Ella We settled into the hard plastic seats, the cacophony of engines and crowd noise enveloping us like a heavy blanket. Even from our spot, I could see the intensity on the drivers’ faces, their concentration palpable even from a distance. There was something both exciting and terrifying about it; and something addictive, I was sure of it. This was a place for adrenaline junkies, for people

Ella The buzzing of the airport around me felt as if it was compounding my already mounting stress. I always hated airports. To me, they were nothing but anxiety-inducing cacophonies of shuffling feet, murmured conversations, and the repetitive announcements coming through the loudspeakers. Like a caged animal, I pace

Ella I had to resist the urge to laugh as Logan’s face drained of color. “Dogs,” he had said. The irony was not lost on me. Dogs? This man, who could shift into a wolf, was scared of dogs? He shot me a sideways glance, as if he was sensing the disbelief radiating from my body. “I know what you&

EllaSitting alone in my hotel room, surrounded by plush furniture and golden accents that gleamed in the soft lighting, I felt a pang of homesickness. The luxuriousness of the room was stifling in an odd way, as though constantly reminding me of my charade with a mobster.Shaking off the momentary melancholy, I decided to call Moana to calm my frayed nerves.Taking a deep breath to compose myself, I dialed her number and waited for the ring to connect. The familiar sound of her voice, warm and comforting as always, came through within moments.“Ella, my love! How was your flight? Did you make it to the hotel?”“We did,” I said, faking a sense of enthusiasm in my voice. “The place is...well, it’s something.”“Where is your fiance?” Moana asked. “I’d like to say hello, if you don’t mind.”The word ‘fiance’ made my body stiffen. I glanced at the empty space next to me, where Logan would have been if we were an actual couple. But we weren’t. He was in a room of his own, doing his own thi

EllaThe cool evening air was a welcome relief from the almost stuffy warmth of the opulent hotel. I hated to admit it, but I was glad that we decided to go out after all. My wolf purred happily in the back of my mind, her obsession with our fated mate having grown over the recent weeks and only made worse by our flight together.But I was happy too, although I would never have admitted to that. I liked having Logan by my side, even just as a friend to confide in. And being home was a comfort in and of itself, to be able to walk freely in my home city without the thought of being harassed or pickpocketed. For the first time in a while, I felt as though I could breathe properly.Fall leaves swirled around our feet as we walked down a cozy street lined with shops made of brick facades. Here, in my home city, it seemed as though there was a shop for everything: a hair salon, a jewelry store, an antique shop, a French cafe. And that was just to name a few; we were only walking along a tin