Chapter 1

Fire crackled through the wood we’d spent half an hour collecting, casting a warm glow in the dark redwood forest. My mouth watered as a delicious smell of meatloaf filled the air. I reached for a piece, watching as Tyler, the neighbor's son, and the host of tonight's campfire, fumbled to pick one from the flames, making me chuckle.

"So, new gal—" He shot me a glance, a corner of his lips curling in amusement, showing off his dimple. Leaning in closer, clearly tipsy, he added, "tell me more about you."

"Yes," Tobias, his friend chimed in, hand raised high with a beer bottle, "I'm interested, too."

I blushed, giggling. "But you already know a lot. We've been friends for a couple of weeks now."

"Come on, guys," Talia, Tyler's twin sister and my new best friend, threw her arm over my shoulder, "you know her. Anastasia Miracle, moved here from Arizona with her mother, goes to the same college with us."

"Loves cookies and everything extra sweet," Samara joined in the recitation of my life story as well.

I laughed. "See, you already know everything."

"Not everything."

I glanced beside me, finding Tyler's sky-blue eyes fixed on me, as if trying to read something hidden beneath the surface. The frown creasing his forehead told me he wasn't getting anywhere.

"There's more to you," he whispered while the others got distracted fighting over the last of the marshmallows. "Something I can't quite figure out."

I swallowed, a nervous smile pulling at my lips. "If I didn't know you better, I'd say you aren't flirting. But I do know you well enough."

He smirked, his eyes twinkling with a weird expression.

"And you're drunk," I deadpanned.

His resolve broke, releasing that familiar carefree laughter— the very thing I liked about him. "You got me, señorita."

I smiled, genuinely this time, and shook my head. It had been a month since I moved to this small town in northern California with my mother. The transition wasn't easy, especially with the past still haunting me like it happened yesterday. But the people here—crazy, weird yet incredibly kind—made it all easier. Their warmth and down-to-earth attitudes made me feel like I’d always belonged, rather than the outsider I feared I’d become.

The vibration of my phone snapped me out of my thoughts, and I shifted, pulling it from the back pocket of my jeans. Seeing the caller ID, I stood up, excused myself and walked away from the group.

"Hello, Mom?" I answered, but only silence met me. "Mom, I'm fine here, really," I tried again, still no response. A growing sense of unease crept into my chest. "Mom, are you there?"

Silence.

"Mom? Are you okay? Mom!" My heart pounded as panic set in.

Hurrying back to the group, I gathered my things. "I have to go."

"What! Now?" Talia frowned, straightening while Tyler stood up, stepping closer. "Is everything okay?"

"I hope so."

"A’right, let me take you back."

"No, no. Don't trouble yourself. I can go by myself."

"What? No." His eyes widened. "How can I leave a girl alone at night in the middle of the woods?"

"Seriously, it's fine. I memorized the way." I didn't want them to spoil their fun for me. Besides, he was pretty drunk which meant taking him along would only slow me down. Then, this could be a mere occurrence of poor network connection. So, to convince him, I drew out pepper spray from my backpack. "See. I'm fully protected. So don't worry. I'll be fine," I assured him.

He knitted his brows, looking doubtful. Then he sighed. "Fine."

"Just be careful, Ana," Talia called out.

"You have my number. Call me if you need anything, okay?" Tyler looked at me firmly, concerned like the gentleman he was, sending butterflies in my stomach.

Bidding them goodnight, I hurried down the trail to home. Thank the heavens, there were lights at a few points. At other spots, I used the flashlight from my phone.

I wasn't scared. I was my mama's girl—the bravest out there, and right now, she needed me.

Right...

Something crunched under my foot, making my heart flap inside.

“Calm down, Ana!” I muttered to myself. “It was only a twig.”

But the reassurance was short-lived. Another twig snapped, and then another, echoing through the trees like a sinister warning. Despite the growing unease, I pressed on, my feet moving of their own accord. But then I stopped, my instincts screaming at me to turn back. I spun around, scanning the trail behind me, and my eyes rose to my hairline.

The ground was clear of any twigs or branches.

Leaves rustled somewhere, making me jump out of my skin. I whipped around, flashing my light frantically all over the bushes.

"Wh-Who's there?"

A low rumbling growl reached my ears before a vicious gust of wind swept past me, blowing my hair all around my face.

Oh fuck...

I didn't hesitate. I didn't look back. I just ran like my life depended on it, my feet pounding the earth like a frantic drumbeat.

Who in their right mind wandered through the woods alone at night? I, certainly, shouldn't have, considering I had no idea about what went on in its layers, or, specifically, what lurked in its shadows. I should have let Tyler take me back home, but no, I had to be stubborn.

Home. Mom. The thought sent a surge of adrenaline through my veins, but everything came to an abrupt end the moment my feet caught on something, and I flew through the air, my heart lodging in my throat. My phone slipped from my grasp, and my terrified squeal echoed through the trees as I face-planted into the dirt.

I groaned, squeezing my eyes shut and waiting through the pain.

When I finally opened them again, everything was dark. The flashlight of my phone was gone.

"Shit!" I furiously looked around, digging through the fallen leaves, the fear creeping back in my ribs. "No, no, no. Oh God. Oh God, no."

But then a silvery sheen caught my attention, and I looked up to see the full moon hanging low in the sky, its striking phase illuminating the forest.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to focus on finding my phone again. Spotting a glint of metal, I picked it up and tried to turn it back on, but it wouldn't budge. I tapped the button rapidly, my anxiety growing. "What is wrong with—"

A warm breath grazed the back of my neck, freezing me in place as a low, menacing growl reverberated through my body. I swallowed hard, a tremor rippling through my chest.

Something was behind me, wasn't it?

I turned around slowly—very slowly—and caught the sight of a pair of flaming red eyes. They were so close, my heart slammed against my ribs. A squeak escaped me, echoing through the towering sequoias. I stumbled backwards, and like a scene from a cliché horror movie, my feet tangled with each other, and I landed hard on my back.

The beast stepped out of the shadows and into the moonlight, its massive body cloaked in thick, dark silver fur. Two gleaming canines jutted from its mouth like deadly blades.

A gigantic wolf.

I stared, my body frozen in fear.

It observed me, fiery eyes taking in every inch of my body as though calculating how many bites it'd take him to devour me. Judging by its size, probably two, maybe three at most.

My throat went dry when it stalked toward me predatorily, like it had made its decision.

I squeezed my eyes shut, my hands clammy and trembled at my sides. My heart pounded so loud it drowned out everything else.

Why did I come alone...

A whimper slipped from my throat when its warm, wet snout brushed along my cheek. It traced the curve of my jaw down to my neck. Sniffing. Testing.

Its tongue dragged slowly over my skin.

A shudder ripped through me.

Not from just fear. But something so, very different.

Its breath fanned over my pulse, slow and deliberate, as if it could hear the frantic rhythm beneath my skin. As if it liked it.

Then...

It stopped.

The thick, dark energy, no longer held me in place. But my body didn't move. I couldn't. I didn't know if I was free or being given a head start.

Shaky breaths escaped me. Was it gone? Or was it watching, waiting for me to look at it before it ripped off my head?

The forest fell unnaturally still.

Even the wind held its breath.

And then, a growl ghosted across my lips...

"Mine."

My eyes snapped open, my heart racing.

The wolf was gone. In its place stood a man. A tall, broad-shouldered, giant of a man, features obscured by the moonlight, his face was a playground of silver and shadows.

But his eyes were unmistakable—cold, dark, icy green.

I blinked, scrambling to my feet, my breathing coming in ragged gasps.

Did he save me?

Glancing around, I took a hesitant step forward. "Th-the wolf—"

My words died when another overwhelming force slammed into me, pinning me against a tree, and knocking the air from my lungs. I was paralyzed, but not only from shock— there was something else. Something real. An invisible energy was holding me in place.

My terrified gaze flicked to the man, his massive chest heaving with heavy breaths. But it was his eyes that filled me with dread. They flickered between icy green and flaming red like a wild, uncontrollable glitch.

He took a slow, menacing step toward me, his chest rumbling with an animalistic growl.

A tear rolled down my cheek as I whimpered again. But, amidst the terror, something else stirred within me—a strange warmth blooming in my chest and spreading down to my belly. So in contrast with the raging panic that consumed me.

He stopped, his unsettling gaze locking onto mine.

For a long, long moment, we stared at each other, our deep breathing filling the silence. As the moonlight illuminated him, I could make out a few more of his features. He stood well over six feet tall—maybe even seven—and his chiseled eight pack was unlike anything I had ever seen on a man. But his face remained hidden in the shadows like an unsolved mystery.

I gasped, the warmth turning into a burning heat and coiling in the pit of my stomach before taking hold of every inch of my body.

"Wh-What's going on," I panted, feeling as perspiration dotted my bare skin.

"A human," he spat. His voice, although thick with contempt, was deep and smooth like velvet wrapped around thunder, sending a shudder all the way down to my tingling toes.

"Who are you?" I breathed.

"I—" he began, his voice oddly layered with two distinct tones twisting around each other, "—the Alpha of Mystic Pride, reject you, pathetic human, as my fated mate."

Huh…

Confusion clouded my mind until an agony like nothing I had ever felt before, exploded in my chest. Sharp and overwhelming, it ripped a scream from my throat. I doubled over, clutching at my heart as the ache spread through my body like wildfire. It felt like I was having a heart attack, the intensity far too real to be anything else.

My limbs went weak as I collapsed to my knees, gasping for air that failed to reach my constricted lungs.

Maybe, after all, I was dying. Not by a wolf’s bite. Nor at the hands of a man. But from my own failing heart.

Before I knew, I was writhing on the forest floor, my vision blurring from tears and dark, creeping shadows. Moments spent with my family and friends flashed before my eyes. Mom... I needed to get back to Mom. I needed to make sure she was okay.

Desperately, I tried to lift myself, but there was not an ounce of strength I felt in my limbs. Sobs wracked my body, and I tried searching for something or someone. That's when I saw it again.

The wolf, looming over me, its burning eyes locked onto mine, intense and unyielding.

I didn't know why, but I reached out, my trembling hand barely rising off of the ground. "H-help," I whispered, my voice faint and broken. "Help me..."

Maybe I was hallucinating, but in that moment, its gaze seemed to have lost the animosity, replaced by something strange, something almost…like the pain in mine was reflecting in its own. It took a step closer.

"Ana!" Tyler's distant voice pierced the air, freezing the wolf in its tracks. As though it snapped out of whatever trance it was in, long canines flicked back out, and it snarled at me.

With one final, hate-filled look, the beast threw its head back towards the moon and let out a deafening, blood-chilling howl.

"Ana!" Another call from Tyler, and the wolf sent a feral look over its shoulder before leaping over me and disappearing into the darkness.

The pain seared through my body once again, dragging me into the darkness as my consciousness slipped away.