JC POV
The time had come to meet Haylie again, and I couldn't deny how nervous I was. Melody's plan, which I still wasn't entirely sure about, loomed in the back of my mind, adding to my unease. Parking my car in front of the coffee shop, I took a deep breath and switched off the engine. It's just coffee, I reminded myself. I need to gain her trust.
Stepping out of the car, I closed the door behind me and glanced at the street sign.
Lavender Road—it matched the address Haylie had given me. Just as she'd said, the coffee shop was right on the corner.
Straightening my shirt and taking another calming breath, I walked toward the entrance. A friendly young woman greeted me at the door.
"Good day, sir. How can I help you today?" she asked with a warm smile.
Returning her smile politely, I replied, "A table for two. I'm meeting someone."
She nodded slightly before asking, "What about the window?"
I glanced around the shop, taking in the inviting scene. The rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee hung in the air, wrapping around me like a warm blanket.
Patrons sat casually at small, round wooden tables, chatting or simply enjoying their drinks.
"The window sounds perfect," I said.
She led me toward a cozy table by the window, where I pulled out a chair and sat down.
"What can I get you to drink?" she asked once I was settled.
"Two regular coffees, please," I replied. She jotted down the order and walked away.
As I waited, my gaze drifted to the window. It was adorned with delicate, intricate artwork, and vibrant flowers hung gracefully along its edges. The atmosphere here was warm and welcoming—a perfect choice for a meeting spot.
No wonder Haylie picked this place.
All I could do now was hope she remembered our coffee date.
It wasn't long before the waitress returned with the two coffees. Haylie wasn't here yet, but I smiled politely and thanked her.
As she walked away, I reached for the sugar and milk. It's fine, I told myself. It's not even three o'clock yet. She still has time.
I added sugar and milk to my coffee, stirring slowly as my thoughts drifted to Melody's plan. Tonight, she intended to teleport into Haylie's room to take a strand of her hair—a key ingredient for the duplication spell.
Once the spell worked, Melody wanted me to take Haylie far away from here to keep her safe.
I lifted my cup to take a sip, the warm coffee offering a momentary comfort. But my stomach churned. This isn't going to be easy. What Melody was asking me to do bordered on kidnapping, and while I hated the idea, I couldn't see another way.
Placing the cup down, I sighed, the weight of the plan settling heavily on me.
Suddenly, a familiar voice broke through the air, light and apologetic.
"I'm so sorry if I kept you waiting."
I looked up, and immediately, a smile spread across my face. There she was—Haylie.
She was stunning, dressed in a delicate summer dress that seemed to catch the light, her soft curls falling to one side of her shoulder. Her green eyes sparkled, full of life, and her warm smile was contagious.
"Haylie, you made it," I said, my voice laced with genuine relief and a hint of nervous excitement. My heart pounded in my chest, a rhythm so fast it felt like wildfire.
Her laughter was soft as she slid into the seat across from me. "I hope you don't mind, but I ordered coffee for the both of us," I added quickly, not wanting her to think I'd been impatient.
Her smile widened. "That's perfect. Thank you."
For a moment, everything else truly faded—the plan, the risks, and the weight of what I had to do. Sitting across from Haylie, with her bright eyes and radiant smile, I felt utterly captivated.
She looked breathtaking. The sunlight streaming through the window cast a golden glow around her, making her seem almost angelic as she sat there.
It was impossible not to notice the warmth in her expression, the natural ease with which she brightened the space around her.
"I'm sorry I'm late," she said, her voice soft and light, as she took a sip of her coffee. "I was napping, and somehow time just slipped away from me."
Her words pulled me out of my thoughts. I shook my head slightly, grounding myself, and lifted my cup to take a sip. "It's okay. No need to explain," I replied, offering a reassuring smile.
Her own smile widened, and for a moment, our eyes met. I felt a sudden rush of warmth spread through me, the kind that made my cheeks flush. There was something so perfect about her in that moment—her honesty, her warmth, the way she seemed to make time pause.
But that perfection only deepened the conflict brewing inside me. It made me second-guess everything about Melody's plan. Haylie deserved better than the secrets I was keeping. She deserved better than being a pawn in something that could change her life forever.
Yet, sitting here, watching her smile and sip her coffee, I couldn't bring myself to think of a way out. All I could do was hope I'd find the strength to protect her when the time came.
Haylie POV
My mind was racing as I looked at JC. Was he really not from here? Liam wouldn't lie to me, but if Liam hadn't sent him that day to pick me up, then who was he really? I knew I was taking a risk meeting him again, but I had to find out the truth—who he was and why he wanted to see me.
"JC," I began, placing my cup down with a soft clink.
He looked at me, his calm demeanor faltering slightly. I leaned forward, narrowing the space between us.
"I know Liam didn't send you," I said, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me. "And I know you're not from around here. Who are you?"
His eyes darkened, the warmth from moments ago slipping away as the truth hit him. His features shifted, growing more guarded, more dangerous.
"Be honest with me," I pressed, my voice firm. "Who are you, and why are you interested in me?"
JC let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders rising and falling as though he were carrying the weight of the world. He leaned closer, lowering his voice so only I could hear.
"I came on my own," he admitted quietly. "You're right—Liam didn't send me that day."
My eyes widened, my heart pounding in my chest. "Then who are you?" I asked, my voice trembling. "And what do you want from me?"
He hesitated, looking at me with an intensity that made the room feel smaller, the air heavier. Finally, he exhaled deeply, the words slipping out in a low, almost reluctant tone.
"I'm not from here, Haylie," he said. "I'm a rogue... a rogue brother."
The world tilted. Tears welled in my eyes, blurring my vision. A rogue brother. The words hit me like a punch to the gut. My instincts screamed at me to run.
Rogues had killed my mother—they were the ones who wanted me dead. And now, I'd been sitting here, talking to one. How could I have been so blind?
I shot up from my chair, the force sending it scraping against the floor. My breaths came fast and uneven, and I couldn't stop the tears spilling down my cheeks.
"Haylie, wait!" I heard JC call, his voice laced with urgency.
But I couldn't bear to look at him, couldn't stand to be in the same room as him. Wiping the threatening tears from my face, I stormed out of the shop, my heart pounding with fear and betrayal.
I exited the shop and began walking away as quickly as I could, my mind spiraling with anger and hurt. How could I have been so stupid to trust someone like him? My mother had been running for her life that night when his kind hunted her down. Thanks to them, she was dead.
Tears slipped down my flushed cheeks, but I didn't care. The pain was too raw, too consuming. Behind me, I heard him calling my name, his voice insistent.
"Go away!" I shouted over my shoulder, quickening my pace along the sidewalk.
I thought I could trust JC. I thought I'd felt something real between us, but I was wrong. He was no good. Whatever his reason for following me now, I didn't want to hear it.
"Haylie, wait!" he called again, his voice closer this time.
I ignored him, focusing on putting as much distance between us as possible. But before I could take another step, I felt his hand wrap around my wrist, firm and unyielding, forcing me to stop.
"Let go of me!" I snapped, whirling around to face him. My voice trembled with anger as I glared at him, my chest heaving. "You're a rogue wolf, and you're not supposed to be here in this town!"
Tears blurred my vision, spilling freely down my cheeks.
My voice thickened with emotion, but JC didn't let go. His grip, though strong, wasn't painful. His striking blue eyes met mine, and to my shock, they glistened with unshed tears.
"I'm taking a hell of a risk being here," he said, his voice low but desperate. "But I'm doing it for you, Haylie."
I froze, my heart hammering in my chest as his words cut through the haze of my anger.
"I know my brothers are monsters," he continued, his voice cracking slightly. "The reason I came to you that day wasn't to harm you—it was to get to know you. To protect you from them."
His words stirred something inside me, but the anger and pain were still too fresh. I yanked my wrist free from his grasp, the skin burning where he'd held me.
"Why would a rogue wolf protect me?" I spat, my voice rising with every word. "Your kind took everything from me. My mother is dead because of you!"
The words tore from me like a storm, my emotions building to a boiling point.
I could see the guilt and sorrow etched on JC's face, but it did nothing to temper the rage consuming me. I stepped back, shaking my head as my chest tightened with the weight of it all.
"Leave me alone," I choked out, my voice breaking. "Just... leave me alone."
My eyes met his one last time, and for a fleeting moment, I saw tears streaming down his face. The emotions in his gaze were overwhelming—pain, regret, and something else I couldn't name.
But I couldn't let myself care. I was trapped in my own storm of grief and rage, my heart too raw to make sense of his feelings.
Without another word, I turned away and started to run. I didn't care where I was going; all that mattered was getting as far away from him as possible.
The world around me blurred, my vision clouded by tears as my feet pounded against the pavement.
My chest burned, each breath feeling like a jagged blade carving through me. My heart was a mess of raw, tangled emotions, as if someone had driven a knife into it and twisted. Memories of my mother's laughter, her warm embrace, collided with the image of JC's face—his kind, desperate eyes—and it only made the pain sharper.
The betrayal, the loss, and the confusion churned inside me, threatening to break me entirely. How could I have let him get close? How could I have been so blind?
The only thing I knew for sure was that I couldn't stop. Not now. Not until the distance between us was enough to drown out the sound of my name on his lips and the torment in his eyes.
Somehow, I made it back home, my legs moving on instinct, my mind a blur of emotions. The moment I reached the front door, I stormed inside, ignoring the quiet stillness of the house. I didn't stop until I reached my room.
I slammed the door shut behind me, my chest heaving as I leaned against it for a brief moment.
The weight in my heart was unbearable. With a shaky breath, I stumbled to my bed, collapsing onto it with a heaviness that I couldn't escape.
Hot tears spilled down my cheeks as I buried my face in my pillow, clutching it tightly against me as if it could hold me together.
The sobs wracked through my body, raw and unrelenting. My heart felt shattered, every piece of it aching with betrayal and loss.
I thought—just for a moment—that JC and I could have something. A friendship, something beautiful. But it was all an illusion. It had crumbled so quickly, leaving nothing but pain in its wake.
Liam was right.
The thought only deepened the hurt, twisting like a knife in my chest. I couldn't stop the tears, couldn't silence the scream of anguish inside me. All I could do was cry, pouring every ounce of my broken heart into the darkness of my room.
Eventually, exhaustion took over. My sobs quieted, my breathing grew ragged, and I drifted into a restless sleep. The pillow beneath me was soaked with tears, and my cheeks stung from their salty trails.
Even in sleep, the pain lingered, a heavy shadow pressing against my sou.