Ashlyn’s POV

I should have been asleep after retrieving my bag. After a fifteen-hour drive, I should have been dead to the world, drooling into the pillow on my princess-sized bed. But all I could think about was him.

The mystery boy from across the hall.

Who was he? If he was Walter’s son, why hadn’t my mom mentioned him? Why weren’t there portraits of him lining the hallways like there were of Walter? It didn’t add up.

Every few minutes I found myself leaving my bed, creeping to the door, and pressing my ear against it hoping to hear the creak of his door or even the sound of his footsteps. Sometimes I even opened it hoping to magically see him again. But he never came out.

The mystery was killing me. I was so desperate to know who he was. Then, I heard the sound I had been praying for: the creak of a bedroom door and the sound of footsteps in the hall.

I rushed to the door and twisted the knob slowly, praying it wouldn’t squeal. It was him. And this time, he looked at me. His eyes actually locked with mine.

My heart pounded furiously, racing at over 120 beats per minute. And before I could talk myself out of it, I stepped into the hall fully so he could see me.

“Are you the new maid?” His voice was throaty, the kind that could make tears fall in between any girl's thighs. But his words were a total buzzkill. A maid? Seriously?

I blinked, caught between outrage and disbelief while he tilted his head, waiting for an answer.

“No, I’m—” I started.

But he cut me off. “The new chef, then?”

I let out a nervous laugh. “No. I’m Walter’s girlfriend’s daughter.” I said before he could cut me off again.

His expression changed. “Oh,” he murmured. “You’re Ashlyn. My new stepsister.”

My brow furrowed. “Stepsister?” This was Walter’s son? And most importantly, I was going to be his stepsister??

“They didn’t tell you? They’re getting married.” His tone was flat and resigned. Like the way someone sounds when they’ve already accepted a fate they can’t change.

After hearing that, my heart should’ve shattered right there in the hall. But the truth was, there wasn’t anything left to break. My mother had already broken it hours ago when she’d told me she was moving us here, when she chose Walter over Dad’s memory.

I went numb, and he noticed. I could see it in his eyes. For a second, his voice softened. “You should go to bed.”

And then he was gone.

By morning, I convinced myself it had been a dream. It had to be. Dreams had a way of slipping into reality when you were tired enough, and I was exhausted. The way he looked at me, the way he said the word “stepsister”, maybe it was just my subconscious tormenting me.

Because when we crossed paths at breakfast, sitting opposite each other at the long table, he didn’t even glance nor acknowledge me at all.

I told myself not to care. To focus on the real enemy sitting beside me: my mother.

The breakfast table was set for four, but it might as well have been a funeral because the silence was suffocating.

Walter broke it first.

“Noah," he said, turning to him, "I don't know if you've had the pleasure of meeting my girlfriend's daughter, Ashlyn."

Noah. So that was his name.

Noah didn’t even hesitate. “No, Dad, I haven’t.”

Liar. It was that same throaty voice I heard last night. Last night had to be real. He’d spoken to me. Looked at me. Told me the truth my mother hadn’t. But now he sat there, lying. Was last night truly a dream, then? Was I going crazy?

Walter continued obliviously with a smile. "Well, Noah, meet Ashlyn. Ashlyn, meet Noah."

The awkwardness intensified. I stared at him, waiting for a smirk or anything that would acknowledge the truth. But Noah kept his mask in place.

Mom leaned forward and plastered on a sugary smile. “Umm, Noah darling, I never got to talk to you last night after your dad introduced me. You seemed really busy with training or something.”

I nearly gagged. Noah darling? My mother was horrible in her best attempt at sweet stepmother mode.

Noah barely looked up. “Yeah. What about it?”

“I was talking to your dad about your school,” she said. “Is there any opening for seniors?”

“Yeah. Senior year doesn’t start until Monday.”

Mom clapped her hands together with delight. “Wonderful! That means Ash won’t have to catch up on anything.”

She turned towards me, smiling like she’d just gifted me the world. I didn’t smile back and her smile faltered.

Walter tried to rescue my mom by changing the topic. He cleared his throat and began. “This morning I’ll be taking your mom, and you, Ashlyn to the council hall. As you know, this town belongs to the werewolves, and I’m the Beta. It’s only right that I register you both as part of the pack.”

I knew the rules. Registration wasn’t that simple. Even back in Brittlefalls, everyone knew the procedures for these packs. We were taught all about it.

So, I tilted my head, feigning confusion. “I’m sorry, but to be considered permanent residents of this pack, don’t we need to have lived here for at least twelve months?”

Walter’s eyes shifted to my mom. “Well, yes, but—”

“But we just got here,” I cut in. “Or are you trying to bypass that law by marrying my mom? You’re not, are you?”

Walter’s mouth opened, but Mom was faster. “He’s the Beta,” she snapped. “He can bypass any law, okay, Ashlyn?”

That was a bold-faced lie. I knew better. A Beta was still bound by the council’s laws. She wasn't just my mother anymore; she was a liar, too.

I got up from the table. “Have fun, both of you.” I said, then I left.

I ran upstairs, slammed my bedroom door, and let the tears fall. They were falling uncontrollably, pooling on the locket around my neck. It was in that moment I wished my dad were here.

Then, a soft knock came at my bedroom door. I sniffled and wiped furiously at my face. “Go away, Mom!”

The knock came again.

“I said go away!”

But it didn’t stop. It was persistent and annoying. I stormed across the room with fury and yanked the door open, ready to scream. “I said—”

I froze. It wasn’t Mom. It was Noah.

“Can I?” He asked gently.

I stepped aside without answering. He sat on the edge of the bed, leaving plenty of space between us. I sat too, fixing my gaze on the floor. I couldn’t look at him.

“I just don’t get it,” I said finally. “My dad was supposed to be irreplaceable. When you love someone, when you choose them, even when death do you part, that’s supposed to be forever. First my mom opened her heart to your dad, became his girlfriend, dragged me here to live with it. And now she’s marrying him. No offense, but… what the fuck?”

Noah leaned against the pillars of the four poster bed. “I understand,” he said quietly. “But I want you to understand there’s nothing you can do about it. You can only accept it.”

I finally looked up at him. “So you’ve accepted it?”

He stood abruptly. "I have to go."

He was leaving, evading my question. I felt stupid for thinking I could be vulnerable and honest with him. I barely knew him, and so did he.

But as soon as he reached for the doorknob, I called out quietly, “Noah.”

He paused with his back to me.

A question I needed answers to had been on my mind. I swallowed hard. “Why did you lie when your dad asked if you’d met me?”

His back stayed to me. “Why do you care?”

“I wanted to know if I was crazy. If last night was real or not. Was it?”

He glanced over his shoulder. “Why would you think it was a dream?”

I stood now with frustration. “Can you stop answering my questions with questions?”

He scoffed. “Nice meeting you, Ashlyn.”

And then, he left.

Deep down, I knew it wasn't a dream. And even if it was, was I crazy if I said I wouldn't want to wake up?