The Past: One Year Ago Kayleigh, Age Sixteen Wolf Blood Debutante Ball, Ireland My entire existence relied on this night. The late August moon was full and bright. My family and more than a dozen wolf packs from every part of the world were here to celebrate this year’s debutantes. My dress was exquisite… long, royal blue silk, and custom Italian couture. I wore my long red hair down. I came ready. Everyone was here at the “Debs” ball to enjoy the food, the music, and to celebrate our wolf blood ties. At midnight, those with wolves would go for the pack run in the woods behind our mansion. Then the moment I have been waiting for will happen. I was finally going to get my first kiss. While my friends and cousins asked The Seer about when their wolves would emerge, or when they’d meet their fated mates, or which career path they should take, I simply asked for one thing: When will I have my first kiss? The Seer said that tonight was the night.

Kayleigh Wiping the steam off the bathroom mirror makes me wish I can just wipe off the memory of today’s “welcoming scene” at the driveway. The only good thing about it was seeing Andrei. Knowing that he will be here the whole summit gives me something to look forward to, at least. I can’t say the same about the rest, namely Cillian and Kinsley. I look at my reflection and stare at my glassy blue eyes then move to my skin and the cluster of red on my head. I’ve never felt insecure about my pale skin until I saw Kinsley’s olive skin that gives her a natural glow. Everything about her seems to glow, even her black hair. I run my fingers down my long red hair. I was told that only two percent of the world’s population carry the gene that makes hair red. I wonder how many of the werewolf population carry the gene that makes their wolves come late. I keep telling myself that my wolf is just a late bloomer and not non-existent. It makes me feel better… and hopeful. The kiss with Cill

Cillian I jog to the bonfire and let my gaze wander to keep track of everyone here. I smell Kayleigh’s scent even before I spot her. I make a beeline to where she’s at—nodding my head to the people I pass, avoiding small talk so I can get to Kayleigh’s side sooner. Young men and women try to make conversation with me as soon as they see me, but my focus is only set on one person. Long and wavy red hair, porcelain skin, hour-glass-shaped body, face of an angel, voice of a siren, and the mind of a she-devil. She’s neither tall nor short at 5’5” but she has nice legs, which reminds me she did not fucking change her clothes and is now showing too much skin. I mean, she’s gonna get cold pretty soon. She doesn’t have a wolf yet, so she has no means to warm herself. Heaven forbid she catch a cold and the head of Fola Rioga Pack, her dad, might think that we’re not taking care of his princess. My mood sours when I also smell the scent of my rival. Fucking Andrei is standing behi

Chapter 6: A Secret to Keep Kayleigh What an eventful day! It’s only been day one and yet so much stuff has happened already. Andrei is a gypsy wolf. Wow. That discovery tops all of today’s events. I’m still coming to terms with the fact that Andrei could possibly be a vicious wolf. Not that I’m scared—I will never be scared of him. But I have mixed feelings. Learning about Andrei being a gypsy wolf is shocking, yeah, but also there’s this trace of pity that I feel for him. No, I don’t pity him for being a gypsy wolf. But because he has to hide that from people. He can’t really live his most authentic self out in the open. It doesn’t matter if he comes from one of the most powerful werewolf families, the truth of the matter is he has to keep hidden what he truly is if he wants to be safe. Just a few years ago, back in Ireland, I remember the wolf-blood council sending out The Guardians, their elite enforcers, to hunt a group of gypsy wolves. The gypsy wolves were not rogue by any me

Chapter 8: Last Man Standing Wins… or not Cillian I shake my head and bring my mind back to attention. “Andrei, stop this now. Walk away. Please, stop now,” Kayleigh begs. I know what she’s doing. She doesn’t want me to provoke him. Because she knows that irritating Andrei will make him lose control and shift. Who knows what will happen with a gypsy wolf out in the open here. Surely, he can’t take us all down, but word will get out and the wolf-bloods around the world will know that the revered Russian Alpha heir is not only a mutt, but also a gypsy wolf. Oh, such shame he’ll bring to his family. Andrei doesn’t seem deterred by my wolf. If anything, he looks like he’s ready to snap my neck. His stance is firm and steady, waiting for me to pounce. Just when I’m about to leap into the air for Andrei, Kayleigh steps closer to the fighting pit and lowers herself to the ground. She directs her eyes at me and stretches her arms out. “Hey, handsome…” My heart warms up. If I was in my h