Haylie P.O.V
I could feel my toes curling in my sneakers as Liam kissed me, and butterflies swirled in my stomach. His mouth was warm and sweet, and it was the first time I'd ever kissed someone who made me feel like this.
His hand rested on my lower back, and my whole body seemed to weaken under his touch. I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks as I blushed. Our tongues danced together, and I couldn't stop kissing him—I was completely addicted to the way he felt.
We stood there beneath the willow tree, lost in the moment, forgetting about the rain and the world around us.
My heart raced wildly in my chest, and when we finally pulled apart, both of us were breathless and speechless. It felt like something straight out of a movie—a romantic scene between me and Liam.
He started to smile, looking a little embarrassed, the blush on his cheeks giving him away. His breathless grin made my heart skip even more.
Our eyes met in the quiet that followed, and after a moment, Liam said, "Looks like the rain's eased up a little."
I smiled back, feeling my cheeks flush even more. "We should probably get going, then," I said, though I didn't really want to. It was getting late.
He took my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze, and I glanced down at our fingers intertwined. They fit perfectly, as if we were made for each other.
When I looked back up, my eyes met his soft brown gaze. Slowly, he moved closer, and I felt my heart flutter again. Then, our lips met once more. His lips were warm and soft—impossible to resist.
As they brushed lightly against mine, I couldn't help but smile, and before I knew it, we were kissing again.
I was completely hooked on his kiss—there was something about the way his lips tasted that left me wanting more. He pulled me closer, our bodies nearly pressed together, and I
let myself melt into him. His hand gently rested on my waist as our kiss deepened, and for that moment, nothing else existed but the warmth between us.
After a while, we finally decided to head home. Even though I didn't want to, but Liam reminded me it was getting late, and Aunt Camilia was strict about me being home by ten.
His truck pulled up in our driveway, and a wave of sadness hit me. I wished our date could have lasted longer, but reality had caught up to us.
Liam opened the passenger side door for me, and I climbed out, the cold night breeze brushing against my arms.
It felt like my heart was heavy, knowing I had to say goodbye. I closed the door behind me as Liam walked with me to the front door of the house.
"Thank you for tonight," I said softly, glancing over at him.
A smile tugged at his lips. "Sorry about the rain... and that we both got soaked," Liam said, looking a little embarrassed.
I blushed, remembering the kiss we shared under the willow tree.
Truthfully, I was grateful for the rain—it gave us that perfect, unforgettable moment. When we reached the front door, I turned to face him, and our eyes met again.
I couldn't help but smile. "I'll never forget our kiss under that tree," I said, my voice soft and sweet.
Liam's eyes softened, and he looked like he was about to say something when the front door swung open, pulling our attention away.
Aunt Camilia stood there with her arms crossed, her expression stern. She looked exactly like one of those mall cops, right down to her intimidating stance.
"Aunt Camilia," I said, surprised.
She stepped out, still looking serious. "Liam," she greeted, before turning her gaze to me. "Haylie."
The awkwardness hit me like a wave, and I could feel my cheeks burning even more. I knew I had to say goodbye to Liam, or Aunt Camilia would never leave us alone.
"You're just in time—it's ten o'clock," Aunt Camilia reminded us, glancing at her watch as if to emphasize her point.
I looked over at Liam, who clearly felt just as uncomfortable as I did. "Thank you for tonight, Liam," I said, wishing I could say more. I wanted to give him a goodbye kiss, but Aunt Camilia stood there like a bodyguard, making sure we kept things PG.
"I had a great time," Liam said nervously. "Thanks for going to the movies with me."
My heart softened as I saw the nervousness in his eyes. I wished Aunt Camilia hadn't come outside like this—she'd never done that with anyone before.
Then again, I hadn't dated many guys. I think I'd only had three boyfriends in my entire life. The last guy I dated was Titan—the one I shared my first kiss with. We dated for over a year before breaking up over something silly, and now Titan was dating my best friend.
But standing here with Liam, all of that felt like a distant memory.
Our eyes met for a brief moment, and I could tell Liam wanted to say so much more. But with my Aunt Camilia standing there, watching us like a hawk, he held back.
Instead, with a calm voice tinged with a hint of nervousness that made me smile and blush like a ripe tomato, he said, "Good night, Haylie."
"Good night, Liam," I replied softly, feeling my heart flutter.
He glanced at me one last time before turning to my aunt. "Good night, Aunt Camilia," he added politely.
It was such a simple moment, yet I could feel all the unspoken words hanging in the air between us. I wished we had just a little more time alone, but I smiled, knowing there would be more nights like this.
I stood there, watching Liam as he drove away, feeling a strange mix of contentment and sadness. When he was gone, Aunt Camilia and I went inside.
She wanted to know how the date went, so I told her about the scary movie we watched, the ice cream afterward, and how we got completely soaked by the rain.
After filling her in, I headed for a warm shower, letting the heat wash away the chill of the night. Exhausted from all the excitement, I went straight to bed, falling asleep almost instantly. I slept like a baby that night, completely worn out from the date.
The next morning, I was startled awake by a loud, persistent banging on my bedroom door.
My eyes felt heavy as I blinked them open, groggily muttering, "Come in." Who could be banging on my door this early on a Saturday?
It definitely wasn't Aunt Camilia; she knew better than to wake me up like this.
I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, sitting up as the door creaked open. Just as I suspected, it was Claudine, always up to something so early. "There she is, the sleeping beauty," Claudine teased, a smirk on her face.
I groaned, already bracing myself for whatever she had in store for me this morning.
Claudine plopped down on my bed, her eyes sparkling with excitement and a big, mischievous smile spread across her face.
I could practically see the thousand questions bubbling behind her expression. I let out a yawn, bracing myself for the inevitable interrogation. Of course, she was going to go nuts—Liam, the captain of the football team and one of the hottest guys in school, had taken me out.
"So, spill it," she blurted, her voice overflowing with enthusiasm. "Come on, how was your date?"
I took a deep breath in and out, feeling a wave of excitement rush over me as I smiled back at her. "It was amazing," I gushed, unable to hide my happiness.
The words tumbled out before I could stop them. "We went to the movies and watched a scary movie. Liam offered me his shoulder the whole time, and afterward, we got ice cream."
My smile was so wide I could feel it stretching my cheeks, and I realized I had probably over-shared in my excitement. But it felt good to tell someone, especially Claudine, who was always there for me.
"And did something else happen while you were on that date?" she asked, her voice dripping with curiosity.
I felt my cheeks heat up, and I quickly got out of bed, heading to the window to open the curtains. The morning sunlight flooded the room, almost too bright, but a perfect distraction.
I knew exactly what she was asking, and I wasn't sure I was ready to give her all the details about last night's kiss. It had been like something out of a fairy tale, and part of me wanted to keep it to myself.
"Come on, Haylie," Claudine pressed, her voice edging on desperation. "I always tell you about my dates and my stuff, so just tell me—did you two kiss or not?"
I turned around, feeling my face turn scarlet red, matching the fiery hue of my hair. I bit my lip before finally admitting, "Well, there was a little bit of kissing."
Claudine squealed so loudly I almost jumped. "A little bit?" she teased, raising an eyebrow. "What about a little tongue action? Don't leave me hanging!"
I could feel my whole body heat up as I recalled last night's kiss under the tree. There was definitely some tongue involved, but judging by Claudine's knowing grin, she already had her answer.
"Okay, I can tell he's an amazing kisser," she said, her voice filled with playful teasing. I nodded, my mind still stuck on the memory, and walked back to my bed to sit down. My legs felt numb just thinking about how intense and perfect that kiss had been.
Claudine followed me onto the bed, giggling. "So, I guess he's an incredible kisser because, girl, you're redder than your own hair right now!" she teased, her laughter contagious.
I couldn't help but laugh with her, even though my heart was still racing from the memory.
Our laughter was soon interrupted by the sound of the door opening. My Aunt Camilia entered, holding two large mugs of coffee, her face lit up with a cheerful smile.
"Good morning, girls!" she greeted us warmly, and I immediately felt grateful. A big mug of coffee was exactly what I needed to calm my nerves.
She handed us each a mug, and the comforting warmth of the drink instantly relaxed me. The rich smell of coffee filled the room, and I took a slow sip, savoring it.
As I glanced at my aunt, I noticed she was already dressed up, looking elegant as if she were heading out.
I raised an eyebrow, curiosity sparking. "Why are you all dressed up, Aunt Camilia? Are we expecting someone?" I asked, trying to figure out where she was going.
A smile crossed her lips as she replied, "I have to stop by and visit an old friend today."
Her words made my mind race a little. *Old friend? * I hadn't really thought much about my aunt having her own circle of friends, but of course, she had a life outside of raising me. I knew she still had friends from before, and besides Uncle Jacob, it made sense she'd have her own plans.
"Well, I left pancakes and breakfast for the two of you in the kitchen," Aunt Camilia added. "Please help yourselves."
She leaned in, planting a gentle kiss on my forehead. "I won't be gone long, I promise."
I gave her a nod, sipping my coffee as I replied, "Be safe, Aunt Camilia. I'll see you later."
With that, she smiled and left, and I turned to Claudine, who was already eyeing the door like she was ready to race for the pancakes.
It was not long before Claudine was out of the room and headed to the kitchen. I took a big breath, which made me go
to the kitchen. A girl has to eat and I love my aunt's pancakes.
Camelia P.O.V
My heart weighed heavily as she drove toward Cress moon town, the past flooding her thoughts. I hadn't told Haylie the truth about where I was going. How could she? Haylie was still a teenager, and I couldn't burden her with the painful truth about her mother's past—or the dark secret that would shatter Haylie's world.
I had done her best to raise Haylie, even though she had never imagined herself as a mother.
But when Olivia died, leaving her daughter behind, Mathew had begged me to take care of Haylie, to protect her from the harsh realities that surrounded her.
I still received money from Mathew, enough to ensure Haylie had everything she needed—school fees, clothes, and the little things that made her life normal. But today wasn't about money. Today, I have to meet Mathew, something I couldn't disgust with Haylie.
If Haylie ever discovered the truth—that Liam's father, Mathew, had killed her own father—it would destroy her. And I could not let it happen.
The road to Cress moon town was familiar, even after all these years. I still could remembered every twist and turn, just as she remembered the house she used to share with her two witch sisters.
The house still stood in the heart of town, though only one of my sisters lived there now. The others had moved on—one was married with two beautiful twins.
As I approached the gate to Cress moon, I could felt a wave of nostalgia wash over me. The guard at the entrance gave me a curious look but quickly recognized me.
After all, I had been a part of this town once, and my connection to Mathew was known.
"I'm here to see the Alpha," I said calmly, my voice steady even though my heart raced. "I'm an old friend."
The guard nodded, offering a small smile. "Alpha Mathew is at his office. You can find him there."
With a sigh of relief, I drove through the gates and into the town.
The thought of facing Mathew again stirred old memories, some bitter, some filled with a deep sense of loyalty.
I drove up to the big house where Matthew lived and parked the car. His office was near his house, if I remembered correctly. I needed to see him. My heart was skipping beats as I climbed out of the car and entered the fresh air of the town.
Pine trees surrounded the town, and there was more fresh air here than in the city. I closed my door and started to make my way to the office. Everything was still the same. The big gardens still looked lovely, and the buildings were unchanged.
I arrived at the old gray stone building. It was the Alpha office, Matthew's office. I took a deep breath, held back my nerves, and brought my hand to the door to knock. I didn't know why I was here, but something told me that I needed to see him and warn him about Haylie.
I nervously knocked on the door, and then I heard someone say "come in." It was Matthew's strong voice. My hand was sweaty as I turned the knob and opened the door, then entered the office.
I was met with the smell of old oak wood and warmth as I entered, and as I looked up, I saw Matthew who rose out shocked from his desk. "Camilia," slipped the words out of his lips.
The office felt frozen in time, a place I had not entered in years. The dark oak desk stood in the center, still imposing, while the familiar scent of aged wood filled the air. My eyes drifted to the built-in bookshelves to the right of the desk, memories flooding back. But before I could get lost in the past, Mathew's voice broke through my thoughts.
"What are you doing here?" His tone was sharp, a mix of curiosity and suspicion.
I cleared my throat, forcing myself to move forward. My legs felt shaky beneath me, but I managed to stand in front of the desk. "I need to talk to you about Haylie," I said, my voice steadier than I felt.
Mathew's eyes immediately widened with concern, his usual stoic expression shifting. "Is Haylie, okay?" His voice was laced with worry, the kind of worry only a father could have.
I gave a small nod. "She's fine."
But my legs gave way, and I took a seat in one of the chairs, needing the stability to continue. Mathew sat down as well, his focus entirely on me, his brows furrowed in anticipation.
He hadn't changed much—still the tall, imposing figure with thick brown hair, though streaks of gray now peppered his beard, and fine lines etched around his chocolate-brown eyes.
His son Liam looked so much like him, especially when Mathew was younger. Olivia had always been infatuated with him, and seeing him now brought back so many memories. But there was no time to dwell on the past.
"Camilia, what's going on?" Mathew pressed, the concern in his voice deepening.
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. "Are you aware that Liam is seeing Haylie?" The words came out before I could second-guess them.
Mathew's brows shot up in surprise. He leaned back in his chair, running his hand over his thick eyebrows as he processed my words. "I knew he was seeing someone... but he said she was new in town."
He had no idea.
I leaned forward, folding my hands together on the desk. "Liam was on a date with Haylie last night."
The weight of the room seemed to shift with the silence that followed. Mathew stood abruptly, walking to the window, his gaze distant as he stared out.
"This is absurd," he muttered, his voice low but filled with frustration. "Haylie is human. Liam and her... they could never be together."
I watched him as he stared out the window, my heart heavy with the secret I had carried for so long. This was why I came. He needed to know the truth, a truth I had buried for years.
"Mathew," I began, my voice trembling slightly, "there's something you need to know."
He turned slowly, his frown deepening as he studied me. "Go on," he said, walking back to his desk and sitting down, his posture tense.
I gathered all my courage. This wasn't going to be easy.
"Back when my sister Amora and I removed Olivia's wolf... we couldn't remove the mating mark you gave her. It was too deeply embedded in her bloodline."
Mathew's expression darkened, but I pushed on. "The mark didn't disappear—it passed down to Haylie. I think she has Olivia's mark."
The room seemed to grow impossibly still after I spoke, the gravity of what I had just revealed sinking into both of us.
Mathew sat motionless, his eyes fixed on me, as if trying to piece together a puzzle he never knew existed.
"So you're saying Haylie has her mother's mark on her?" Mathew's voice was thick with disbelief. I could see how hard it was for him to process this, his mind fighting to grasp the truth.
I nodded; my throat tight. "Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying." The truth was stranger than fiction, but there was no denying what Amora, and I had discovered all those years ago.
Mathew's shock mirrored my own when I first realized it.
He leaned back in his chair, his eyes searching mine for some kind of clarity. "What does this mean?" His question hung in the air, heavy with uncertainty.
I drew in a deep breath, trying to steady myself as the temperature in the room seemed to rise.
The familiar scent of oak wood filled my lungs, but my body felt suddenly warm, a bead of sweat forming at my temple.
"It means that it's not possible for Liam to be fated to anyone else but Haylie," I said carefully. "Because you and Olivia were fated... and that connection, through your mark, passed to your son. It's complicated, but Liam and Haylie are tied together."
It sounded even more unbelievable out loud, and I could see the disbelief flash across Mathew's face again.
"How could she have my mark if she's human?" Mathew's voice was filled with frustration and confusion. His brow furrowed deeply as he tried to comprehend it.
I swallowed hard, remembering the confusion Amora and I had felt when we first saw the mark.
It was impossible to forget the day Haylie was born—the strange energy that had filled the room, and how only Amora and I could see the faint mark on the side of Haylie's neck, shimmering like an invisible brand.
"It confused us too," I admitted. "But when Haylie was born, the mark appeared, clear as day to us. Only me and Amora could see it because we was the one who remove Olvia .So we did research, and we found that somehow, Olivia's mark had transferred to Haylie when she lost her wolf. It's imprinted in her bloodline."
Mathew's eyes widened with the weight of that realization. I could see the pieces clicking into place, even as he fought against it.
"Even though Haylie is still human, she's marked," I continued, my voice growing steadier. "And since the mark ties to your bloodline, that means your next bloodline—Liam—is linked to her. It's not something that can be easily broken."
Mathew stood abruptly, pacing back toward the window, his hands raking through his hair. "This can't be..." he whispered, as though trying to fight against the inevitable.
The truth had already taken root, and nothing could change it now.
A fated mark was never meant to be removed. The Moon Goddess had intended for Olivia and Mathew to be together, but by interfering—by Amora and I stripping away Olivia's wolf—we had defied fate itself.
And now that mark, that bond, had transferred to Haylie, passed down while she was still in her mother's womb.
"Haylie is only human," Mathew said, his voice low and full of dread. "Liam can't be with her. A human... isn't fit for this world."
His words were heavy with the weight of centuries of wolf tradition. He wasn't wrong. The wolf world was brutal, full of dangers that no ordinary human could survive, let alone understand.
And Haylie—because of what Amora and I did—would never meet her wolf or become one. We had taken that from her.
I stood from my chair, feeling the regret coil tight in my chest. "If I could turn back time and undo it all, I would," I confessed, my voice laced with sorrow.
"I wish I had told Olivia the truth. She deserved to know... and maybe things would've been different." I could feel the regret now of what we have done.
Mathew turned from the window, his eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and bitterness. "I know," he said softly, his gaze meeting mine. "But it's my fault too. I'm the reason she did it."
His words struck me like a blow, the pain in his voice unmistakable. I could feel the heartache radiating from him as he stood there, staring out of the window, lost in memories of a time long past.
He blamed himself, as much as I blamed myself and Amora. It had all begun that day—when Olivia gave up her wolf when everything shattered.
Mathew had every reason to be angry back then. He had been on the verge of marriage, ready to start a new chapter in his life, when the devastating truth came crashing down on him.
Olivia, his fated mate, had revealed she was pregnant—not with his child, but with his best friend's.
In the wolf world, that kind of betrayal was incomprehensible, an affront to everything a fated bond stood for. The raw emotions from that betrayal had scarred Mathew deeply.
Even now, years later, I could see the remnants of that pain etched into his face, the burden of a future he had once envisioned with his mate, stolen from him in an instant.
He had been ready to share his life with Olivia, to build a family with her. And in one cruel moment, it had all come crashing down.
"She betrayed me," he whispered, more to himself than to me. "I was fated to her... and she betrayed me."
The weight of that betrayal hung in the air between us, and I knew nothing I could say would ever heal those wounds.
But there was something deeper at play now—something we had to face, for Haylie's sake. Fate had woven itself into her life, and neither Mathew nor I could undo it.
"I'm sorry about Olivia," I said, the weight of those words settling heavily between us.
I was truly sorry, and though I couldn't imagine the depth of his pain, I knew it was still raw. Taking a deep breath, I pressed on. "But Haylie and Liam... they're innocent. They shouldn't have to bear the burden of the mistakes we made."
Mathew looked at me, tears welling in his eyes. I could feel the strings of my own heart being pulled tight.
The past was still fresh for him, and Olivia's betrayal lingered like an open wound, even after all these years. "I just don't know how I'm going to face Haylie," Mathew admitted, his voice trembling with grief. "I'm ashamed of what I've done. And... I'm scared. Seeing her—it breaks me because she looks just like Olivia. And she reminds me of Kaysen, who betrayed me."
Tears pricked at my own eyes. Mathew wasn't wrong. The scars from the past had never fully healed, and they had left him broken.
"I understand your pain, Mathew," I whispered softly, stepping closer to him. Gently, I placed my hand on his shoulder. My own tears slid down my cheeks, mingling with the deep, raw emotions emanating from him.
"But you can't blame Haylie for everything. She's only human now, and she's innocent. She had nothing to do with what happened between her mother and you. Give her a chance. Let her and Liam have the ending we all wish we could have had."
Our eyes met, and the sheer vulnerability in his gaze broke my heart all over again. Tears ran down his cheeks, and his voice cracked as he spoke. "I don't blame her, Camilia," Mathew said, his voice heavy with emotion.
"That's why I've been sending you that money for her every month. I've tried... to make things right in my own way. But facing her... I still haven't made peace with the reality. And it still hurts."
His voice fractured, and in that moment, I saw the shattered man before me, my old friend who had once been so strong.
My heart ached for him, for the past that continued to haunt him. Without thinking, I pulled him into a hug. At first, his body was stiff, as though he hesitated to accept the comfort I was offering.
But after a few moments, he gave in. His arms wrapped around me, and I felt the full weight of his grief as he buried his head against my shoulder and began to cry.
It was the second time I'd seen Mathew break like this—the first was when he brought Olivia's body to the hospital, begging the doctors to save her. When they had done all, they could, he had turned to me and Amora, pleading for us to use magic to bring her back.
But we couldn't. The danger of bringing the dead back to life was too great, and that reality broke Mathew.
His fated mate was gone, and a part of him died with her that day. He hadn't even been able to attend Olivia's funeral, too consumed by his grief, drowning in alcohol to numb the pain. I heard that he was wasted, lost in the agony of that day.
And now, today, felt like the day Olivia died all over again.
The grief, the regret—it was still so palpable, as if no time had passed at all. We stood there, wrapped in each other's grief, two friends lost in a sea of pain, unable to undo the past but still trying to navigate the broken pieces of the present.