Fated to a human

Liam POV  

I couldn't help but glance down at our hands, resting together. The matching bracelets on our wrists looked so simple yet perfect, like they were meant to symbolize how flawlessly we fit together. 

 My hand was warm beneath hers, her delicate fingers curled loosely against mine. 

Haylie was fast asleep, her head nestled against my shoulder, her soft breathing steady and soothing. The gentle rise and fall of her chest brought a sense of calm that I never knew I needed. 

"She's a keeper," Ace murmured, his voice echoing in my mind, laced with a contented yawn. 

I leaned down, pressing a tender kiss to Haylie's temple. The scent of her hair was faint but comforting, like daisies and sunlight. "I love her," I admitted quietly, my voice barely above a whisper. Saying it out loud, even just to Ace, felt like the most natural thing in the world. 

This was the life I had always dreamed of—a life filled with love, peace, and someone who truly made me happy. Haylie brought a light into my world that I never wanted to lose. 

The soft hum of the plane's engine buzzed in the background, blending with the faint mummer of Haylie breathing. 

 But in this moment, nothing else mattered. I tightened my hold on her ever so slightly, my heart swelling as I let the quiet joy of her presence wash over me. 

When the plane landed, I gently woke Haylie. She blinked up at me, her eyes heavy with sleep, and mumbled something incoherent, clearly disoriented. It was already eight at night, and as much as I wished the day wouldn't end, I had to take her home—we both had school tomorrow. 

Leading her to the car, I helped her into the passenger seat and buckled her in, her tired frame leaning into the seat as if it might swallow her whole. Her purse and the giant teddy bear she clung to earlier now sat in the backseat, forgotten in her exhaustion. 

With a quiet sigh, I slid into the driver's seat and started the engine. 

My dad had made it very clear that he wanted his car back tonight. This wasn't just any car; it was his prized possession, and he didn't take chances when it came to his collection. 

As I pulled up in front of the red wooden house, I noticed Haylie had fallen asleep again. 

I switched off the engine, turning to look at her. Her head rested against the window, her lips slightly parted, and the soft rise and fall of her chest made my heart ache with tenderness. 

She looked so peaceful, so perfect, and the memory of the day we had shared filled me with a warmth I didn't want to let go of. 

Climbing out of the car, I spotted the front door open, revealing Aunt Camelia standing in the warm glow of the porch light. She smiled knowingly as I opened the passenger door and unbuckled Haylie's seatbelt. 

"Hayls, we're home," I said softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. She mumbled something again, but it was too faint to make out. Smiling, I scooped her into my arms, cradling her against my chest. The door shut behind me with a nudge of my foot. 

Haylie nestled closer to me, her head cozy against my chest, and I couldn't help but marvel at how adorable she looked when she slept. The day had worn her out, and I loved that I had been a part of it. 

As I approached the porch, Aunt Camelia's smile widened, her eyes twinkling with affection as she took in the sight of Haylie fast asleep in my arms. "Something tells me she had one hell of a great day," she said softly, her voice warm and welcoming. 

I grinned, glancing down at the girl in my arms. "We did," I replied, my heart full, as I carried Haylie into the house. 

As I carried Haylie in my arms up the creaking wooden stairs, each step seemed louder in the stillness of the night. 

 The house was quiet, the soft glow of a lamp from the hallway guiding my way. I reached her bedroom and nudged the door open with my shoulder, careful not to disturb her. 

Walking over to her bed, I gently laid her down on the mattress. She instinctively turned onto her side, curling up against the cushion like a child seeking comfort. Smiling softly, I reached over to turn on the bedside lamp, casting a warm light across the room. 

I knelt down to remove her flat shoes, setting them neatly on the floor beside the bed. As I adjusted the blanket over her, she mumbled something unintelligible. My gaze shifted to her face, curious about what she might be dreaming. 

That's when I noticed something unusual. A single strand of her hair caught my eye—it was shorter than the rest, as though it had been cut. 

Frowning, I gently ran my fingers over it. It wasn't like Haylie to do something like this. Had she trimmed it herself? Or was there another reason? 

My thoughts were interrupted by her voice, soft and almost inaudible as she mumbled again in her sleep. "You were right… JC and his brothers are after me," she murmured. 

My heart sank. Her words echoed in my mind, bringing a wave of unease. Who was she talking about? JC? His brothers? Could it be the rogue brothers? 

I stayed there for a moment, frozen by the weight of her words. My protective instincts flared to life, and questions swirled in my mind. What was she afraid of, and why hadn't she told me? 

Leaning in close, I brushed a strand of hair from her face and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "I'll keep you safe," I whispered softly, more to myself than to her. 

As Haylie lay peacefully asleep, unaware of the storm brewing in my thoughts, I vowed to get to the bottom of this. 

Something wasn't right. 

First, there was the strand of cut hair, and then the suspensions of her wearing a summer dress last night and fall asleep in it. That wasn't like her. It was a small detail, but it gnawed at me. Haylie was usually meticulous, and this inconsistency only made my suspicions grow stronger. 

Kneeling next to the bed, I glanced toward her small dustbin. If she'd cut her hair, maybe she'd tossed the strand in there. I quickly rise from my kneeling position and walked up to the dustbin to checked, but it was empty. 

 My eyes drifted back to her, her soft, steady breathing showing no sign of distress in her sleep. 

An uneasy thought crossed my mind. Was there something about the dress she wore last night? My instincts kicked in, and I quietly moved to the corner of the room where her laundry basket rested. 

Lifting the lid, I saw the white summer dress folded on top. I hesitated for a moment before picking it up. 

Bringing the fabric to my nose, I took a deep breath, letting my senses focus. "Ace," I called out to my wolf, his presence stirring in the back of my mind. "Do you smell anything unusual?" 

I took another sniff, concentrating as Ace's heightened senses blended with mine. A low growl rumbled in my head. "There's a scent… rogue. Faint, but definitely rogue." 

My heart sank. Bringing the dress closer, I caught it too—the unmistakable smell of the forest, pine trees, and the faint but distinct musk of a deferent wolf. My grip tightened on the dress as my mind raced. 

I tossed the dress back into the laundry basket, my eyes snapping back to Haylie. She was still curled up, asleep and unaware of my discovery. 

 Leaning against the wall, I raked a hand through my hair. 

"What's going on?" I whispered under my breath, my voice laced with unease. 

The questions came in a relentless wave. Why was there another wolf's scent on her dress? Had she been near a rogue? Was she hiding something from me? My chest tightened with a mix of frustration and fear. 

Ace growled again; his voice sharp in my mind. "That's definitely one of those wolves. You need to find out what's happening, and fast." 

I clenched my fists, trying to steady my breathing. Whatever this was, it couldn't be ignored. If she'd been near a rogue—or worse, if they were after her—I needed answers. And I wouldn't rest until I had them. 

I still need to grab her teddy bear what I won for her and purse in the back seat of the car. Maybe if I got that I would ease my mind little bit. 

As I made my way out of Haylie's room, the creaking wooden stairs groaned beneath my weight. 

The house was quiet, but my thoughts were anything but. Something was wrong—more than just the strange scent on her dress or the strand of cut hair. 

I stepped outside, opening the car's back door to retrieve Haylie's purse and the big teddy bear I'd won for her. 

 As I picked up her purse, a faint buzz caught my attention. It was her phone. The screen lit up briefly, showing a new message. My heart raced, tension tightening in my chest. 

I hesitated, glancing back at the house. Haylie's phone wasn't my business. I trusted her... didn't I? But my instincts screamed at me, warning that something was off. 

Closing the car door quietly, I headed back inside, up the stairs, and into her room. I placed the teddy bear gently beside her, her steady breathing unchanged. But my gaze drifted to the purse in my hand. My inner turmoil grew as I debated what to do. 

"Check it," Ace growled in the back of my mind, his tone laced with urgency. 

I clenched my jaw, trying to ignore the invasive thought. But I couldn't shake the sense that whatever was happening, Haylie wasn't telling me. Finally, with shaky hands, I set her purse down on her desk, unzipped it, and pulled out her phone. 

The lock screen lit up, revealing the wallpaper: a picture of us, arms wrapped around each other, smiling like nothing else in the world mattered. 

 For a brief second, a small, proud smile tugged at my lips. I was her background. We looked happy—perfect. But the moment was short-lived as another message appeared in the corner of the screen. 

My breath hitched. The name hit me like a punch in the gut, echoing the mumble she had uttered in her sleep. My hands grew clammy as I unlocked her phone and opened the message. 

What I found made my stomach drop. 

It wasn't just one message—it was a thread, a series of frantic texts all from JC. Haylie hadn't replied to any of them, but his desperation was clear. 

"Haylie, you need to leave. It's not safe for you there." 

"They won't stop until your blood is on their hands." 

"Please, let me help you. I can get you out of this." 

"My brother wants you dead, and I can't let that happen." 

Each message cut deeper than the last. My chest felt heavy, my pulse pounding in my ears. Then I saw the final message: 

"I love you. You mean everything to me." 

I staggered back, barely able to breathe. My fists clenched so tightly my knuckles ached. 

"A rogue," Ace snarled. His anger mirrored my own. "He's a rogue wolf, and he's after her." 

I swallowed hard, trying to steady myself, but the words on the screen blurred as rage and fear consumed me. 

The audacity of him—to claim he loved her, to involve her in this danger. And why hadn't she told me? 

I turned to look at Haylie, still peacefully asleep, completely unaware of the turmoil unraveling inside me. A mix of emotions battled for dominance: anger, betrayal, fear, and protectiveness. 

"He's not going to hurt her," I whispered, more to myself than to Ace. 

"We won't let him," Ace growled, his voice a low, menacing promise. 

I locked her phone and placed it back in her purse. My hands were still trembling as I zipped it closed. Whatever this was, I needed answers. Haylie needed to tell me everything—about JC, about the rogue threat, and why she hadn't come to me. 

My jaw tightened as I stared down at her, my heart torn between love and frustration. I would protect her, no matter what. But the storm brewing around us wasn't going to wait. 

And neither would I. 

I headed out of the house, the heavy burden of unanswered questions weighing on my mind. The car keys felt cold in my grip as I climbed back into the driver's seat, determined to keep moving. 

First, I needed to return my father's car. It wasn't just about the rules—this car was one of his prized possessions, and I didn't want to add to the tension swirling in my mind by keeping it longer than necessary. 

As I drove through the quiet streets, my thoughts raced faster than the speedometer. 

Who was this man, and how did he get close enough to Haylie for his scent to linger on her dress? The rogue's messages haunted me, each word etched into my mind like a fresh wound. "I love you." That single phrase burned the most, the gall of him to claim such a thing about her. 

By the time I reached home, I was boiling over with determination. After parking the car in the garage, I grabbed my keys and headed inside, my father's usual critique about his car barely registering. 

I mumbled something about the tank being full and hurried to my room, shutting the door behind me. 

I peeled off the more formal clothes I'd worn earlier, tossing them into a corner, and changed into something more casual: jeans, a black hoodie, and sneakers. I wasn't just getting comfortable—I needed to blend in. 

Haylie deserved to know the truth, and I couldn't rest until I had it. Whatever this rogue wanted, I wasn't about to let him get anywhere near her again. 

 Melody POV  

The house was quiet, with nothing but the faint creaks of old wood settling in the stillness. I slipped out of my room, careful not to make a sound. My footsteps were feather-light as I made my way outside, the cool night air brushing against my skin. The tree we'd agreed on stood tall and shadowy, its leaves rustling softly in the breeze. 

JC was already there, pacing nervously. 

His face lit up with worry as I approached, and before I could even speak, he blurted, "Are you sure about this? She hasn't replied to my texts all day." 

I frowned, irritation flickering through me. "JC, we don't have time for this," I snapped, my voice low but firm. "This is our chance. Once we're in Greenland, you can tell her everything—how you feel, why you're doing this. But we need to move now." 

JC hesitated, his jaw tightening. He glanced at the ground before finally giving me a reluctant nod. "Alright," he murmured, his voice heavy with doubt. 

I placed a hand on his shoulder, letting out a deep breath. "Good. Trust me, this will work." I closed my eyes, focusing on the task at hand. Haylie's room filled my mind—its soft glow, the familiar scent of her and her room, the layout I'd memorized. 

 I channeled my magic, the energy pulsing through me as I felt the world shift around us. 

When I opened my eyes, we were standing in Haylie's room. The dim light from the bedside lamp cast a warm, gentle glow, illuminating her peaceful figure on the bed. 

 She was curled on her side, her soft breathing steady and calm. Her black dress hugged her frame, and for a fleeting moment, I found myself admiring her beauty. 

But there was no time for distractions. I turned to JC, who stood frozen, his chest rising and falling with nervous breaths. His face was pale, his hands trembling slightly as he stared at Haylie. 

"Do you remember the plan?" I whispered, my tone sharp enough to snap him out of his daze. 

JC nodded, though the anxiety in his eyes hadn't eased. "Yeah," he whispered back, his voice barely audible. 

"Good," I said, giving him a pointed look. "Let's do this." 

Moving as quietly as we could, we approached the bed. Haylie didn't stir, her face serene in the soft light. JC hesitated for a moment before leaning down, carefully slipping his arms under her. 

He lifted her gently, cradling her against his chest as though she were the most fragile thing in the world. 

She murmured something in her sleep, her head resting against JC's shoulder, but she didn't wake. He held her tightly, his breathing quick and shallow. 

"Relax," I muttered, placing a hand on his shoulder. "We're almost there." 

I closed my eyes again, picturing the old wooden house in Greenland where our family used to live. The image sharpened in my mind—the worn shutters, the uneven porch, the scent of pine trees in the air and the cold of the white snow. 

 My magic surged, and the room around us dissolved. 

When I opened my eyes, we were standing in the dimly lit living room of the old house. The air was colder here, carrying the faint smell of wood and damp earth. JC looked down at Haylie, who was still fast asleep in his arms, and let out a shaky breath. 

"This is it," I said, stepping back to give him space. "You're safe now. She's safe." 

But even as I spoke, a knot of unease twisted in my stomach. Something about this didn't feel right—something I couldn't quite put into words. 

JC nodded, his grip on Haylie tightening. "Thank you," he said softly, his voice laced with a mixture of gratitude and fear. 

I gave him a curt nod, though my mind was already racing. This wasn't over—not yet. Then I use my magic and teleport myself back to Haylie room.