Their Human Mate Stella

lla

, I struggled to accept his untimely death from a car accide

oncern. She flicked on the bedroom light, reveal

I left our apartment, with Dad handling my bags. Mom had packed for me, ever the pillar of support. Soon, we got

of starting a family, which we had hoped to realize this year, lay broken. With his startup now stable and him at the helm as CEO of Stella, the insurance firm he lovingly

g. My mother's gentle voice snapped me back to the present, offering me water to quench my thirst as I had been crying. Both she and my

never panned out, which led me to work as a cashier in a cafe where I met Kellan. My parents disapproved of our union, given Kellan's financial standing back then. But my

traces of its rustic past, yet with a refreshed charm. "Stella, this is your room. Get some rest," my mom suggested

pressed, her voice tinted with sorrow. We had planned to visit

my suitcase, suggesting I take a shower. Gratefully, I stepped into the hot

y muster my appetite for soup. Exhausted, I sank into th

*

smile. "Look who's here to see you." She stepped aside, revealing my childhood friend Julie West. The once braces-wearing, awkward teenager had tra

ap between us with a few steps, pulling her into a warm embrac

ch," Julie said, her v

eplied, gently breaking our embrac

r coffee," s

mood, Julie. Maybe another time?" I

ld go there. Please, just this once?" she pressed. Despite my desire to stay cocooned

ulie and Mom smiled, clearly relieved that I was venturing out. I quickly

ep, their faces mixed with worry and hope. Settling into the passenger seat, I turned

s on the road. "Many of our friends moved to the city

ns?" I inquired, the weight of the past pressing on my words

without a word and never reached

angry. But now I get it. If you'd told me your plans, I would've tried to convince you to

t an opportunity elsewhere," I shared, forcing a rueful smile. "It wasn't until I met Kellan that I began piecing my life back together. With his encourag

g spot, "you're a strong woman. With time, you'll

nto the renovated book club. The space was transformed; it felt inviting and warm. While it kept the charm of the wooden interior, new elegant f

rough the bookshelves and went to the werewolf genre aisle. After picking up a romanc

ng, I overheard two w

m they've found evidence of lycans and werewolf

f shifters in Alaska? You've been diving too deep in

he Lycan sightings. After that, she went missing. They found Lycan footprints on the trail, but no

ries. When the news about the Lycans broke out in the local paper, I warned he

mance novel I'd chosen to read for now. Even though I enjoy werewolf and vampire stories, I was in the mood

d the coffee's aroma and the new book's fresh scent. It felt wonderful to be back at the book club. It

es to makeovers. I transformed my mid-waist, brown hair, opting for a pixi

with a smile when I got home. I smiled, runn

on the car. I sat beside him, passing t

a relieved sigh. "Stella, I was worried when you didn't come home. But you

a," Dad replied. Mom shook her

doors. After a quick shower, I stepped out to help Mom set the dinner table. It was nice to share a

he book club?" Mom asked. I told her about Julie's excitement over the Alpha character she was reading about and shared some of the

ent plagued my dreams. The images were so gruesome that I couldn't discern whether the injured

" Mom cal

e entered, her face was concerned,

aid gently. "Julie's gone missing, and they

y grabbing my robe and headi

r was found abandoned near the woods, and her handbag was left inside," the officer explained. Panic welled up inside me. Had something ter

fficer," I said. But deep down, it fille