ログインChapter 30: Can’t Be Intimidated ~ Gwen ~When Leon and I finally reached the edge of the athletic field, the scene was already in full swing. A cluster of girls in athletic gear stood near the far end of the bleachers, forming a tight circle around a central figure. Even from a distance, the sharp blonde ponytail and the commanding posture were unmistakable. Fanny."Can you hang back here for a bit while I go join them?" I asked Leon, stopping near the base of the stands."Sure thing," he nodded, moving to take a seat on the third row of the bleachers where he had a clear view of the grass. "I’ll be cheering you on from the sidelines.""You can't really cheer for a cheerleader while they’re practicing," I teased, adjusted my bag on my shoulder. "It’s a bit redundant, don't you think?""Makes perfect sense to me," he shrugged with a grin."Just watch, Leon. No shouting," I warned him, pointing a finger."Yes, ma'am," he said, giving me a mock-serious salute.I turned away and started
Chapter 29: Making a New Friend ~ Gwen ~Two days later, the air on campus felt unusually still, the kind of heavy warmth that usually precedes a storm. I was sitting in the love garden, tucked between Elodie and Gideon. We were supposed to be looking over our notes, but mostly we were just enjoying the rare peace of the afternoon.That peace lasted until Jerome strolled toward us, his hands shoved deep into his pockets and a confident smirk playing on his lips. "Hey, what’s up?" he asked, his eyes landing directly on me."Hello to you too, Jerome," Elodie said, her voice dripping with enough sarcasm to stain the grass.Jerome didn't even flinch. He just gave her a playful, dismissive look. "Sorry, El. Didn't see you there."Elodie rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck. Jerome’s gaze shifted between her and Gideon, his smirk widening into something more knowing. "So, are you two an official item now?"Elodie and Gideon shared a quick, panicked look, their faces turni
Chapter 28: Stay on Your Lane~ Yates ~"We need to talk," I told her, my voice low enough that it wouldn't carry back into the kitchen. Gwen didn't flinch; she just stared at me with those steady, green eyes."Okay," she said simply.We excused ourselves, stepping out onto the porch. The night air was sharp, a welcome contrast to the stifling heat of the dining room. I leaned against the railing, watching the way the porch light caught the gold in her hair."What is it?" she asked, her voice cautious. "What do you want to talk about?""I want you to stay in your lane, Gwen."She blinked, her expression shifting from caution to confusion. "Excuse me?""Just because my father went on a tangent about me keeping an eye on you doesn't mean I’m actually going to do it. I have my own life. I have a pack to worry about and a girlfriend whom I adore."Gwen’s confusion curdled into a sharp frown. "I didn't exactly ask for a bodyguard, did I? Your father was the one making the grand declaratio
Chapter 27: The Power of Attraction~ Gwen ~"I...I'm sorry for barging in. I was just—""Save it," he snapped, his brow furrowed as he stepped fully into the room. He reached back to slide the window shut with a heavy thud before clicking the bedroom door closed."How did you even do that?" I asked, folding my arms over my chest to hide the way my hands were shaking. "Climbing up to the second floor without using the stairs? That’s not exactly normal.""Two words: werewolf strength," he said casually. He shrugged out of his leather jacket, tossing it onto a pile of clothes. His dark hair was a mess, several damp strands grazing his forehead and shadowing his eyes. I found myself staring at the sharp blue of his gaze, fighting the sudden, ridiculous urge to reach out and brush the hair away from his face."Why are you here, anyway?" he asked, kicking off his heavy boots."Your dad invited us over. I assumed you knew, considering it’s happening in your own dining room.""Oh. The dinner
Chapter 26: Dinner at the Underwoods~ Gwen ~The following evening, the air had turned crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and woodsmoke. Aunt Anne had managed to get off her shift early, and she looked surprisingly refreshed as she led the way to the Underwood residence. It was a short walk—barely enough time for me to settle the nerves fluttering in my stomach.In her hand, she carried a bottle of expensive wine, its deep crimson hue looking almost like blood behind the dark glass. When we reached the porch, she didn't hesitate, knocking firmly on the heavy oak door."Do you think they’re even home?" I asked, shifting my weight from one foot to the other. I was half-hoping they weren't."I can smell the ribeye steak from out here," she said, her nose wrinkling slightly. "They’re definitely home."I didn't doubt her. Between her heightened senses and what Jerome had told me about the werewolf obsession with steak, the house was probably a beacon for any predator within a five-mi
Chapter 25: The Date~ Gwen ~Jerome didn't take me to a flashy, high-end restaurant where I’d feel out of place in my sundress. Instead, he drove us to a classic diner downtown, the kind of place with red vinyl booths and the comforting smell of grease and toasted bread."This is my sanctuary," he told me, sliding into the booth across from me. "Whenever breakfast is running late at the pack house or the kitchen staff is lagging, I head here." He raised a hand, signaling a waitress behind me without even looking. He clearly knew the place by heart."It feels cozy," I said, glancing around at the vintage posters and the hum of the local crowd. "I like it.""It’s honest," he agreed."What can I get for you, sweetie?" A middle-aged woman asked as she approached our table. She had a kind face and a stack of menus tucked under her arm, but she didn't even open them."Hey, Wendy," Jerome grinned."Hello, dear. How are you holding up?" Wendy asked, her voice warm and maternal."I’m good. Ho







