Chapter 1
Astrid
I still can’t believe that Crystal and I are finally making our dream come true. The sound of the heavy rain beating against the taxi windows is wonderful, almost hypnotic. The rain makes everything look damn gorgeous as my best friend and I find ourselves with our faces practically pressed against the glass of the car. We watch the city stream past, veiled in water, lost in our own thoughts.
London has always been our ultimate goal, our ideal haven ever since we were just two little girls with heads full of hope. But for me, there’s something more. I feel a deep, inexplicable connection to this place, particularly to the Loughton area. It’s a visceral feeling, a quiet voice in my chest repeating that it’s right here that I’ll find all the answers I’m looking for—the answers I desperately need to figure out who I really am and where I come from.
I was adopted as a newborn by a wonderful Italian family. I never knew my biological parents; the only inheritance they left me was a silver chain with a crescent moon pendant. A mysterious object that I’ve never taken off my neck. When I turned eighteen, my adoptive parents looked me in the eyes with far-too-serious expressions and explicitly asked me never to remove it for any reason in the world. And I, trusting their instincts and that strange electricity I feel every time the stone grazes my skin, followed their advice.
I steal a quick glance at Crystal beside me. Her light eyes reflect the glow of the streetlights. I squeeze her hand for a second, immediately knowing she’s feeling the same rush of adrenaline as me. This trip represents our rebirth: a clean slate, far from the ghosts of the past and especially from the oppressive shadow of my ex-boyfriend, who still haunts my nightmares to this day.
As soon as the taxi slows down and pulls over to the side of the road, we get out. We pay the driver, retrieve our heavy luggage from the trunk, and head toward the building that will house our new apartment, located right on the edge of the dense vegetation of Epping Forest.
As we approach the front door with our suitcases in tow, a sudden chill shoots down my spine. It’s a genuine electric shock, accompanied by the distinct, suffocating sensation of being watched. On instinct, I freeze in my tracks and turn toward the treeline. Between the dark branches and the thin mist of the forest, I manage to make out two golden lights: two yellow, magnetic, feline eyes staring intensely at me in the dark. A cold shiver of terror makes my legs tremble, yet I can’t tear my gaze away, completely paralyzed.
Crystal
Slipping the key into the lock of our new home is one of the most liberating feelings of my life. Hearing the deadbolt turn means only one thing: we made it. We made it out, leaving behind that toxic atmosphere, the fears, and that miserable shadow of Astrid’s ex who tried in every possible way to ruin our lives.
I push the door open and step into the entryway, dragging my largest suitcase, ready to let out a shout of joy to celebrate our arrival. I turn back to make sure Astrid is right behind me, but the door is wide open and the landing outside is empty.
"Astrid?" I call out, letting go of the suitcase handle and taking a couple of steps back toward the outside.
She’s still planted out there, just a few feet from the walkway. She isn’t even trying to shield herself from the rain soaking her hair. She’s completely motionless, stiff as a statue, her gaze wide and locked onto the dark expanse of Epping Forest. She has an almost lost expression, as if she’s slipped into some kind of trance.
A strange prickle of unease tickles my skin. That forest has always given me a bit of anxiety because of how imposing it is, but the sight of my best friend hypnotized in the dark sets off my internal alarm. I pick up my pace and walk over to her, waving a hand in front of her eyes to break whatever is holding her.
"Astrid, are you okay? What’s wrong?" I ask, instinctively turning my head toward the trees to see what she’s looking at. But in the thick dark between the branches, I see only mist and dancing shadows beneath the rain.
She gasps, letting out a ragged breath as if she’s just resurfaced from holding her breath underwater. She snaps her aqua-green eyes back to me, trying to mask the tension with a slightly trembling smile.
"Nothing... I'm okay," she mumbles, wrapping her jacket tighter around herself. "I just had this weird feeling that someone was watching us from the forest."
"It was probably just a wild animal, or the exhaustion from the trip playing tricks on you," I reassure her, throwing an arm around her shoulders to gently guide her inside. "C'mon, let’s get inside before we catch pneumonia, so we can drop off our bags, unpack our rooms, and go grab some groceries. I’m already starving! My stomach is literally screaming for food!
I see her throw one last nervous glance over her shoulder before stepping across the threshold, but eventually she lets herself be pulled inside. As soon as I lock the door and the sound of the rain becomes muffled, the weight of the last few months seems to crash down on me all at once. I turn to her and pull her into a tight embrace, without thinking twice.
"We did it, Astrid! We’re actually here. Our dream is finally coming true," I whisper, feeling a prick of emotion sting my eyes.
"Yeah, Cry, finally," she answers, squeezing me back with all the strength she has. "We can take back control of our lives and leave all the bad stuff behind."
After breaking apart, we grab our luggage and head to our respective rooms. My room is stunning, but I don’t even have time to unpack before my stomach starts growling violently. I change quickly into dry clothes and go downstairs to wait for her in the hall so we can head to the supermarket.
When Astrid comes downstairs, her face is still a little pale, but her determination is back. We go grocery shopping, cook, and finally enjoy our first quiet dinner together.
"Goodnight, Cry," Astrid tells me later in the hallway, planting a kiss on my cheek before retiring to her room.
"Goodnight to you, Asty. See you tomorrow!" I reply with a warm smile. But as I enter my room and slip under the covers, I can’t help but think back to the look she had in front of those woods. There’s something about this town that already seems to be calling us by name, and I don’t know whether I should be thrilled or scared to death. I lie in bed listening to the quiet rustle of the leaves outside my window, unable to shake off a strange feeling of anticipation. Tomorrow is our first day at the University of Essex, a completely new chapter for both of us. Deep down, I know that Loughton has a lot of secrets waiting to be uncovered, but for tonight, I just want to rest and believe that everything will be okay.
Jacob
Concealed within the shadow of the pine trees at the edge of Epping Forest, I hold my position without making the slightest sound. In my wolf form, my senses are amplified to the max: the scent of wet earth, the pitter-patter of rain, and the rapid thumping of human hearts.
I can’t tear my eyes away from the two girls who just got out of the taxi. One of them... there’s something about her that steals my breath away. It’s as if I’ve known her forever, as if my very blood recognizes her presence. I can’t see her face clearly from this distance, but I know for a fact that she’s noticed me: she froze in her tracks and locked her eyes straight in my direction, sensing my presence before even seeing me.
The other girl—the blonde who comes out onto the doorstep and shakes her to bring her inside—emanates an intoxicating, warm scent that vibrates through both the human and animal sides of me, tempting me on instinct to take a step forward. But I know that showing myself now, in this form, would only end up scaring them to death.
I decide it’s best to pull back and lose my tracks among the trees before raising unnecessary suspicions. I only wait long enough for them to cross the threshold and get their bags inside safely.
I need to head straight to the villa. I have to warn Kieran and figure out our next move, because I have a strong feeling these two new arrivals are going to change everything.
