My Stepdads A Werewolf

Chapter 5: Dangerous Temptations

The week flew by in a blur for Lori. Between getting Zara settled into her new school and arguing with Izzy’s school about her daughter’s continued absences, there wasn’t a moment to catch her breath. Each day felt like a battle—Izzy was distant and angry, barely talking to her except to argue about the move, while Zara needed constant attention. Lori was running on fumes, but she was used to that by now.

Her argument with Izzy had been particularly heated that morning.

"I hate it here, Mum! Why do we always have to move? Can’t we just stay in one place for once in our lives?" Izzy had yelled, slamming her bedroom door and refusing to get ready for school.

Lori had stood outside Izzy’s door, trying to keep her voice calm despite the rising tide of emotion inside her. "Izzy, I know it’s hard, but I’m doing the best I can. I just need you to try, okay? Skipping school isn’t going to help."

"Why do you even care? You don’t listen to me anyway!" Izzy’s voice had cracked, frustration and sadness evident in her tone.

The conversation had ended there, with Izzy storming out of the house after school. Lori felt like she was losing her daughter, and the guilt weighed heavily on her. But there wasn’t time to dwell on it—there never was.

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Later that afternoon, after dropping Zara off at an after-school dance club, Lori decided to take a rare moment for herself and go for a walk through the neighborhood and grab a much-needed coffee. The sun was setting, casting the streets in a soft golden glow. She needed this—some fresh air and a chance to clear her head.

As she strolled down a quiet street, she spotted a familiar face up ahead—Daniel. He was walking with his head down, hands in his pockets, as if trying to avoid being seen. Her heart skipped a beat, and without thinking, she waved.

"Daniel!" she called out, her voice filled with a sudden burst of energy. She jogged over to him, smiling brightly.

Daniel froze for a second, clearly debating whether to keep walking, but by the time he looked up, Lori was already in front of him, beaming.

"Hey!" she said, a little out of breath. Before Daniel could react, she threw her arms around him in a quick, friendly hug. He stiffened at first, caught off guard, but then inhaled deeply, overwhelmed by the soft, sweet scent of her perfume. It was warm, comforting—dangerous.

Lori pulled back, still grinning. "I didn’t think I’d run into you again. I was starting to think you were avoiding me."

Daniel shifted uncomfortably, guilt swirling inside him. "I… uh, I didn’t mean to. I—uh, I lost the napkin you gave me. My fault."

Lori playfully narrowed her eyes. "Oh, did you now?" she teased, clearly not buying it but not pressing him too hard. "Well, in that case—"

She grabbed his hand and pulled out a pen from her bag. Before Daniel could protest, she scribbled her number on the back of his hand, her fingers lightly brushing against his skin. The sensation made him tense. Being this close to her felt wrong, like he was playing with fire.

"There," she said, capping the pen and giving him a wink. "Now you can’t lose it."

Daniel glanced down at the number written on his hand, the ink standing out starkly against his skin. He should have felt grateful for the second chance, but all he felt was conflicted. He liked her—more than he should—but he also knew how dangerous it was for him to be close to anyone.

Before he could say anything, Lori’s phone rang. She frowned, pulling it out of her pocket and checking the caller ID.

"It’s my daughter," she muttered, answering the call. "Hey, sweetie, what’s going on?"