24

I stood next to Lou, who was swaying with alcohol, breathing in the fresh forest air and wishing my grandma hadn't left the whiskey behind. Laughter, music and female voices could be heard from inside, which made my stomach turn uncomfortably. "We should go," I whispered to Lou, who was staring at the wooden door, frozen.

"That's exactly what we shouldn't do." She turned her pretty face towards me, tossed her long brown hair back and started to giggle. "You should see your face, Chiara," she laughed and then walked towards the door.

I stopped dead in my tracks and felt like I knew something bad was about to happen but couldn't stop it. She stopped in front of the door and waved me over, but I just stood there and looked at her pleadingly. I just wanted a quiet night, no boys, no drama.

"Come now," she whispered to me and at that moment the wooden door flew open. "What are you doing here?" Chace stared from Lou to me and closed the door behind him. He looked puzzled and grabbed the drunk by the sleeve to walk over to me with her.

"What's all this about?" he asked me, but I just shrugged and watched Lou, who grinned at him and ran her hand through his brown hair. "You're really cute," she slurred at him, and he immediately glared at me.

"Did you-" My eyes widened as I watched Lou cup his face in her hands to kiss him passionately. I noticed that he didn't resist in any way and even returned it by wrapping his hands around her waist.

Only when a throat clearing sounded behind him, he broke away from her in shock and turned around. I looked away from them both and looked behind them at Ethan, who had his arms crossed and didn't look enthusiastic. "What's all the fuss about here?"

He came at us angrily and pulled Chace away from Lou, who immediately glared at him. "Do you think you have anything to say to me or to Chace?" she asked the Beta, putting her arms on her hips.

He just laughed and looked amused at Chace. "Let's ask him ourselves if he wants to come back to the cabin with me or if he wants to go with you."

At that moment we all looked at Chace, who was staring nervously at the floor and giving no reaction, which made Ethan grin. Lou on the other hand looked disappointed and I wanted to go for the beta but stayed calm and didn't let my anger show.

"You!" Ethan suddenly pointed at me and took a step towards me. "It seems you haven't been drinking. Take her and get out of here!" I didn't understand what happened next myself, but I had to start laughing so loud that all three of them stared at me in confusion. It wasn't until I calmed down that I looked defiantly into the Beta's eyes.

"You know what, Ethan. You're neither my boss, nor my father, nor the law, and I certainly won't take orders from a random dog." I swallowed and started shaking a little. I didn't know what drove me to mess with him. But I saw Lou and Chace who were probably a better match than anyone I knew and these guys felt like they shouldn't be around.

Ethan looked me up and down and started to growl menacingly. Apparently he wasn't used to being opposed. When he came very close to me, my heart almost stopped. "If you want to live and survive here, you have to follow the rules, otherwise you can go where you came from and now, take your girlfriend and get out of here," he whispered in my ear and continued . "Besides, Jayden is having fun right now with a beautiful woman who doesn't look as childish and shabby as you do."

He took another step away from me and grinned cheekily in my face. I stifled my hatred of him so much that I clenched my fists, digging my fingernails deep into my skin. I would love to be a wolf too, then I would tear him to pieces until there was nothing left of him and his arrogance.

"Let's go," Lou suddenly said to me. Apparently sensing that the situation was about to escalate, she came over to pat my arm soothingly. "You were right, that was a stupid idea and they're not worth it."

I turned my gaze to her, who was staring at the floor in disappointment, and then to Chace, who also looked battered. Only Ethan was having fun and smiling lit a cigarette. "So kids! Go home and you Chace, go inside."

He clapped his hands and turned to Chace to disappear into the cabin with him. My hatred increased immeasurably. I can't imagine what would have happened if I had had gas and a match with me.

I focused on Lou again and grabbed her arm and walked her carefully to the street. "He knew we were there and still couldn't get out," she explained when we finally had asphalt under our feet again and the darkness was broken by the lanterns.

I walked silently beside her and I was also aware that he would rather continue making out with his whores than stand by his sister. I felt sorry for Chace now, too, because I knew he wanted Lou as much as she wanted him, but he wasn't strong enough, or brave enough, to stand up to the others.

"Hey," I suddenly heard someone call behind us and I was glad that it was Ludwig and not one of the others who was coming towards us.

"Where are you going?" he asked, smiling happily at me. "Home and you?" I answered him and smiled.

"I'm just walking around." I looked him up and down and then grinned in amusement. "A walk, then? It seems to me that you're following me."

"Of course he's following us," Lou slurred, walking towards the blonde. "Guardian angels have that in them, don't they, Ludwig?" She tapped him on the shoulder as he eyed her in disbelief and I looked at him in confusion. The silence and my thoughts were broken by Lou, who was throwing up violently, holding onto Ludwig's arm and taking a deep breath.

"I'll take you home so we can talk in peace." He carefully took Lou in his arms and carried her next to me. We were silent, but the voices in my head were screaming for answers as I watched Lou slowly fall asleep in his arms, her cheeks pressed tightly against his chest. It just looked incredibly cute and I was glad that at least one of them had decency and manners.

Only when we arrived in front of my front door did I remember my missing key and for better or for worse, I had no choice but to ring the bell. Luckily it didn't take long until Lisbeth opened the door for us, yawning in her white nightgown and gave us three a questioning look.

"I'll tell you everything tomorrow," I told her walking past, before she could start asking any questions. Lisbeth ran up the stairs with the other two to show Ludwig my room so he could put Lou down while I settled on the couch and poured myself a whiskey. I slowly understood why everyone here was only drinking, because it was all sober that I couldn't stand it.

I lit one of the candles on the table in front of me to warm my ice-cold hands, and Ludwig finally came into the living room. "I guess you have some questions," he said, sitting down next to me while I still warmed my hands and the alcohol warmed my stomach.

"An angel, who would have thought it," I replied and looked at him closely. It kind of suited him. He was always very quiet and reserved. In addition, the blond long hair and the beautiful skin, just as I always imagined Engel. "Well, not quite. A guardian angel."

He looked at me and I avoided his gaze to take another sip of my glass. "And what are you protecting?" I asked as I put the glass down again.

I hoped he wouldn't say me because then he would have had a lot of work to do. "The village and the people who live here. I can sense danger before it arrives and thus warn the others. I can also heal wounds as long as they are not fatal or inflicted by an Alpha."

I looked over at him again and remembered something I said. "And you couldn't help my grandpa?" I asked him cautiously and without seeming accusatory.

"No, I'm sorry. I didn't see anything and I was late. Also, your grandpa isn't the only one I failed at." He looked down guiltily and dropped his head in his hands. It hurt me to see him like that, so I took his hands in mine and smiled at him.

"It's not your fault. Certainly not. This place is lucky to have someone like you," I said, caressing his warm cheek while the candlelight made his skin look beautiful. "You're the only one who sees it that way," he whispered, stepping a little closer to me.

I caught my breath and my heart started pounding violently against my chest. Something about him intrigued me in ways I couldn't explain. Perhaps all angels had such an effect on humans. I didn't know, only knew that I wanted to kiss him and I was almost freaking out with nervousness.

He placed his hand on my cheek and gently stroked my skin with his thumb, creating pleasant goosebumps on my arms. "You're beautiful," he breathed at me and then placed his lips on mine to make me feel incredibly beautiful.

There were no more thoughts about this place, about the wolves or anything else. Just him, me and the candle emitting a sweet smell.

My stomach was tingling as he began to hold me tighter and I didn't even know if I was a good kisser. I just let him do it and did the same. It wasn't until I pushed him back against the couch and wanted to lean closer to him that he suddenly pulled away from me and stood up, startled.

I breathed faster than usual and looked up at him in irritation. Was I really that bad, I thought, and then got up to stare at him questioningly.

"We're not allowed to do that. Fate isn't meant for us. Besides, I'm not made to feel love. I'll never be able to offer you anything," he said while looking at me sadly.

"You have more to offer than anyone I know," I tried to approach him, but he turned away and quickly disappeared out the front door. I really wanted to follow him, but I felt overwhelmed and overwhelmed. There was nothing I could have done.