Chapter 1 - Where it all began.

"Psst. Nessa? Ness! You shouldn't be staring at him," Riley, my bench mate tells me in a rushed whisper, trying but failing to be discreet. Her thick brows are raised and knitted together, even though her eyes look straight ahead at Mrs. Robinson — our biology teacher — who is blabbering about frogs. Ew

She places her hand over mine, trying to grab my attention. But I ignore her. 

Despite her continued whispered warnings, I don’t take my eyes away from him. I want to, but I just can’t. Not today.

I don’t see it, but I know Riley's bulbous eyes are widening as her voice grows restless. She sounds surprised. 

Riley isn’t a friend — even though we sit together in every class we share and she hangs out with me and my boyfriend, Niall. I can’t label her as an enemy either. She’s just a human cousin that I have to tolerate since we were born in the same year on the same island, Bellpond, which is isolated from the mainland by a long, wide bridge. 

"Why are you staring at him?" she asks again and I bury the urge of sealing her lips shut. What is that question even supposed to mean? Why wouldn't I stare at him? Riley says it like it’s an odd thing to do — look at Jordan — when literally every other girl in the class and some boys do the same. 

I pass her a wide-eyed, warning glare, and that shuts her up. 

Mrs. Robinson moves on to lizards. Double ew.

Jordan Hale, the target of my eyes and the center of attraction during that class, is completely unaware of my presence. Or of the fact that I have been looking at him for the whole while. 

I never do this, ever, but today is different. Like the previous day was. 

Jordan is quiet, unlike his usual self, and his amber eyes are lowered to the desk where his elbows rest. That bothers me a lot. I’m used to admiring him inconspicuously — his cheery voice booming through the classroom. And for the past two days, he has barely said more than a syllable in replies, and that too, in answer only to unavoidable questions. 

The reason? 

Well, his father died in a tragic fire accident three days ago. I did not know Mr. Hale up close, but every time I had the chance to see him, I had seen him as the cool dad, a great alpha to his pack, and a loving husband. 

Jordan's behavior is completely justifiable. He is now the alpha — not something anyone wants to be. Not on our island.

But I can’t see him that way. 

Needless to mention, I had a huge crush on him throughout middle school. He is a smart guy—good at everything. You name it. And despite his pack's reputation, he is nervous around people. 

For someone who can’t stop talking, I couldn’t utter a single word clearly in front of him and that’s what had made me realise. 

So I started embracing my one-sided feelings for him, sure that one day, I’d gather up the courage and ask him out. But then as I got older and wiser — as per my mom — I learnt the harsh truth of reality from my grandma. He is the forbidden fruit. A member of the not-rival, Blood Moon pack. Someone my grandma does not want to see me talking to.

No one openly expresses their enmity to each other because it is all cleverly hidden behind our facade of pretence. The two packs act friendly to each other but deep inside, each pack member's heart burns with the fire that was lit decades ago. 

Bellpond is prone to fights among its resident packs. About six decades ago, one such skirmish escalated into a full-blown war. According to the elders of my pack, the Silver Crescents, the conflict ignited with a werewolf from the Blood Moons. However, I'm certain the reports would differ if the other party were questioned.

During that tragic period, a significant portion of the werewolf community perished, including my grandfather. My dad was just a few months old then. It was also the phase when the human inhabitants of the island discovered our secret. Fortunately, they were understanding and made peace with the packs, promising to safeguard our secret until their graves. Since then, werewolves in Bellpond have found human mates. Despite the surface-level pretense of harmony between the packs, deep-seated hatred lingers within, a potent fuel waiting for that one spark—a flame that could engulf all of Bellpond.

But let's shift focus. That evening, my twelve-year-old self experienced what I described as a breakup, even though I've never been in a relationship with Jordan. I vividly remember crying through the night. Although I no longer harbour a crush on him, he seems more attractive than ever.

‘Not as attractive as Niall, though,’ I reassure myself.

Lost in thought, I continue observing Niall with concern, biting my lower lip. Suddenly, to my complete surprise, Jordan lifts his head, and our gazes meet. Panicking, I turn my head quickly, but it dawns on me, with a heavy weight on my chest, that I'm too late.

He's caught me.