LeoThe door busts open, letting in about a dozen police officers who throw themselves into my apartment. Their shouts fill my house and three German Shepherds frantically search the area. I watch as three other officers follow the dogs as they move to the sink and away in uncertainty. Two police officers walk to me. I slowly get up, glaring at them before they get to me. How are people going to take me seriously when I look this fucking weak?“What the fuck?” I roar in a low tone, keeping my eyes on them. The rest of the officers are not paying attention. Instead, they search the cupboards, yelling at each other to work faster. “Sir, you are under suspicion.” One officer who looks young, and probably fresh out of the academy, says timidly.“For what?”“Drug creation,” the authoritative brunette lady next to him chimes in. “Sir, we are really going to need you to co-operate. These allegations against you are serious.”“There are other cops in your other apartments. It is said that
LeoAfter tossing the entire night, I prepare myself for work in my lab on campus. That’s all I need right now, as much distraction as possible. I feel a growth of my emptiness within. There's Asclepius’ silence, the recently broken mate bond, and Willow’s coldness.It’s a relief that Willow knows what I have done and doesn’t think of me as a saint, but the weight of what I have done still weighs down on my shoulders. Her image of when she was crying and screaming on the floor keeps replaying itself in my mind, causing me to wince.After leaving my car in the parking lot, I head to her dorm room to find her locking up and dressed up in a pretty red dress. She looks up at me, her eyes cold and unwelcoming.“How are you feeling?” I ask her, surprised that my hands are slightly shaking.“I’m okay,” she says dismissively. “What are you doing here?”“You are not okay, you were crying your eyes out yesterday.”“And whose fault is that?” She glowers at me, but gestures for me to get in. “
Willow “Leo, please leave.” I look up at him. My eyes avert to the pencil on the floor. He picks it up and gazes at me. My heart beats faster as his eyes burrow into mine, his face void of emotions. “Leo?” I whisper. His jaw clenches, he exhales, and then opens his mouth as if he is about to say something. Then he walks out. I open my mouth, but I decide against asking if he ate something, or what on Earth is he doing on campus when he is supposed to be recovering? My phone rings as I lock the door to head to my meeting with Jeremy. Jeremy’s name appears as my screen flashes. Jeremy apologetically tells me he has to cancel our plans, informing me he has an emergency meeting with his agent because of his fan meeting. “I’m so sorry, Jeremy. I didn’t mean to get you into trouble.” “You didn’t. I had so much fun. But, why did I risk my career for you?” “You have just said...” “Just in case I’m in trouble,” he interjects. “I know that the cops weren’t happy.” He laughs. “You kno
Willow “Like in werewolf books?” I ask in what I hope is a nonchalant manner. “Yeah, you know I never read those, too much fantasy.” She says dismissively. “You watch vampire and werewolf movies, Chloe.” “Yes, to see the hot guys.” I murmur in agreement, and we both end up giggling. “So, he was doing this to imitate what he read in books? He is such a geek.” She rolls her eyes. I let out an uncomfortable chuckle. “What did he say in return?” “He said he accepted my rejection,” she says absent-mindedly. “That was when I felt the intense pain. The pain is gone, but I feel this sadness and emptiness.” “Nnnno! It can’t be,” I mumble. “Can’t be what?” “Nothing.” I shake my head. “It’s just a stupid theory that I have.” “You believe in werewolves?” “Of course not,” I shake my head. “Oh! No, you do,” she says in an accusatory tone. “You are a scientist, Willow. Even a five-year-old probably knows that it’s impossible.” “I assure you, I don’t believe in that,” I say defensively
Willow “You managed to protect your little boyfriend?” I shiver as Liam’s warm breath slightly tickles my neck. “I underestimated you.” “I need to turn around. I want to face you,” I try to keep a steady voice. “Anything you want, babe,” he whispers before letting go and taking only two steps back. I turn around to face him, a smile plastered on my face, hoping that he can’t hear my loud heartbeat. I cover the trembling of my voice with a chuckle, “Do you think you've learnt your lesson?” “You think you are now invincible?” He chuckles bitterly. “Let me tell you about Leo, he is acting like he can stand you because he feels sorry for you, and he wants to spite me. Once I’m done with you and out of your life, he will be done, too. He will find a way to get rid of his ridiculous guilt. Leo will never ever get committed to anyone and I feel sorry for you. Ask him if he ever had a girlfriend.” “What do you mean when you say when you are done with me? You don’t own me!” “I can stil
Willow I lean against a wall, the sharp pain returning, prompting me to hold on to my chest. My eyes sting with tears and my knees wobble as if they are carrying the entire planet. I find myself walking slower than a tortoise, the pain getting stronger. “Are you okay?” A distant voice asks, followed by a hand on my shoulder and another one on my elbow. “Let me help you,” the stranger says softly. She places my arm around her shoulder and puts a hand on my waist. We take small steps to my room, the stranger patiently moving as slowly as I go. I hand over the keys to her and she opens the door. She helps me take off my shoes and get into bed. “I’ll call the campus health services. They will get here in less than five minutes.” She takes out her phone. I take a sharp breath and I close my eyes. “No, I’ll be fine. I just need to sleep it off.” “I can’t leave you like this. I’m going to stay for a minute.” “Willow? Willow?” I slightly open my eyes at the sound of a knock on the do
Liam should be here already. I have never spent more than ten minutes in this forest without him magically appearing, but tonight, it has been an hour. The wind stings my eyes as I pace back and forth between the towering trees.Then I hear cheers and people clapping. My heart beats louder, warning me that I have moved too far into the forest and no one would find me if something happened to me. I contemplate going back to campus to take a nap while I wait, but I miss him too much and his phone is off, so a few more minutes of waiting won't hurt.My curiosity gets the better of me, and I slowly walk towards the noise, while praying that it is not a cult whereby they celebrate making a human sacrifice. I see Liam and Lucy and kissing as if it is a wedding ceremony, then the cheers get louder. I blink, hoping to wake up from this nightmare, but every time I open my eyes, I discover that I’m still in the dark and Cursed Forest dimly lit by the crescent moonlight.I take a few steps ba
Leo 'What the hell did you just do?' Liam charges towards me as he shifts mid-air. 'You wanted to kill her!' I send him a mind-link. 'I wanted to reject her!' 'But you don’t know how your rejection might affect her.' 'Why are you concerned about her? Do you want her?' He growls. 'Don't be ridiculous!' 'I didn't know you could be so heartless, I was trying to set her free.' 'This isn't about her, it's always about you.' 'You can have her, I don't care. She is of no use to me. Let me reject her fir...' 'She is your mate!' I snap. 'You should look in the mirror. You rejected three mates. You have no right to judge me.' 'You are not going to reject her!' 'I can't have a human mate, man. Especially since there is a possibility of...' He trails off. 'Being the alpha in the future?' I interject, the bitterness in my tone unmasked. 'I don’t see why not. Especially since Alpha Hunter can’t stand...' I hiss, and with a growl, I make slow threatening movements towards h
Willow I lean against a wall, the sharp pain returning, prompting me to hold on to my chest. My eyes sting with tears and my knees wobble as if they are carrying the entire planet. I find myself walking slower than a tortoise, the pain getting stronger. “Are you okay?” A distant voice asks, followed by a hand on my shoulder and another one on my elbow. “Let me help you,” the stranger says softly. She places my arm around her shoulder and puts a hand on my waist. We take small steps to my room, the stranger patiently moving as slowly as I go. I hand over the keys to her and she opens the door. She helps me take off my shoes and get into bed. “I’ll call the campus health services. They will get here in less than five minutes.” She takes out her phone. I take a sharp breath and I close my eyes. “No, I’ll be fine. I just need to sleep it off.” “I can’t leave you like this. I’m going to stay for a minute.” “Willow? Willow?” I slightly open my eyes at the sound of a knock on the do
Willow “You managed to protect your little boyfriend?” I shiver as Liam’s warm breath slightly tickles my neck. “I underestimated you.” “I need to turn around. I want to face you,” I try to keep a steady voice. “Anything you want, babe,” he whispers before letting go and taking only two steps back. I turn around to face him, a smile plastered on my face, hoping that he can’t hear my loud heartbeat. I cover the trembling of my voice with a chuckle, “Do you think you've learnt your lesson?” “You think you are now invincible?” He chuckles bitterly. “Let me tell you about Leo, he is acting like he can stand you because he feels sorry for you, and he wants to spite me. Once I’m done with you and out of your life, he will be done, too. He will find a way to get rid of his ridiculous guilt. Leo will never ever get committed to anyone and I feel sorry for you. Ask him if he ever had a girlfriend.” “What do you mean when you say when you are done with me? You don’t own me!” “I can stil
Willow “Like in werewolf books?” I ask in what I hope is a nonchalant manner. “Yeah, you know I never read those, too much fantasy.” She says dismissively. “You watch vampire and werewolf movies, Chloe.” “Yes, to see the hot guys.” I murmur in agreement, and we both end up giggling. “So, he was doing this to imitate what he read in books? He is such a geek.” She rolls her eyes. I let out an uncomfortable chuckle. “What did he say in return?” “He said he accepted my rejection,” she says absent-mindedly. “That was when I felt the intense pain. The pain is gone, but I feel this sadness and emptiness.” “Nnnno! It can’t be,” I mumble. “Can’t be what?” “Nothing.” I shake my head. “It’s just a stupid theory that I have.” “You believe in werewolves?” “Of course not,” I shake my head. “Oh! No, you do,” she says in an accusatory tone. “You are a scientist, Willow. Even a five-year-old probably knows that it’s impossible.” “I assure you, I don’t believe in that,” I say defensively
Willow “Leo, please leave.” I look up at him. My eyes avert to the pencil on the floor. He picks it up and gazes at me. My heart beats faster as his eyes burrow into mine, his face void of emotions. “Leo?” I whisper. His jaw clenches, he exhales, and then opens his mouth as if he is about to say something. Then he walks out. I open my mouth, but I decide against asking if he ate something, or what on Earth is he doing on campus when he is supposed to be recovering? My phone rings as I lock the door to head to my meeting with Jeremy. Jeremy’s name appears as my screen flashes. Jeremy apologetically tells me he has to cancel our plans, informing me he has an emergency meeting with his agent because of his fan meeting. “I’m so sorry, Jeremy. I didn’t mean to get you into trouble.” “You didn’t. I had so much fun. But, why did I risk my career for you?” “You have just said...” “Just in case I’m in trouble,” he interjects. “I know that the cops weren’t happy.” He laughs. “You kno
LeoAfter tossing the entire night, I prepare myself for work in my lab on campus. That’s all I need right now, as much distraction as possible. I feel a growth of my emptiness within. There's Asclepius’ silence, the recently broken mate bond, and Willow’s coldness.It’s a relief that Willow knows what I have done and doesn’t think of me as a saint, but the weight of what I have done still weighs down on my shoulders. Her image of when she was crying and screaming on the floor keeps replaying itself in my mind, causing me to wince.After leaving my car in the parking lot, I head to her dorm room to find her locking up and dressed up in a pretty red dress. She looks up at me, her eyes cold and unwelcoming.“How are you feeling?” I ask her, surprised that my hands are slightly shaking.“I’m okay,” she says dismissively. “What are you doing here?”“You are not okay, you were crying your eyes out yesterday.”“And whose fault is that?” She glowers at me, but gestures for me to get in. “
LeoThe door busts open, letting in about a dozen police officers who throw themselves into my apartment. Their shouts fill my house and three German Shepherds frantically search the area. I watch as three other officers follow the dogs as they move to the sink and away in uncertainty. Two police officers walk to me. I slowly get up, glaring at them before they get to me. How are people going to take me seriously when I look this fucking weak?“What the fuck?” I roar in a low tone, keeping my eyes on them. The rest of the officers are not paying attention. Instead, they search the cupboards, yelling at each other to work faster. “Sir, you are under suspicion.” One officer who looks young, and probably fresh out of the academy, says timidly.“For what?”“Drug creation,” the authoritative brunette lady next to him chimes in. “Sir, we are really going to need you to co-operate. These allegations against you are serious.”“There are other cops in your other apartments. It is said that
“Leo, please give me that,” I hold out my hand. “I’m sorry,” he shakes his head. “I will get you bodyguards if I have to, but I’m not staying.” “You are being unreasonable! You are being a coward.” “Willow, what you are trying to do won’t work. I deserve this.” “Every night before I fell asleep, I imagined myself making a person who created limbicus suffer. When Liam told me it was you, I got so mad, I felt betrayed. I wanted to make you pay.” I blink back the tears. “I never thought I would meet the person who created limbicus and say these words to him, but I want you to forgive yourself. You are a good person, I don’t care what you think.” “How did you buy this?” He wrinkles his nose as he gazes at the packet in his hand. I feel a sting after my ignored speech. “Liam did.” “I thought as much.” He clenches his jaw. “If I go to jail, I think he will set you free. You will be of no use to him.” “Use?” I chuckle awkwardly. “Liam and I started dating before I met you, we didn’t
Willow TW: Mild mention of suicide “Whoa! The hottest TA on campus needs my help?” Jeremy’s still cheerful voice says on the other end. “Jeremy, you are such a flirt,” I force a chuckle. “Only with you.” I force another flirty chuckle. “So, to what do I owe the pleasure?” He asks. “Jeremy...” I hesitate. “I need your help.” “If I help you with whatever you need. What do I get out of it?” “Anything.” “Hmmm... How about a date?” He asks as if the idea has just popped into his mind. “Fine,” I sigh. “A date is okay. We will never ever be together, just to be clear.” “I just want to spend a day talking to you. What do you need, my queen?” “If you said this under normal circumstances, I would be blushing right now,” my lips slightly curl up. “I need you to organize a fan meeting at the location that I will send to you, and it needs to be held right now. Just do something, do some fan signing and stuff.” “Now?”“Two dates?” I plead. “I don’t want to come as desperate to my fan
Willow I walk into Chloe’s hospital room, half expecting her to be asleep, but I find her sitting up, her eyes focused on her phone. “Chloe!” I throw myself in bed next to her and hold her in a tight hug. “Are you my sister?” She places her palm on my forehead. “Are you okay?” “I’m fine,” I chuckle. “I’m glad,” she grins. “Willow, Leo loves you. He can’t even hide it, everyone can see it. His protectiveness, the way he looks at you, and how his eyes light up when you are around.” “He’s supposed to be your man,” I frown in confusion. “We both know he would do anything for you,” she shrugs. “Because he feels guilty. Please don’t make me change my mind.” “Guilty of what? Change your mind about what?” “Chloe, Leo is not the person we thought he was.” “What did he do? Does he have something to do with your kidnapping?” She asks. “No, it’s something else. We had a fight.”“People have fights all the time, I want you to think about it. I'm not asking you to marry him, I just want