Chapter 1 Betrayed.

LEAH's POV.

Every girl looked forward to her 18th birthday.

It's supposed to be the night of your coming of age, a night that marked one's transition into adulthood, and most times, there was usually a big party but I knew better than to expect that.

Today I turned 18 and the day went by like any other day. 

But there was a party tonight, only not mine. It was the night of the school formal and I was only excited for one thing. Ethan had promised to finally introduce me as his girlfriend to the hockey team and the rest of the school. 

We'd been seeing each other for a couple of months but he decided to keep things private. Although, my patience started to grow thin, he insisted on saving the announcement for a special night. "I promise you baby, I'll show you to the world soon." He said. 

Today was finally that day. I would get to walk out in the arms of the most popular guy on campus. Ethan was every girl's dream, star hockey player with a stellar academic record. I couldn't believe how lucky I was to have caught his eye.

I changed into my party outfit and looked in the mirror. I wore light makeup and the sexiest black dress in my wardrobe. My life was going to change tonight and finally, I could be more than just the awkward girl on campus.

I grabbed my purse and walked down the stairs but the stench of booze soon hit me in my face and I turned around to find my father lying drunk across the couch. I heaved a sigh, clearing away the bottles and tossing him a blanket. I hadn't even gotten a happy birthday from him—I would be surprised if he even remembered. 

He spent most days blackout drunk and incapacitated, I started to wonder how long until his liver gave out. It had been just two of us since my mother died when I was young so even though he wasn't the perfect example of what a father should be, I still didn't want to lose him. 

When I was sure he was okay, I finally left for the party.

The drive to school was short and the cab arrived in the parking lot filled with students. I took one last look in the mirror, reapplying my red lipstick and adjusting my hair before I walked out. The hallway was packed, everyone was divided into sets and cliques and I scanned the crowd for Ethan but he was nowhere to be found.

Even though I saw the rest of the hockey team in a section of the court dressed in fancy black tuxedos, Ethan wasn't there. It was the first time that night my stomach tied into a knot. 

Where was he?

"Hey! Happy birthday!" I felt a hand tap my shoulder and I turned around to see Hazel. "Hi, how are you?" I greeted. 

"You look gorgeous," Her eyes adored my dress. 

Hazel was my roommate when I briefly stayed on campus the year before my father got sick and I had to move back home. We'd clicked immediately and had been best friends ever since alongside our other roommate Julia. It was usually just the three of us.

They were sort of my only friends.

"Thank you," I beamed. "Where's Julia?" I looked around and Hazel shrugged her shoulders. 

"I don't know, she just disappeared after a while," She said.

"Have you had something to drink?" She asked, handing me a glass of whatever was in it. I looked her dead in the eyes and knew she wasn't about to take no for an answer so I downed the glass in a jiffy, feeling lightheaded quickly.

"I have to find Julia," I said to Hazel before excusing myself but the actual person I was looking for was Ethan. But of course, Hazel had no idea about both of us. No one did. 

The strobing lights flashed in my eyes as I weaved my way through the crowd. I pulled out my phone to call him but his line wasn't going through. Finally, I made my way upstairs where it was a lot quieter and I could only hear the whispers of students who had been sneaking around in the dark fucking.

"Shhh...Someone's coming," A voice whispered. 

A voice that sounded awfully familiar and when I turned around, I met the shock of my life. "Ethan!" I exclaimed, my phone crashing to the ground.

He was against the wall with Julia's arms around him. She pulled away from him once she saw me and it was like my whole world shattered beneath my feet. 

My boyfriend kissing my best friend. I couldn't believe it!

"What the fuck?" My voice broke and tears filled my eyes. 

"I can explain, Leah..." Ethan inched closer to me but I stepped backwards. My heart pounded in my chest and my ears rang. It was like a sharp knife of betrayal pierced through me. I stormed out of the door and made my way downstairs, walking back out through the crowd. My eyes were blurry and my legs were weak but I didn't care. 

All I wanted was to get away from here so I just kept walking. I strutted down the parking lot and into the woods. The winds crashed into my face as I broke down in tears. My life was supposed to change tonight but somehow it had only gotten worse.

So much for my 18th birthday, I scoffed. This was a day I looked forward to since I was a little girl but it had been ruined. Everything was ruined.

Finally, I halted once I realized how far I'd gotten and I was in the middle of nowhere. My lungs burned and the tears had dried to my cheeks. The woods blurred around me, branches clawing at my dress, causing me to almost trip.

"Seriously?" I muttered frustratedly under my breath before turning around. I tried to find my way home but I was lost. The school was a far distance from here and so was my house.

"Of course this happens to me." I muttered with a nervous laugh. Then suddenly, I heard the sound of a twig snap and then another. Followed by a low growl that rolled through the forest. 

The laughter died in my throat immediately and my heart stuttered. 

Two amber eyes emerged from the darkness and a creature appeared in front of me. It was a wolf—with its gray coat bristling as it stalked towards me. I had heard the tales of the town growing up, about how Ashwood was the home to supernaturals and humans like me but this was the first time I ever came face to face with one.

My heart jumped into my throat as I started to run. I kicked my feet through the grasses and my lungs burned for air. 

I risked a look over my shoulder and that was when it launched in my direction. I let out a scream as its weight slammed into me, sending both of us crashing to the ground. Sharp claws ripped through the sleeve of my dress as its jaws snapped inches from my face.

I shoved against it with every ounce of strength I had but it barely budged. I felt my chest tighten. This wasn't how I was supposed to die—not on my 18th birthday. I squeezed my eyes shut then suddenly the wolf reared back and a black blur crashed into it.

The force sent both wolves tumbling across the clearing as I stumbled to my feet, taking my dress in one hand and running down the opposite direction as fast as I could until my face crashed into something solid and in front of me was a man, breathing hard.

I stumbled backwards as he stretched his arms towards me, taking off his black hoodie which had a tear at the back. My heart shuddered as recognition hit me almost immediately. 

"Hardin West." His name escaped my lips. 

Ashwood Wolves' hockey star captain and every girl's dream—just like his younger brother, Ethan. 

His dark curly hair fell over his eyes and the resemblance was almost uncanny. His gaze swept over me, lingering on the tear in my dress before settling on my face.

"What are you doing out here?" He asked, his voice low and when I looked over my shoulder, Hardin pulled me towards him before I even had a chance to respond. 

I froze. His breath sent a shiver down my spine.

"We need to get out of here."