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CHAPTER 4

WILLOW

The day outside was bright and clear, a stark contrast to the ache still twisting in my chest.

"Bye, Cas. I'll call you as soon as we get there, okay?" I murmured, my voice barely steady as I hugged her tightly. I could feel tears threatening, but I swallowed them down, not wanting to make this harder than it already was.

"We'll always talk!" Casey assured me, squeezing me back.

"And if we can't, we'll still message each other as much as we can." She smiled, her own eyes misty, but she kept it together. I forced a small smile, gave her one last wave, and climbed into our SUV, watching her stand there on our front lawn as my dad started to drive away. As I looked out at the neighbourhood, with the familiar streets and houses growing smaller behind us, it felt like I was leaving a piece of myself there, even though I was moving forward.

..........

Lost in my thoughts, I glanced down at my wrist, where the bracelet Leo had given me still glinted. How had I let myself fall for his lies? Anger and hurt churned inside me.

Without thinking, I yanked the bracelet off, leaned out the window, and tossed it, watching it vanish behind us.

It was time to let go, even if it hurt. I couldn't keep dwelling on the way he'd broken my trust. And yet, as I turned back to the car, a familiar emptiness washed over me.

"Hey, sweetie, the new house is bigger," Dad's voice came from the front seat, trying to sound cheerful.

I saw him glance back at me in the rearview mirror, worry etched in his eyes. He was doing his best to make me feel better, and I knew he wanted me to be excited about the move. But it was hard to force a smile when everything inside felt raw.

"I never really liked that Leo boy," Dad added after a moment, his tone firmer. "I'm just glad you saw through him before things got any worse." I saw the way his eyes flicked back at me, softened with concern.

My cheeks warmed at his comment. The thought of Dad knowing anything about my relationships was embarrassing enough, but I could feel his worry in every word. Mom reached over and gently patted his shoulder, giving him a silent look that said,

Not now. They both knew Leo's betrayal still weighed on me.

I tried to lighten the mood. "Guess I get dibs on the room with the best view, then?" I said, forcing a little grin.

Dad chuckled, the worry in his eyes softening. "Anything for my Fuzzybottom," he said, making me laugh despite myself. My dad was my rock, my hero, and even though he knew I was hurting, he was trying everything he could to bring some happiness back to this day.

I looked out the window as the familiar landscape faded, reminding myself that, even though this was painful, I wasn't doing it alone. My parents were here, watching out for me, just as they always had. And somehow, with them beside me, I knew I'd be okay again.

I pulled out a book from my backpack, slipped my earphones into my ears and selected "Davy Jones' Music Box with Rainy Mood" on my iPhone. The soft melody mixed with distant rumbles of thunder wrapped around me, setting the perfect mood for reading. I tucked the phone into my pocket, settled into a comfortable position, and flipped open Indiscretions, sinking back into the world of Alpha Woods.

The soft hum of the car and the gentle music in the background lulled me, and my eyes grew heavier with each passing moment.

.........

I lifted my gaze and found him there, my beautiful stranger, his bright blue eyes blazing. My lips parted, my mouth suddenly dry.

"Why do you look so nervous?" his deep voice asked, smooth and soothing. I tilted my head, trying to place the familiarity of his tone, but the recognition eluded me.

"Who are you? Why do I keep seeing you in my dreams?" My voice quivered, barely more than a breath, as the question slipped past my lips for the first time.

"Does it matter?" His response was quiet, but the weight of it struck deep, sending a shiver down my spine. He drew nearer, his hands resting gently on my thighs. The contact sparked a rush of warmth, a thrilling sensation that both comforted and stirred something inside me.

But his face remains a blur... always just out of reach. Why can’t I see him?

In one swift motion, he seized the back of my neck, pulling me into a fierce, heated kiss. His lips claimed mine, rough and unyielding. My hands reached up instinctively, tangling his hair and urging him closer.

His chest pressed into mine, forcing me back into the car seat as he deepened the kiss. Somewhere in the background, a horn blared, but I was too lost in him to notice. His touch ignited a fire within me, and I was consumed by the heat.

He moved his hand from the back of my neck to lightly grip my throat, biting at my bottom lip. I moaned and scraped my nails down his back, making him shiver.

Abruptly, he wrenched away from me. Breathing hard, we stared at one another, the mixture of confusion and lust that he seemed to spark in me making my head spin.

"I've waited for you for so long", he growls, his voice rough and raw, pressing me firmly against the backseat.

His arousal leaves no room for hesitation.

I felt a wave of anticipation as his touch moved from my inner thigh to the soft curve of my breast.

My body quivered, responding to the steady pressure of his hand, the warmth radiating through his touch like a slow burn. I felt the tension in my muscles give way as I surrendered to the sensation, my skin tingling under his gentle caress. A breathless moment passed before I realized the shift—his fingers were replaced by the soft, warm press of his lips. The sensation was electric, sending a ripple of pleasure through my entire body, as though every nerve was awakening to his touch.

"Mine," he rasps, releasing my mouth as he turns me around, pushing me forward, pulling me back to the far edge of the car.

His mouth crashed onto mine, igniting the fire between us as I parted my lips, letting him in.

“Why are you always in my head?” he rasped, his voice thick with frustration, his mouth trailing down to my chest.

He bit and sucked at my nipples, each touch sending shivers of pleasure and pain through me until I couldn’t take it anymore. My hands twisted in his hair, tugging him back up, desperate to end the torment and feel him fully with me.

My body responds instinctively, trembling as he kisses me again.....

..........

"Willow, we're here!" A faint voice broke through my trance. I muttered something incoherent, trying to stay wrapped in my dreamlike state.

"Willow, wake up!" Dad's voice was more insistent now, shaking my shoulder lightly. Groaning, I blinked my eyes open, slowly realizing I was still curled up in the car. Blinking against the sunlight, I straightened, my cheeks heating up when I noticed a group of people standing outside the car, watching me with amused smiles.

The dream felt so vivid... my cheeks flushed just thinking about it. I hope I didn’t moan out loud…

My eyes landed on a tall blond guy with an easy smirk, leaning on an axe he had slung over his shoulder. He looked like something straight out of a fairy tale - a rugged huntsman type - and I had to keep myself from rolling my eyes at the budding crush my mind was ready to form. I'd always been more of a Beauty-and-the-Beast girl, anyway.

Pulling my focus back, I quickly tucked my iPhone and book into my bag, trying to act casual as I climbed out of the SUV.

"Oh, she's even more lovely in person!" an older woman with bright red hair exclaimed warmly. I gave her a shy smile, noticing that Blondie still hadn't taken his eyes off me.

"Welcome, dear!" The red-haired woman stepped forward with a warm smile.

"I'm Jane, and this is my son, Alex," she gestured toward the blond guy with the axe, who raised an eyebrow at me.

"And my husband, Hugh." She pointed to a kind-looking man standing beside her.

"We live just next door. And these two," she continued, pointing to an older couple nearby, "are Mary and Grant. Their son, Matthew, is a good friend of Alex's."

I gave them all a bright smile, letting my nerves settle as I took each hand offered, giving a shy but firm handshake.

"It's nice to meet you all," I said warmly. "I'm excited to be here."

My gaze flickered over to Alex, who still wore that smirk, and I gave him a quick, awkward wave, trying not to overthink it.

As my parents and our new neighbours continued chatting, I felt a spark of excitement building. I wasn't sure what awaited me here, but for the first time since the move began, it felt like a good thing.

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