56

I decided to talk to her another day. First I had to think about where we knew each other from. I had hurt her in some way, because you don't despise a person for years without a reason. She was 22, which means she must have been 16 at most when we met.

When I got to the office, I scanned Mia's folder again. I read through her resume and realized that we went to school together. Most likely we met there.

There was a knock on the door and my brother appeared smiling.

"You work today?" he asked me.

"No, I'll be right back. I hope you don't mind."

"Of course not. Have you spoken to her yet?"

I ran a hand through my hair in desperation. Noah seemed to notice this as he grabbed a chair and sat down. He folded his arms and waited. I gave in with a sigh and told him about today's meeting.

“She met up with an old friend. I followed them and wanted to overhear them. I don't know how best to explain this to you." I gasped and looked my brother straight in the eye. "I had an affair with her. We even slept together, but I don't remember it at all. It happened before I was 18. All I know is that I hurt her pretty badly. I feel it."

"Hmm. I wish your life would be easier for once. But I told you once that if you play with girls the way you do, you're going to die later."

"I know, but I was young then. Everyone knew I didn't want anything serious."

"Oh well. A girl doesn't."

I quickly become alert and now look at him questioningly.

"What do you think?"

"I can't tell you much, you never told me her name. Best you ask Seth or Ian. They were in the same class as you?"

I just nodded and stormed out of the room. What if Ava was that girl? What if I hurt her so deeply that she could never forgive me? All I knew was that I wouldn't stop fighting for her. I only wanted her and no other.

(...)

In my wolf form, I ran into the forest and sniffed for a scent. I didn't find any of the idiots at home. They must be running around here somewhere. Because we had to transform at least every few days and let our instincts run wild. If we refused, we could hardly pull ourselves together. We became increasingly angry, short-tempered and violent. Besides, in the end we had no choice but to transform anyway. You got unbearable pain and our wolf side would outweigh our human side. Few managed to regain control. There was a girl in our pack who refused to transform about two years ago. Her soulmate had been human and she had told him nothing of our kind. She couldn't break up with him, which is why she's been with him non-stop for days. Eventually, she lost her control and transformed in front of her mate. Her wolf side had no trace of humanity left. Uncontrollably, she wanted to mark her companion and accidentally bit his throat. Noah had no choice but to kill her. Killing a pack member who is our second family is anything but easy. The loss weakened us for a time. Killing a pack member who is our second family is anything but easy. The loss weakened us for a time. Killing a pack member who is our second family is anything but easy. The loss weakened us for a time.

Yes, we weren't werewolves like in the movies or in those stories that were published online and my sister read all day. It wasn't all rosy. Our animal side killed people, even mates, if suppressed for too long. It was cruel, but this happened very rarely. I would never let my animal side take over me and do anything to Ava. No, my goal was to be with her and protect her my whole life. All I had to do was know what I did to hurt her. I had some things to make up for. I would never give up without a fight.

After a few minutes I had the scent of a she-wolf leaning under a tree.

I spoke in her mind so that she lifted her head.

" Kian !" came the voice in my head.

" What are you doing here alone ?" I ask.

" I'm waiting for Seth. He wanted to walk a little more through the forest. "

I nodded my head and looked deep into her eyes. " I'm not here without a reason. We went to the same school back then. Was there a girl named Ava Mason ?"

Something flashed in her eyes, but it was gone in a split second. So I didn't know if I had imagined it or not.

" No. I can't remember anyone with that name? Why do you ask? " she stammered nervously.

I looked at her skeptically and replied: " If you know anything, then speak up. "

" I really don't know anything. There were a lot of girls whose hearts you broke back then. Maybe she was one of them. I don't know ."

She was hiding something, but she didn't want to tell me voluntarily. Growling, I bared my teeth and replied, " Tell me what you know about her right now! "

Startled, she looked at me and before I knew it, a reddish-brown wolf stood in my way. seth

" What is that? " he growled at me.

" Who is Ava Mason? " I answered directly.

He dropped his fighting position and looked at me guiltily.

" Kian, we're sorry. But don't ask us to tell you. Noah then demanded a blood oath from us ."

I looked at him in horror. Damned. It was serious. Why did my brother ask such a thing of you? I ran away from them, growling. They were right, they weren't allowed to tell me anything. Once you broke the blood oath, you could die.