SHANEI, sit on the edge of the bed, my head in my hands. My wolf, Caspian, is howling in my head, his voice full of fury. "You fool!" he says. "You've ruined everything! You can't just go around telling humans they're your mate!" I wince as his words hit me like a punch to the gut. He's right. I've made a terrible mistake. And now I have no idea what to do.“This is all because we’re weak now.” I frowned remembering how I fought with Roy and how I was bitterly beaten. "I think we’re weak because of the curse," Caspian says, his voice low and rumbling. "We're weak because of the curse placed on us by the witches. The only way to break the curse is to find our true mate. And I think this human, this Harley, is our mate." I feel a surge of disbelief, mixed with a flicker of hope. "A human? As my mate? That's ridiculous. How could a human ever be a mate for an alpha like me?""No more!" Caspian growls. "You're not powerful anymore. You can't keep going on like this. We need a mate, a

HARLEYAs I walked home, I thought about what I would face when I got there. My stepmother, Susan, would be there, waiting to pounce on me with her latest set of demands. And my stepsister, Juliet, would be there, ready to gloat about her latest accomplishments. I braced myself for the inevitable drama that would unfold as soon as I walked through the door.I let out a sigh, the weight of it all settling on my shoulders. But then, something inside me shifted. A feeling of determination welled up within me.I thought about the strange man I'd saved the other day, the man who'd come to me this morning and told me I was his Mate. I didn't know what it meant, but something about it felt right, felt like it could be true. It was a crazy thought, but I couldn't shake it.As I walked, I felt a strange pull, like I was being pulled in a certain direction. I didn't know where I was going, but I knew I had to follow the feeling, had to see where it led me.As I turned the corner onto my stre

HARLEYI closed my eyes and let the memories come, taking me back to a time when I was just a child. I remembered my mother helping me get dressed for school, brushing my hair, and kissing me on the forehead. I remembered her warm smile and her gentle touch, and I felt a pang of longing, of sadness.I opened my eyes, the present coming back into focus. I was no longer a child, and my mother was no longer with me. But I could still feel her love, deep in my heart."I love you, my little flower," my mother said, using her special nickname for me. "You're going to have a wonderful day at school, and I'll be waiting for you when you get home."I smiled up at her, my heart full of love. "I love you too, Mama," I said, my voice soft and sweet. "I'll miss you while I'm gone."She kissed me on the cheek, her hand warm against my face. "I'll be right here when you get back," she said. "Always remember that, no matter what."After school hours, I couldn’t wait to ran home from school, my hear

HARLEY"You're certain?" he asked, his eyebrows raised. "You don't want to be rich? Or famous? Or powerful? Not even one of those things?"I shook my head, feeling a little overwhelmed. "I just want to see my mother again," I said, my voice soft and vulnerable. "That's all I want."He nodded, his eyes gentle. "I can help you with that," he said. "I can give you happiness.""How?" I asked, my skepticism evident in my tone. "How could you possibly do that?""I can't bring your mother back," he said, his voice full of compassion. "But I can help you feel close to her. I can help you remember her, and remember the love you shared. That can be enough to make you happy."I felt a wave of emotion wash over me, and I had to blink back tears. "I'm not sure if it's possible," I said, my voice thick with emotion. "I miss her so much."He reached out and took my hand, his grip firm and reassuring. "It is possible," he said, his eyes filled with conviction."I will take you somewhere," he said, h

HARLEYI opened the door and there stood Shane, a wide smile on his face. My heart skipped a beat, he had planned to take me somewhere but I couldn’t now. I don’t even know if it’s important anymore "Hi, Shane," I said, trying to sound casual. "What are you doing here?”“Why are you home already?” He asked still smiling, “You should still be at the hospital, right?”“Ohh… about that.” I scratch the back of my head, “it’s alright. I’m okay now.”I lied, my heart beating in an uneven rhythm. Shane's smile faltered. "You're not okay," he said, his tone suddenly serious. "I can tell by the look on your face. Something's wrong, and I'm not leaving until you tell me what it is."I sighed. There was no way I could get out of this. He was too perceptive. "Come inside," I said, stepping aside to let him in. "I'll tell you what's going on."Shane entered the house, his gaze searching my face. I led him to the living room and we both sat down on the couch.As I sat on the couch next to Shane