"Rate that one," Ethan whispered, sidling up to me as I tried to swallow my frustration. He gestured toward another girl walking by with her father-a tall man with a belly that strained his too-small suit jacket. "Girl's a solid six," Ethan murmured, barely holding back his grin. "Dad? Three. No, wait. Two-point-five. Those shoes are a crime." "Piss off," I hissed, though the corner of my mouth twitched. Teely joined him, holding two champagne flutes, one of which she offered to me. "You look like you need it." "Gee, thanks," I muttered, downing the drink in one go. It didn't help. Teely laughed softly. "Relax, Luca. You'll survive this. Probably." "Only because I haven't strangled anyone yet," I shot back, earning another chuckle from Ethan. "Seriously, though," Ethan said, dropping his voice. "You've gotta pick someone, or your dad's gonna lose his mind. And let's be honest, the guy doesn't have much sanity left to lose." I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. "I'm not picking anyone. None of these people matter." "Your funeral," Ethan said with a shrug, though there was a flicker of understanding in his eyes. He knew. He always knew. The night dragged on, every interaction blurring into the next. Girls smiled politely, their fathers talked about alliances, and I nodded through all of it like I wasn't seconds away from bolting out the door. Then it hit me. A scent. Faint, but unmistakable. It was like rain on warm soil, mixed with something sweet and soft-something her. My chest tightened, my wolf snapping to attention like someone had just poured gasoline on a fire. I froze, the world around me dimming as I tried to track it. My head snapped to the left, then to the right. Where? Where was it coming from? "Luca?" Ethan's voice sounded far away, like it was coming from underwater. There. My eyes locked on the grand staircase at the far end of the hall. A girl was descending, her dress shimmering in the light like it was made of emeralds. Her movements were slow, almost deliberate, and I couldn't see her face yet. But I didn't need to. My heart hammered in my chest, each beat louder than the last. She was holding the arm of a man-tall, broad-shouldered, and irritatingly familiar. But I couldn't focus on him. Not when she finally turned her head, her face coming into view. Quinn. My legs nearly gave out. My breath caught, my wolf howling inside me. It was her. After everything, she was here. And she wasn't alone. ******************************************************************* Seventeen-year-old Quinn Wayne moves with her family from bustling New York City to a secluded, mist-shrouded town in Alaska, where her parents have purchased a dilapidated inn. Surrounded by dense forests and towering mountains, the picturesque town promises a fresh start-but Quinn quickly realizes it holds secrets far darker than she could have ever imagined. In this epic journey of love, sacrifice, and self-discovery, Quinn must rise as the Lunar Guardian, embracing her newfound powers and her identity as Luca's mate. The path ahead is uncertain, filled with loss, triumph, and transformation. But one thing is clear: the choices Quinn makes will forever alter the balance between humans and werewolves-and determine whether love can conquer even the darkest of curses.
Chapter 1 The Big Move
The room smelled like blood and death, but that wasn't what burned my lungs. No, that was the grief - thick, suffocating, and raw. It clawed at my throat, threatening to break me apart.
The body in my arms was too still, and getting cold. Crimson stained my hands, warm against my trembling fingers as I stroked her hair. Tangled strands clung to her pale face, and I brushed them away gently, even though I knew it didn't matter anymore.
I wasn't sure when the sobs started - maybe when her pulse faded beneath my touch, or maybe when I realized I couldn't fix this. Either way, I didn't fight them. The world was already broken, so what was the point in holding back?
A flicker of movement caught my eye, and my gaze locked onto the most evil being to exist, Cale. He stood across from me, her blood splattered on his clothes, his expression hard and unreadable. His presence was a slap to the face - a brutal reminder of everything that had gone wrong.
And God, where had it gone wrong? Was it the day I moved to this city? If I'd never come here, none of this would've happened. Maybe I wouldn't have been thrown into this twisted world of packs and power struggles. Maybe she wouldn't be dead.
But then... I wouldn't have met him either.
The thought was bitter and beautiful all at once. The love of my life. The man who changed everything.
My chest tightened, and I blinked back the sting of tears. No, I couldn't think about him right now. Not here, not like this. But the memories pushed their way in anyway, relentless and vivid.
It had all started when I moved to this place, naive and hopeful. I hadn't known what waited for me in the shadows.
If I had... would I have stayed?
I looked down at my friend's lifeless face, her blood seeping into the ground beneath us.
Probably not.
But life doesn't give you do-overs, does it?
And that's where the story really began. Back when I thought moving here was the start of something new - a fresh chapter, full of promise and possibility.
I was wrong.
So wrong.
Chapter 1 – The Big Move
The city had always been my prison-a loud, crowded, polluted nightmare where fitting in was a constant battle I never cared to win. The schools were worse. If you weren't in the right clique or didn't know the latest fashion trend, you were practically asking to be bullied. So I perfected the art of blending in, skirting the edges just enough to go unnoticed. Invisible was safe. Invisible was freedom.
That's why, when my parents announced we were moving to a tiny town in Alaska-Juneau of all places-I didn't hesitate. Before they even finished talking, I was on my laptop, fingers flying over the keys as I Googled everything about the place. Small town? Check. Thirty-five thousand people? Even better. Surrounded by mountains and endless forests? Jackpot. It was as if the universe had finally decided to throw me a bone.
My parents were thrilled when I gave them my full support, and honestly, so was I. Leaving New York wasn't hard. I didn't have any real friends-just classmates I occasionally texted about homework or nodded at in the hallways. No tearful goodbyes or heartfelt promises to stay in touch. Just a clean break. On my last day at school, I casually mentioned I was moving. The reactions were exactly what I expected-perfunctory well-wishes and indifferent shrugs. Fine by me. As I walked out of those school doors for the last time, I didn't even glance back.
The next two weeks were a chaotic blur of packing and selling the house. My parents nailed a quick sale, and before I knew it, we were spending our last night in New York. I barely slept, buzzing with anticipation. The next morning, we boarded a flight to our new life-a nine-hour journey to freedom.
Exhaustion hit me hard as soon as we settled into our seats. I was out cold before the plane even left the runway. The next thing I knew, my mom was shaking me awake, her voice practically bursting with excitement.
"Wake up, honey! We're here!"
Groggy but wired with enthusiasm, I stumbled off the plane. Outside the airport, a man in his early twenties stood holding a placard with our names on it. He had slicked-back hair, sharp features, and an easy smile that radiated confidence.
"Mr. and Mrs. Wayne?" he greeted cheerfully. "I'm Ethan Diaz. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."
He shook hands with my parents and reached for our bags. As I got a good look at him, a strange sense of déjà vu crept over me. There was something oddly familiar about him, even though I'd never set foot in Alaska before. Weird.
We piled into his SUV, and as we drove through the winding roads, I couldn't stop staring out the window. Towering mountains loomed in the distance, their peaks dusted with snow. Dense forests stretched as far as the eye could see, and the sky was a vast expanse of blue. It felt like stepping into a postcard.
"Everything okay back there?" Ethan's voice broke through my thoughts. He glanced at me through the rearview mirror, his brow furrowing in concern.
"Yeah, definitely!" I blurted, probably a little too enthusiastically. My parents exchanged amused glances.
Ethan grinned. "It sure is something. I've got a list of places you might like to check out while you're getting settled. Thought you'd be up for some exploring."
"Absolutely! Thanks, Ethan." I tried to sound cool, but my excitement was barely contained.
My parents had timed the move perfectly. I had a couple of weeks to settle in before starting my final year of school. Plenty of time to explore, unpack, and maybe even meet a few people. My eighteenth birthday was just around the corner, too. It felt like the universe was finally giving me a break.
I was in the middle of fantasizing about all the adventures waiting for me when the car jolted violently.
Bang!
The deafening sound of metal smashing against something echoed through the air. My stomach flipped, and my heart slammed against my ribs.
"What the-?" Ethan cursed, gripping the steering wheel as the car skidded to a stop.
The tires screeched against the asphalt, and for a moment, everything was a blur of chaos and panic. My mom let out a sharp gasp, and my dad braced himself against the dashboard.
When the car finally came to a shuddering halt, there was a heavy silence.
"Is everyone okay?" Ethan's voice was strained, his knuckles white on the steering wheel.
"I think so," my dad said, his voice shaky. "What happened?"
Ethan didn't answer. His eyes were fixed on something ahead of us, his expression darkening.
I followed his gaze and felt the blood drain from my face.
"What the hell is that?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.
Ethan's jaw tightened. "A wolf. Stay in the car."
Chapter 1 The Big Move
26/02/2025
Chapter 2 The Bite of Fate
26/02/2025
Chapter 3 Igniting the fire within
26/02/2025
Chapter 4 Unveiling the Shadows
26/02/2025
Chapter 5 A New Reality
26/02/2025
Chapter 6 Shadows of the Wild
26/02/2025
Chapter 7 Meeting the Town Folk
26/02/2025
Chapter 8 Facing Luca
26/02/2025
Chapter 9 Punches and Pie
26/02/2025
Chapter 10 Days of Discovery
26/02/2025
Chapter 11 A Fresh Start
26/02/2025
Chapter 12 Wolfie Attacks
26/02/2025
Chapter 13 Human Verses Wolf
03/03/2025
Chapter 14 Cursed Unleased
03/03/2025
Chapter 15 Was moving here a mistake
03/03/2025
Chapter 16 Golden Eyes
03/03/2025
Chapter 17 Boyfriend Material
03/03/2025
Chapter 18 Parents' Ulterior Motives
03/03/2025
Chapter 19 First Day In School
03/03/2025
Chapter 20 Escalating Tensions
03/03/2025
Chapter 21 Aftermath of Meeting Luca Diaz
03/03/2025
Chapter 22 Birthday Blues
03/03/2025
Chapter 23 When Dark Secrets Are Revealed
03/03/2025
Chapter 24 The Wolves Within
03/03/2025
Chapter 25 My Four Legged Friends
03/03/2025
Chapter 26 Awakening the Lunar Flame
03/03/2025
Chapter 27 Unwritten Mates
03/03/2025
Chapter 28 The Night Hunt
03/03/2025
Chapter 29 The Lake Party Punch
03/03/2025
Chapter 30 My Brother, Damn Him
03/03/2025
Chapter 31 Ethan vs Luca
03/03/2025
Chapter 32 Bite of Regret
03/03/2025
Chapter 33 Luca's Recovery
03/03/2025
Chapter 34 Her Bully
03/03/2025
Chapter 35 Hate me but never leave me
03/03/2025
Chapter 36 Pain of my crushed heart
03/03/2025
Chapter 37 Letting him go
03/03/2025
Chapter 38 Rejected For My Brother
03/03/2025
Chapter 39 Letting it all out
03/03/2025
Chapter 40 A placeholder until mated
03/03/2025
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