Howls of Cursed Fate

꧁ 𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓣𝔀𝓮𝓷𝓽𝔂-𝓣𝔀𝓸 ꧂

Caden

The day before

It looked too familiar here. Almost too much like home.

The rain tapped against the old window. This slow, rhythmic sound made the small hotel room feel even quieter than it already was for us. I pulled back the curtain, peering out into the streets of Stormville.

Almost.

Moongrave had that quiet, untouched beauty—forests that stretched for miles, a lake that reflected the moon like no other could, and streets that were too lovely. Stormville? It was grittier, sadder, older. A town that had witnessed things. Maybe that was why I kept staring.

Lilly sat behind me, cross-legged on the hotel bed, her laptop perched on her knees as she scrolled through footage from the town's security cameras Alpha Derek had given us access to. The screen illuminated her face, and I paused to savor her presence here. I couldn't believe she actually had forced Gideon's dad to send us two together.

"You've been staring out that window forever," she noted without looking up.

At least she didn't catch me watching her.

I huffed a quiet laugh but didn't answer right away. Humming a melody I took in the streets below—the cracked sidewalks, the retro streetlights, the way the town seemed to sink into itself under its history.

"I've never been here," I finally admitted. "But it feels like I have."

Lilly paused the soft clicking of her laptop. "Why does that matter?"

I glanced at her, then back at the street. "Because Cindy was born here."

Silence stretched between us. Lilly didn't respond immediately, and I knew why. Cindy was a name we never really said out loud. It'd been a year.

Lilly then placed her laptop aside. "Is it true, that... Somewhere around here... She—"

I nodded slowly. "I lost her due to this town, when she was visiting her old nanny. She took the train. It derailed..."

A sharp breath. "Now, I remember hearing the news..."

The silence this time was heavier. I didn't turn away from the window, but I felt her watching me. I wasn't sure what she was looking for, but I didn't have any answers.

"Being here is weird," I said simply without awaiting an answer.

Lilly's hands brushed through her hair as she tried to hold her head. "Gosh, Caden, If I knew I would never take you here."

I turned to meet her soft gaze full of guilt.

Shaking my head I reassured her. "No, I'm glad you took me with you."

Lilly nodded and stood up to go to me. All my thoughts were thrown away when she hugged me lightly.

"Whenever you'll feel down, I'm here," she whispered and patted my back softly.

"I'm fine," I said and held her tightly. She almost squeaked and I pleaded. "Make fun of me, if you want."

She chuckled and pulled away to glare into my soul while trying to hold her laughter. "You don't drink nor smoke right now to not look fine."

"The audacity, Blossom!" I gasped. "I'm way better those few weeks. Almost—"

"The last few weeks?" she raised an eyebrow.

"Yup." I leaned in to line our eye contact.

"Vivian," she spat out slowly.

I groaned and ran a hand over my face. "Lilly, respectfully. I would never tell you about this little situationship if you wouldn't see us together."