Chapter 18JakeAs I walk away, a weight descends upon me, a deep sorrow and regret settling in my chest. The heartbreaking look Evelyn had given me will forever hunt me.How had I caused so much damage in such a short time? It was the lies. I was certain she wouldn't forgive me right now. But what else could I have done? I was not permitted to tell her the truth yet. But there were also other things plaguing my mind.Strange things.When she asked me to go, I felt compelled to obey, like I would when our dad, the Alpha, spoke. Even though she spoke in a gentle voice and pretended to be at peace, her command reverberating through my body.A slight change had taken place. While it was almost undetectable, I could tell that something was different. When I was first introduced to Evelyn, I had been certain that she was entirely human. Now, I was not as confident in that assumption.I attempted to fight her orders to leave, yet ultimately, I had to do what she commanded me to do and began
Chapter 19EvelynI can't believe what I'm seeing. I must be dreaming. Eric is sitting in my house, and I never thought he could find me. My heart leapt into my throat, and I thought I might faint. He was here—in my house—which was over ten hours away from my last residence. It simply couldn't be true.We stood there for a moment, neither of us daring to speak. The tension thick between us. He looked the same, but still didn’t. His normally bright blue shining eyes were dull with some feeling beyond them I couldn’t decipher. His expression was almost regretful. It must have been a trick of the light; this man showed no remorse. How could somebody act so callously?I stared in disbelief as he stood in my kitchen, like he had been there forever. He looked the same, though maybe a bit flushed, as if he had run here. My brain couldn't process all of this right since I was noticing so many extra details; his hair was slightly mussed, his shirt creased from his journey, his hands shaking ev
Chapter 20 Jake Something was off. The feeling was tingling in my entire body. I felt anxious, like something was lurking in the shadows, just out of sight. My heart raced and my skin prickled with a discomforting sensation. I couldn't pinpoint the source of my distress, and I had no choice but to give in to it. I thought back to the conversation I had with Evelyn earlier that day. All I had wanted was for her to understand me, but she had shut me out completely. The rejection had stung, but I was certain I could win her over with time. These emotions invading me were something else. I felt sadness, grief, longing, love, and a strange sense of familiarity. These emotions I was feeling seemed foreign to me, almost like they belonged to someone else. They came in waves, each stronger than before, warning me of a coming storm. I tried to trace the origin of these feelings back to their source, but I couldn't seem to find it. What was I feeling? It wasn’t like I didn’t know about the
Chapter 21 Evelyn Unexpectedly, Eric grabbed me and held me close. His arms were like bands of steel around me, strength and confidence radiating from his body. He embraced me tightly, his chest heaving against mine, and he kissed my neck and ear. His hands were all over me, exploring my body as if he was trying to memorize it. He smelled of aftershave and wood smoke. But he also had a smell that was hard to identify. It lingered around him like a mist. Then, as quickly as it had started, it all stopped. Eric took a step back and looked at me, searching my face for something. His eyes were dark and intense, filled with longing and something else I couldn't quite put my finger on. Fear gripped me and my heart thudded in my chest. He said nothing, but his gaze penetrated my very soul. It made my cheeks burn, and my breath coming in quick gasps. I was so shocked that I couldn't even form the words. Half of me remembered the feeling of his embrace, and all the emotions we had once expe
Chapter 22 Jake My mate had vanished without a trace. Although her smell was still in the room, it was faint. The other scent was artificial and so strong that it overpowered all the other aromas, making them dissipate into the air. It was a pungent chemical smell, unfamiliar to my sensitive nose, like a mixture of burnt rubber, gasoline, and something else I couldn't quite identify. Evelyn was gone. The smell of fear lingered in the air like a corpse, slowly decomposing until it was nothing more than bones and shadows. The sun had sunk low and cast a cold light on the scene, but it didn’t matter. I knew what I saw. Someone scattered her belongings around the lodge. Her empty shoes were placed neatly by the door, as if she had taken them off before she left. But she hadn’t left willingly. The smell of fear still lingered in the air. It was faint, but combined with what I had felt earlier, I realized this was not her choice. Someone had forced her here, and I felt my grip on my com
Chapter 23EvelynThe air was stagnant and heavy with humidity as Eric, and I stood face to face in the dimly lit cottage. It all happened so fast. Eric had found me, blaming me for leaving and then accusing me of being unfaithful. He was getting angrier and meaner by the minute. I never thought he had it in him to hurt me, but now I was convinced he actually would do so.He was convinced that I belonged to him. He was convinced that I had betrayed him.Before I reacted, he had grabbed me and thrown me over his shoulder. In one swift movement, he had opened the door and rushed out of the cottage. He held me tight. I was powerless, and my heart raced as his long strides carried us away.The sun was setting, casting an orange hue over the horizon as we headed towards the woods. I did not know what was coming next, but I it couldn't be good. I was trembling with fear, but I also comprehended that I had to stay determined. I filled my lungs with air and wordlessly hoped for a miracle.As
Chapter 24JakeMy pack mates leapt into action, intent on finding Evelyn. I sprinted through the forest, snuffling at the ground in a desperate search for any trace of her. My dark wolf, howling and growling, mirroring our sadness and trepidation.We were running against the setting sun, and the light was almost completely gone. Although this didn't impede our progress much, as wolves mainly rely on scents and sounds rather than sight, I couldn't help but worry about what it might mean for Evelyn. If she was still out here, alone and scared, she would be extremely vulnerable in the dark.There was no trace of her, no scent, no sound. The earlier artificial smell was faint. Maybe it was overpowering Evelyn’s scent. It was unclear which direction they were headed. Someone took Evelyn against her will. I felt it in my bones, my heart and soul. She didn’t go willingly, and that fueled my anger to find her.I couldn't imagine how terrified she must be. The thought of what she was going th
Chapter 25EvelynEric’s words were harsh and controlling. He spoke of marriage as if it was his right to possess me, and as if carrying on an affair with Carrie was the most natural thing in the world. He had no guilt and no empathy. It filled me with a strange sensation that I was speaking to a lunatic.He continued speaking, his voice growing louder, but his words becoming increasingly garbled. My heart raced and my legs shook as I my stomach turned. I had to get out of there. I had to escape the situation and his controlling words.Any remorse I had over leaving Eric without saying goodbye had disappeared. The man he had portrayed himself as - loyal and empathetic - was nothing more than an empty facade. His words and promises were false, and his behavior was selfish and untrustworthy. I had to get away from him.We were still standing outside his car, an old green chevy that had seen better days, although he had always taken care of it well. The thought of getting in the car with