AMY

“Run, Amy! Run as fast as you can, my love!” my mother yelled as she pushed me away.

“Mom!!” Warm tears graced my cheeks as I refused to move. At the same time, the howls of the rogue wolves filled the air. They were closer to us.

“Run, Amy!!” she begged, even though the night had sunk deep, I could see her tears of pain glistening in those gray eyes. “I love you, darling,” she whispered as she caressed my cheek one last time.

I felt a heavy pain storming through my chest like a herd of horses.

I didn’t know whether it was the fear of being killed by the enemies or because of her pleading words; all I knew was that I started running. My nine-year-old self brushed past the thick leaves of the forest. I couldn’t bring myself to look back as my mother fought the wolves off.

I just kept running.

“Amy?” Clara’s voice jolted me back to reality. I had been so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t realize I was daydreaming.

Clara and Gabriel had been my foster parents since I was nine.

“What’s wrong?” she asked worriedly, staring back at me while Gabriel drove.

“She misses our former home, that's what’s wrong!” Blake, their son, blared beside me.

I was nineteen and he was eighteen, but most times he always acted like the eldest one and he could be very annoying.

“I mean, who the fuck moves from Rose Hills to Lilyview?”

“We’ve talked about this several times, Blake—” Gabriel calmly intervened.

“I know, I know,” Blake cut him off abruptly. “I just don’t want to accept it. Just because your job posted you here doesn’t mean you had to move the entire family to this town! Rose Hills is my life, how can I settle for this place!”

He was right, though. Rose Hills was an interesting city compared to this small town surrounded by a thick forest.

“We’ll only be here for a while. A couple of months maybe. Besides, Lilyview is a beautiful place. I’m sure the two of you will love it.” She smiled happily at us but I couldn’t bring myself to return that gesture.

Blake hissed and she heaved a light sigh.

“You could use today’s town fair as an avenue to meet new people, and make some friends,” she said. “Especially you, Amy. You never can tell, maybe this environment might be what you need after all.”

I nodded slightly, looking out the car’s window a bit intrigued by the houses we drove by. Although my foster parents were the best, they kept their tight security on me mostly because I‘d always entertained the idea of running away to find the bastards who took everything away from me.

Every day, that painful memory kept playing in my head. How my pack members were slaughtered by rogues, my father’s disappearance, and my mother’s tears. My palms curled into fists as anger burned in me like brimstone fire.

If only I knew the bastards who did those things, I would have my revenge.

“We’ve arrived!” Gabriel announced as we pulled into the parking lot.

As I alighted from the car, the sun’s gentle beams welcomed me as my long silver hair danced to the tune of the gentle breeze. Something about this place was oddly refreshing and this was a feeling I hadn’t had in a long while. As I closed the car door, it reflected my red hoodie, big blue jeans, and white sneakers in a blur.

One thing Clara complained about was being too casual.

“Come on!” Clara pitched excitedly.

“This should be fun,” Blake sarcastically muttered before heading across the field where the town fair was set up.

“I’ll watch over him, don’t worry.” Gabriel smiled at Clara before leaving us.

I exhaled deeply, looking at the large field where people both young and old had amassed. There were white canopies, each hosting different sections. One of them housed clowns I could sight far off entertaining the little kids. The mighty Ferris wheel spun, filled with people screaming with ecstasy.

I was still looking around when Clara’s voice interrupted my review. “Are you going to keep staying here or have fun?” She chuckled before pulling me along into the field.

My gaze darted to the people cheering from a corner about an animal race in action. “A piglet race?” I laughed at their small legs scurrying along the track. “Of all animals?”

“Wanna check it out?”

I shook my head while our pace considerably slowed.

“I know it’s moving from Rose Hills to this place. But I hope this city is the catalyst for you,” she intoned with so much worry. “You have so much potential waiting to be unlocked but I feel you hide them, you withdraw from us. We’re your family Amy. Blake might be a pain in the ass but he loves you. We all love you. I want you to know that.”

“I know,” I whispered just loud enough for her to hear. I was about to say something else when —

“Amy!!” Rose, our neighbor’s daughter, screamed a few meters ahead of us, smiling as if she had just won the lotto.

My smile faded instantly and I wished I could just disappear.

“Don’t give that look. She’s your friend,” Clara remarked as Rose scurried towards us.

More like a girl who'd been trying to force a friendship with me.

“Amy!” She beamed as she reached us, dressed in a red and white floral sundress that perfectly complemented her blonde hair. She was only a year older than me, but she looked so petite compared to me, the curvy one.

“Hey, Rose.” I fake smiled.

“Mrs. Lockwood,” she greeted Clara.

“I’ll leave you two to your fun, and please watch over her, Rose,” Clara said.

“Of course, Mrs. Lockwood.”

I almost cursed watching Clara leave me.

“I didn’t think you would come,” she chirped.

“Clara forced me.”

“Well, that’s good! 'Cause I’d like you to meet some friends of mine; they’ve been dying to meet the new girl of Lilyview.” She pulled me along like I was a child, weaving through the crowd till we arrived at the center of the field, where nine people dressed in red and black danced glamorously to a band who played from a raised stage. Their dance steps were quite funny but they had a touch of beauty to them.

This fair brought back those old memories of how joyous my pack used to be. We used to hold our own fair too.

“You know, they say this is a cultural dance that this town has celebrated for years. Many say it brings the town good fortunes but I say, they need a touch of pop culture to spice it up,” Rose remarked with a giggle.

We watched them for a while before she took me to the other side till we arrived at the food vendors, where the overwhelming smells —pizza, corn dogs, cotton candy, and various fried delicacies— flooded my senses. Between that and the music blaring, the chatter of people, the kids screaming in excitement, and the snorting of the pigs, I almost had a migraine.

I guess this was one of the downsides of being a werewolf— our senses operate on a much higher scale.

Oh, I should have probably mentioned that one detail about myself.

“John!” Rose squealed as we reached one of the food stands. The man was dressed in a white t-shirt and a black apron, with tattoos lining his forearms. I found myself admiring those clear blue eyes of his.

He smiled. “Rose, you’re back."

“This is Amy.” She pointed at me and his eyes held mine so intently, as if he were trying to read my mind.

“You didn’t tell me the new girl was this beautiful,” he commented and I couldn't help smiling. “I’m John by the way.”

“I love your tats,” I replied.

“I love your eyes,” he answered while Rose cleared her throat. “You know, they call me the chef around here,”

“Are you trying to impress me?” I smirked.

“Maybe.” He bit his lower lip. “But you should try my cuisine for yourself. On the house.” He winked and I smiled. Maybe this place wasn’t so bad after all.

“You didn’t give me that seafood for free, you jerk!” Rose lamented while he carefully arranged some on a paper plate for me.

“She’s special,” he laughed. “For you, mademoiselle.” He held out a plate, and I won’t lie; the scent was already enticing enough to make my stomach growl.

I was about to take it when I heard another voice.

“Amy Lockwood.” It was more like a growl with a cold intention behind it. I looked back and all I saw were people going about their own business. I looked again until my eyes caught him.

He was a few meters back, but that predatory look was clear to see— and solely focused on me. He was tall, dressed in a black shirt and jeans. My heart started to thump and my breaths came out in short gasps.

I looked away, focusing on John and Rose again.

“Thank you,” I whispered while I had a taste of the fried fish.

“What do you think?” he asked and, although it was delicious, my skin crawled in fear.

I could feel the eyes of that guy on me. I looked back again. This time, he was closer, smiling at me with his fangs bared in the open and his eyes briefly flashing golden yellow.

“Fuck!” I gasped. He was a werewolf, too.

For the first time in so many years, I was seeing another one. How did he even know my name?!

“Is it bad?” John and Rose queried immediately with worried frowns.

“No, no.” I fake smiled. “I was expecting less, but this, this is wonderful.”

“I wasn’t bluffing.” John smiled while I looked back again.

He wasn’t there.

I should have been relieved but my fears broke new heights, I knew he was somewhere around watching me. My wolf was restless, and my heart wouldn’t stop pounding hard as several questions raced in my head. Who was that man? And how did he know my name?

I wasn’t going to get my answers standing here.

RUN was the obvious thought screaming in my head.

LOGAN

“How long before we get to Red Bane Pack?” I glanced at Oliver, my red-haired Beta, while the chauffeur drove.

“An hour or less,” he answered while checking his wristwatch. “Are you bored already?” he queried with a tiny smile.

“You know how much I hate long drives, Oliver. We should have simply boarded my private jet.” I pulled my suit jacket off in a distressed manner.

“For a two-hour drive, don’t be dramatic, Logan,” he taunted. “Besides, when you get to Red Bane pack, I’m sure it’s going to be worth the stress. I hear they have quite a number of flawless beauties.” His hazel eyes gleamed with so much passion.

I glanced at him while a tiny smile lifted the corner of my lips. “I do like the sound of that.”

“And who knows, you might be lucky to find your mate there,” he added. That statement killed every iota of joy that I'd felt earlier.

I looked out through the window, hoping the view of the houses we drove by would sway me from my negative thoughts but it didn’t. I rubbed the left side of my neck, where a small broken moon tattoo was imprinted. I grunted a bit, feeling a sharp pain just fazing the area a bit.

Ten years ago, I was cursed and the only cure was finding a mate. One would have thought it would be easy considering my status as alpha but it seemed like the moon goddess had destined me to remain alone forever. My right palm curled into a fist as my insides burned with rage and pain intertwined.

“I know that look, Logan,” Oliver commented in a worried manner. “You’re thinking again.”

“Nah.” I shot him a fake smile which he was not buying.

“Should I not have mentioned anything about your mate? You’re usually not this way whenever I mention it.”

I sighed. “It’s been ten years Oliver,” I started, staring at the car's roof. “I still haven’t found a mate regardless of how hard I’ve searched.”

“You’re going to find her soon.”

“That's what you all keep saying but it’s getting hopeless.” I exhaled deeply. “I mean, look at you. You already have your mate, you have kids. And then there’s me, with barely any hope in sight. Most of my friends already have their own families. We’re even heading to Red Bane pack to witness another of our friends get hitched to his mate.”

“Hey,” he shifted closer to me, tapping my right hand for a brief moment. “Don’t talk like that. If anyone is going to lose hope it shouldn’t be you. Hell, it’s just been ten years. We have a lot of years to live as werewolves. What makes you think you won’t get to meet her today, tomorrow, the next, or in the next few months or years?” He donned an endearing smile with eyes that strongly affirmed hope. “Get yourself together, Logan, and be the Alpha King that you are.”

I nodded with a slight smile.

“Besides, I just have a feeling one of those ladies in Red Bane might be your mate." He beamed.

“You’ve been yapping about the ladies of that pack ever since we embarked on this journey, don’t tell me you wanna go back to your old ways?” I smirked and his eyes quickly shot up.

“I have a mate, for goodness sake!" But the Oliver I know was a serial flirt. His tall, muscular frame aided him so well — just like mine, except that my hair was black and styled in a pompadour fashion and my eyes were golden.

I wondered how Sarah had managed to tame wild Oliver.

He raised his hands in surrender. “Don’t give me that look, Logan. I would never dream of cheating on Sarah.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve got eyes on you.”

We both laughed, but our attention was diverted to the chauffeur as he pulled to a gentle stop.

“What’s wrong, David?” I queried.

“I apologize, Alpha Logan, our car seems to have a flat tire,” the young man answered courteously before alighting.

“And just when I thought the journey couldn’t get longer.” I rubbed the area between my eyebrows.

“Come on, we’ll just take one of the escort vehicles,” Olivier mumbled before getting out too.

I exhaled deeply before opening my door. As I stepped out into the warm afternoon, I felt a strong pull while the breeze gently warmed past me. The front tire was already flat.

“It must have run over a nail,” the chauffeur explained. “We’ll get the tire changed in a few minutes.”

I nodded.

“Logan, come on, let’s get going. He’ll join us later. We can’t afford to be late,” Oliver muttered while he came to my side. I put my suit jacket back on and briskly fixed my hair in the window's reflection. My black suit and white shirt were complemented by a matching pair of shoes and a diamond-encrusted watch.

“For goodness sake! You look good, let's go!” Oliver blared and as I took the first step.

That was when my wolf jeered to life within me.

I turned back sharply, scanning the quiet road and the houses that all looked empty. It was that pull again, but it was stronger now. Strong enough to cause a fold of current jolt through me.

“What’s wrong?” Oliver sported a quizzical look.

“Can you hear that?” I mumbled as the sound became clearer by the moment.

“I think there’s a celebration somewhere nearby,” he answered.

My brows arched. “Where are we, anyway? What's the name of this town?”

“I think—" Oliver started.

“Lilyview, sir,” David answered while pulling out the spare tire from the trunk.

“Yes, Lilyview!” Oliver confirmed.

Something was definitely up with this place. I hadn't felt my wolf like that in years.

“Logan, are you picking up something?” Oliver held my gaze so hard as if he were trying to read my mind.

The wind blew again and the pulses of current jolting in me doubled in a flash as a faint scent of jasmine filled my nostrils.

“Something is wrong with this place. I can feel it to my bones, Oliver.”

“I hate to sound like a jerk, but I don’t think you owe this town shit. One sniff around and you’ll know that this place is inhabited by humans. Let them deal with their issues.” He stood in front of me as if he wouldn’t let me go even if I wanted to.

“But that’s the thing, I can feel something calling to me and I need to find it.”

“We have a wedding to attend, Logan. Now’s not the time to play superhero!”

“Get out of my way,” I ordered in my alpha tone while his eyes mirrored my beaming red ones. “Wherever this noise is coming from, I need to find it quick!”

He stared at me for a moment before exhaling. “Fine, but at least let me accompany you. If things turn out to be dangerous, we’re leaving okay?”

I hurriedly walked back to the street we'd just driven past. I was attracted to that noise like a moth was to a light bulb.

Dangerous or not, I had to find wherever this mysterious scent came from.