[Gabriel's POV]As I ended the call with Rachel, I realized with a pang of guilt that I had forgotten it was her birthday. I slapped myself on the cheek, muttering, "Fool, you forgot." How could I have been so preoccupied with our plans that I forgot something so important to her?But there was no time to dwell on my mistake. Thoughts of Rachel's safety consumed me, and I knew I had to act fast. While our plan with Lowell and Lewis required patience, I couldn't rest with the knowledge that Rachel was now under the threat of Jake.I rushed back inside, packing my belongings in a frenzy. Clothes were hastily stuffed into a bag, and as I grabbed one of my shirts, a necklace fell out. I picked it up, and a flood of memories washed over me.The necklace held sentimental value – a keepsake from my father. I remembered the times we spent together, like that day fishing in a boat in the center of the river. I was young and bored, waiting for a fish to take the bait, but my father's voice echo
[Gabriel's POV]As I stepped off the bus and returned to the city, my heart pounded with a mix of excitement and anxiety. I knew I needed to be cautious, as the plan with Lowell and Lewis required precise timing, but the worry for Rachel's safety weighed heavily on my mind. I hailed a cab and instructed the driver to drop me off a fair distance away from my apartment, fearing that Jake's accomplices might be lurking nearby, waiting for any sign of me.As I approached my apartment building, I closed my eyes and focused on my senses, trying to detect any presence of fellow lycans. Thankfully, there were none, so I proceeded cautiously, not wanting to take any chances. However, when I reached my apartment door, I noticed that the handle had been tampered with, a clear sign that someone had broken in.My heart raced as I entered my once neat and organized apartment, now a chaotic mess. Expensive belongings were scattered around, and my clothes lay in disarray inside the wardrobe. I search
The clock was ticking towards the night, and the sky looked like the full moon would be out tonight as I hurriedly made my way to the clothing store. I needed to find the perfect birthday present for Rachel. I could vividly recall Rachel gazing at a garment as we strolled together before Jake and his troubles came into our lives. The store was called "Enchanted Wardrobe," and it was known for its exquisite collection of dresses and elegant attires.As I stepped inside, the air was filled with the aroma of fresh fabrics. My heart pounded with excitement and nervousness as I scanned the racks of beautiful dresses. I recalled Rachel staring at one dress on our previous visit, and I thought that would be the perfect choice. But as I looked around, I found myself surrounded by numerous stunning dresses, each vying for my attention.Confused, I decided to seek help from the seller. "Excuse me," I called out to a friendly-looking woman behind the counter. "My girlfriend loved one of the dres
[Rachel's POV]As I finished my evening sprint around the large compound, my mind was still filled with a whirlwind of emotions. Gabriel's call earlier had left me feeling lost and confused. I couldn't fully comprehend the situation among his pack, and I desperately needed his explanations. Trying to push aside troubling thoughts, I focused on my exercise, something common among pack members but not usually done in the evening like I was doing. I was determined to distract myself from the turmoil in my heart.As I jumped over one of the roadblocks that were set up for pack members' races, my ankle landed awkwardly, causing a sharp pain. I whispered to myself, "Not again," knowing that I had dislocated it. Sarah, my friend and confidant, ran up to me with concern evident in her eyes. She had been recording my jumps over the roadblocks, and now she was more worried about my well-being. I tried to stand up and walk normally, pretending that I was okay, but it was clear I needed help.We
[Rachel's POV] I woke up to the sound of my alarm clock blaring in my ear. Another day at high school. I dragged myself out of bed and got ready, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves as I thought about seeing him again. The one who had occupied my thoughts for years, my high school crush. His name was Ryan, and I had been infatuated with him since freshman year. He was tall and athletic, with dark hair and piercing blue eyes that could make my heart skip a beat. Ryan was the school's heartthrob, captain of the football team, and every girl's dream. But, despite all the attention he received, he was humble and kind. Our relationship started as nothing more than a schoolgirl crush. We would exchange glances in class, sit together at lunch, and share stories about our lives. We even worked on a science project together, spending hours in the school's laboratory, getting to know each other better. Over the years, our puppy love grew stronger, and we became inseparable. We shared our
[Rachel's POV] Graduation day had finally arrived, and I couldn't believe that my high school journey was coming to an end. As I walked towards the school auditorium, I felt a sense of excitement and trepidation. It was the end of one chapter of my life and the beginning of another. As I looked around the auditorium, I couldn't help but notice the smiling faces of my classmates. It was a bittersweet moment, knowing that we would all be going our separate ways, but I was determined to focus on the future and the possibilities that lay ahead. After graduation, I threw myself into my passion for photography. I traveled to different parts of the world, capturing the beauty of nature through my lens. It was an exhilarating experience, and I felt like I was living my dream. However, as time went by, I realized that things were not as easy as I had thought. Photography was a competitive industry, and I found it challenging to get my work noticed. There were times when I felt like giving up
[Gabriel POV] Of course, after the fight with my pack and some stray lycans at the park, we all got text messages that there would be a meeting. I was quite uncomfortable about it because I knew that I had abandoned my pack earlier that day, and it wasn't something that my fellow lycans would keep away from our leader. My mind was racing with thoughts of what they might do to me when I arrived, but I couldn't shake the image of Rachel from my head. As I rode my bike to the meeting place, my nerves were on edge. I knew that I was taking a risk by coming here, but I couldn't stay away. When I arrived at the woods, I saw that there were already a few lycans gathered around the clearing. They all looked up as I approached, and I could see the disapproval in their eyes. The woods were a beautiful and peaceful place, but they held a lot of history for our kind. This was where our ancestors had gathered for generations, but it wasn't always like this. There used to be a cave where we would
RACHEL'S POV: After our pack meeting had come to an end, I couldn't stop thinking about Gabriel. He was different from the rest of the male humans I've met, and I just wanted to know more about him. I had tried to reach out to him before our meeting commenced, but he never answered my calls or texts. I was bored that evening and just needed someone to talk to. I decided to give it one more try and dialed his number. Just like before, he didn't pick up, which only made me more determined to get through to him. I called again and again until he finally answered. GABRIEL POV: I looked at my phone and saw that the Rachel was calling me. I knew I had avoid her and couldn't bear the risk of involving her in my pack's rivalry but she kept calling repeatedly, and I couldn't take it anymore. I tried to switch off my phone, but I picked up the call by accident. I was so nervous, keeping mute for about 30 seconds. "Hello?" I said, trying to sound distant. "Hey, it's me," she replied, her vo