As the graduation ceremony concluded, Marcella and her friends joined the crowd of jubilant graduates and their families outside the college auditorium, basking in the joyous atmosphere. But amidst the sea of familiar faces and the cacophony of congratulatory voices, there was one person noticeably absent: Professor Lucas.She had scanned the rows of professors seated on the stage during the ceremony, her eyes searching for his familiar face. Yet, his absence couldn’t be any more loud. It was strange not to see him there, especially after what they had been through and a gnawing sense of unease settled in the pit of her stomach. Was he ill? Or was it something else entirely? Would he skip the ceremony just to avoid talking to her?She was mulling over different reasons for his absence as she excused herself to make her way to the ladies' room when a familiar face appeared on the periphery of her vision.Carlos.Her heart skipped a beat for a moment and she paused, contemplating whethe
Marcella's apartment felt different as she moved through it while packing up her belongings. It was still quite early in the morning and finally learning the truth about Lucas, about their bond and the depth of his suffering, had transformed her world. There was nothing left for her in Willowdale now; she had to find Lucas and make him understand that she had always wanted him, no matter the circumstances.With each item she placed into her suitcase, she thought about the life she was leaving behind– her friends and the place where she had grown up. After packing all her essentials, she took one last look at the apartment, a place that had been her sanctuary for years, and then locked the door behind her. The journey ahead of her was uncertain, but her mind was already made up. As she travelled to Mystic Pines, the location Anna had given her, her mind was filled with thoughts of how he would react, whether he would be receptive to her feelings, or if he would turn her away. She felt
Prologue The full moon shone down on the forest, casting its pale light over the trees. The wind was still, and the leaves rustled only slightly in the breeze. The only sounds were the chirping of crickets and the occasional hooting of owls.Torrez was on patrol. His sharp senses were on high alert as he prowled through the underbrush, scanning the woods for any sign of danger. He had been feeling very uneasy ever since Lucas, his alpha left for an urgent meeting leaving him in charge of their territory. The forest was Torrez's home, and he knew every inch of it. He had spent his life here, growing up with the pack, learning from his elders. He had always felt safe in the forest, protected by his pack and the natural order of things. He mused about how his fellow packmates teased him relentlessly for not sealing the bond with his mate, Freya. Smiling slightly to himself, he hoped she understood that he was trying to be a gentleman. He didn’t want to just claim her like a wild anima
3 Years LaterLucas Blackwood jolted awake in a cold sweat, shaking with grief and his heart pounding uncontrollably from the same nightmare that's been plaguing him for over three years, struggling to keep his werewolf side under control.Though it didn't always start out the same, it always ended up the same way every time. Him running back trying to save them and coming to see their mangled bodies. He rubbed at his eyes and blearily sat up to take in his well-furnished bedroom to convince himself that he was truly awake.The walls were painted a calming shade of blue, and the king-sized bed was covered in luxurious silk sheets. The room was spacious, with large windows that offered a breathtaking view of the city skyline.His bed with the rumpled covers atop it was framed by a sleek, modern wooden headboard, which was adorned with a few of his favourite books. A matching nightstand was situated on either side of the bed, each topped with a lamp that gave off a warm, soothing glow.
Marcella groaned as she woke up from the blaring sound of her alarm clock before reaching over to turn it off. It was 4am and she wasn't a morning person by any means. She groggily got up from her bed and slowly padded out of her small room to the bathroom with a hand on her head. Gosh, she hated Mondays.Stepping into the bathroom, she switched on the lights and was met with her reflection staring back at her. Her hair looked even wilder and crazier than usual and she scowled at it.The brown curly hair was the bane of her existence and the only reason why she woke up an hour earlier than normal just to try and make it look presentable. Hair straighteners didn't work on it, and the various assorted hair products which lined the shelf beside the mirror that promised straight sleek hair were just a waste of her hard earned money. She gingerly picked up her toothbrush and hurriedly brushed her teeth before undressing. Assessing her familiar nude body, she felt insecure as she took in t
It was a dark and chilly Thursday evening when Lucas pulled his car into the parking lot of a bar located just a couple of blocks away from the college. It was a relatively new establishment, having only opened its doors a few weeks ago. He stepped out of his car, dressed in a leather jacket and jeans, his senses heightened as he scanned the area for any signs of danger. It wouldn't do for him to come in his usual formal attire since he wanted to blend in. He walked into the bar, his eyes adjusting to the dim lighting, and immediately had his senses flooded with a mixture of smells ranging from strong alcohol, smoke and sweat.The interior was done up in dark wood, giving it a slightly modern feel, and the overall design was all about clean lines, minimalistic furnishings, and a focus on high-quality materials. Loud music was blaring from the speakers which were at various points of the bar.The walls were painted in a muted black colour with dramatic lighting to create a warm and in
One thing Marcella hated was annoying and rude customers. It messed with her mood. No matter what she did, there would always be one customer that got on her nerves every morning; it was like a curse.Today it happened to be Dean Smith. The blonde college jock with a brain so empty, she was sure it made a hollow sound when tapped. He entered the shop with a snarl on his lips, and she could almost see the dark energy he brought along with him. It's like his pitch-black aura was determined to ruin her Monday. "Tea. Peppermint," he said, not even acknowledging her. 'What happened to: Hi, Good morning, Could I please have.' She thought."We just ran out, I'm afraid," the most insincere smile edged on her lips. That was a lie, of course. Her boss ordered it over the weekend and it had just been delivered before the shop opened. "What?" His eyebrows pulled together in distaste. "I said—" "I know what you said. I'm not deaf," he let out a low laugh, "How come you don't have pepperm
He was standing at the whiteboard, pulling books and a sleek-looking silver Macbook out of his suitcase and arranging them on the teacher's desk—his desk, a gold wristwatch glistening around his right wrist before facing the class and Marcella's brain short-circuits a little.No way-It can’t be-He was… the new Professor?"Good morning class," he said while still arranging the books on top of each other on his table. The whole class echoed the greeting back at him. She on the other hand couldn't talk.She couldn't decide whether she was completely horrified by this unexpected turn of events, or simply in a state of shock. The hot stranger she had been daydreaming about was her new History Professor. She was frozen in her seat, suddenly unsure if she wanted him to remember her or not. She didn't fancy herself as unforgettable in any way but it seemed a huge part of her hoped he still recognized her.“OMG! They weren't joking about him being the sexiest man alive,” she heard Bella whis