Katelyn's POV
Jason glares at it like it's a loaded gun. Me? I'm staring at it like it's a rare jewel.
The antidote. There's plenty of it. This could be how I get back home.
Jason takes a slow breath. "I won't."
I slowly lift my hand. "Um, Mister...Andrew? Is it possible... That I could use one of the antidotes?"
Andrew's eyes slightly narrowed. Jason lets out a short, confused whimper.
I look away, avoiding both their gazes. "I... I really want to go home...um, back to my family."
Jason's POV
Something in my chest tightens.
I stare at Katelyn, my ears twitching as I process what she just said. She wants to go home. Back to her family.
Back to the humans.
Andrew doesn't answer right away. Instead, he watches Katelyn carefully, his icy blue eyes unreadable. "You understand what that means, don't you?"
Katelyn nods slowly, still not looking at me. "Yes."
Andrew glances at me briefly before speaking again. "The antidote doesn't just take away your wolf form, Katelyn. It takes everything. Your strength, your senses, your healing. Once it's in your system, there's no going back."
Katelyn swallows but nods again. "I know."
I feel my throat tighten. "Katie—"
"I have to, Jason." She finally looks at me, her green eyes filled with something I can't place. Regret? Guilt? Determination? Maybe all three. "I miss them. My family. My old life."
I take a step back, my tail stiff. "So that's it? You'd just give all this up? Give me up?"
Her eyes widen. "Jason, that's not what I—"
I shake my head. My mind is racing, my heart pounding. "Forget it." I turn away, my claws digging into my palms. "Do whatever you want."
Andrew exhales. "The choice is yours, Katelyn. But it's not one to make lightly."
I don't look back. I don't want to. Because if I do, I might say something I'll regret.
Instead, I storm out of the room, and run away. Away, out of the house, my chest burning with something I refuse to name.
Running through the forest, barking at other packs...being...in love? Was it all just in my head?
The cold night air bites at my skin as I lay on the ground, but I barely feel it. My ears twitch at the distant sounds of the forest—rustling leaves, chirping insects, the occasional hoot of an owl.
It should be comforting. The wilderness has always been my home.
But right now? It just feels... empty.
I let out a shaky breath, running a hand through my hair. Was I stupid to think Katelyn would stay? That she'd want to?
I know she misses her family. I get it. But the thought of her just... walking away, leaving this life behind, leaving me behind—
I dig my claws into the dirt.
No. I don't care. It's her choice. She can do whatever she wants.
…Then why does it feel like my chest is being ripped apart?
I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to push the feeling away.
I shouldn't care this much.
I can't care this much.
Katelyn's POV
"I'm assuming it worked because I need my glasses again," I muttered.
"As a matter of fact, it did," said Stephanie. "Now if you will go with Veronica, she will help you get cleaned up while I get you an escort."
I feel a small hand take mine. "Come on! I have lots of outfits and makeup that will make you look so pretty!"
This might be fun. I haven't done make overs in a long while.
"Okay, now sit down," Veronica woofs. "There's a bench behind you."
I feel around behind me before sitting down on the bench.
Veronica's POV
I tap my foot lightly on the rug, looking at the rack of clothes. "Hmm..."
I scan the clothes with a critical eye. "We need something that says elegant but also fun. Something that'll make you look as fabulous as possible!" I beam, already imagining the perfect outfit in my head.
I hold up a sleek, midnight blue dress. "This one! It'll match your eyes and give you that classy vibe. You'll look like royalty."
"I'm going back to the city not a ball," Katelyn says with a small smile.
...Right.
Katelyn's POV
I squint my eyes, trying to see, well, anything. But it's hard without my glasses.
"Ya know, it's a little sad that you decided to leave Jason," Veronica says.
I scoff. "He was reckless and destructive and...and...very evil!"
"Oooh! You're blushing!" Veronica giggles.
I scoff again. "No I'm not!"
"You totally are. Admit it, you wanted to stay with him."
I cross my arms, trying to ignore the fluttering in my chest at Veronica's teasing. "I didn't want to stay with him. He was... just too much. Always getting into trouble, acting like the world owed him something."
Veronica's eyes gleam with mischief as she steps closer, holding up a shimmering gold top in front of me. "Right. So you're telling me you didn't enjoy any of it? The danger? The adrenaline? The... complicated moments with him?"
I can feel my cheeks warm at the thought. "It wasn't about that, Veronica. It was just... he was... too intense. I didn't fit into that world. I wanted something more normal."
Veronica nods knowingly, holding up the gold top next to my face, her tone softer now. "I get it. But deep down, you liked being needed, right? Like he was always looking out for you, even when you didn't ask."
I open my mouth to deny it but pause. My thoughts are all over the place, and Veronica isn't wrong. Jason... he always acted like he'd protect me, no matter what. And I couldn't deny that I liked that feeling. But it came with too much chaos. Too much unpredictability.
"I don't know," I mutter finally, rubbing my temples. "Maybe I'm just... confused."
Veronica sets the top down and takes my hand again. "Well, you don't have to figure it out right this minute. Let's focus on making you look fabulous! You need something to distract you from all the drama. Trust me, a killer outfit will do wonders for your mood."