Camden couldn't help the tiny sob that escaped her lips. To think that Clayton had wondered his whole life whether his parents had loved him broke her heart. Her pregnancy hormones were kicking into overdrive and she could feel that she would start to spiral soon if she didn't regain her focus, so she pressed on, hoping to lighten the situation with a little levity. "Also," she went on, wiping a tear from her eye, "I figured while I was getting the inside scoop on your family history, I'd ask about your real name," she explained. Clayton perked up, very interested to hear what she was about to reveal. "Well, I didn't ask about your first name. I don't know... I felt weird about it. I felt like too much would change if I had to start calling you something else now on top of all this other stuff and I know you as Clayton and it—" she was rambling on when Clayton cut her off. "What is it?" he asked, unable to disguise his curiosity. "Wolfe," she revealed with the tiniest hint of a smile.
Instead of leading him to the lounge, as Clayton had anticipated, he led him back to the kitchen. The change in setting made the conversation seem more serious. More threatening.Matt took a seat, followed shortly by Clayton, who sat directly opposite him. Matt didn't beat around the bush. "You know I know," he stated. It wasn't a question. Clayton shrugged, seemingly unfazed. Matt sighed before continuing, "Where are you guys going?" he asked, his tone firm and serious. "We don't know yet. We still need to decide. I only just found out about all of this," Clayton replied, feeling a bit annoyed. It was pretty unreasonable of Matt to expect them to already have a plan when he had literally only found out all this life-changing stuff a few minutes ago. He felt like he needed a minute to reflect and to think it all through."Clayton, I'm not fucking around when I say this... If you hurt her, I will fucking end you. We might not be mates anymore, but I still feel responsible for her and p
Matt let out a sigh, wanting to be done with the conversation now. "Just make sure you keep your end of the deal. I'm doing this for Cam... and for what we used to have," he said, his gaze drifting off momentarily as if lost in memories. "You know, I considered going with you, but I know how threatened you feel by me," Matt teased, trying to keep a straight face but unable to do so. Clayton scoffed and chuckled. "I might actually miss you, Matt. Not the part where you trailed after Cam like a lost puppy, or the way you'd watch her move, or the way your hands lingered on her a little too long..." Clayton went on, leaving Matt with a sheepish expression on his face. "But I'll miss you.""God, Clayton, I'm not going to die! Well, actually, I might if they ever find out that I knew about this and never said anything... But let's hope that doesn't happen. Just figure this shit out, okay? If I can help the two of you in any way, let me know, but something tells me this journey doesn't invol
Camden Woods raced through the dense forest, her wedding dress trailing behind like a ghostly spectre. Every stride was fuelled by fear, determination, and the lingering effects of the wolfsbane her father had forced upon her. As a werewolf, she could have easily evaded capture in her wolf form. But the wolfsbane coursing through her veins confined her to her human form, stripping away her true nature and leaving her vulnerable. The thought of marrying someone who wasn't her destined mate was unbearable, even if it meant strengthening the pack alliances. Pushing herself to her limit, Camden knew she had to reach beyond the boundaries of her pack's territory before her father's men closed in on her. They were swift and relentless in their wolf forms, while she was left to rely on her own two feet. She had to keep pushing, to find sanctuary beyond the border that threatened to trap her in a loveless existence. Sprinting through the woods, gasping for breath, Camden realized she had n
Camden clung to the stranger's hand, a mixture of uncertainty and desperation swirling within her. The absurdity of her situation was not lost on her—trusting a stranger, following him to some unknown location. Camden had watched enough true crime shows to know that this is how women die. Yet, the alternative, returning to a life where she would be married to a man barely more than a stranger to her, was even more unbearable. She couldn’t see herself waking up next to him every morning, or worse, having to bear his children. Camden felt nothing for him, besides resentment, and she knew that would only grow worse with time. So, she figured taking her chances with this mysterious stranger in the woods was a better option than marrying the boy who was probably waiting for her at the altar by now. Guilt washed over her as she thought about the groom. It wasn't his fault either. He was probably as much a victim of their conniving parents as she was. She felt terrible, imagining him standi
Camden's eyes flew open, her body jerking upright in bed. Panic surged through her once again, fuelled by the lingering aftermath of the previous day's chaos. But this time, there was an added layer, a peculiar sensation that eclipsed her fear. She could sense the restlessness and anticipation building within her as her wolf awakened. Clayton, who had dozed off at the table, awoke with a start at the sound of her panicked gasp once again. He quickly made his way to the bed, concern etched on his face. He sensed the awakening of her wolf, and in that moment, he heard a whisper in his mind, "Mate?" The word reverberated through him. Camden looked up at him, confusion apparent on his face as he stood tall, his green eyes exuding a blast of intensity. A flicker of fear ignited within her as he suddenly towered over her, but as her own wolf awakened, Camden found her voice and whispered with unwavering certainty, "Mate." The realization hit her like a lightning bolt, an onslaught of emot
Camden pulled a chair to sit in front of the crackling fireplace, her damp hair slowly drying as she watched Clayton still skulking at the table. "Do you maybe have something I can wear besides that hideous wedding dress?" she asked, her voice laced with disdain for the thing. Clayton nodded and headed over to a cupboard, retrieving a white t-shirt and a pair of grey sweatpants. He handed them over to her. Camden took them gratefully. “Thank you,” she said, then she twirled her finger, signalling for him to turn around. Clayton let out a sigh and complied, facing the opposite direction as she changed in the tiny cabin. The borrowed clothes were far from a perfect fit, overwhelming her petite frame, but they were a welcome relief from the burdensome wedding dress. Camden settled back into the chair in front of the fireplace, squeezing her hair out with the towel. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Clayton sitting at the table again, his gaze fixed on her. "Hmmm?" she mused, ti
As the day began to draw to a close, the sun dipped behind the horizon, casting a warm, dusky glow over the landscape. Camden's curiosity sparked, and she turned to Clayton with anticipation in her eyes. "Hey, can I meet your wolf?" she asked, a playful smile gracing her lips. Clayton returned her smile, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Sure," he replied, "I’d love to go for a run if you’re interested? You're good to shift now? The wolfsbane has worn off completely, right?" Camden nodded, her voice filled with certainty. "Yes, I feel good and I’d love to go for a run with you." They headed outside, Camden taking in the view of the cabin in a different light now that she was aware that Clayton had made it himself. She headed to the side of the cabin, seeking privacy to strip off her clothes and shift. Clayton, seemingly less reserved, had no qualms about stripping down and shifting right in front of the cabin. Moments later, Camden emerged as a wolf, her sleek form standing tall and