Chapter one

Shelly

“Mom, please... I’ll do anything, just stop... please, it hurts...”

“Shut up. I’m sorry, love—but I’m not your mother. Brianna, hold her.”

“What are you talking about? You are my mom! Please… Brianna, make it stop. I’m sorry, okay? Whatever I did, I’m sorry. You don’t have to do this. I’ll leave, you’ll never see me again. Just… please.”

“I said shut up! God, you whine so much. This is happening. It’ll be slow. It’ll hurt. But it’ll end. And hey—I've even got a gift for you. One last pleasure from ‘mother’ to daughter.”

The door creaks open.

“Oh, and baby? Scream all you want. No one can hear you.”

“Mom? Who are they? Oh God, what is that?! Brianna, don’t leave me! Please don’t leave me with that—WHAT ARE YOU!? Don’t come near me... Mom...”

________________________________________

“Shelly?”

“Shelly?”

“Shelly!”

“What—? Jesus, Lucy, you scared me.”

“I’ve been calling you for a while. What’s wrong?”

I looked at Lucy and wondered, not for the first time, why she even cared about me. Her eyes were so open, so ready to listen. For a moment, I wanted to tell her everything. But how do you explain something you’ve buried so deep you barely remember what it felt like to say it out loud?

“Don’t tell me you’re okay. I know you’re not. I heard you last night—you didn’t sleep, did you?” she asked, frowning.

“I got enough. You know how it is. I’m fine. I won’t space out again, okay? We should get back to work—it’s lunchtime.”

She didn’t believe me. I could tell. But she let it go. Just gave me a soft smile and turned away.

We worked at Beta’s, a busy restaurant with a constant buzz of noise and motion. It was good for business, bad for me. I was usually tucked away in the kitchen—where I preferred it. I didn’t love cooking, but I loved the movement, the clatter, the distraction. It helped me breathe.

Unfortunately, today was one of those rare days I had to take orders. I stood at the edge of the dining room, staring into a crowd that felt like a trap.

I was grateful, once again, for Lucy. She had helped space the tables just enough—no forced closeness, no accidental touches.

Deep breaths.

This is just another day. You’ll be fine. No hyperventilating. No flashbacks. You're an adult—act like it.

Breathe. For Lucy’s sake, don’t ruin this.

Even with my eyes closed, I could feel her watching me. If I didn’t move soon, she’d come over, and she’d worry. I didn’t want that. She had done more than enough.

I just had to get through lunch.

________________________________________

Lucy

She looked like she might shatter if the wind blew too hard.

I wanted to protect her—but part of me knew that protecting her might only hurt more. Sometimes, I think helping her means letting her fight her own battles. Other times, I just want to wrap her in my arms and keep the world out.

We’ve lived together for five years, and I’m not sure I’ve ever seen her truly sleep. Not once. That terrifies me. One day, her body’s going to give in—and I won’t know how to stop it.

I wish she trusted me more. Hell, I wish I could tell her the truth. But when she asked how I can smell so well, why I sometimes disappear at night… I lied. I had to.

Because the first time she saw a wolf, she completely broke. She didn’t leave the house for weeks. She barely ate. The fear in her eyes? I’ve never seen anything like it.

So how do I tell her I’m one? A werewolf.

I can’t. I won’t. Not when I’ve spent five years protecting her from that truth. But her scent… gods, her scent. It’s not just intoxicating—it’s dangerous. More and more pack members are catching wind of it. I've had to stop more than one from approaching her. I've seen their eyes go gold. Seen the hunger.

And the worst part? I know what I have to do. I have to tell the Alpha.

But that’s complicated. Because he’s my brother. And we barely speak.

The doorbell chimed, announcing a new customer. I turned with a smile—and froze.

Shit.

Speak of the devil.

There he was. My brother. The Alpha. He never cared about my life before. Never once set foot near this restaurant.

And now here he was. Walking in, sniffing the air, eyes scanning the room.

My eyes jumped to Shelly—and I saw the terror on her face.

She was staring at my brother like she was staring into the eyes of the devil himself.

And I knew.

Nothing would ever be the same.

________________________________________