Chapter 0001

Waves crashed, lapping at the dry sand ahead as sea birds flew overhead, caws escaping their open beaks. The day was perfect, a blue cloudless sky overhead and a nice spring breeze kept the air comfortable, not too hot, but not too cold.

I had decided to come here on a whim, only because I knew that he would be here. Although I didn’t necessarily need to randomly show up places to see him, I had to do it this time because I couldn’t let a certain someone know what I was up to.

It had been hard enough sneaking away from my house without Ashton noticing. If he knew that I was currently at the beach so that I could confess to his brother, then he would most certainly never let me live it down.

Ashton and Antoine were twins, both very blonde with deep grey eyes and the cutest dimples when they flashed those killer smiles. Both stood about 6’5 and were sun kissed to perfection. Add in their perfect builds and you could say any girl would fall head over heels. After all, I was one of those girls, so I understood the appeal.

We grew up together in the same pack since birth. Their father was our alpha and my father the beta, making Ashton and Antoine the next in line for the position as alpha and I would be their beta. That was the initial reason we became so close, but it was far from the only reason. A lot of it had to do with my stubbornness.

Neither of them really wanted anything to do with me in the beginning, finding me to be quite annoying. However, I decided that they would end up being my best friends, and so I continued to bother them until we finally clicked.

I hadn't always had feelings for Ashton. In the beginning I simply regarded him as a friend and nothing more, the same way I did Antoine. It wasn't until seven years ago that I began to see him as a man.

It happened late one night. I had gotten mad at my father for something stupid and ran out of the house alone and into the woods. Since I was so lost in my anger I hadn't paid attention to where I was going. I kept running and running until I found myself in unfamiliar territory. It seemed that I was alone, at least until I heard the sound of growling.

Looking around I tried to locate what was making the noise, that was when I came face to face with a lycan. Before this moment I hadn't ever seen a lycan, only heard stories about them. Finding myself facing off with one left me frozen in fear.

I remember screaming and then turning to run, but the lycan was much quicker. He managed to grab me by my hair and yank me back. I had just enough time to see a russet wolf charging towards me, before the lycan slashed his claws across my face leaving three long scratches across my skin. Blinded by blood the world around me ceased to exist.

After that I vaguely remember the russet wolf taking on the lycan before my world turned black. When I woke up I found myself in my room and Ashton was there with me. It was then that he explained how he single handedly took out the lycan and saved me.

After that day, I just couldn’t see him as a friend anymore.

Little things he did here and there would make my heart pound painfully in my chest. With just the simplest of smiles or laughs, I would feel pleasant tingles throughout my body. It was clear I was falling for him and after years of pining for him and watching him with many different girls, I decided it was time to take action.

Up until this point, I had been hesitant, simply because if this went bad, it would make things awkward. But, after watching him from afar and watching the girls come and go, I just couldn’t handle it anymore.

And that is why I managed to come here today. I knew that Ashton was coming early to surf like he usually does, and after drawing up all my courage, I found my way here.

After arriving, I had managed to spot him waiting for a wave, and since I knew it would be a while before he got out, I made myself comfortable on a dune and watched.

The way the man weaved in and out of those waves was very graceful and something to behold. No matter how you swung it, he was a sight to see. Not saying that Antoin, his twin, wasn't, but I just couldn’t stop my heart from reacting to Ashton.

"Haiden?" Ashton’s honey sweet voice drew me from my thoughts. "What are you doing here? I thought you were allergic to mornings."

Laughing at his terrible joke, Ashton shook his head, sending droplets of ocean water flying towards me.

"I can be up early, you know." I grumped while smiling. "I figured since I was up early and it was so beautiful outside, I would come and watch you surf. I haven’t seen it in a while, but you’ve improved a lot. "

"Of course I have." Ashton responded proudly. "I am the great Ashton Lawrence after all."

"Right, right, all bow down to his majesty."

Laughing, I threw a little sand at Ashton as he pretended that it truly hurt him. This was one of the many reasons that I couldn’t help but like this guy, his goofy personality. It was contagious and just drew people in.

"Any big plans for the rest of the day?" Ashton asked through snickers. "Training with your father or something?"

"Yeah, I’ve gotta head back soon before he realizes I’m gone and thinks that I’m skipping." I responded, feeling my heart begin to pound.

If I was going to confess, I needed to do it soon. There was no way that I could miss out on training with my father. He wouldn’t let me live it down.

"Then should you get going?" Ashton asked, raising a thick brow. "I don’t want your father to throw a temper tantrum."

"Sure, just one thing…." Taking a deep breath, I steadied my heart as I prepared to say what I wanted to say. "I actually have a confession to make."

"Confession?" Ashton repeated. "You aren’t going to tell me that you killed someone and need help hiding the body, right?"

Laughing Ashton bumped a shoulder against mine, before growing serious when he noticed that I wasn’t laughing.

"Oh god, Haiden, you didn’t..." Ashton began, only to stop when I held up a hand.

"That isn’t it." I said slowly, fixing my gaze with his. "Ashton, I wanted to tell you that I like you, have liked you for a long time. Ever since that day you saved me from that lycan, I haven’t been able to see anyone but you."

The air around us grew silent. All that could be heard was the ocean’s waves crashing and the sea birds cawing. Ashton kept his gaze fixed on mine, his face set in a blank mask as he took in what I had just said.

"Did you just say that you like me?" He asked, seeming confused. "Haiden, you can’t be serious."

"And why can’t I?" I demanded, immediately growing defensive.

"Haiden, I just don't see you like that," Ashton sighed, running his hand through his still damp hair.

With those words, it felt like the world around me had ceased to exist. I could hear my heart hammering in my chest and as it did so, small pieces of it broke bit by bit.

Ashton didn’t feel the same way that I did. I mean, what did I expect? Just because we were best friends didn’t mean that he had to reciprocate my feelings.

"I mean, I can’t really blame you for falling for me." He continued drawing me from the ice cold water that was threatening to drown me. "I am the future Alpha of The Blue Ridge Pack. Any she-wolf would fall for me. Anyway, don’t you think that this was a waste of time?"

A waste of time? Showing my feelings towards him was a waste of time? YOU HAD TO BE KIDDING ME!

"Listen here ass hole!" I snapped jumping up. "Who the hell would like you?"

"You just said…."

"It was a dare, only a dare." I said, trying to keep a calm expression on my face. "You may think you’re god’s gift to women, but I’m not the woman."

"Sure, so this was all a dare?" Ashton said even though he didn’t seem convinced. "Then, that’s fine, I guess."

"Yeah, anyway, I need to get back before dad realizes I’m gone."

Twirling, I began to make my way down the beach and back towards the main strip of town. All the while, I willed myself to hold it together. There was no way I could cry right now, no way was I going to let myself look like a heartbroken fool until I got back to the comfort of my own home.

Letting out a shaky breath, I quickened my pace just as tears began to sting my eyes. I didn’t know what exactly idiots thought they were doing when they fell for someone, but the feeling of rejection hurt like hell.