FIRST

Chapter 1- Along a Winding Road

[This is a preview of what's to come]

Madeleines POV

I honestly would rather be anywhere else but here. My feet ache and although i am a werewolf and should almost never be tired, running around and baking in a kitchen all day leaves enough blisters to never want to stand again.

My mother and father also managed to slip in the awkward 'mate' topic at our buffet dinner before the bonfire so i have decided that it's probably best to avoid them at all costs; mostly for the fact that i may yell-or worse, cry.

There are millions of werewolves out there who don't have mates so complaining at the ripe age of 23 is sad.

Simply sad.

The smoke from the fire hits my face just as i decide to seek refuge from the cold by stepping towards it. it's almost comforting.

My eyes wander around the grounds, in search of a friend, perhaps even one of my many annoying siblings but i come up short. All of my friends are mostly human and usually are also employees at my job.

After i decided to leave Reagan, Which is the town our pack claims as its own, I went the short hour distance into the city to live a simpler life.

My independence is a burdance. I will never understand how not wanting to record history, read books on history, and then retell said history is a bad thing. My parents managed to pop out 4 other pups for the job so i truly don't see the problem.

An hour later and the fire is barely a flame. Any of the normal wolfs who were here earlier have ditched and all that remains is alpha Ronan's family, his beta, and my family. I look towards my mother who is having a very animated conversation with the luna, i hope she feels my stare because i am dying to go home and sleep. As usual, she is too focused in what she is saying that none of her senses work.

Oh mother

"Mom!" I pull her attention as well as the luna's "Am i excused for the night?" I say oh so politely.

"Oh yes! Madeleine, go ahead. Have a good night!" She beams, her dark brown curls bounce on top of her head as she frantically nods her head.

"Thank you. Hello Luna Marie! Nice to see you again" My smile must be contagious as the luna smiles nice and wide.

"Have a goodnight Madeleine, beautiful as always!"

Although you can't see it in the dark, i can feel the blood rush to my cheeks, a blush. Taking this as my cue to leave, i begin the short trek back to the entrance of the woods where i left my car.

Sitting in my car has never felt like such bliss. Turning the key in the ignition automatically causes a blast of heat to fill the car and if i stall any longer i'm sure the sun will begin to rise. I plug my dead phone into my charger before turning on the radio and letting the soft tune of chill hits relax me.

The drive is dark and the road that never ends just keeps on going. Thirty minutes into the trip and i've switched up the beat to play a playlist full of Mariah Carey. My mind slowly begins to drift as the drive becomes longer and i'm no longer focused on the road. The only thing keeping me from crashing are my keen instincts and senses; oh, and my wolf that shows up only to keep us safe.

Everything is quiet, oddly quiet, except of course for the low hum of Mariah when my head is sudden pulsing with a migraine as my wolf draws down the veil between our minds and pushes forward, trying to control the situation.

My hands aren't my hands as they grip the steering wheel and my feet are not my feet as they slam on the breaks.

"Danger!" my wolf roars in my head. I am fully awake and the fear of a fight is pulsing through my veins.

I whip my head up as soon as the car screams to a stop, lurching me forwards before pulling me back.

The first thing i see are his eyes. A towering man stands in front of my vehicle, hands resting on the hood as if to protect himself. Something about his presence calms my raging anxiety and i almost step out of the car to question him until a flying arrow pierces the hood of my car. Sending me flying back in shock, my wild curls fan across my face as i take him in.

I look up just in time just to see the man's eyes flash with those of pain, anger and hesitation, before ripping the arrow out of my car and sprinting across the street and into the night.

It takes a few minutes of breathing and reassurance until my wolf recedes back into the dark little corner of my mind that all wolfs seem to prefer.

I don't think i've ever met a werewolf who is close with their wolf. The man i came across on the road was a wolf. He must have been. I'm so sure. His presence radiated power and it's almost like i could see his wolf howling behind his eyes.

Even though the incident only happened for that of twelve seconds. It seems to be the only thing that i can think about until i reach my home- and even after.