Midnight Visitor;

Eva stared at the mark on her chest in shock.

Faint purple veins traced a circular pattern. Right over her heart. It looked like a tattoo, but it wasn't. It was alive. Pulsing like a heartbeat.

"The seal," Elly said excitedly, her voice trembling. "The Alpha's seal! Eva, this is real! It's really real!"

But I was panicking.

"Wait, wait, wait!" I said, throwing my hands up. "How do we remove this? There has to be a way, right? A ritual? Magic? Laser? Acid?" My voice rose with growing panic.

Elly laughed.

"You can't remove it, Eva! This isn't a curse, it's a bond! You released the ancient wolf's spirit from the medallion. Don't you understand? He was trapped in wolf form for centuries. His mind was clouded, like an animal. Yesterday, you freed his spirit. Now he has an Alpha's consciousness!"

Eva furrowed her brows and muttered.

"Wait," I said. "He made me coffee. If he only has consciousness, how is he brewing coffee with paws?"

Elly's laughter stopped. Shock registered on her face. The seal wasn't complete. Which meant the Alpha couldn't have fully returned to human form. Lost in these circling thoughts, Elly jumped up from her seat. Her eyes widened.

"The seal has awakened but... it's not complete yet," she murmured. "I don't understand either. But maybe he can transform for short periods?"

Eva's curiosity began to rise.

"So... you're saying he becomes human at midnight?"

Elly nodded.

"The witching hour. The midnight oath, that might be why they call it that."

Eva's mind was confused. But one thing was becoming clear.

Joe.

She suddenly jumped to her feet. Fury flashed in her eyes.

"Joe," she said sharply. "It's definitely Joe doing all this. Who else could it be? I bet he left the flowers. He made the coffee. He's following me, trying to scare me!"

Elly laughed.

"Eva, no! Joe might be many things, but he's not the Alpha's body. I would have known by now. He's a beta. The Alpha is much more powerful, much more mystical."

"I think it's definitely him," Eva interrupted. Her voice was determined. "And if he tries to come again tonight, I won't give him a warm welcome."

That afternoon when she returned home, she was met with a surprise.

Joe.

He was leaning against his luxury pickup truck, waiting for her.

His hands were in his pockets. That cocky, arrogant smile on his face. His dark hair swayed slightly in the wind. His eyes swept over Eva from head to toe.

"I knew you had no one in town," he said casually. "But I can never find you home. Interesting!"

Eva walked toward the porch with an indifferent attitude.

"If you'd come inside," she said in a cold voice, "maybe you could have made us coffee again. It's cold out, I would have liked that." She laughed with a mocking expression.

Just as she was about to pass him, Joe moved suddenly.

He grabbed Eva by the waist. His strong hands lifted her body. Like she was a toy doll. He spun her around and set her on the truck's hood.

Eva was shocked. Her brows furrowed in anger, her hands didn't know where to go. She just froze.

"Get your hands off me, you mountain bear!" she shouted. "What kind of move is that!"

Joe took another step closer. He moved between her legs. He was very close. Very.

His warm breath hit her face. He growled in a deep, authoritative voice.

"You can compare me to an animal," he said, his eyes gleaming. "But a bear is too clumsy for me." He laughed with that infuriating, self-assured grin.

Then with his hand, he tucked Eva's ash-blonde hair behind her ear. His fingers' touch was soft. His eyes hungrily looked at her small pink lips.

"Make your choice carefully, Eva," he whispered. His voice was threatening yet seductive. "If you make the wrong decision, you might regret it forever."

Eva frowned. Anger exploded inside her at Joe's cocky and domineering attitude. She pulled her head back and headbutted Joe's nose hard.

But unlike Joe, the pain exploded in her head. It was like hitting a wall. She was literally getting a concussion. Tears came to her eyes.

"AHH!" she cried out, holding her head with her hands. "YOU BRAINLESS BLOCKHEAD!"

Joe let out a deep laugh. It was clear he was thoroughly enjoying himself.

"Brainless?" he said, laughing. "You said that? I warned you last time, told you it would hurt, but you tried it anyway."

He was still grinning with that infuriating smile.

Then he approached again. This time there was a different expression on his face. Admiration. Lust. Both mixed together.

"You're a completely different woman," he murmured. His eyes were smiling. "A rare creature, Eva. So defiant, yet so delicate. Enchanting."

Eva grimaced with the pain in her head.

"Get out of my way now!" she said, pushing him. "Don't ever come to my door or my house again! Otherwise, I'll claim self-defense and shoot you!"

Quickly, she jumped down from the truck's hood.

She started walking through the snow like an angry little penguin. Holding her head, staggering forward.

When she reached the door, she slammed it hard. But she could still hear Joe's laughter.

The war had begun.

And she had no intention of bowing to anyone.

This town kept surprising me, but now with this seal radiating heat on my chest, it had started to frighten me too.

Something was approaching, and I had no idea what it was.

As the sun set, I began preparations.

I'd learned from werewolf movies and books. Protection methods against supernatural beings.

I poured salt on the doorstep. In a line, unbroken.

At the windows too. Each one.

Then I took the silver forks and knives. I arranged them standing upright on the window sills. Their points facing outward.

Finally, I took the silver dagger that belonged to my grandmother.

It was heavy. Cold. But also reassuring.

"If he's human," I muttered, "I'll teach this creep a lesson. But if those wolves I saw are real..."

I gripped the dagger tightly.

"Silver will work," I hoped.

Long minutes passed. Finally, I settled into the armchair. I fixed my eyes on the door.

The fireplace was burning. Its light painted the room a soft yellow.

The clock showed 11:50.

Ten minutes until midnight.

I began to wait.

Soon after, the medallion suddenly began to heat up.

It was burning against my chest. It didn't hurt, but its warmth spread across my skin. Like fire.

Then...

I heard his voice.

Inside my head.

Raspy. Wild. Deep. Masculine.

But also... familiar.

"Are these preparations for me, Rose's daughter?"

I suddenly jumped to my feet.

My heartbeat had gone wild. I couldn't breathe.

"Who... who are you?" I shouted. "What do you want?"

I looked outside through the window. Pitch black darkness. No one was there. No amber eyes, no silver eyes. Nothing.

No one was in the house either. I was alone.

But the voice... the voice was so clear.

I heard it again. Like a whisper but also resonant. Echoing inside my head.

"It's me, my beloved mate. Kael!"

She was now certain that the Alpha wasn’t Joe!

And now, she was about to meet him...