She took a deep breath and steadied herself. It had been nine years since she’d visited this place. The wind ruffled her cherry red hair into her eyes. She blew a breath to remove the tendrils from her vision.

Savina Haines had taken a plane and two buses to get to Eli Haines’ dilapidated, burnt-to-a-crisp house in the middle of the woods. The trees around the house were long dead and petrified. Their branches curled and twisted into the sky like broken fingers. She sighed and slowly began her descent into her oldest and only living relative’s house.

Savina Haines was orphaned four months ago when her only living parent, her father, passed away in a car crash on his way to her final play performance of the spring production before summer break. She had spent the last three months packing her things and taking care of his affairs and avoiding foster care.

Savina was sixteen and a rare breed of half werewolf. In the entire line of her family only five people were half-breeds, including her. Half werewolves didn’t actually change during the full moon. Their speed was increased, they had better vision, hearing, and a better sense of smell than humans, but they didn’t actually shift.

Savina, being the only female half-breed in the entire existence of her family, had the unfortunate luck of experiencing either intense body aches or heightened arousal during the full moon. She’d been lucky up to this point to only experience the pain. Her mother had told her it was because she hadn’t found her mate yet. Savina wasn’t so sure.

She pounded on the crumbling door with a fisted hand. “Eli!” The door swung open and she walked in, leering. She didn’t see Eli at first but could smell him. “What are you doing here, Savina?” She turned to her crouched cousin. “You actually remember my name?”

Eli stood from his crouch. She looked up at him and smiled. He was at least eight inches taller than her five foot three inches. “You smelled the same.” She narrowed her eyes and laughed.

“What are you doing here?” He asked again. She faced him and placed her three bags heavily on the hard wood. “I need a place to stay.” Eli raised his eyebrows and shook his head. “No.”

Savina huffed and rolled her neck. “Come on, Eli. I have nowhere else to go. I’m your only living relative.” Eli shook his head as he walked around her. “No.” Savina stomped her foot and followed his hastened steps. “Eli…” Eli stopped but didn’t face her.

“Savina, look at where I live. Why would you want to live here? I can’t take care of you.” Savina sucked on her bottom lip. “But you don’t have to. I’m sixteen. I can take care of myself. Please, Eli.” Eli turned to her and put his hands on his hips. “Fine, but register yourself for school. I’m not doing it.” Savina clapped her hands and jumped once. “Thanks, Eli. I owe you big.” Eli mumbled under his breath and turned to walk up the stairs.

The next morning, Savina awoke bright and early to get a head start to school so she could avoid the crowd. She pulled out one of her favorite dresses. It ended at her mid-thigh and was a double layer of cotton. It was zebra striped with adjustable spaghetti straps. The skirt was thin and pleated flaring out ever so slightly at the waist. She paired it with black leggings, a thin sweater and black dahlia sandals. She smiled at her cerulean toes and grabbed her purple purse before heading out the door.

She skipped down the stairs and raised an eyebrow when she saw Eli twirling an inhaler in his hands. “You breathe it in.” He gave her a look and she giggled. “Why do you have an inhaler?” He looked back at it. “It was dropped in the woods last night.”

She shrugged and stared hard at Eli. “Ookay. Who dropped it?” Eli looked up at her and sighed heavily before standing. “Tom Brady.” She searched his face and a chill went up her spine. “Why do I get a bad feeling?” Eli gave her a thin smile. “Because he was bitten by the Alpha last night.” She gaped and watched as he walked into the kitchen.

She got her bearings and followed shortly after him. “Wait, what?” He turned to her and licked his lips, nodded, and braced his hands on the island in the middle of the kitchen. “Yeah.” She looked around her and sighed. “What are we going to do?” Eli looked sharply at her. “We aren’t going to do anything. You’re going to school. I’m going to find Tom Brady.”

Savina gaped at him. “You can’t seriously be asking me to not do anything.” Eli nodded and turned away from her. “Eli, come on, he probably goes to my school.” Eli snapped his head to face her. “Enough, Savina.” She flinched and folded her arms over her chest. Eli sighed. “I’m not talking about this with you. Go to school. Don’t worry about it.” Savina gave a worried look before nodding and leaving for school.

...

Savina arrived at school and quickly hopped out of the car that she’d “borrowed” from Eli. It was a 1964 Buick Riviera but still in pretty decent shape.

She took a deep breath before slowly walking into the school. She entered the office and smiled warmly at the elderly secretary. “Can I help you, darling?” Savina almost giggled. “Yes, I’m new. I just moved yesterday and I need to get registered.” The secretary smiled graciously before directing her to a seat outside the principal’s office. “He’ll be with you shortly.” Savina smiled and sat patiently.

After what felt like hours, Savina exited the office and entered the hall. The third hour bell had already rung and she was late to class. She sighed heavily and began the trek to Economics.

She was passing a random classroom when the most intoxicating scent hit her nose. She’d never smelt anything like it before. It was a mix of fresh cinnamon and chocolate chip cookies. She closed her eyes and breathed in the scent. She ambled slightly to the left and stopped when she felt the doorknob. She opened her eyes and looked at the room number. She smiled when it matched her third hour class.

She opened the door and a ruffled looking man with thick auburn hair turned exasperated to her. “What?” She opened her mouth in outrage. “Um, I’m in this class. I just transferred in.” He rolled his eyes and sat up from his place at the edge of his desk, practically ripping her schedule from her hands. “Savina? What is that German?” He looked up at her, honestly curious. She gave him a look of confusion. “It’s Russian. Can I sit down?” He shook his head and gestured to the room, blindly handing back her schedule. “Find an empty seat.”

Savina absently followed the beautiful scent she smelled in the hallway and paused briefly when it matched a handsome boy in the middle of the row. His dark russet hair was cut short in a thick buzz cut. Freckles were scattered across his forehead and neck. He looked up and met her gaze and she felt like time just stopped.

His chocolate brown eyes rooted her to the ground, no to the earth. Her world revolved around this boy, her life, her very essence depended on him. If he died, so would she. If he was in pain, she too would feel it. If he needed her, she would be there. She would kill and be killed for—

A throat cleared at the front of the classroom and she jumped. She scurried to the back of the row and kept her gaze on the back of the boy’s head.

She had to tell Eli.