I was home in no time.

When I reached, I found Aunt Carol sitting pacing back and forth with her phone in her hand. Surprise washed over her face, and she twisted around upon hearing the doorknob shake.

"Eos," She sighed out in relief before stretching her arms and welcoming me into a hug. "I was so worried about you. Where did you go?" She questioned, wrapping her hands around me.

"I—I," I didn't know what to say. It had to be something not regarding the truth and the fact that I was kidnapped and forced to stay in a packhouse for the day. "I'm sorry, Carol. I was with a friend, and I lost track of time. I'm really sorry." I tried to make up something.

Aunt Carol stepped back and combed her fingers through my hair, "I'm just happy you're fine." She replied with a smile over her lips and relief brewing in her eyes.

It was usual for me to go on a bender and escape from the house for several days in a row. Sometimes, I wouldn't even inform anyone and stay high in my wonderland with Bryce, my boyfriend then. It was worse than compared to now. Although, I felt guilty for leading Aunt Carol and making her worry.

"I am. Thank you and I'm really sorry again," I lowered my hand to hers and grabbed it for a moment. "I promise, I wasn't doing anything."

"I trust you, Eos." She nodded.

I smiled at her before parting ways, "I should go get some sleep and you should too. I'm sorry for keeping you worried the entire day. Let's catch up in morning?" I asked her while standing on the first stair that led to my room.

Aunt Carol swirled and gave me another nod, "Goodnight, Eos."

"Goodnight." I waved my hand before fixing the duffle bag over my shoulder and heading back upstairs.

As soon as I reached my room, the scent of my Victoria Secret perfumes, and my cheap candles attacked me. I took a quick breath, my sniffing senses stronger than before. My eyes wondered across the room. It only felt like a second.

Rushing in, I placed my bag over the bed and neared the window that was slightly opened. Aunt Carol must've drawn it to let some fresh air inside the room. I tucked aside the curtain and looked outside.

The black wolf.

It wasn't there anymore. It being King. He had been watching me for days after he bit me, keeping a track on me and all this time I thought some wild animal was obsessed with my blood.

I shook my head and smiled before closing the curtains and the window altogether. Switching on the lights, I pulled my dirty clothes out of the bag and kept them in laundry. Just beneath all the clothes, I found my phone, low battery and blinking repeatedly.

Just last night, I was having a date with King in the woods nearby and the other moment, I was kidnapped and forced to shift. It was a crazy twenty-four hours, but I was back in reality.

But something inside me, a little piece of me, was left behind at the packhouse and I couldn't figure out what it was. My world was dulled when I stepped out of King's car and took a two-minute walk to my home. I couldn't understand myself. I was looking to escape the pack house one minute and flee from King's life but the other minute, I was willing to be there, in his life and at that packhouse.

What was wrong with me?

I quickly changed my clothes and cleaned my bed before laying down with a comforter hanging over my shoulders. My eyes fell upon the full moon that was lowering itself in the night sky. My heart continued to thud in my chest, the fear and the panic still not resting. There were countless thoughts running in my head.

Was I bound to the moon?

What was going to happen now?

Would I be a wolf for the rest of my life?

How long could I live for?

Could someone hurt me?

In midst of all the worries and questions, I closed my eyes and soon fell asleep. The last image flashing through my head was King's along with his hands caressing my face while a voice made its way to my head.

I don't want this to be over.

The next morning, I woke up rather early and joined Aunt Carol for breakfast. Usually, neither of us were early birds but after yesterday's events, we both became. Midway through finishing my breakfast, I received a couple messages from Beatrice. She forwarded her itinerary to me and informed me that she'd be arriving in town by tomorrow with her group of classmates.

"She's coming soon to reign hell fire upon us all, isn't she?" Aunt Carol asked while sipping on her morning coffee. I had told her earlier about Beatrice's visit to Frostford and I assumed she had been praying about her well-being since then.

A chuckle spilled out of me before I closed my phone and set it aside, "She's not a devil anymore. It was six years ago. She has changed a lot and so have I."

Aunt Carol nodded with a smug grin over her face, "You've quite changed ever since that mysterious date with a mysterious man."

I choked on the bread quicker than anything else. Grabbing the water, I quickly gulped it down and turned my attention to my Aunt. It had been a minute. The last I remembered telling anything to Aunt Carol about King was that I was going on a date. I left out his name and everything else along with it as I wasn't ready to share those little details.

"I don't know who you're talking about." I whispered before returning my eyes on the sandwich in front of me.

"You went on a date, Eos and since then, you are a different person. I know you don't want to tell me anything about this mysterious man but whenever you're ready, I'm right here to listen." She leaned forward and said while flickering her index finger over her ear and exaggerating the tea she was dying to know.

I gave her a cheeky smile and replied, "There is nothing much you need to know about, Aunt Carol."

I wasn't sure where I was with King. Although, I admitted the fact that I grew a great liking for him ever since I met him and the bond we shared was different than any other bond I had shared with any other man. Maybe it was the bite. Maybe it was a sexual thing.

I didn't know.

After last night, I avoided thinking much about him. He bit me, turned me into a wolf and gave me a curse that I had to live forever—I had no idea how long this forever was going to be. But it was all terrible. King did some terrible things to me, he hurt me, in different ways but he did, and I wasn't simply ready to let it all go and return to our little hidden affair at the town hall.

"Right about now you're thinking about him, aren't you?" Aunt Carol said, holding a butter knife toward my face.

I snapped out of my thoughts and flinched back. My throat cleared and I responded, "No, I'm not. I've other things to worry about." My eyes fell on the breakfast again and suddenly, my appetite was gone.

"Oh, I'm curious, Eos." She planted her hand underneath her chin and continued to gaze at me, in her way, hoping her staring would force me to spill everything to her. "Who is this man?"

"No one," I picked up my plate and rushed to the kitchen before I could be investigated anymore. "I'm going to get some things done and I need your help in something." Before I even knew, I was back at the table and leaning against it.

"Everything okay?" She asked.

"Yes," I nodded before taking a huge breath of air. "I want to get some blood work done but very discreetly."

Her brows furrowed, panic washed over her features before her eyes widened, "Why?"

I scratched the back of my head and continued, "I just want to make sure my blood levels are fine, and everything is good with me after taking those heavy doses of medications."

It was the closest I could get to the truth.