Chapter 1EvelynI observe my father when he rolls down the window in the car and inhales deeply.“Ah, can you smell the fresh air?” he chirps with a hint of wonder and excitement that only a true nature enthusiast can understand. He takes several deep breaths. I can see the joy in his eyes in the review mirror, as he takes in the beauty of the surrounding landscape. He is so excited that we are moving back to his home state, Idaho. I feel sick to my stomach, but I don’t want to spoil his mood, so I nod and hope he buys it. He glances at me through the review mirror, and I nod again. It seems to do the trick, and he smiles warmly at me.We have been driving for hours, and my back is sore. I need to stretch my legs, and I want to freshen up.Our black SUV is jam-packed with all the belongings the moving company didn't take. I'm 18 and still growing, so it's been rather uncomfortable sitting in the back seat with boxes piled up beside me. My mother and little sister are in the smaller c
Chapter 2EvelynThe diner fell into a tense silence, and I’m too stunned to speak. My dad had moved swiftly to stand beside me and now shot stern looks in Sandy and the man's direction. Neither of them responds. The quiet lingered until my dad spoke once more. Others were eager to say something, but they were all waiting for my dad to give them the go-ahead.My father was an influential figure that inspired respect whenever he was around. Everyone followed his instructions, and I never saw him fail to get people to do what he wanted. He was physically imposing, virtually looming over others with his dark hair and grey eyes. His gaze cut through anyone as if he were peering through a laser beam. In contrast, I had lighter hair and so did my sister and mother too."Gareth, it's been a while," my father says, never taking his eyes off them. "It appears you're still in town. We'll need to talk later."The words were not a request, but a command. There was a strange familiarity in the exc
Chapter 3JakeI almost overlooked our typical get-together with my entire pack this evening. But the moment I stepped out of the car, I knew that the evening at diner was going to be special. I had an indescribable feeling that something was going to happen here, something extraordinary.I was in the middle of my conversation with my friends, discussing future plans, when my heart skipped a beat. Perplex about the physical reaction I suddenly had, I looked outside through the window. I stopped in my tracks as I watched a woman step out of the car. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. Her golden locks cascaded down her back, her curves just right. She looked like a goddess—one I would gladly worship. I was mesmerized. As if the surrounding air had become thick. I couldn't breathe. My heart was beating widely. She was the one. The one for me. It was something out of a fairytale; me finding her here.My heart raced as I watched her, my palms already sweating. I could tell e
Chapter 4EvelynI was curled up behind the front door, silently trembling and gripping my arms tightly around myself. My breathing was shallow, my thoughts a buzzing mess. If my father didn’t come home, what would I do? Who would I call? Who, if anyone, would believe me? Deep down, I knew no one would come running to my aid, and the fear of this knowledge was all-consuming.The hours dragged on, and exhaustion took over. I attempted to stay awake, but sleep inevitably overcame me. It had been a tiring day. As I drifted off, my subconscious heard the sound of footsteps echoing in my mind. For a moment, a glimmer of hope rooted inside of me. The front door opened with a loud creak and then slammed shut. A figure emerged from the shadows and into the dim light of the hallway.I must have passed out from exhaustion the night before, because when I woke up it was already morning. I opened my eyes to a strange room I had never seen before and, judging by the dust that had settled on the wo
Jake I drew my eyes to the stunning figure of Evelyn at soon she got out of the car. She wore blue jeans and a tank top that swayed in the breeze, highlighting her loose locks, which carried her sweet fragrance in my direction. My body tensed with anticipation as my gaze followed her every move. I was aware of Jacob's presence beside me, as he was trying to pull me back from the brink of what I knew he saw as ill-advised behavior. My brothers were entranced with her presence, as was I, but my admiration came from a different place. She had an aura of power that was infectious, and I knew she was going to be an essential part of our pack. Everyone at the school had their eyes on her as she gracefully glided towards the entrance of our school. But I could not take my eyes off her. She was the most beautiful woman on Earth, and I doubted she even realized it - or did she? She was the embodiment of perfection - graceful and elegant in every way. Her skin glowed with health, and her smil
EvelynThe memories from my last two years haunted me like ghosts, coming uninvited in my dreams and waking hours. It often awakened me in the middle of the night, gasping for air, my sheets drenched in sweat. The faces of my former best friend, Carrie, and my ex-boyfriend, Eric, were etched in my mind; their cruel laughter echoed in my ears, their taunts still ringing in my ears.I lay there in the darkness, feeling their presence like a weight on my chest, and I longed to outrun the pain, the humiliation. I wanted to be free of them and their smoke-filled laughter, and I tried to tell myself to just forget it, but I could never forget. The memories were too vivid, too real. They were like a fog that followed me around, clouding my judgment and holding me back. As if I was still in the nightmare, and there was no escape.It happened all over again last night, but I found solace in something. One of the fluffiest pillows on planet earth embraced me. The scent was a mix of cocoa and ja
Chapter 7 EvelynI was still on edge from the nightmares I had had that night. No amount of conversation with my father had got rid of the anxiety. I wasn't sure if I had convinced myself or my father more than before.The nightmares refused to be forgotten, and I was in a constant state of anxiety. My heart raced as I thought of him: Eric. It was too soon; I hadn't even healed. Everything I'd thought I had with him, our relationship, my friendship with Carrie; all of it had been a lie. What kind of person would do that? What kind of evil person would try to destroy me like that?My heart was beating so fast. It couldn’t be, could it? The thought of seeing Eric again made me sweat. I couldn’t stand it.It seemed to take an eternity before my dad finally made his way to the door. As he opened it, I couldn't bring myself to breathe. He had opened the door without a peep, like it was an ordinary day. But I couldn't stand in the dark any longer. I worked up the nerve and dared a glance p
Jake There is a rogue in our territory. And It’s fast. The ancient mountains that tower over the land are also the boundaries of our territory. The wide and deep lakes has the same function. The land itself seem to recognize this division, as if it had been so for a very long time, perhaps since the beginning of time. This was our territory, and it was ours alone. We protected it fiercely, patrolling the perimeter daily and patrolling the interior every few days. This was the legacy of our pack, and we accepted this duty of protection with the utmost seriousness. The terrain of our land was diverse and beautiful. We had vast forests full of evergreens, towering mountains, clear lakes, and meadows filled with wildflowers. We roamed these lands with pride, knowing that we were the chosen ones tasked with safeguarding this sacred place. The pack had been hunting for the rogue for nearly an hour now. They had tracked it to the border of our eastern territory, and now they could see it
Chapter 35JakeAllison's face flushed pink as Evelyn pressed her on the details of her former love interest. She moved uneasily from foot to foot and glanced up at Harper for reassurance. I, however, had a different feeling entirely. I felt a pang of anxiety as Allison began to answer Evelyn's questions about her dating life. Harper appeared unfazed, but I had a bad feeling about something. It wasn't the name Dylan that caused my trepidation, it was his last name- Broadhall- that brought forth several warning bells in my mind.Wait," I said, cutting into the conversation. "Dylan Broadhall?"Allison shifted nervously and nodded. Harper looked at me curiously, evidently unaware of the unnamed fear that had been triggered in me.I hadn't seen Dylan in years, and the last thing I wanted was to start rumors about him. I tried to find the right words to convey the warning without going into too much detail.It seemed as if a rogue was roaming the lands trying to get Allison. But this wasn'
Chapter 34EvelynThe entrance into the world of werewolves and lycans brought a mysterious sort of enchantment. It was impossible to explain it with mere words. The strength of the mate-bond astounded me; it felt almost like I had become one unified entity with another being. Initially, this sensation left me confused, but as each day went by, I grew more accustomed to it, as if I had always belonged in this society.Jake gave me something to think about when he told me the story of a legendary werewolf with two mates: one that brought life, and another that took it away. It seemed far-fetched, but it gave us ideas on how to address Allison’s health concerns. Ever since I came back to Bluehills—the home of my ancestors—I had more strength and abilities. I felt like I finally belonged, especially after discovering this world and meeting my soulmate.I had thankfully donned a dark blue summer dress and some sneakers, so that I could keep up with Jake’s breakneck speed. His long strides
Chapter 33JakeSince Evelyn welcomed me as her partner, life had become much simpler. I could sleep, eat and function normally now. Her family generously allowed me to stay with them in their home. How fortunate for me! This positive relationship we share has made everything easier. Hearing about Allison's health struggles shocked me. She had been born with this illness, but it got much worse after she turned sixteen.That was awful, but I wondered about how her sickness had gotten worse after her sixteenth birthday. Werewolves can sense their mates at sixteen, but they have been smelling scents since birth because it's difficult to track down their mate. It can take time for the werewolf gradually to recognize who their mate is, at least until they turn 16.I quizzed Harper about Allison, and he told me he was familiar with her scent. It was strange, as they had never met before. This got me to thinking: what if her ailment had something to do with mates? What if she had two mates —
Chapter 31EvelynJake entered our lodge, and he had some words with my sister. When I hear a wolf howling, my sisters’ gasps and I watch a tearful union of a new couple of fated mates- Harper and Allison.There were laughs, tears but also joy.It was replaced later by a deep sense of understanding and compassion, the kind only two people who have endured many of life’s trials and tribulations together can understand. Tears streamed down their faces as they embraced each other, both overcome with emotion.As I looked, my own emotions swell up within me. I realized that life was too short to be consumed by anger and bitterness, that sometimes it was necessary to forgive the ones we love and move forward with our lives. A wave of healing washes over me as I watched the two of them, two people who were fated to be together, despite all the hurt and pain they would be facing.The sight before me was both beautiful and heartbreaking. Two people who were meant to be together, but only for a
Chapter 30EvelynI kept myself busy enough that I didn't have to think too much about everything that had happened over the last couple of weeks. I had so many questions and I was in no position to hunt them down. Jake was still following me, his eyes on me, but I refused to turn around. I had an idea of what he desired to discuss, but I was not prepared for it.My dad had tried to explain to me that Jake was hurting too, but I couldn't understand it. I wasn't ready to embrace him just yet, and I didn't acknowledge all the new information they provided me. All I wanted to do was get through the school days and get back home.The only thing I could do was concentrate on my studies because I was so exhausted. I attended classes, took notes, and tried to stay away from Jake. I knew he wouldn't give up so easily, but I could at least postpone our conversation. As I walked to my next class, I felt like I was in a trance, going through the motions and pushing away all my worries. And so, i
Chapter 29JakeIt had been fourteen days since I last spoke to Evelyn. Our conversation left her shocked, and I really couldn't fault her for feeling that way. Her parents, not disclosing details about her past, were a true hurdle for her, and I struggled to comprehend how people could hold back such essential facts. He told me his motives were serious and vital. But still.I had hoped that we would resolve things during our time away from each other, but it had left us both in a state of confusion. We had texted, and I had called her several times.Sitting alone in our pack house, I attempted to make sense of the seemingly senseless. I still could not answer the question of why someone would withhold such vital information from their own child, and soon discovered that the only way forward was to travel to the source and get answers.They silently greeted me each time I attempted to visit their home. Not her father, but Evelyn. She wouldn't even look me in the eye. Her father merely
Chapter 28EvelynMy father sat me down on the old leather sofa. It was black, with soft cushions scattered across it, providing a certain comfort, a sanctuary from the world. As I looked around the living room in the small cottage, I had a compulsive desire to scrub and tidy, as if I was avoiding something by doing so.Whatever my father wanted to discuss, I knew, as soon as I saw my father's eyes, that this was something big.The room had an oppressive silence that seemed to hang over us like a heavy, invisible blanket of tension.The room was deathly quiet now that everyone had left. I sat alone on the sofa, my hands fidgeting in my lap, an anxious knot forming in my stomach. He had instructed everyone to leave, and they obeyed without question.I saw Jake as he made his way out of the door. He was the last to leave, and our eyes met for a split second before he turned away. His gaze filled with sadness, as if he was sorry for me. But sorry for what?“Evelyn,” my father spoke slowl
Chapter 27JakeYesterday was overwhelming. I expected to go to battle to search for my mate, but I abandoned that plan. Instead, I joined forces with my father, brothers, and a handful of pack mates and we set off into the forest to seek Evelyn.But something happens. Well, someone happens. A presence emerged and took in charge of the situation. It was no stranger, in fact, in was Evelyn’s father.The tall, imposing figure of Evelyn's father materialized in the forest, his presence cutting through the stillness of the night like a hot knife through butter. In the dim moonlight, his features were sharp and angular, like a majestic eagle in flight. The stern, dark eyes peered around the forest with a piercing intensity, as he seemed to take in and assess every detail of his surroundings. He was a Lycan. It suddenly made sense. Mr. Black was a Lycan, but he was also a powerful leader and protector amongst the werewolf community and his power radiated from him like an unspoken promise.J
Chapter 26EvelynI was fumbling my way through the dense forest in what I thought was the right direction. On this airless, still dark morning, the trees seemed to be a hundred stories tall, and looming in the darkness, they seemed to whisper secrets and stories that I did not understand. Although I felt like someone or something was watching me, no matter how hard I tried, I could never quite catch sight of it. My steps were heavy and unsure, but somehow I kept going, propelled by an unknown force that guided me.As I trudged onwards, the presence became more and more palpable, and I should have been scared, but inexplicably, I wasn’t. I had just escaped from a kidnapping, and all the long days and nights filled with adrenaline had finally taken its toll on me. But, strangely, instead of feeling exhausted, I felt recharged and alive, in more ways than one. I uplifted my fatigue, replaced it with a new aliveness that came from within me. It was as if some part of me had awoken from a