Liam POV
As the teacher continued explaining the lesson for the day, my mind drifted far from the classroom. My wolf stirred restlessly in my head, his voice a low growl that refused to be ignored.
"That is not Haylie," he kept insisting.
I frowned, confused by his agitation. Of course, it's Haylie. Her fiery red hair, her striking green eyes—it had to be her. Yet… something felt off. Even my wolf's usual keen senses noticed something missing. Haylie always smelled like daisies—a sweet, floral scent that lingered like a memory—but now there was nothing. No scent at all.
I stared blankly at the teacher, pretending to pay attention while my thoughts churned. "Ace, why would she look like Haylie if she isn't Haylie?" I challenged my wolf.
But my question only seemed to aggravate him further. "You're a fool," he growled. "Haylie isn't like that."
I sighed, running a hand through my hair in frustration. It was pointless to argue with him when he was like this. Maybe he was right—or maybe I was overthinking everything. Either way, the unease gnawed at me, refusing to let go.
The ringing of the school bell shattered my thoughts, pulling me back to reality. I pushed the doubts aside, determined to focus on getting through the day.
As the morning dragged on, I struggled to concentrate on anything but the nagging feeling that something wasn't right. When lunchtime finally arrived, I scanned the cafeteria and spotted Haylie standing in the corner, talking to Titan.
The two of them were laughing and joking about something, their easy camaraderie evident from across the room.
I made my way over, deciding to surprise her. Sliding my arms around her waist from behind, I pulled her into a hug and pressed a soft kiss to her neck.
"Hello, gorgeous," I murmured, my voice warm.
She turned in my embrace, a smile lighting up her face. "Hello," she replied sweetly.
I studied her closely, searching for any sign that she wasn't herself. Every detail was perfect—her face, her expression, her voice. But something still felt… wrong. The scent of daisies was gone, replaced by nothing at all.
Was my wolf just being paranoid?
I tightened my hold on her briefly, forcing myself to smile. This is Haylie, I reminded myself. It has to be.
"I hear her soft, sweet voice: "So, have you missed me?"
Her tone was as sugary as ever, pulling me in like a magnet.
"How could I not miss you?" I replied, leaning in to kiss her.
Titan's voice broke through the moment. "Okay, you two lovebirds, I'm outta here."
But neither of us cared. Her lips were warm and inviting, and her kiss was… different. Something about it didn't feel quite the same, yet I couldn't bring myself to pull away. It was as if I were addicted, drawn to her in a way I couldn't explain.
After what felt like an eternity, she gently pulled back, her green eyes sparkling as she smiled. "We should probably get something to eat," she said, her voice light and casual.
I chuckled, still captivated by her. "Probably," I agreed, a grin spreading across my face.
I walked with Haylie to the cafeteria to grab some food. We both picked up grey plastic trays and headed toward the food section. I noticed that she only grabbed a juice box and some fruit but no real food. She must not be that hungry, I thought to myself.
I picked up some potato salad, a hamburger, and a juice box before heading over to the table where Haylie, Titan, and Claudine were sitting
Sliding into the seat next to Haylie, I heard Claudine ask her, "Why is your plate so empty? Aren't you hungry?"
Haylie smiled and replied, "I don't have a big appetite today."
I glanced at her, gave her a quick wink, and then took a bite of my burger. The first bite was incredible. Our school really knows how to cook, I thought.
"Remember, there's football practice this afternoon," Titan reminded me from across the table.
I give him a nod, taking another bite of my burger, the savory juices mixing with the tang of ketchup.
The upcoming game against The Reds looms in my mind—our coach is pushing us to our limits, and I know I need every ounce of strength I can muster.
The school bell rings, slicing through the chatter of the cafeteria, signaling the last few hours of the day. I say goodbye to Haylie, promising to see her after school. As we part ways, my wolf stirs restlessly in my head. "I told you that's not Haylie. She smells different; she doesn't smell like daisies."
I roll my eyes, exasperated. "You're just being paranoid." Sure, Haylie didn't smell like daisies this morning, but maybe she had changed a bit since turning sixteen.
The thought tugs at me, a mix of concern and confusion. I need to accept who she is becoming and how I feel about it. I love her, and I don't want to change a thing about her.
Haylie POV
I stared at the fire burning in the fireplace for a long time, sipping my coffee in silence. It felt as if the world had forgotten me while I sat there. JC was next to me on the floor, also silent. My tears had stopped, but the pain lingered, a sharp ache I couldn't ignore. I would never forget what he had done—and what his sister had done, too.
Now, Melody, his sister, was living my life. She was with my boyfriend. The thought of her kissing him made my stomach churn with nausea.
"If you'd like, we could check if any of my mother's clothes are still here. You could wear something warmer," JC said, breaking the silence for the first time.
I turned to him and frowned. "Your mother's clothes? Why would they be here?" I asked. He had told me before that his parents had passed away.
"This house used to be my parents' home," he said quietly.
I took a deep breath, processing his words as my gaze wandered around the room. This was his parents' house.
"My mother might still have some clothes here," he added, his voice subdued.
I finished the last of my coffee and set the mug down beside me. JC stood up from the floor and held out his hand to help me, but I ignored it, still upset with him. I rose on my own.
"Their room is the one where you woke up earlier," he said, then turned and walked away.
I inhaled deeply, steadying myself, and followed him through the house. The air grew colder as we reached the room where I had woken up that morning.
The scent of old wood filled the space. My eyes followed JC as he began opening cupboards, searching for clothes.
While JC searched through the cupboards, I made my way to the large window in the room. Wrapping my arms around myself, I rubbed them over the blanket covering my upper body. The world outside the frosted glass looked cold and unwelcoming, with everything
blanketed in white snow and the wind whipping through the trees. If only I knew where I was or how I had gotten here.
"Here, I think this will help," I heard JC say behind me.
I turned around to see him holding a long-sleeved black shirt, a pair of jeans, and a brown jacket.
He laid them out neatly on the bed. "It's not much, but once you're dressed, there's a shop down the road where we can get you some proper clothes," he said, his tone calm but distant.
I looked at him and then at the clothes he'd spread out on the bed. "What size shoes do you wear?" he asked.
Clearing my throat, I forced my voice to stay steady even though it threatened to crack. "A size six," I answered softly.
JC rummaged through the cupboard again, then placed something in front of the bed—a pair of brown winter boots. "These are a size six. They should fit," he said.
I swallowed hard, trying to ease my nerves. The idea of wearing someone else's clothes felt strange, but at least they were warmer than the thin dress I had on now.
"I'll leave you to it so you can change," JC said, stepping toward the door. He paused for a moment, then quietly left the room, closing the door behind him.
Once he was out and I was alone, I made my way to the bed, removed the blanket from my shoulders, and started to get dressed. The jeans were a little loose on me, as was the shirt, but at least they fit well enough, and my body was starting to warm up.
I slipped on the brown jacket and finally pulled the warm boots onto my feet. There weren't any socks, but as long as my feet were covered, it would do.
When I was finished, I walked back to the front room, where JC stood in front of the fireplace, rubbing his hands together for warmth.
As soon as he saw me, his face lit up with a smile.
"You look amazing," he said.
I didn't smile or blush at his compliment. Even though his words sounded sweet, the fear of being kidnapped and kept here lingered in my mind, making it hard to trust him.
"So, shall we go?" he asked.
I nodded silently and followed him. There was no use trying to run—I was in the middle of nowhere. If I did run, where would I even go?
The cold hit us as soon as we stepped outside. The wind stung my cheeks, and my hands were freezing, so I shoved them into the jacket's pockets for warmth. The shops weren't far, and as we walked, I noticed more people moving around. They seemed used to the cold, their faces unfazed by the chill that made my breath visible in the air.
As we approached a shop, I caught sight of a sign that read Greenland Diner. I frowned, glancing at JC.
"Are we in Greenland?" I asked, my voice tinged with disbelief.
He gave me a small smile. "Yes, Greenland," he replied simply.
I had no idea where exactly in Greenland we were, but one thing was clear—I was far from home, and the cold here was relentless.
The shop door's bell chimed as we stepped inside, its soft echo quickly swallowed by the quiet stillness of the room. The shop was small, almost cramped, with racks sparsely populated by clothes. It felt more like stepping into someone's personal collection than a retail store.
An elderly woman emerged from behind the counter, her warm smile radiating kindness.
JC was the first to speak, stepping forward with an easy confidence. "Good day," he greeted her, his voice calm and friendly. "I was wondering if you could help us—I'm looking for clothes for my wife."
The word wife stopped me in my tracks. My mouth fell open slightly in surprise, and I turned to look at him, eyes narrowing as I folded my arms. Wife?
The old lady didn't seem to notice my reaction, her gaze shifting to me with an understanding smile. "What size are you, dear?" she asked gently.
"Um, size ten," I replied, still distracted, trying to make sense of what JC had just said.
"Perfect. I'll be right back," she said with a nod, disappearing into the back.
The moment we were alone, I spun toward JC. "Wife?" I hissed, keeping my voice low. "Really? You have to call me your wife?"
JC's eyes darted around the shop, making sure we weren't overheard.
Then, his hand wrapped around my upper arm, and he pulled me slightly aside. His voice dropped to a whisper, firm yet soft, meant only for me. "I had to say that," he explained. "This town is full of wolves, and I need us to blend in. If they think we're married, they won't get suspicious."
The mention of wolves sent a chill through me. My heart thudded in my chest, a cold sense of dread creeping in. Pretending to be married wasn't the issue—it was the reason we had to.
Before I could respond, the old woman returned, her arms laden with neatly folded clothes. JC immediately released my arm, stepping back as she approached.
"I've found some warm jeans, winter jerseys, and jackets in your size," she said cheerfully, laying the items on the counter for me to inspect.
I forced a smile and nodded in gratitude, though my thoughts were elsewhere, racing with the realization of the danger we were in.
I stepped closer to the counter, where the old lady had neatly spread out the clothes. They weren't exactly my style—far from it, really—but in a situation like this, I couldn't afford to be picky. Survival trumped fashion.
"This is perfect," I said with a small, forced smile, pretending to be cheerful.
Then, swallowing the lump in my throat, I turned to JC, deciding to play along. "I'll take it, *sweetie*," I added, the word tasting bitter on my tongue.
It took every ounce of self-control to say it. My stomach churned with nausea at the thought. I'd give anything to be saying those words to Liam, the person I truly loved—not JC, who seemed so at ease in this strange role.
JC flashed a convincing smile, clearly unfazed. "Okay then, we'll take them all," he said cheerfully, slipping easily into his part.
The old lady nodded, her smile unwavering as she carefully folded the clothes, placed them in a bag, and began ringing them up at the till. JC pulled out a few bills from his pocket and handed them to her, thanking her politely as the transaction finished.
Once we stepped out of the shop, the cool air hit me, a sharp contrast to the warmth of the cramped little store. I exhaled heavily, the tension from our brief charade still lingering in my chest.
JC glanced at me as we walked down the quiet street, his expression unreadable. "You probably want an explanation," he said, his tone low.
I turned to JC, my arms crossed tightly as I glared at him. "Well, isn't this just great?" I said, sarcasm dripping from every word. "First, you kidnap me, and now I'm supposed to be your wife?"
JC stopped abruptly, turning to face me. His expression was serious, his jaw set. "Listen," he began, his tone measured but firm. "When Melody came up with this plan, the idea was to bring you here—to this wolf town where my parents used to live. It's the safest place to hide. All we have to do is pretend we're married, blend in, and stay off the radar. That way, my brothers will never find us."
I stared at him, his words sinking in.
There was no humor in his face, no room for argument. He was dead serious. Still, the unease of being far from home, ripped away from everything familiar, and the fact that he *had* kidnapped me, made it hard to swallow.
"Fine," I said finally, my voice clipped. "I'll play along. But don't think for a second that I'm going to act like some romantic little *wifey.* If you think I'm kissing you or doing anything remotely affectionate, you're dreaming."
JC gave a single, understanding nod. "I don't expect you to," he said simply.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. My heart was still racing, my mind a whirlwind of frustration, fear, and questions about what I'd gotten myself into.
Without another word, we started walking again, the tension between us palpable. The quiet street seemed to stretch endlessly ahead, each step taking us deeper into the unknown.