Chapter 1 - Burned to Ashes

It was unfortunate that they seemed to make everyone believe the fire was started by accident, but Jessica knew better.

Jessica stood at the edge of her grandmother’s cabin, and the charred remains were all that was left of the memory of her. Her shoes loudly crunched over the harsh ground as the scent of death and ashes lingered in the air, stinging her nostrils. This wasn’t the way Jessica wanted to remember her Granny. It had been a decade since Jessica was forced out of her pack. The Moonfury Pack was cold and cruel, exiling the she-wolf and leaving her with nowhere to go. She had been homeless and left with nothing but a broken heart.

Now Jessica had returned to the dark thoughts surrounding her as she watched the last embers of what used to be her life turn into dust for good. Jessica was officially a loner, and the last member of her blood-related family had abandoned her for death. The chilled wind spiraled Jessica’s long red curls, and she wrapped her arms around her body to give herself a little warmth. Never feeling comfortable in this town, it was one reason she was relieved to escape. Jessica’s size had been mocked here; she was downtrodden and made to feel useless. Sure, she was curvy, but that was no reason to make her feel worthless. Especially by him, the most disgusting man she knew.

Kurt was Jessica’s first kiss. He was also her first heartbreak. He was also the first to call her awful names regarding her body size. Jessica was his “fat little chubster” and “little piggy,” as he affectionately called her. When she said no to giving her virginity to him before they sealed their mated bond, he tossed her aside like old trash, making sure the entire Pack humiliated Jessica and turned on her. He succeeded; she was nothing to them now.

That very night, as all Jessica’s emotions and stress came to the surface, she shifted. It was her very first experience shifting, meeting her wolf, and connecting with her. Jessica had never been so humiliated as they taunted her, tossing objects at her as the cruel words flew from their mouths. The she-wolf knew she had to escape, so she did. Jessica’s wolf cried in her mind as they ran. Her howls of grief and despair clung to her mind, a sound she would never forget, and never wanted to. Jessica owed her new-found wolf this, to free them both.

But now Jessica was back, back to the very place she had escaped from. It was just as vile as she once remembered, and the atmosphere felt toxic.

“Well, well. Look who has returned, my little Piggy.”

The voice behind her was sharp and cruel, too familiar, sending an instinctive shiver down her spine. Jessica turned slowly toward the voice, her heart pounding.

“Kurt,” She spoke his name as her stomach churned with distaste at seeing him.

Kurt was older now and taller. But he still had that arrogant sneer slapped across his face. The same one Jessica remembered after he would call her horrific names and taunts. His dark hair was longer than she remembered, and his jawline was stubbled. Kurt wore a leather jacket, just like he used to as a teenager. He had never grown out of thinking he was some badass rebel leader. Seeing Kurt’s face again reminded Jessica why she hated him so much.

“Are you thinking you can make me cry again?” Jessica said coolly, lifting her chin with confidence. “I’ve grown up now, I’m not that weak girl you once manipulated,” she said with confidence as she returned her sneer. “I can’t say you’ve grown up much. Is that the same leather jacket you wore as a kid?”

Kurt laughed cruelly in response. “Talk about me wearing something I wore ten years ago?” he asked, his sneer expanding. “At least I can fit into the clothes I wore back then. I’m surprised you even fit through the trees on the way in.”

Jessica curled her fingers into fists as she felt the anger rise inside her. The wolf stirred within, and Jessica knew she was ready for a fight with Kurt. Knowing she had to be the bigger person, Jessica had to calm down and show Kurt that his words no longer affected her. “It’s nice to see you haven’t matured, and you’re still clinging onto high school insults.”

Kurt stepped closer, his boots crunching over the ground as he moved closer to her. “You’ve still got that mouth on you, Jessie.” he paused, the sneer slapped across his face again. “It’s a shame you never put it to better use.”

Before Jessica could respond to Kurt’s vile comment, she noticed the air had become cooler. A chill traveled up her spine as the scent of grass and pine needles hit her senses from the wind swirling around the trees. It was then that Jessica noticed another figure standing within the trees, a tall figure darkened from the shadows. Unable to make out who he was, she felt a sensation fill her as she turned her eyes to him.

“Back off, Kurt.” The voice was gravel and honey both at the same time, and it sent a sensation around Jessica’s body like she had never experienced before. The sadness she was feeling seemed to turn into pleasure, almost arousal at the sound of his voice. The figure emerged from the trees. Broad shoulders and a muscled torso, encased beneath a black vest top that barely fit him. His amber eyes glowed with intensity as he watched Kurt, threatening him with his gaze. His long, dark hair swirled in the wind surrounding us.

Jack Hansen. Alpha of the Silk Star Pack. Enemy of the Moonfury Pack.

And even though Jack was Jessica’s old rival, there was something about him that drew her to him all of a sudden. He was once the Moonfury pack’s main rival, and now she feels something different towards Jack Hansen. Jack stopped beside Jessica, and she caught the sense of his entire body raging with territorial fury toward Kurt.

“What are you doing here, Jack?” Jessica asked coldly. “This is our conversation, please back off.”

His eyes flicked to her, slow and assessing. “I could ask you the same. But your scent...”

Jack’s eyes focused on Jessica, as if he stared deeply into her soul. “I could ask you the same,” he husked. “Your scent has changed, and I’m so allured by you.”