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Prologue - Adria
Rosewood had always been Adria’s home and always would be. She loved the small town that had taken her in so long ago. It was perfectly nestled in the valley between the Alpha Peaks mountains and surrounded by a lush, thick forest. The shops were all owned by locals, so she always saw a friendly, familiar face wherever she went.
The streets downtown were lined with redbud and white cedar trees; planter boxes of colorful, sweet-smelling marigolds and bluebells added to its beauty. A large red oak tree grew in the middle of Rosewood, with a legend as old as time, passed down from generation to generation, saying that it had magical powers that hid shifter wolves from hunters. Adria was unsure if the legend was true, but she had never seen a hunter before.
The pack community was more like a family, with everyone looking out for each other. Being shifter wolves, everyone could live peacefully, have friends without judgment, raise families, and live happy, fulfilling lives. They could run free in the woods without worrying about being seen by humans.
Adria loved her close circle of friends. After moving in with her Aunt Lily when she was young, everyone accepted her with open arms. When Adria met her friends, she knew they were friends for life. They were a complete circle, with Spencer being the center of it for her. They all clicked right away and were inseparable. She had always felt so lucky to have people around her to talk to about anything, hang out with, have fun with, especially Spencer. Not everyone got along all of the time, but they were always there for each other.
The first time she laid eyes on Spencer, Adria felt drawn to him. He was so much fun to be around, easy to talk to, and he seemed to enjoy her company. They always sought eachother out during and after school at a community function. As teenagers, they often went on group camping trips and hung out at the local diner.
Things changed a little when they all started high school. Girls flocked around Spencer, who they all knew was to be the future Alpha of the pack. Adria didn't blame them for being attracted to him; she knew his charismatic personality very well. He was good-looking, tall and toned, with jet-black hair and warm blue eyes.
To her, he was the perfect package. Just thinking of him, Adria couldn’t help but sigh. She hoped and wished he felt the same way. There was always a pang of hurt when Adria saw him with another girl. He went on more dates than she could count, and she always wondered why it was never her. They stayed close friends, and she figured that, if she ever got the opportunity to tell him how she felt, she would.
Thankfully, there was a small community college just outside of town, so, after high school, no one lost touch with one another. Adria was able to see Spencer every day in classes and could still spend time with him and their friends on weekends. They all had so much fun hanging out together.
Graduating from college was exciting for everyone. Standing in their cap and gowns and crossing the stage to get their diplomas, Adria saw a smile on every face. Her Aunt Lily beamed with pride. At the end of it all, Spencer came rushing up to where Adria stood with Beth, Everley, and Moira.
“We did it!” he yelled as he grabbed Adria in a big bear hug and twirled her around. Adria giggled as she kicked her legs up behind her and breathed in his intoxicating scent. She wobbled slightly when he placed her on the ground, causing him to hold her steady.
“Are you okay?” He laughed a little, but she could see a hint of concern in his eyes.
“Yes, I’m perfect, just a little dizzy.” She smiled back. It wasn’t a lie, but she wasn’t dizzy from him twirling her around.
“I got to go find the guys. Tonight, we celebrate!” He held his hands up over his head in a victory pose as he left to search the crowd to find the rest of their group.
“Wow, Adria, it must be nice to be the only one to get all of Spencer's attention.” Beth giggled, raising her eyebrows playfully.
“What? Come on, Beth, he’s happy for all of us. You guys know that,” Adria replied, still looking in the direction he had taken.
“So, when are you going to tell him?” Moira asked with the same expression as the other girls.
“Tell him?” Adria tried to act like she didn’t know what they were talking about. She knew she was failing. They all saw it.
Lately, she couldn’t hide how she looked at him with wanting eyes. How she would light up when he entered the room, how he gave her goosebumps just by being near her. The attraction she had for him was strong, and it was undeniable.
“I-I just don’t know. I mean, he has never asked me out. He always has a girl on his arm. I don’t think he feels the same.” She sighed, looking to her friends for reassurance.
“Well, I think he does,” Everley stated. “I also think that he’s probably feeling the same way. Maybe he doesn’t want to say anything because he’s unsure of how you feel,” Everley finished, crossing her arms.
“Have you ever seen him look at me the way I look at him?” Adria asked.
“Yes and no. Guys are hard to read sometimes and don’t forget that his ceremony for taking over the Alpha position of thepack is just next week. He might just be a little more guarded,” Beth tried to offer.
“That’s very true, but I think you should say something. You two are made for each other,” Moira added.
Adria sighed again. She wanted to say something, and, with her friends backing her up, she saw no reason not to lay her heart out on the line. She spent a lot of time with Spencer, and nobody knew her better than him, and vice versa. All she wanted was for him to hold her in his arms, feel his heart beating, and feel the touch of his lips on hers.
“Ok, I’ll do it. Tonight, at our celebration,” Adria finally said, causing her friends to squeal in delight.
That night, as they all got ready at Beth's house, Adria was a bundle of nerves. She had put on her best wine-red—Spencer’s favorite color—spaghetti-strap mini dress, accentuating her curves in all the right places. Her matching two-inch heels gave her short stature a little more of a lift, so she would only have to tilt her head back a little bit to look into his eyes. She put on just a little mascara to help her green eyes shine and wore her blonde hair in an up-do that flattered the shape of her face.
“You are looking awesome, girl!” Everley exclaimed as she had Adria do a pose for a pic. “Spencer’s jaw is going to drop when he sees you.”
“I hope so,” Adria replied nervously. She had never felt so vulnerable in her life.
As they entered the local and only bar in town, Adria’s heart skipped a beat when she saw Spencer from across the room. He looked like a dream. His jet-black hair was tousled in a way that only he could pull off as sexy, and, with his dress pants and white buttoned-up shirt on casually, Adria knew she had to tell him.
