Chapter 1 – The Big Move

Preface

The room smelled like blood and death, but that wasn't what burned my lungs. No, that was the grief — thick, suffocating, and raw. It clawed at my throat, threatening to break me apart.

The body in my arms was too still, and getting cold. Crimson stained my hands, warm against my trembling fingers as I stroked her hair. Tangled strands clung to her pale face, and I brushed them away gently, even though I knew it didn't matter anymore.

I wasn't sure when the sobs started — maybe when her pulse faded beneath my touch, or maybe when I realized I couldn't fix this. Either way, I didn't fight them. The world was already broken, so what was the point in holding back?

A flicker of movement caught my eye, and my gaze locked onto the most evil being to exist, Cale. He stood across from me, her blood splattered on his clothes, his expression hard and unreadable. His presence was a slap to the face — a brutal reminder of everything that had gone wrong.

And God, where had it gone wrong? Was it the day I moved to this city? If I'd never come here, none of this would've happened. Maybe I wouldn't have been thrown into this twisted world of packs and power struggles. Maybe she wouldn't be dead.

But then... I wouldn't have met him either.

The thought was bitter and beautiful all at once. The love of my life. The man who changed everything.

My chest tightened, and I blinked back the sting of tears. No, I couldn't think about him right now. Not here, not like this. But the memories pushed their way in anyway, relentless and vivid.

It had all started when I moved to this place, naive and hopeful. I hadn't known what waited for me in the shadows.

If I had... would I have stayed?

I looked down at my friend's lifeless face, her blood seeping into the ground beneath us.

Probably not.

But life doesn't give you do-overs, does it?

And that's where the story really began. Back when I thought moving here was the start of something new — a fresh chapter, full of promise and possibility.

I was wrong.

So wrong.

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Chapter 1 – The Big Move

The city had always been my prison—a loud, crowded, polluted nightmare where fitting in was a constant battle I never cared to win. The schools were worse. If you weren't in the right clique or didn't know the latest fashion trend, you were practically asking to be bullied. So I perfected the art of blending in, skirting the edges just enough to go unnoticed. Invisible was safe. Invisible was freedom.

That's why, when my parents announced we were moving to a tiny town in Alaska—Juneau of all places—I didn't hesitate. Before they even finished talking, I was on my laptop, fingers flying over the keys as I Googled everything about the place. Small town? Check. Thirty-five thousand people? Even better. Surrounded by mountains and endless forests? Jackpot. It was as if the universe had finally decided to throw me a bone.

My parents were thrilled when I gave them my full support, and honestly, so was I. Leaving New York wasn't hard. I didn't have any real friends—just classmates I occasionally texted about homework or nodded at in the hallways. No tearful goodbyes or heartfelt promises to stay in touch. Just a clean break. On my last day at school, I casually mentioned I was moving. The reactions were exactly what I expected—perfunctory well-wishes and indifferent shrugs. Fine by me. As I walked out of those school doors for the last time, I didn't even glance back.

The next two weeks were a chaotic blur of packing and selling the house. My parents nailed a quick sale, and before I knew it, we were spending our last night in New York. I barely slept, buzzing with anticipation. The next morning, we boarded a flight to our new life—a nine-hour journey to freedom.

Exhaustion hit me hard as soon as we settled into our seats. I was out cold before the plane even left the runway. The next thing I knew, my mom was shaking me awake, her voice practically bursting with excitement.

"Wake up, honey! We're here!"

Groggy but wired with enthusiasm, I stumbled off the plane. Outside the airport, a man in his early twenties stood holding a placard with our names on it. He had slicked-back hair, sharp features, and an easy smile that radiated confidence.

"Mr. and Mrs. Wayne?" he greeted cheerfully. "I'm Ethan Diaz. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

He shook hands with my parents and reached for our bags. As I got a good look at him, a strange sense of déjà vu crept over me. There was something oddly familiar about him, even though I'd never set foot in Alaska before. Weird.

We piled into his SUV, and as we drove through the winding roads, I couldn't stop staring out the window. Towering mountains loomed in the distance, their peaks dusted with snow. Dense forests stretched as far as the eye could see, and the sky was a vast expanse of blue. It felt like stepping into a postcard.

"Everything okay back there?" Ethan's voice broke through my thoughts. He glanced at me through the rearview mirror, his brow furrowing in concern.

"Yeah, definitely!" I blurted, probably a little too enthusiastically. My parents exchanged amused glances.

Ethan grinned. "It sure is something. I've got a list of places you might like to check out while you're getting settled. Thought you'd be up for some exploring."

"Absolutely! Thanks, Ethan." I tried to sound cool, but my excitement was barely contained.

My parents had timed the move perfectly. I had a couple of weeks to settle in before starting my final year of school. Plenty of time to explore, unpack, and maybe even meet a few people. My eighteenth birthday was just around the corner, too. It felt like the universe was finally giving me a break.

I was in the middle of fantasizing about all the adventures waiting for me when the car jolted violently.

Bang!

The deafening sound of metal smashing against something echoed through the air. My stomach flipped, and my heart slammed against my ribs.

"What the—?" Ethan cursed, gripping the steering wheel as the car skidded to a stop.

The tires screeched against the asphalt, and for a moment, everything was a blur of chaos and panic. My mom let out a sharp gasp, and my dad braced himself against the dashboard.

When the car finally came to a shuddering halt, there was a heavy silence.

"Is everyone okay?" Ethan's voice was strained, his knuckles white on the steering wheel.

"I think so," my dad said, his voice shaky. "What happened?"

Ethan didn't answer. His eyes were fixed on something ahead of us, his expression darkening.

I followed his gaze and felt the blood drain from my face.

"What the hell is that?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Ethan's jaw tightened. "A wolf. Stay in the car."