Unwritten Mates

My parents had finally announced it—the new Inn was ready. It was supposed to be great news, a fresh start, but all I felt was dread sinking into my chest like concrete. Moving meant leaving behind this place and, worse, seeing Ethan less often. For the past several days, we'd been nearly inseparable, sneaking kisses and walking hand in hand as though we were some picture-perfect couple. It was all so new to me—my first real relationship. I had no idea what I was doing, and I wasn't shy about saying it.

Ethan found it amusing. "Just go with the flow," he always said, grinning like it was the simplest thing in the world. And honestly, I'd been doing just that. Every kiss, every touch felt like uncharted territory. We'd sneak off to my room or disappear into the forest, where he had this thing for pinning me against the rough bark of a tree. As weird as it sounds, it sent shivers down my spine every time. It wasn't just his lips—it was the way his hands lingered on my waist, hovering like he was holding himself back. And maybe that's why I craved more. He was always a gentleman, never crossing the line. But, God, did I want him to.

Tonight was my last night here. Ethan was inside, helping my parents move furniture and get things ready for the new place. I tried to tell him it wasn't necessary—we didn't need perfect rooms for one night. But, as usual, he ignored me. So with nothing better to do, I wandered out into the garden one last time.

The garden had become my safe space, the first real home I'd had since moving here. The air was thick with the scent of wildflowers, and the fading sunlight painted everything in soft gold. As I strolled through the familiar paths, something flickered in my peripheral vision. A flash of movement—quick, dark, and too fast to be a regular animal.

I froze. My heart raced, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. The forest beyond the garden was getting darker by the second, shadows stretching like clawed fingers. I squinted into the gloom, my mind racing back to that strange figure I'd seen weeks ago. Was it real? Or just my imagination?

Then, through the thick trees, two bright red eyes pierced the darkness. My breath caught in my throat. My legs felt glued to the ground. I wanted to run but couldn't.

A massive brown and black wolf stepped out of the shadows, and I exhaled sharply.

"Lycan," I whispered, relief flooding through me. "Jeez, you scared the crap out of me."

His tail wagged, ears lowered in what almost looked like an apology. Despite his enormous size—his head nearly reaching my chest—there was something about Lycan that always made me feel safe. As he approached, I stroked his thick fur, and he responded with a warm lick to my hand.

"Wanna go for a walk?" I asked with a grin. "I'll be limping the whole way with this boot, but you can protect me from all the scary stuff out there."

Lycan fell into step beside me as we wandered into the woods. The air grew cooler, and the sounds of crickets and rustling leaves filled the silence. I found myself talking to him, spilling all the thoughts I'd been bottling up—about my parents, Ethan, the move. Lycan's ears twitched like he was actually listening, and honestly, I didn't care how crazy it looked. Talking to a wolf felt more natural than talking to most people.

The deeper we went, the darker it became. The distant sounds of the Inn faded, replaced by the eerie stillness of the forest. But with Lycan beside me, I wasn't afraid.

Until I heard it.

A low, guttural growl.

I froze. Lycan immediately stepped in front of me, his massive body tense, hackles raised. His growl rumbled through the air like a warning.

My pulse skyrocketed. I scanned the trees, but the shadows were impenetrable. "What is it?" I whispered, my voice shaking.

Lycan's growl deepened, his eyes darting from tree to tree. Every instinct screamed at me to run, but my feet wouldn't budge. The forest was too quiet—like even the crickets had gone silent.

Then, just as suddenly as it started, the growling stopped. Lycan let out a low huff, his body relaxing slightly, but he stayed alert.

"Let's go back," I whispered, not waiting for a response. My ankle throbbed, and my nerves were shot.

Lycan nudged my hand, guiding me back toward the Inn. Every step felt like an eternity. I couldn't shake the feeling that something—or someone—was watching us.

When the Inn finally came into view, I sighed in relief. "You're a lifesaver, Lycan," I muttered, giving him a grateful smile.

He responded by licking my cheek, making me giggle. For such a huge wolf, he sure acted like a puppy sometimes.

Just as we reached the porch, the front door burst open. Ethan came rushing out, his face a mix of relief and anger.

"Where the hell have you been?" he demanded, jogging toward me. Without warning, he pulled me into a deep, desperate kiss. My heart stuttered, and for a moment, everything else faded away.

When he finally pulled back, his eyes were wild. "I've been looking everywhere for you!"

I shrugged, trying to play it cool. "I went for a walk with Lycan. No big deal."

Ethan's gaze flickered to the wolf, and for a split second, his expression changed. Something dark and unreadable flashed across his face.

Before I could ask what was wrong, Lycan let out a deep, deadly growl.

I frowned. "Whoa, what's going on?"

Lycan's eyes were locked on Ethan, his lips drawn back to reveal sharp, glistening teeth. His entire body was coiled like a spring, ready to attack.

"Lycan, stop," I said, my voice shaky.

But it was too late.

With a savage snarl, Lycan lunged at Ethan. Time seemed to slow as the massive wolf slammed into him, knocking him to the ground. Ethan hit the dirt with a grunt, his eyes wide with shock.

I screamed, my hands flying to my mouth. "Lycan, no!"

The wolf's teeth snapped inches from Ethan's throat, and a feral growl ripped through the air. Ethan struggled beneath him, his muscles straining as he tried to push Lycan off.

"Stop!" I begged, tears streaming down my face.

Ethan's eyes flickered—and for a brief, horrifying moment, they glowed golden.

My breath caught in my throat. "What the hell?"