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“You’re tracking in sand. Take off your shoes and put your clothes in the laundry.” I heard her sigh, the rest of her words spoken under her breath. “Sometimes I wonder if fairies or spirits didn’t bring me a changeling. That girl cuts years off of my life, I swear.”
I smirked, taking my shoes off and carrying them up the stairs to clean them before getting ready for bed. My heart was still thumping in my chest from the chase through the woods; now that I had time to look down at myself, I could see just how filthy I was. Sand and seaweed covered my jeans. Dry grass and weeds stuck out of my hair, and there were newly acquired holes in my shirt.
Walking into the bathroom, I sighed, looking over my appearance. My faded, purple-streaked hair was a mess, and one of the hoops in my nose turned upward at an odd angle. I flicked it back down with my finger, noticing that one of the stones on my ring was gone.
“For fuck’s sake,” I groaned.
It was the new tourmaline ring I had just bought a few days ago. I usually buy stones with the purpose of heightening my specialty, divination, but that one was meant for protection. However, it was a common rule with any crystal. They aren’t meant to last forever, and once they have done what you need from them, the universe takes them back.
“I guess tonight took its entire ability.”
I took a brisk shower, pulling grass and more weeds from my hair before going to my room and crawling into bed. The night had been filled with more excitement than I cared to ever experience again for a lifetime. I knew I’d be asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. Reaching out to the lamp beside my bed, I switched it off.
Darkness filled my vision. Unnatural darkness. Void of all light. It wasn’t right. My window blinds had been opened. There should at least be moonlight coming in. My breath caught in my throat as fear crept inside my chest.
Light. I need light.
A bright light filled my entire vision as if answering my silent plea. Too bright, it only served to blind me just as much as the pitch-black darkness. I covered my eyes, trying to turn around and guard myself against the assault of the light, but something pulled me toward it.
A figure appeared at the center of the light. Broad shoulders were blocking out the brightness just enough to help my eye adjust to the sudden brightness around us. Something about him felt familiar; I just couldn’t quite place it. It was like I had known him a lifetime and then some.
I stepped closer, squinted my gaze to try and see his face, but he was nothing but a silhouette in my view.
“Who are you?” I asked, my voice a whisper that echoed around us.
He held his hand out to me, my legs moving forward to take hold of it. Just as I touched him, his figure began to morph. His body contorted, his ears turning to points atop his head, his mouth extending into a snout, and his hands and feet turning into paws as he dropped to all fours. A howl burst from his lips. My heart leaped into my throat as I realized what was happening.
“No!” I screamed, throwing my hands out to cast a spell against him, but nothing happened. “What?”
I tried repeatedly, but nothing happened. Looking up at the werewolf, his eyes glowed as he pierced me with his gaze. A whispered voice filled my head with a singular word, sending ice of fear through my veins.
“Mate.”
Knock. Knock. Knock.
I jumped up in bed, my heart beating a million miles an hour. Sunlight poured through the open blinds of my window, the sound of seagulls coming through the windowpane.
“Paige, are you still in bed?” Mom called from the other side of the door before letting herself in with a basket of clean laundry. “What are you doing? Get up! Get dressed! We have company.”
I stared at her in confusion, my mind still trying to process what had happened. The last thing I remembered was going to bed and turning off my light.
“What are you looking at me like that for?” Mom demanded, putting away the laundry she had brought in with her.
“What time is it?” I asked, shaking myself and looking away from Mom. I was beginning to piece everything together. A premonition had taken hold of me last night, brought on by the stalker in the park. The werewolf. My fucking mate.
“It’s half past noon,” Mom answered. “Get up. Your brother is here with his friend, Nyte.”
She smiled at me, excited for my brother’s long-time best friend and the soon-to-be Alpha of the Coronado Pack.
“Andale!” she demanded, swishing her hands at me in a shooing motion.
“Okay, okay!”
I pushed back the covers and rolled out of my bed, watching Mom close the door behind her. I could hear Anthony and Nyte downstairs calling out for something to eat. That was usually the first thing out of my brother’s mouth when he came home.
At the sound of Nyte’s voice, however, my back straightened. An idea began to form, something I’m sure no one has ever dared to think about—defying fate.
Paige.
