Chapter 2

OLIVE

We roll into the driveway of our quaint stone cottage. It’s charming, almost like something out of a fairytale. I can almost see Snow White inside, singing and sweeping with her animal friends.

I half expect that if I start singing, a few forest critters might show up to help me with the housework.

~If only that were true!~

Large, individual stones create a path from the driveway to the cottage. There are flower boxes under the windows and empty flower beds below them.

~Mom will love that. She’s always had a green thumb.~

Mom opens the door and lets me in first. I take a moment to soak in our new home.

The cottage has wooden beams across the ceilings, solid wood floors, and stylish paneled walls. The decor is simple and neutral, and the furniture that's included is nice.

Even if it is a bit basic.

I know Mom will be excited to start decorating. I don’t see the point, though. We’ll be moving on in six months to a year.

Just wait until my classmates catch my scent and we’ll be packing up and leaving under the cover of darkness again!

But Mom has always tried to make each of our temporary homes feel like a real home, no matter how short our stay.

I help Mom carry our boxes and suitcases inside. I take my suitcase and boxes up to my room and survey my new space.

~There’s potential here,~ I think to myself.

I have a brass metal-framed double bed and a built-in wardrobe. The ceiling has the same wooden beams and there’s a charming round window overlooking the front garden.

It’s a shame, really. I could have made this place feel like home.

I start unpacking my clothes. It doesn’t take long because I don’t have much. We always travel light, given our nomadic lifestyle.

Once I’ve finished unpacking my few personal belongings, I go and help Mom.

When we’re done, we both collapse on the sofa with a sigh. “I think we’ve earned some takeout!” Mom declares. “What are you in the mood for?”

I ponder for a moment. “Hmm, how about…Chinese?”

Mom makes the call and places our order. About forty-five minutes later, we’re sitting on the sofa, devouring our food while binge-watching ~Bridgerton~, our current obsession.

~Moon Goddess, if you’re listening, can my mate be the Duke of Hastings?~ I silently pray.

Many hours later, we decide to call it a night.

I say goodnight and start heading up to bed when Mom calls up the stairs, “Oh, Livi, I forgot to mention. I got you enrolled at the local college. You start on Wednesday!”

“But that’s in two days?!”

“I know you’re not a fan of school, but try to focus on your studies. And who knows, maybe this time you’ll make a friend?”

I scoff. “Doubtful, Mom. I’m a freak, remember? And besides, why do I need friends when I have you?” I say, batting my eyelashes.

“Okay, okay. You flatterer, get to bed!” Mom laughs.

***

The next morning, I wake up around nine thirty. I’m eager to do some exploring, maybe even find a part-time job.

I hop in the shower for a quick rinse. After drying off, I pull on my skinny jeans—which fit my curvy butt just right—a plain black T-shirt, and my old-school Vans.

I brush my hair, which is mostly straight with a few waves, and brush my teeth before applying some light makeup.

I bound downstairs, ready for an adventure. I greet Mom, grab a bowl of cereal, and eat quickly.

“I’m going to head out and take a look around,” I tell her as I kiss her goodbye. “I’ll be back before dinner. Love you, bye!”

Before Mom can even respond, I’m out the door. I don’t really have a plan, I’m just excited to explore.

One of the perks of moving packs so often is that I get to see so much of the country. I always find it interesting to see how other packs live.

Some live in bustling cities, some have their communities hidden under the mountains in a kind of large, luxury den.

This pack, however, is in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by towering trees and breathtaking nature.

These types of packs are my favorite. I love to let Raven run whenever I get the chance. The dense trees help me avoid being seen by others.

But for now, Raven will have to wait until I get my bearings.

I decide to explore the town first and look for a part-time job while I’m at it. There are a few shops I can check out.

I start with a small clothing boutique. The woman behind the counter has her hair in a bun. I can tell the moment she catches my scent.

Her face changes from a welcoming smile to a sour expression.

She tells me she has no openings while hastily removing the Help Wanted sign from the counter.

I try a few more shops with no luck—until I come across a corner coffee shop.

It’s cozy inside. Leather sofas and armchairs fill the shop, and one wall is completely covered with rows of books.

I approach the counter and see a man. He’s probably in his late twenties, not bad looking, and has a friendly face.

He has sandy blond hair tied up in a top knot. He’s wearing a white T-shirt and baggy jeans with a dark-green apron over the top.

I feel a wave of relief knowing he’s less likely to turn me away because of my scent.

“Hello!” I say, perhaps a bit too cheerfully. “Do you have any weekend work available at the moment?”

The man looks me over and a smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. “As a matter of fact, I do. Do you have any experience?”

“I’ve waited tables before at a small diner in my last pack, and I’m good with people.” I stretch the truth on the second part.

“What’s your name, and when can you start?” He smiles.

“My name’s Olive. Can I start this weekend?”

“Absolutely, Olive! The shop opens at eight. Be here at seven forty-five so we can prep for the day. Oh, and I’m Danny, the owner.”

“Thanks a lot, Danny! I’ll be on time. See you then!” I practically dance out of the shop, thrilled with my productive morning.

Next on my to-do list is to explore the nearby forest. I set off on a trail, surrounded by lavender.

I breathe in the potent scent as I stroll.

I’ve been on this trail for about an hour. The birds are chirping, and I can hear a woodpecker somewhere in the distance.

Suddenly, I catch a glimpse of something moving in my peripheral vision. It looks like…a person, maybe? I scan the area again but see nothing.

Curiosity piqued, I head in the direction of the movement.

There’s nothing there. But, despite my better judgment, I leave the trail and continue walking. A few minutes later, I spot it again.

The figure looks almost shimmery and translucent, yet it seems to be in the shape of a human. It vanishes again before my eyes.

~Did you see that, Raven?~

~Yeah, I did… Doesn’t smell like a wolf, and it sure doesn’t look like one!~

~Then what could it be? I doubt it’s a human this far out here, and I can see THROUGH it.~

~It’s not human. I don’t know what it is, but I want to find out,~ she yips excitedly.

~It smelled sweet, like…honey, with a hint of something tropical?~

That only makes me more curious. Wolves have strong, earthy scents, so this thing definitely isn’t a wolf.

Once again, the shimmery figure appears further ahead and is gone again before I can blink.

I keep following the creature deeper into the forest, determined to find out what it is.

Eventually, the scent leads me to a cave, which stinks of bat droppings. I can hear water dripping from the stalactites. I follow the scent deeper into the cave.

The cave narrows and darkens. After tripping over stalagmites a few times, I partially shift so I can use Raven’s sight to navigate the darkness.

My vibrant-green eyes cut through the pitch black. I twist and turn through the cave corridors and even crawl through a hole in the cave.

After a few more minutes, I start to see light filtering in.

I follow the light out into the most stunning clearing. Cherry blossom trees encircle a small spring filled with the clearest water I’ve ever seen.

The grass is dotted with bluebells and other wildflowers. The sun rays are shining directly onto the lake. It looks magical.

I think I’ve just found my new favorite spot. I sit on the grass and lie back, soaking up the sun’s warmth on my skin, almost completely forgetting about the creature I was tracking.

I start to relax and close my eyes. I can feel myself starting to drift off to sleep, lulled by the warmth of the sun, the birds singing in the trees, and the gentle sounds of the spring water.

Suddenly, I sit up, ears pricked. I hear rustling and leaves crunching to my right.

I look over to see the strange shimmery shape emerging from the trees. As the figure gets closer, it becomes less translucent.

Before I know it, a beautiful young girl, probably about my age, steps into view. Her skin is pale but it has a healthy glow to it.

Her platinum hair is long and flowing. She has beautiful, almost angelic features. Her eyes are a captivating lilac color. She’s wearing a long, flowing white gown and her feet are bare.

I sniff the air. Honey with tropical undertones.

~That’s what we saw in the forest. What is she?~ Raven asks.

~I have no idea, but I’ve never smelled anything like her before. Maybe she’s Fae?~

“How did you find me?” she asks in a sweet, calm voice.

“I, um…followed you and your scent?”

“My scent? How? What are you?” She takes a cautious step forward, eyes curious.

I feel like I should be uneasy, but something deep down tells me she means no harm. She looks too innocent to hurt a fly, let alone me.

“I’m a werewolf,” I reply.

She shakes her head and smiles slightly. “No, silly! You’re much more than that!” She giggles.

Her statement catches me off guard. “Wh-what do you mean?”

“Werewolves can’t scent my kind. We’ve lived out here for hundreds of years without a single wolf finding us. Yet here you are,” she chirps.

“And what exactly are you?” I ask.

She takes another step forward and smiles. She closes her eyes and looks up to the sky with her arms slightly out, palms facing up.

Her platinum hair transforms into lush leaves, a flower crown forms on her head. Her ears grow into points, almost leaf-shaped, and her skin turns a pale green color.

Goosebumps rise on my skin. My eyes widen as a mix of nerves and excitement wash over me. I don’t understand…

I haven’t heard of anyone seeing her kind in over two hundred years. Why can I see her when they’ve remained hidden for so long? We thought they had all but gone extinct.

~Raven…are you seeing this?~

~Uhhhhhhhhhh…~ Even Raven is speechless, and that’s saying something.

Finally, I find my voice. “You’re a-a...a nymph.”