place that had been her sanctuary for years, and then locked the door behind her. The journey ahead of her was uncertain, but her mind was already made up. As she travelled to Mystic Pines, the location Anna had given her, her mind was filled with thoughts of how he would react, whether he would be receptive to her feelings, or if he would turn her away. She felt
As the graduation ceremony concluded, Marcella and her friends joined the crowd of jubilant graduates and their families outside the college auditorium, basking in the joyous atmosphere. But amidst the sea of familiar faces and the cacophony of congratulatory voices, there was one person noticeably absent: Professor Lucas.She had scanned the rows of professors seated on the stage during the ceremony, her eyes searching for his familiar face. Yet, his absence couldn’t be any more loud. It was strange not to see him there, especially after what they had been through and a gnawing sense of unease settled in the pit of her stomach. Was he ill? Or was it something else entirely? Would he skip the ceremony just to avoid talking to her?She was mulling over different reasons for his absence as she excused herself to make her way to the ladies' room when a familiar face appeared on the periphery of her vision.Carlos.Her heart skipped a beat for a moment and she paused, contemplating whethe
As the days passed, Marcella's life resumed some semblance of normalcy. Her graduation ceremony was just around the corner, and she couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. It was a significant milestone, a culmination of all her years of hard work and determination. Yet, there was a shadow of unease that hung over her, a nagging worry that refused to dissipate.One of her main concerns was Gina. Despite her attempts to reach out, there had been no response from her friend. Text messages remained unanswered, and calls went straight to voicemail. It was unlike Gina, and it left Marcella deeply concerned. She had hoped to share this important moment in her life with her closest friend, but it seemed that fate had other plans.Marcella sat cross-legged on her bed with her laptop open before her to a graduation checklist. There were so many details to attend to – her cap and gown, and the endless paperwork required for the ceremony. Yet, her mind couldn't help but drift
Marcella listened intently as Anna told her about the supernatural creatures who had abducted her; werewolves. Things she would have never believed were real if she'd heard it from someone else.Her worry for Lucas and the consequences of their rescue operation were skyrocketing with every piece of information Anna shared. "Anna," she cut in with an apologetic tone, "Are you guys in danger? I mean, with the police and all... What about Lucas?"Anna offered a reassuring smile, her eyes filled with a reassuring warmth as she seemed to understand what she couldn't say out loud. "Marcella, you needn't worry. Everything has been taken care of."Marcella couldn't help but feel more worried. If this information got out into the wrong hands, they would be hunted. "What about the bodies? The girls saw them and if they're questioned…" She was going into panic mode until Anna leaned forward to grasp her hand and instantly calmed her down, her voice lowered to a conspiratorial tone."I disposed o
Marcella slowly stirred from the depths of unconsciousness, her senses returning in fits and starts. At first, there was only a vague awareness of warmth and comfort, as if she had been cocooned in a soothing embrace. Then, as her consciousness sharpened, her eyelids fluttered as she transitioned from the depths of unconsciousness to a hazy awareness. Her surroundings felt familiar, and it took a moment for her to piece together where she was. The soft, muted light filtering into the room, the subtle hum of a ceiling fan, the comforting scent of fresh linen—all these sensory fragments coalesced into a realisation.She was in Lucas's apartment.As her vision cleared, she turned her head slightly, a dull ache thudding in her temples, and there, at her side, was Lucas his handsome face etched with worry as he sat perched on the edge of a nearby chair. A shiver of recognition rippled through her as memories flooded back. He seemed to be lost in thought as there was a sad and solemn dispo
Lucas knew there was something important he had been overlooking, a detail that might turn the tide in his favour. His mind raced, searching for the missing piece of the puzzle.Bolton continued to advance, his taunts growing more menacing. "You still don't have what it takes to be a leader," he sneered. Despite how much his taunts stung, he ignored them as certain pieces began to click into place. He had noticed that, despite Bolton's incredible regenerative abilities, there was a pattern to the way he protected certain parts of his body, most especially his chest. It was most likely his Achilles heel.This realization ignited a spark of hope within Lucas. If he could exploit this weakness, he might have a chance at defeating the seemingly unbeatable rogue leader. With newfound determination, he charged at him and launched a series of relentless attacks aimed specifically at Bolton's chest, each strike calculated and precise.Then, it happened. During their savage exchange, Lucas ma
Marcella, Esmeralda and the other captive women had felt the first tremor beneath their feet in their cell, a low rumble that reverberated through the concrete floor before they heard animalistic growls that grew louder. Their heads turned, their curious expressions morphing into fear as they slowly got on their feet and huddled backwards together. What kind of fighting was happening outside their cell that could cause such ground-shaking tremors? Before they could form answers to their unspoken questions, the rumbling intensified, causing the women to stumble and clutch at each other for balance. The cell's dim, harsh lighting swayed above them, casting eerie, elongated shadows on the cold, damp floor. Marcella turned to glance at Esmeralda, about to ask if this was a common occurrence but the baffled expression on her friend's gaunt face was all the answers she needed. She hadn't spent a day here but from the looks on everyone's faces, this wasn't normal at all.Then, without warni
The corridor stretched out before Anna and Lucas, a dimly lit passage that seemed to extend endlessly into the underground base. The walls looked like they were made of cold concrete, their surfaces marred with scuffs and scratches.It was a wide corridor, with three distinct pathways branching off from the central route and they had company. Very angry company. "That's her!"“That's the Shaman we've been looking–”"Get her!"Loud angry grunts and fiery growls filled the air as the rogue werewolves who were around the corridor when the main door was blasted open instantly charged at Anna. Her lips tightened into a determined line as she mentally prepared herself for the battle that was about to unfold.It seemed she had become something of a celebrity as she could see the deep malice and hatred in their gazes as they had instantly recognized her, probably from her distinct features as the ‘lady shaman who had killed their recruits.’ There was a thrill of excitement going through her
As Lucas slid into the driver's seat of his car, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly, he felt the pull of the bond with Marcella guiding him like an invisible thread, leading him to the unknown location where she was being held captive. It was a sensation he had never experienced before, a deep connection that went beyond anything he had felt even with his pack. He had full trust in it because there was no time to analyse it; Marcella's life depended on it. "I can feel her," he said to Anna who had joined him in the passenger's seat, his voice filled with urgency. "She's terrified out of her mind.""Stay strong, Lucas," Anna said, her voice soft yet filled with conviction. "The bond will lead us to her. We'll bring her back home."He pressed his foot on the gas pedal, the engine roaring to life as they sped through the streets. The bond seemed to grow stronger with every passing moment, pulling him in a specific direction. It was as if Marcella's presence was imprinted on h