Chapter 1 01

ELIZA

Change. Change was coming and I didn't know how to handle it.

My life wasn't exactly a fairytale. From the moment I was old enough to remember, it felt like the world around me was made of cracks.

Growing up in a small, chaotic home, I learned to stay out of the way. My parents were always at odds, fighting loud enough to rattle the walls. But long silences were somehow even worse. If there was happiness between them, I couldn't see it.

My safespace became my room. I'd sit for hours, making up stories, pretending to be anywhere else. Despite the mess I'd seen growing up, I was a hopeless romantic at heart.

I failed in love many times. More times than I can remember. I was someone who believed in holding out for the right person, someone who would make me believe in fairy tales again.

Well, I learned the hard way that fairy tales are just that...fairy tales.

But that day at the local park changed everything. My life took a whole new turn and surprised me with things I wasn't ready for.

The park had always been an escape for me to clear my thoughts. The familiar paths stretched out before me as I walked. I took my time, letting the crunch of gravel underfoot and the crisp air calm my nerves. This was my place...the one corner of the world where I could think freely or not think at all.

It was a long stressful day. I spotted an empty bench under a sprawling oak and sat down. The gentle sway of the branches above me made the world feel calmer. I leaned back and exhaled, trying to let my worries wander away.

Then, out of nowhere, a man appeared.

He wasn't just anyone...he was strangely handsome. Tall, maybe 6'4", with a strong build. His black wavy hair was tied back with a leather band, and his face looked like it had been carved with precision.

Handsome didn't even begin to cover it.

I glanced at him as he sat beside me. It was hard for me not to stare but I still tried. He set a sleek black briefcase on his lap and pulled out a piece of paper and then started to write something.

Who even writes on paper anymore?

But then, my thoughts betrayed me as my eyes flicked back to him. I've never seen anyone so...attractive.

I shook my head. Keep it together Ellie.

I just turned 19 a week ago, and he looked like he was in his late 30s. He must've been married. Or engaged. And even if not these two, then he must've had a woman in his life.

I tried to be discreet, but it was impossible not to notice the way he carried himself; the confidence, the jawline, and those crystal blue eyes that practically glowed when the sunlight hit them.

Before I could stop myself, I was staring. Again.

He stopped writing, turned his head, and looked right at me. I couldn't even turn my head away. For a moment, his eyes locked on mine.

My heart stuttered. Busted!

"Do I know you?"

Gosh that voice. How do I respond? Do I say no Sir? Or...

"Eliza..." For a second, I couldn't even remember my own name, "But everyone calls me Ellie."

He nodded and continued writing. I knew it was time for me to leave.

Ellie get up and stop embarrassing yourself.

"And what about you?" those words came out of my mouth without me knowing. His eyes shifted to me. "I...I mean your name."

"Ethan," he replied, setting the paper down on his briefcase.

Ethan. The name rolled in my mind. Something about him felt...different.

ETHAN

I spotted her as soon as I entered the park. I hadn't planned to stop; I needed a quiet place to jot down my thoughts before the pack meeting. But something about her made me pause.

And before I realized it, my feet carried me to her bench.

I sat down, casually placing my briefcase on my lap to start writing, but my focus didn't stay on the page for long.

There was something about her...something distinct.

It wasn't just the way her golden-red hair caught the sunlight, or her dazzling blue eyes that seemed to holdme in place. It was her scent.

Sugar...and chocolate?

The sweetness filled the air around her, awakening my senses. I wasn't sure why it hit me so strongly, but it made me feel grounded and...curious.

I allowed my gaze to drift, taking in more of her. She was soft, with curves that made her presence comforting rather than intimidating.

A quiet thought slipped into my mind before I could stop it: More of her to love.

I blinked. Where the hell did that come from?

Love? It was just an abstract noun to me. It was supposed to be something one could feel, something that kept people together. But to me, it only brought pain.

"Is it still halloween for you?"

"No..." she said confused, "Why?"

"Because you smell sweet." I answered, trying hard not to look at her face, "Like candies..."

"Well, thank you...Ethan." she smiled fixing her hair.

I turned my gaze at her, "That wasn't a compliment, Eliza. You seriously smell like a whole bakery."

That sweet fragrance. That was enough for me to keep sitting on that bench close to her.

"I..." she hesitated, "I'm a baker at the Black Cat Hotel. That explains the sweet candy smell I guess..."

The Black Cat Hotel? Ran by me? How come I never noticed her before? I'd been in and out of the place enough times over the years, and the hotel's staff was hardly forgettable.

She wasn't just pretty; she had her own charm. I wanted to be with her a little longer but the pack meeting was looming, and I couldn't risk being late.

I got up and without saying a word, I started to walk away.

"It was nice meeting you I guess..." her voice followed, making me softly grin.

I stopped in my tracks. I wanted to turn around and look at her one last time but I drifted my thoughts and continued walking.

The hotel only hired shifters. But she seemed human to me. I couldn't sense her animal. Who hired her and why?

As I walked, a thought crossed my mind: Does she know what her bosses are?