Fated to a human

Liam POV  

I walked until my legs gave out beneath me, finding myself on the hill where Haylie and I had spent that one unforgettable night. Sitting there now, the memories wrapped around me like a fragile cocoon, offering a small but meaningful comfort. This place held her essence—her laughter, her touch, her warmth—and in some unexplainable way, it felt as if she was still near. 

The breeze whispered against my skin as I sank onto the rocks at the edge of the cliff. Below, the town sprawled out in quiet simplicity, its distant lights flickering like fireflies. 

"It's okay, Liam," my wolf's voice echoed in the back of my mind, a deep, resonant solace. "I feel your pain too." 

I closed my eyes and drew in a long, shuddering breath, trying to ground myself in the moment. The emptiness was a gnawing ache, a wound that time seemed powerless to heal. 

"I'd give anything to have her here," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the wind. As the thought of her laughter filled my mind, it almost felt real, as though she might appear beside me with that radiant smile I longed to see again. 

But it was just the memory. And memories, no matter how vivid, were only echoes of what was lost. 

With my strength finally restored, I knew it was time to head toward the mountains. The thought of what lay ahead churned in my mind. I wondered if JC had made progress in his promise to bring her back. The way he spoke that day—so full of confidence, almost reckless assurance—still echoed in my ears. 

I didn't trust him. I couldn't. But if he truly had a way to return the woman I loved, what choice did I have but to take the risk? 

As I tilted my head toward the sky, the sun hung high above, its warmth spreading like a soft blanket across the earth. It felt almost cruel, this beauty in a world so fractured. 

"I have to find you," I whispered, the words catching in my throat. 

Drawing a deep breath. JC's tracks would still be fresh enough for me to follow, his scent would still be lingering on the paths he took. " Ace would you be able to find JC " I asked my wolf while sitting on the rocks. 

"I could try , that rogue wolf would not despaired that easy " say my wolf. 

But before I could haunt him down, I had another obstacle to face—my father. He needed to know the truth about Haylie. They were still searching for her, clinging to hope that they might find some trace. If they hadn't uncovered anything yet, I would have no choice but to reveal what I knew. 

Time wasn't on my side. I clenched my fists, determination hardening in my chest. I rise from sitting on the rocks and then start to took off . I have to found my father and then he would help me to track Haylie down. 

As I returned to the house, I sent a mind link to my father to find out where he was. 

"I'm at the office, son," came his quick response. 

Wasting no time, I headed straight there, my steps quick and purposeful. The door to the office slid open before I even reached it, and I stepped inside to find my father seated behind his desk, a deep frown etched across his sharp features. 

"What's wrong?" he asked, his voice steady but tinged with concern. 

I hadn't said a word yet, but he could already see the worry in my eyes. 

Taking a seat in one of the wooden chairs in front of his desk, I let out a shaky breath. The hardness of the chair beneath me matched the weight of the moment pressing down on my shoulders. 

"I may know where Haylie is," I said, my voice firm but laden with emotion. 

My father shifted in his chair, his eyes narrowing as he leaned forward. 

"Do you know where JC took her?" he asked, his tone sharp with urgency. 

I swallowed hard, the truth feeling heavy on my tongue. 

"Before he left with Haylie, he told me he was taking her to the mountains. He said he had a plan to bring her back," I explained, my voice faltering slightly. 

My father's eyes snapped to mine, sharp and probing, before he let out a long, irritated sigh. 

"He's probably taken her to the Spirit Wolves in the mountains," he said, his voice low but filled with conviction. 

I straightened in my chair, my back arching as his words sank in. 

"Spirit Wolves?" I repeated, the name unfamiliar yet heavy with meaning. 

He gave me a slight nod before rising from his chair. With measured steps, he walked to the window and stood there, gazing out as though searching for something far beyond the horizon. 

"The Spirit Wolves are hidden deep within the mountains. Their village is invisible to anyone who doesn't know them personally," he began, his tone grave. "Only if they trust you will they reveal themselves. No one else has ever seen them, nor can they." 

The weight of his words settled heavily in the room. A shiver ran through me as I imagined the task ahead. The Spirit Wolves—hidden, secretive, and seemingly untouchable—held the key to finding Haylie. 

I looked at my father, standing by the window, the worry etched deep into his furrowed brows. His gaze shifted to me, heavy with resignation. 

"If JC took her there, then I'm afraid there's no way we can find them," he said, his voice weighed down with defeat. 

His words struck me like a blade to the heart, shattering it into a thousand pieces. I pushed myself up from the chair, my hands trembling with determination. 

"I don't care if she's hidden," I said, my voice rising with defiance. "I'll go. I'll search for her myself, and I'll bring her back home." 

The thought clawed at my mind—Haylie might still be out there, and she might not even be with JC. I couldn't sit idly by. 

My father turned to face me, his expression both stern and pleading. 

"Son, let our pack's tracking team search for her. They're skilled, trained to use their wolf instincts to track people down. If there's any trace of her, they'll find it and report back to me," he urged. 

I inhaled deeply, the weight of his words pressing against my chest. Exhaling slowly, I tried to calm the storm raging inside me. But no words came. My throat tightened, and I felt the burn of tears welling in my eyes. The walls of the office seemed to close in, suffocating me. 

Without a word, I turned on my heel and strode out of the room. I needed air—space to think and breathe before the overwhelming emotions consumed me. 

JC POV  

As I sat on the rocks, the faint sound of water lapping in the background filled the stillness. I waited for Klinton to return, the minutes stretching into what felt like hours. It had been at least four hours now since he disappeared beneath the surface, and the wait was agonizing. 

The water finally rippled, breaking the stillness, and I shot to my feet, my heart pounding. My eyes locked on the surface as Klinton emerged, swimming toward the shore. But there was no sign of Haylie. 

I swallowed hard, my chest tightening with uncertainty. I stepped closer to the edge of the water, scanning for any trace of her. Last I knew, Klinton had taken her beneath the waves. Did this mean she had come back to life? Could she be on her way back, swimming toward us now? 

As Klinton reached the shallows, I couldn't hold back any longer. 

"Where is Haylie?" I demanded, my voice trembling with desperation. 

Klinton looked at me, his expression troubled. 

"I don't know," he said, his voice heavy with confusion. "She was in my arms one moment, but then she disappeared. When I came back up, she was gone." 

He swam closer to the shore, pulling himself onto the ground. 

"I thought she might've surfaced somewhere else, but she wasn't there," he added, shaking his head. 

Frustration bubbled over as I ran a hand through my hair. 

"This is insane. Where is she?" I asked, my voice rising as I paced the edge of the water. 

Klinton exhaled deeply, his gaze meeting mine. 

"If she's not here, it means the spirits took her," he said solemnly. 

The words hit me like a blow, and I stared at him, struggling to process. 

"What does that mean?" I asked, my voice a mix of anger and worry. "Where did they take her?" 

Klinton let out another heavy sigh, his face shadowed with regret. 

"It means that if she's going to return, it will be in her own time and on her own terms. Only she can find her way back now," he said, his tone somber. 

I clenched my fists, staring out at the water as my mind raced. The spirits had her—whatever that meant. But I couldn't just stand here and do nothing.