Many years ago, long before humans became aware of our existence, we werewolves lived in the shadows, unseen and unheard. Often, it was difficult to feed because among humans, there were those who hunted us; the Hunters. They killed my kind, and only a few managed to escape, never to return. One of those murdered by the Hunters was Gena Boyer, my girlfriend and mate. She died before my eyes, and I was helpless, unable to do anything but watch. Since then, nightmares of her death have haunted me. Gwen, Gena's best friend, blames me for what happened, calling me a coward for not saving her.Despite countless defenses, it doesn't change the fact that I failed to save Gena. Centuries passed, leaving me without a mate, someone to support me and warm me on cold nights. I had lost hope of finding anyone until one dark and stormy night when I met her—Gena, my mate, or so I thought. Instead, it was her doppelganger, Maria Jose Clark, whom I found unconscious on my way home from work."Where am

The following morning, I had to wake up early for a meeting, and as I passed by Maria's bedroom, I assumed she would still be asleep. However, when I entered the kitchen, Maria was already preparing breakfast in the same attire from the night before."Good morning," I greeted as I took a seat at the table, observing her movements with her messy hair in a bun."Good morning, how are you?" she replied, turning to glance at me from the kitchen door."I don't like tea," I stated abruptly as she placed a cup in front of me."Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know," she responded, her hands trembling slightly as she reached for the bread.Trying to ease the tension, I joked, "It's okay, Gena, I can make an exception," accidentally using another name."Wait! What did you just call me?" Maria asked, her curiosity piqued.Realizing my slip, I chuckled nervously and deflected her question to avoid further inquiry.After dropping Maria off at school, I headed to my meeting with my late parents' business i

Maria's sudden change in demeanor caught me off guard. She stood there, her gaze piercing through me, waiting for my response. "Maria, please have a seat," I gestured to the chair across from me. "And you can call me Mr. Elijah for now." She complied and sat down, but her eyes remained fixed on mine, filled with uncertainty and a hint of defiance. "Alright, what is it that you wanted to say?" I prompted, trying to maintain a calm demeanor despite the turmoil of questions swirling in my mind. "I know this may sound strange, but I've been feeling different lately," Maria began, her voice wavering slightly. "There are moments when I feel like I'm not myself, like there's another presence inside me." Her words sent a chill down my spine, and I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease creeping over me. "What do you mean, another presence?" I inquired, my tone cautious. "It's hard to explain," she continued, fidgeting with her hands. "But sometimes, I have these urges and thoughts th