Melody POV
This moment with Liam was impossible to resist, a heat that burned away every rational thought. But beneath the fire coursing through me, a sharp pang of guilt pierced my heart. This wasn't my moment to take. This should have been Haylie's, their first time, their sacred connection. Yet here I was, stealing it.
As Liam moved within me, his touch ignited sparks that coursed through my veins.
My moans spilled out, unbidden, matching his rhythm. It was intoxicating—the heat, the intensity—but it also felt wrong, a forbidden fruit that I had no right to taste. His body was like an addiction I couldn't quit, his presence making my legs weak and my resolve crumble.
I clawed at his back, tilting my head back as the pleasure crested, waves of sensation leaving me trembling and breathless.
My body betrayed me, arching against him, seeking more of the fire only he could provide. Each thrust pushed me closer to the edge until I was lost, overcome by a climax so powerful it left me gasping.
But the guilt remained. The weight of my deception loomed over me, even as Liam shuddered, his own release pulling a guttural moan from his lips. He slipped out of me, his breathing uneven as he rested against me, our bodies slick and tangled in the aftermath.
For a moment, there was only the sound of our breathing. Then, the weight of reality settled in, heavier than ever. This was Haylie's moment. This was their love. And no matter how much I wanted it to be mine, I could never take her place.
As long as I pretend to be her, I must act like her. How did it come to this? The guilt gnawed at me, a constant reminder that I had stolen what should have been sacred—Haylie's first intimate moment with Liam.
It wasn't mine to take, yet here I was, consumed by my own desires.
I glanced over at Liam, still out of breath, his chest rising and falling as he stared at me with those smoldering eyes. Why does he have to look at me like that? That gaze, so full of love and need, sent a thrill through me I couldn't ignore. He was irresistible, and I hated myself for how much I craved him.
Leaning closer, I let my lips brush against his, whispering, "You're addicted to me." The words felt like a wicked truth, a tether I held over him, binding him to a lie. But the thrill of it silenced the guilt, if only for a moment.
A smile curled on my lips as I kissed him, the warmth of his mouth sparking a fire that consumed every other thought. Our kiss deepened, and I moved my body against his, taking control this time.
If I was going to live in Haylie's skin, I might as well take full advantage of it.
Liam's hands found their way to my hips, his touch electrifying. I could feel his hunger building again, matching my own. He was addictive, intoxicating in a way I couldn't resist, and I wasn't ready to let this moment end. Not yet.
For as long as I could keep up the charade, I would make the most of it. Liam was mine for now, and I was determined to have him again, even if it meant burying the guilt just a little deeper.
Haylie POV
I finished bathing, the warmth of the water doing little to wash away the guilt clinging to me like a second skin.
Dressing quickly in a pair of soft sweatpants and a long-sleeve shirt, I tried to shake off the weight pressing on my chest. As I reached for the bathroom door, a sudden chill washed over me—a shiver that ran bone-deep, leaving my limbs trembling. It was as if a cold hand had trailed down my spine, an eerie premonition that froze me in place.
A flicker of movement caught my eye, pulling my attention to the corner of the room. When I turned my head, my breath hitched. Standing there, halfway in the shadows, was a wolf—its fur impossibly white, like freshly fallen snow. It didn't seem real.
I glanced around the room, half-expecting someone to step out and laugh at the prank. But I was alone.
Utterly alone. My heartbeat thundered in my ears as I returned my gaze to the wolf. Its eyes, deep and kind, met mine, and I felt something stir inside me—a strange, unexplainable connection.
"Is this even possible?" I whispered, my voice trembling.
The wolf remained still, unthreatening, almost serene. Slowly, it lowered itself into a seated position, its gaze never leaving me. There was no malice in those eyes, no sign of danger. Instead, there was understanding, as if it saw straight through me, past my fears and doubts, into the depths of my soul.
Curiosity overcame caution as I took a hesitant step forward, then another. My hand reached out instinctively, my fingers brushing against the silken fur of its head.
To my surprise, the wolf leaned into my touch, its tongue lolling out in what could only be described as a playful expression.
"You're not afraid of me," I murmured, more to myself than to the wolf.
It didn't flinch, didn't back away. I knelt down, placing both hands on its head, gently stroking the soft fur. The connection I felt deepened, an inexplicable bond forming between us. Despite the strangeness of the situation, I wasn't afraid. Instead, I felt... comforted.
The guilt, the cold, the weight of my secrets—all of it seemed to fade in the presence of this creature. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt seen, understood, and at peace.
I felt an inexplicable connection to the wolf in front of me, as though we were bound by something beyond this moment.
There was a familiarity, a strange sense that I knew this wolf. My heart raced as I noticed a presence behind me. The wolf seemed to sense it too, standing upright, its posture protective.
"Haylie?" JC's voice broke the silence, laced with surprise.
I turned my gaze towards him, looking up to meet his eyes. "Is everything okay?" he asked, concern etched across his face.
Swallowing hard, I glanced back at the wolf, which was still standing tall, unmoving. "I was standing by the wolf," I tried to explain, my voice wavering.
JC shifted uneasily, his brow furrowing. "What do you mean? What wolf?"
My breath caught, and my eyes widened as realization hit me. He couldn't see it. The wolf wasn't visible to him. Only to me.
"I... I guess I'm the only one who can see it," I murmured, confusion creeping into my voice as I rose to my feet.
JC stared at me, his expression unreadable, while the white wolf remained, a silent guardian only I could perceive.
I cleared my throat, trying to shake off the awkwardness of the situation. My thoughts were jumbled, and the late hour wasn't helping. "I think I'll just go to sleep," I said finally, my voice quieter than I intended.
JC looked at me, his brows furrowed in mild confusion. "Okay," he replied after a pause. "Let me get you some extra blankets."
I followed him to the other room, watching as he prepared the bed for me. His movements were efficient but gentle, and when he finished, I offered a small smile. "Good night," I said softly before slipping into the bed once he'd gone.
The mattress was warm enough, but it wasn't home. It wasn't my bed. I wrapped myself tightly in the blankets, staring at the ceiling as silence settled over the room. Sleep didn't come easily—it rarely did in unfamiliar places.
My mind wandered back to the wolf, the majestic white figure that had appeared in the hallway earlier.
Only I had seen her. It was both eerie and strangely comforting. The wolf's presence had felt protective, almost like she was meant to be there for me. As if she belonged to me in some unspoken way.
But that made no sense. I wasn't born with a wolf, and the connection I felt defied logic. Still, the image of her lingered, vivid and serene, as I finally closed my eyes and drifted into restless sleep.
Liam POV
The warm water cascaded over my body, soothing my tense muscles but doing little to quiet my restless mind. The shower was a sanctuary, giving me space to think, yet the thoughts swirling in my head brought no solace. Confusion and regret churned within me, leaving me feeling lost.
What if my wolf was right?
Ace's voice rumbled in my mind, low and laced with disdain. "You were a fool to sleep with her," he growled, his words cutting deep.
I let out a shaky breath, running a hand through my damp hair.
Leaning back against the cold, unyielding tiles, I closed my eyes and tried to steady myself. Ace's accusation wasn't new, but this time, it hit differently.
"I know," I admitted aloud, my voice barely above a whisper. The words felt heavy, like stones dropping into a bottomless well. "You were right."
Regret gnawed at me, sharp and relentless. What had I done? I'd been blinded by the familiarity of her face, the way she moved, the way she spoke. But if this woman wasn't truly Haylie—if she was someone else entirely—then I had made a grave mistake.
Ace's silence was deafening, his disapproval lingering like a storm cloud in the back of my mind.
I pressed my palm against the cool tiles, grounding myself in their unyielding surface. If she wasn't the real Haylie, then I'd betrayed not only my instincts but also the memory of the woman I thought I knew.
And if that was true, I wasn't sure I could ever forgive myself.
Something was off. I could feel it deep in my gut, a warning I couldn't ignore. My wolf wouldn't lie to me—he never had, and I trusted him implicitly. Ace's instincts were sharp, his truths unfiltered.
There was only one way to uncover what was truly going on. Magic. I needed a witch to reveal her true self, to unmask the woman who claimed to be Haylie.
The thought weighed heavy on me as the water continued to pour over me, the steam curling around like a shroud. The Haylie I knew would blush over the smallest things, her cheeks turning a soft pink at a teasing word. She'd get shy easily, her innocence shining in every gesture and word.
This woman wasn't her.
My mind replayed the events of the day, each moment poking holes in her facade. She wasn't frightened enough by the black wolves at school.
Sure, she was scared—but not in the way I'd seen before, not with the pure terror I knew Haylie would feel in that situation.
I stood under the water for what felt like an eternity, my thoughts spinning like a storm. Finally, I turned off the shower and stepped out, the cool air biting at my skin. After dressing, I walked over to my bed and collapsed onto it, staring up at the white ceiling.
The cracks in her story were glaring now, and the more I thought about it, the more they multiplied. Memories of the real Haylie drifted through my mind, a painful contrast to the person I'd been with today.
Something was undeniably wrong.
And I couldn't let it go. My mind could not switch off and I must find out what was going on and what happen to the women I fall in love with.