Three Pines Review Novels & Stories

Theo complimented. I could feel the heat suddenly rising in both of my cheeks. He looked so good too. Just seeing his charming smile made my heart leap. “Thank you,” I replied, trying to sound calm. “You look good either.” “Thanks,” he said with a smile. As we chatted, a tall girl with fair skin and straight blonde hair approached. She wrapped her hands on Theo’s waist. He seemed surprise, but a flicker of affection lit his eyes as he realized who she was

he grinned, promising to arrive around 7:15 for my morning drive into work. Entering the room slowly, I paused in the doorway to take it all in. There was a living room, bedroom, and private bathroom with its own jacuzzi tub. Through the floor to ceiling windows, I could see a small deck connected to a master suite, leading out to a large, beautifully-groomed garden framed by redwood trees. It was stunning. A paradise compared to the stiff environment of my New York City penthouse. And best of all, I didn't have to share it with Misha.

It felt like spring. The next morning, the sky was the kind of bright that only came after a storm—sharp, endless blue stretched over the mountains like a fresh canvas. We didn’t speak much as we packed the last of our things, folding clothes with the easy rhythm of people who knew they were leaving something behind—but not everything. Before we left for the airport, we made one last stop. Four Pines. The drive was quiet, only the hum of the car and Pockets sighing contentedly in the backseat, nestled among bags. As we entered the preserve, the landscape transformed into pine needles and frozen earth, enveloped in a sacred hush.

The doctor, the receptionist at the photography studio, and the owner of the hot cross buns stall… They'd all given me a sliver of comfort. As I pondered this, the rest of the Jensen family arrived. Gary had already composed himself and gone back to being cold and aloof when he heard them. Phoebe clapped a hand over her mouth, looking shocked. Then, tears filled her eyes. "Holly… How did this happen?" The shakiness in her choked-up voice made my brothers' hearts ache for her. Carl pulled her into his arms and said, "Don't cry, Pheebs. Everyone has their own destiny."

I take a shaky step away from Theo, collecting myself, trying to regain my composure. He takes my hand and my mind goes to mush again. “C’mon,” Theo breathes, a devilish grin on his lips. He starts forward, tugging me with him. I finally snap out of my haze, drinking in my surroundings as we walk toward a drop-off, an incredible view of the forest spread before us below. “Is this…” I ask quietly. “Yeah,” he sighs. “Pine Mountain.” I can see why he’s been wanting to take me up here, why he likes coming here so much. It’s beautiful. The view stretches on for miles- lush green trees, sprawling landscapes, a winding river threading through. It’s so peaceful, serene.

Their scents drifted across the small room, and I realised that all of the triplets had an absolutely divine pine-forest kind of smell, yet different to each other. Where Thane's seemed autumnal - crisp, and misty, Cole's was bright and summery, and Finn's held the more fragrant notes of spring, still layered over that woodsy, pine forest kind of smell. I breathed them in deeply, enjoying them, then sighed and reached to turn the tap off. When I turned back, I found them both pulling off all of their clothes, grinning widely at me.

You're not even worthy to polish my shoes! 【The abandoned warehouse in the south district tonight. Come for your patrol, if you have the guts. I'll show you what a real Kindred elite is.】 【Seraphina! You actually dared to complain to the Prince that I tampered with your blood packs? Isn't high-purity vervain a better fit for trash like you than that other junk? You should get on your knees and thank me!】 【Oops, I accidentally led the hunters to you. With that laughable healing ability of yours, you should survive, right?】

I gasped as I walked to the front desk of the hotel, it was beautiful. Classy as hell and wooden everywhere. It was fitting as it was in the middle of the woods. Blake and Stacey had chosen well and I knew she fell in love with this place the minute she saw it. Luckily it was August and I prayed the weather stayed amazing to allow them to get married outside. “Hi, welcome to the woodlands. Do you have a reservation?” The smiley redhead asked me at the desk

“Then we’ll make sure we get to.” Outside, the wind picked up. A howl echoed through the pines—far off, but real. And the scent of ash rolled in with the dark.

They didn’t even glance back at her. “Maybe it’s better this way,” she muttered, heading in the opposite direction. She wasn’t looking forward to this trip at all. The next morning, the bus ride to Silver Pines National Park was long and uncomfortable. Polaris sat by the window, her headphones on, trying to block out the noise of her classmates. They were all talking excitedly about the trip, but Polaris couldn’t shake the feeling of isolation that had been clinging to her since everything fell apart.