Chapter 1
*FREYA*
Freya got out of bed and headed towards the bathroom. She stopped before the bathroom mirror to look at her reflection. As usual, her eyes were puffy from crying herself to sleep.
She brushed her teeth, washed her face, and applied makeup—just enough to hide her puffy eyes.
When Freya arrived in the dining room, her mom sat in her boyfriend's lap, Jack, at the dining table. She giggled as Jack kissed her on the neck, playfully going down to her bosom.
Freya rolled her eyes, disgusted at the sight, and walked past them into the kitchen before Jack, whom she despised, could say anything to her.
Freya stopped liking any of the men her mother dated after realizing they were all the same. Heartbreakers. They treat her mother well until they eventually grow tired of her, leaving her, as usual, to deal with her tears and broken heart.
Pouring herself a bowl of chocolate cereal and milk, Freya returned to her room. That's how she spent her summer: hiding in her room while she ate and read werewolf romances about good men who never cheated on their mates.
If only humans mated like wolves. She wouldn't be so depressed by her mother's miserable love life, Freya thought. She wouldn't be so terrified to fall in love, and her mother would have been content with her fated mate.
Loud laughter from downstairs made Freya get up and slam the door. She couldn't wait for summer to end so she could go back to school; school was an escape for her. To avoid having to cope with her mother and her men. Unfortunately, school resumes in two weeks.
Freya placed the empty bowl on her bedside table and lay in bed. As she turned to the next page of her book, she laughed at the female lead character.
Suddenly, she heard a yell from her mother downstairs. She tossed the book aside, dashing from her room.
Freya was surprised when she got downstairs to see Jack lifting her mother by her waist in the air and spinning her around happily.
Jack noticed her; he put her mother down, and her mother ran towards her.
"Honey, Jack has asked me to accompany him while he works!" her mother said excitedly.
"I'm sorry, but you will not be completing your senior year at Castle High. You'll be staying with your grandmother and great-aunt."
"What!" The news shocked Freya.
She was so dumbfounded by the news. She stood in place as if she were rooted to the ground while she watched her mother run back to Jack and kiss him.
Freya thought angrily that there was no way her mother would drop her off in a new town while traveling with her boyfriend.
"Mom, you can't do this to me." Freya protested. "You can't let me transfer to a new high school when I'm almost finished with Castle High."
"Jack, please give my daughter and me some time alone," her mother said to her boyfriend.
Freya stared at Jack angrily until he was out of sight.
Her mother tried to take her by the hand, but she pulled her hand away from her touch.
They both went to sit around the dinner table.
"I know, honey, that this is a big change for you right now, but I have to do it because I love Jack," said Freya's mother.
"He's no better than your exes; he'll soon get bored with you as well," Freya lashed out.
Freya was more surprised at her comment than her mom. Although she felt that way about every male she'd dated, she never wished to say it to her face.
"I'm sorry, Mom. I didn't mean to say that; I'm only trying to protect you," Freya apologized.
"I'm the mother, and you're the daughter; it's not your responsibility to protect me. It's my responsibility to protect you," her mom said and got up, walking away, distraught.
Freya wept.