From where it all started!

EMMA - FLASHBACK (ONE YEAR AGO)

Today is my last day at college, and after this, I’ll be pursuing my dream of becoming a vet. It's my passion, and I’m determined to achieve it. I get up from bed, take a refreshing shower, and put on my yellow dress. As I glance at my reflection in the mirror, I smile—feeling beautiful. My black hair falls to my waist, and my face is clear, though not quite as flawless as my sister Violet’s. She is the epitome of beauty.

I leave my room and find my dad making a delicious breakfast. I hug him from behind and say, “Good morning, Dad.” He turns around and kisses me on the forehead. He’s the most loving dad. I’ve never met my mom, but Dad has always made sure we never feel her absence. He never talks about what happened to her and always avoids the subject until Violet and I forget about it and get busy with our lives.

“Good morning, princess,” he says cheerfully, and the smell of fresh pancakes fills the air. “I love chocolate pancakes!” I say, my mouth watering.

“Call your sister Violet first. That lazy girl must still be asleep,” he says. Violet is Dad’s favorite, and I don’t mind because she’s the firstborn and two years older than me.

I walk into Violet’s room, and of course, she’s still sleeping. I approach her and shout, “Violet, wake up!” She jumps and glares at me.

“Emma, I’m going to kill you!” she says, though she still looks beautiful even when she’s angry. I envy her golden-brown hair and perfect features. No wonder every guy in college fawned over her—she was the most beautiful girl there. It’s only after she graduated that I started getting some attention from the boys. The truth is, I’m different from Violet. I don’t fit in with their crowd, and none of them understand me. Meanwhile, Violet has the perfect boyfriend. Liam is amazing in every way, and they make the perfect couple. Sometimes, I feel a little jealous of Violet, because she has everything she wants, but she’ll always be my favorite person.

“Oh no, I’m meeting Liam today for my modeling shoot,” Violet says, panic in her voice.

“He’s your boyfriend. He’s not going to care if you’re late,” I roll my eyes at her dramatics.

“You don’t understand, my sweet little sister,” she says as she sits up, looking for something to wear.

“Dad’s calling you for breakfast, so hurry up, supermodel.” I leave her to get ready and run to the table to enjoy my pancakes.

An hour later, Violet comes down in a white top paired with a pink skirt. Her sense of style is impeccable, but I could never pull off such an outfit.

“Good morning, my princess. Don’t you think that skirt’s a little too short?” Dad says, his tone disapproving.

“Dad, it’s fashion,” Violet shrugs. “And I’m late for my shoot.”

She sits down, unconcerned that the pancakes are cold now. She only eats salads all day to stay fit.

“Dad, I need to ask you something,” Violet says.

“What is it, princess?” Dad asks, his gaze still on his plate.

“I want to train to become a wolf,” she says, and there’s an awkward silence.

“You know my answer,” Dad replies sternly. “I don’t want my daughters involved in the wolf life.”

We are wolves, but we can’t shift because Dad insists on giving us a normal life. He used to be the alpha of a pack, but after Mom’s death, he left everything behind, and no one knows the real reason why.

“I heard my wolf voice last night. I want to understand my true self. Please, Dad, tell me about the wolf life,” Violet insists.

This is news to me—I’ve never heard my wolf voice, but it’s no surprise that miracles seem to happen to Violet.

“Enough, Violet. The answer is no,” Dad’s voice turns colder, more commanding, like an alpha. “I won’t let my daughters’ lives be destroyed like mine. Live your life as a normal human being, if you truly love me.”

Violet huffs in frustration but says nothing more. We finish breakfast in silence, then move on with our day.

It’s my last day at The Collins College in Italy. I walk inside and spot Liza, my best friend. She’s holding a magazine, and her bubbly personality always manages to lift my spirits. Liza comes from a family of witches, and she knows I’m from a wolf family. We’ve both been running from our realities, as our parents are determined to give us normal lives for reasons unknown.

“Somebody looks extra pretty today,” Liza says, smiling.

“Thanks, girl. What’s that you’ve got there?” I ask, reaching for the magazine. Liza quickly hides it behind her back.

“What’s going on?” I ask, suspicious.

“It’s nothing, really. By the way, Adam’s looking for you,” she says, avoiding my gaze.

Adam—my crush since day one at college. I grab the magazine from her hands while she’s distracted, and see the cover: Violet’s bikini shoot. She looks stunning.

“Why didn’t you tell me about this?” I ask her.

“I know you don’t like it when Violet gets all the attention,” she says, understanding me better than anyone.

“Thanks for understanding, but don’t worry—I want the best for her too. She’s my sister, after all.”

“And let me tell you, you have the best soul, something Violet doesn’t,” Liza winks, and we both burst out laughing. She always knows how to make me smile.

“Anyway, Adam’s waiting for you in the college park,” Liza says, nudging me.

I blush at the thought of finally talking to him. He’s the hottest guy in college, and I wonder why he asked for me.

“Oh, Emma, don’t go turning red now! Go meet Adam before he gets frustrated,” Liza says, pushing me toward the door.

I run toward the park, my heart racing. What if I’m too late? I start to imagine him holding my hand, wondering what his lips would taste like—what am I thinking? I need to calm down.

When I reach the park, I spot him pacing around. He looks even hotter than usual, and I love how he styles his hair. Our eyes meet, and he smiles.

“Hey, Emma. You look beautiful today,” he says, making my heart skip a beat.

“And you look handsome, as always,” I reply, my face burning with a blush.

“I know this might sound stupid, but today is our last day at college, and I’ve been wanting to say something to you for a long time, but never had the courage,” he says, his tone serious.

Suddenly, it feels like a dream as he drops to one knee. My heart is racing.

“Emma, I’ve liked you since the moment I saw you, and I want you to be my girlfriend. Please, say yes.”

I can’t believe this is happening to me.

“Adam Smith, I’d love to be your girlfriend,” I say, bending down to hug him.

We look into each other’s eyes, full of love. The sunlight makes his skin glow, and in that moment, I realize I’ve never seen anyone more handsome.

This is my dream come true—my reality. I have a man who loves me for who I am, and thankfully, he’s not interested in my sister.