Chapter 2

Run, Evelyn.

Evelyn's POV

I sat on Theo's couch with my eyes wide open, my head throbbing badly. I hadn't been able to sleep at all. Every time I closed my eyes, my parents' words replayed in my head.

I had stormed out of my house after everything they'd told me and somehow ended up here. I didn't even remember when I finally stopped crying.

Maybe it had all been a terrible dream.

Maybe when I went home, my parents would laugh and tell me they had only been joking.

But deep down, I knew that wasn't true.

The sound of footsteps coming from the hallway made me lift my head.

Theo walked into the living room, running a hand through his messy hair. He looked tired, probably because I'd woken him up in the middle of the night, but the moment he saw me, his expression changed.

“Eve?”

He walked closer and stopped in front of me.

“You haven't slept, have you?”

I shook my head.

“What happened?” he asked. “You scared the hell out of me last night. You showed up at my house crying and wouldn't even tell me anything.”

“I didn't know where else to go.”

Theo sat beside me, his eyes searching my face.

“Did your parents hurt you?”

“No.”

“Then what happened?”

I swallowed hard.

“My parents told me something.”

“Okay.”

He waited.

I stared down at my hands.

“They said they're not my real parents.”

Theo's eyebrows pulled together.

“What?”

“My mom said her sister was my biological mother. She died giving birth to me.”

He was quiet for a moment.

“Eve, are you sure you heard her correctly?”

“I was there, Theo.”

“I know, but…”

“They also said I'm a werewolf.”

Theo blinked at me. His lips parted, but no words came out.

“Say something,” I said quietly. “See? I knew you wouldn't believe me.”

“I didn't say I don't believe you.”

“You're staring at me like I'm crazy.”

“Because you just told me you're a werewolf.”

“I know how it sounds!”

Theo rubbed his face and leaned back against the couch.

“Okay. Let's say, for a second, that your parents weren't joking. Why would they wait until your eighteenth birthday to tell you?”

“I don't know.”

“Why would they suddenly tell you something like this?”

“I don't know, Theo!”

My voice cracked, and tears filled my eyes again.

“Hey.”

He reached for my hand.

“We'll figure it out.”

I wiped my cheek quickly.

“I don't even know what I'm supposed to figure out. Everything I knew about myself was a lie.”

“Then we'll find out the truth. You're not doing this alone, Eve.”

I looked at him.

“I need to go home.”

“Now?”

“Yes.” I got up. “They need to explain everything to me. I need answers.”

Theo stood up too.

“Eve, I would have liked to go with you, but my boss is crazy.”

“No, it's okay. You don't have to come with me.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, it's okay.”

“Alright then. Call me when you get home.”

“I will.”

I grabbed my things and left immediately.

I stepped out of Theo's house and walked down the street, barely noticing the chill in the air. My mind was too occupied with everything that had happened.

I needed answers.

Who were my real parents? Why hadn't my parents told me sooner? And what was all this werewolf stuff?

I kept thinking about what I was going to ask them as I got closer to our street.

I flung the gate open and froze.

The front door was slightly open, and country music was playing loudly from inside the house.

That was weird.

My mom frowned anytime country music was played. She had scolded me several times for turning the volume up too loud whenever I listened to it.

“Mom?” I called out.

There was no answer.

I slowly walked toward the house and pushed the door open.

What I saw made my heart pound against my ribs.

The house was completely messed up. The table was overturned, chairs were broken, and the television my dad had bought on Mom's birthday was lying in pieces in the corner.

Then I saw the blood.

A trail of blood covered the floor, leading deeper into the house.

My fists clenched at my sides as I followed it, trying hard not to think of the worst.

My eyes landed on where the blood was coming from, and my legs went weak.

“Dad?” I called weakly.

I rushed over to him and fell to my knees.

He was lying on the floor, his eyes closed and his body cold.

“Dad!” I screamed. “Please, wake up. Dad!”

“Evelyn…”

I heard my name faintly.

I looked around, and my eyes settled on my mom, lying in a pool of blood beside the overturned table.

“Mom!”

I rushed over to her and took her hand in mine. Tears streaked down my face and onto my shirt. I pressed my other hand against her chest, where blood was spilling out.

There were deep marks across her body, like something with huge claws had attacked her.

“Mom?” I called as she started coughing out blood.

“Evelyn…”

Her voice was barely a whisper.

“You have to leave.”

“No. I'm not leaving you.”

“They'll come for you too.”

“Who? Who did this to you and Dad?”

She pushed a card into my trembling hands.

“Go there. They'll protect you.”

I looked down at the card.

BLACKTHORN PACK.

“What is this?” I looked back at her. “Mom, please, just tell me what's happening.”

“There isn't enough time.” She struggled to breathe. “Go… before they find you.”

“No.” Tears streamed down my face. “You're my mom. You can't just leave me.”

She gave me a faint smile.

“I'll always be your mother.”

“Mom…”

“Run, Evelyn.”

Her eyes slowly closed.

I squeezed her hand.

“Mom?”

Nothing.

“Mom, wake up.”

I shook her gently, but she didn't move.

“No…”

I pulled her into my arms and broke down.