CHAPTER 1
The wine bottle felt heavy in her hand as she raised it, the liquid inside sloshing faintly. "Happy twenty-fifth birthday to me," MISS LANKA muttered, her voice echoing in the empty living room. No one answered. No one gave her that sideways glance she'd grown used to over the years. She smirked bitterly and added, "And to being run out of town." With a morose frown, she tipped the bottle back, letting the fruity wine flood her mouth. Who needed a glass when drinking alone?
Another swig. Another moment to contemplate the mess her life had become. Tomorrow, she'd load up a moving truck and leave ABAKREEK behind. Start over. Blend in with humans. Even if she wasn't one. Not really. But those were the rules, and she didn't belong here anymore. Not after everything.
A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.
"Pizza's here," she said to no one in particular. Talking to herself had become a habit, a way to fill the silence. She fumbled through her purse, pulling out a crumpled twenty. Swinging the door open, she accepted the box from ZYNE. At seventeen, he was all limbs and awkward angles, his frame still waiting to fill out. He'd been her pizza guy for over a year now. "Thanks, Zyne," she said, holding out the money.
He shook his head, hands up. "This one's on me, Miss Lanka." His voice was soft, tinged with pity. Of course, he knew. Everyone did. She was the town's cautionary tale, the null in a lineage of wolves. The horror story parents used to scare their kids into obedience.
*Clean your room, or you'll end up like her.*
*Eat your veggies, or you'll be a null too.*
She blinked, swallowing the bitterness that rose in her throat. "Thanks," she managed, her voice tight.
"Good luck, Miss Lanka."
"Luck's already skipped me, Zyne." He shifted uncomfortably, staring at his shoes. She saved him the trouble of responding by slamming the door shut. Retreating to the living room, she set the pizza down and took a bite, the cheese stretching as she pulled a slice free.
Another knock.
She froze, brow furrowing. The knock came again, sharper this time. Irritation prickled up her spine as she chewed and swallowed, then marched back to the door. She yanked it open harder than intended, the door bouncing off the wall. "What is it, Zyne?" Her tone was sharp, hostile.
"Hello, XIA."
That voice. Deep, smooth, and nothing like a teenage pizza delivery boy.
Her breath hitched as her gaze traveled up, up, and up to meet the piercing eyes of MONYE SWIFT. He wasn't just a bad boy; he was badass. The kind of man who could make a room go silent with a single look. He'd come to ABAKREEK at the pack alpha's invitation, and she'd done her best to steer clear of him. Wolves were pack business, and she was no wolf.
They'd crossed paths at the town's only bar, where she'd waitressed since she was old enough to work. Six months ago, he'd sweet-talked his way into bartending. She'd seen it happen—REBECCA, their boss, had practically melted under his charm. Whenever they worked the same shift, his eyes followed her like she was a puzzle he couldn't quite solve. It unnerved her, and she'd avoided him at every turn.
"What are you doing here?" Her voice was sharp, her body tense as she shifted her weight back, ready to slam the door in his face. Yet, despite her wariness, she couldn't help but notice how he looked—like a rock star crossed with a firefighter, all sharp angles and raw power. His eyes, the color of dark chocolate streaked with caramel, locked onto hers, unblinking.
"I heard you're leaving." His voice was calm, but his gaze tracked her every movement, no matter how slight. It was unsettling.
She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "I'm twenty-five. Cal said it was time." The pack alpha had been kind, giving her extra time, but she was a null. A dud. ABAKREEK, nestled in the rugged hills of KABUKS-RREEK, had no place for someone like her.
"Where are you going?" His question caught her off guard. There was a sincerity in his tone that she hadn't expected.
"I don't know. Why do you care?" Her eyes narrowed as she studied him, the hair on the back of her neck prickling. He was trouble. She could feel it, even with her stunted senses.
He tilted his head, nostrils flaring slightly. "You got pizza in there?"
She nodded, her expression guarded. He wanted something, and she wasn't about to play the fool. She wasn't some wilting flower, easily swayed by a pretty face.
"I'm starving."
She stared at him, unmoved. The last thing she needed was to get tangled up with a wolf like MONYE. He'd chew her up and spit her out without a second thought. After SOMO, there'd been KATHERINE, FREYA, OKOI, and who knew how many others. His love life was a revolving door, and she wasn't about to step through it.
"You're not going to invite me in?" He looked genuinely surprised, as if no one had ever told him no before.
"I'm not looking for anything you've got," she shot back, crossing her arms and leaning against the doorframe.
"Fair enough." He stepped closer, closing the distance between them until she could feel the heat radiating off his body. His voice dropped to a husky whisper, sending a shiver down her spine. "What if I could help you?"
She snorted. "Where were you two weeks ago? I've already quit my job, packed my stuff, and sold the house." Cal had bought it from her, giving her enough money to start over. She tried not to think about how the house had belonged to her parents, how their deaths had left her alone.
He stepped back, the cool night air rushing in to fill the space between them. "I've been away, visiting my mom down in ENUG-REEK. She's my pack's shaman. She might be able to fix you."
Her jaw tightened, nostrils flaring. "Fix me? What am I, a broken appliance?"
"She's a shaman, XIA. You should hear me out." His expression was serious, his gaze unwavering. Against her better judgment, she gave a curt nod and stepped aside, letting him into the house.