Unwritten Mates

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."

I sprang out of the car like I had rockets attached to my feet, completely disregarding Ethan and my mother's desperate pleas to stay put. But there was no way I could just sit there; I have a huge soft spot for animals, and the notion of one being injured made my heart sink. When I reached the front of the car and saw what was lying there, it felt like my heart shattered into a million pieces. A beautiful wolf, just lying there, motionless.

I didn't care that getting closer could mean a nasty bite-I had to know if it was still breathing. "Come on, please be okay," I whispered, kneeling down and holding my breath as I leaned in closer. When I finally saw its chest rising and falling, I let out a huge sigh of relief. "Thank God."

See, I'm not just an animal lover-I've got a serious thing for wolves. I mean, they're the ultimate symbol of wild beauty, right? So seeing one like this, hurt and helpless, was almost too much to handle. Yeah, it's weird for a wolf to be out in the daylight and near a road, but I wasn't exactly thinking about that. All I wanted was to help this gorgeous creature, which, by the way, looked like a male. Small mercies-I didn't have to worry about a pregnant wolf on top of everything else.

"Is there a vet nearby?" I snapped my head up at Ethan, who was scratching his head like he didn't know what to do with me. "About a 20-minute drive," he finally said. "But I think the wolf might actually be okay. You should probably move away before it decides to bite you."

I shot him a look. "If it bites me, that's fine. I'm more worried about it being hurt."

My dad chimed in with, "Can't we just move it to the side and get going?" My jaw nearly hit the pavement. From the corner of my eye, I saw Ethan shooting him the same look of disbelief I was giving him.

"You've got to be kidding," I practically shouted. Ethan glanced at me, clearly surprised by how intense I was about this. Seriously, what was wrong with people? Shouldn't everyone be on the same page about helping an injured animal?

Thankfully, my mom stepped in. "Robert, dear, maybe we should just take it to the vet? You know how Quinn gets about animals," she said, trying to smooth things over.

Dad grumbled but gave in. "Fine, Shannon. But if this thing attacks her, that's on you."

Ethan offered to pick up the wolf, but I was having none of that. "I'm sitting in the back with him," I insisted, sliding into the minivan and gently cradling the wolf in my lap.

"Please don't bite me," I asked gently, petting his soft fur and to my surprise, the wolf seemed to understand me by giving me a delicate nip on my arm and then tucking his head between my thighs like it was the safest place in the world. I let him stay there, satisfied to simply pet him and keep him peaceful.

But then something strange happened. Ethan was watching me, and for a brief moment, I think I heard him snarl. I dismissed it as my imagination, but the wolf must have heard it as well, for he raised his head and stared directly at Ethan. It was like they had some kind of silent conversation, which was strange enough on its own and suddenly the wolf then started wriggling around, rolling on his back and kicking his legs in the air. Was he playing? In pain? He eventually settled down and finally fell asleep in my arms like a giant, furry baby.

When we eventually arrived at the vet, Ethan brought the wolf inside and refusing to stay in the car, I followed closely after. The veterinarian was a nice woman and she listened as Ethan described what had happened. He then leaned down to say something to her making her eyes widened, and she gave me a short glance before returning her gaze to his. Normally, I'd be ticked off by people talking about me like I wasn't there, but as long as the wolf got the care he needed, I could let it slide.

"Don't worry, we'll take good care of him," the vet assured me. I thanked her and gave the wolf one last cuddle and in response he licked my face, and then gently nipped at my hand. It was a sweet gesture, but his teeth were sharp, and I felt a tiny sting as they grazed my skin, drawing a bit of blood.

The vet nearly lost it when she saw the scratch, but I brushed it off. "It's just a little scratch. See? It's already healing." And it was true-within seconds, the tiny wound had closed up. I gave her a reassuring smile, but she still looked worried.

When I turned to go, the wolf started up with this insane howling that had me frozen solid. What's the deal with this furball? It was like he couldn't stand the thought of me taking off. Bizarre, huh? And right when I had one foot out the door, this killer pain blasts up my arm, the exact spot where Mr. Fang had given me a little love bite. This wasn't your run-of-the-mill nick; my arm felt like it was on fire, and something strange and all kinds of wrong was slithering through my veins like a snake.

What the actual heck was going on with me?

I was barely walking to the car, more like stumbling, really and I felt...feverish, dizzy as if I was carrying the weight of the world on legs that suddenly forgot how to work. Ethan was leaning against the car, his arms crossed and looking like he was in his own world until he saw me. The way his eyes nearly popped out of his head? Yeah, he knew something was wrong. I was so close, just a few steps away, but my legs gave out like someone pulled the plug. The last thing I remember is Ethan sprinting toward me, faster than I thought humanly possible, before everything went black.

When I finally came to, I was in a room, light and airy, with these delicate floral patterns on the wallpaper. The bed was like sinking into a cloud, and my long black hair was everywhere, a tangled mess across my face. It took me a second to get my bearings, and I figured I must be in some room at the Inn. But then, I caught this soft argument happening outside the window, voices carried on the breeze. Curiosity got the better of me, so I dragged myself over to the window. Below was this beautiful garden, the kind that almost feels like it's out of a storybook, with a forest backdrop that seemed to stretch forever. I was on the second floor, and right below me were two guys-Ethan, I recognized, and another guy about my age, deep in a heated argument.

"What the fuck were you thinking, Nick? Honestly, what the hell?" Ethan spoke with a low and menacing tone, as if barely holding himself together.

"'I'm sorry! I couldn't help it! She was incredibly kind and sweet and...and I didn't mean to cause any trouble!" Nick's voice sounded tense as though he was attempting to justify something beyond his control.

"Well, it's too late now! What am I supposed to tell her parents when she starts changing?!" Ethan's voice rose, frustration bubbling over as he looked around, realizing how loud he'd gotten. "She just got to town, and you've already screwed things up."

Changing? My heart skips a beat. Who was the girl they were talking about? Perhaps she was new here, like me. Perhaps we might figure out this odd place together. But then Nick did something strange: he sniffed the air like an animal, and his eyes shot in my direction, fixing on mine...and smiled? I barely had time to duck away from the window before Ethan could see what Nick had spotted. When I finally peeked out again, they were gone. But just as I was about to pull away, something caught my eye-a wolf, the same one I'd helped take to the vet earlier, was standing at the edge of the yard. It glanced at me, almost as if it recognized me, before retreating into the trees. Did it follow me here? That isn't normal, right? Wild creatures do not just become attached to people. The notion gnawed at me, but I pushed it away. The whole area seemed bizarre, but I wasn't ready to concede that anything else was going on.

My stomach grumbled, reminding me that I hadn't eaten in what seemed like forever. I went to locate the kitchen, but as I turned the corner, I walked right into Ethan's chest. He was like a brick wall.

"Oh, I'm sorry," I whispered, taking a step back as my cheeks heated up.

"That's okay. "How do you feel?" Ethan's voice was lower now, but as I glanced up, I noticed how charming he was. Great, now I was blushing. I quickly looked away, but he wasn't letting me off that easy.

"Is there any particular reason you're turning all shades of red?" he asked, raising an eyebrow, smirking.

"No! I'm not... It's just... it's hot, that's all," I lied, and not very convincingly.

"Really? Because it's rather cold, and I just switched on the heater." His smile widened, and my cheeks burned even more. I needed to get out of there.

"Where is the kitchen? I'm starving," I blurted out, hoping to divert the subject, which just made him laugh.

"End of the corridor, last door straight ahead. We could always make you something," he said, that obnoxious smile still on his lips.

"Thanks, but I've got it. I just want a sandwich," I said, heading for the kitchen. Staying any longer would only add to my embarrassment.

I needed to clear my mind, but I also realized I had forgotten to ask about my parents. Oh well, I'll find out later.

As I opened the fridge and focused on its contents, the door sprang open, causing me to jump with a squeaky yelp that I immediately regretted. Ethan leaned halfway into the kitchen, grinning like he just won something.

"Are you always this jumpy?" he laughed, and I shot him a glare, which only made him laugh harder. "I just wanted to let you know that your parents went to check out their new Inn, about thirty minutes from here. They'll be back this evening. I told them I'd keep an eye on you. They were pretty worried when you passed out."

"They weren't freaking out?"

"At first, yeah. But the vet lady you met, she's also a doctor. She checked you out and said you were just fatigued from the trip and all the excitement. That calmed them down."

It didn't make sense. I've been tired before, pulling all-nighters for exams and whatnot, but I've never passed out. I remember my hand burning, pain shooting up my arm, and then everything went black. But I wasn't tired, not really.

Perhaps traveling does that for you so I attempted to dismiss it, not wanting to fall down the rabbit hole. Was it just fatigue? Everything was normal, I reminded myself, even if it didn't feel like it.

And then I heard it-a low growl coming from just outside the kitchen door leading to the porch. Ethan's attitude altered instantly, and his body tensed as if he were ready for something. I turned to see, but before I could realize what was going on, the door that Ethan was hanging out of, slammed shut, leaving me alone in the kitchen, my pulse hammering. I tried to tell myself it was nothing, just my imagination. But deep down, that gnawing feeling wouldn't go away-something was definitely off about this place, and I wasn't sure I wanted to find out what.