Werewolf

Katelyn’s POV
The sun filtered softly through the curtains of my new room. The silence was so gentle here, not the kind that suffocates but the kind that asks you to breathe a little deeper. I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at my opened suitcase. Every item I folded felt like a memory sealed. A pair of jeans I had worn when Rachel and I stayed up gossiping all night. The sweater I had on when Cayden first kissed me. I tucked each into place with robotic precision, but my mind was a blur of emotion.
So much had changed, so fast. I was still trying to process it, this sudden, earth-shattering shift from one life into another. Few days ago, I didn’t know who I truly belonged to. And now? Now I was the daughter of a billionaire couple with private jets, villas, and priceless art. They were kind. Loving. Overwhelming, yes, but sincere.
“Maybe I just need time,” I whispered to myself. “Tim

Katelyn’s POV
It had been a month since Cayden’s sentencing. A whole month since I’d walked out of that courtroom with my heart in pieces, tucked neatly inside my chest like it didn’t hurt to carry. And yet, it did. It still did.
Some mornings, I’d wake up thinking about the way he looked at me one last time. Some nights, I’d hear his voice in my dreams. But life, as it always does, kept moving. And I moved with it, because standing still wasn’t an option.
At breakfast, I sat quietly across from my father in the grand dining room, the clinking of cutlery the only sound between us until he finally spoke.
“Katelyn,” he began gently, setting his fork down, “have you thought about what you’d like to do next?”
I looked up from my barely touched plate. “I think I’ve rested enough. I want to get back to work.”
His brows lifted slightly, like he’d been expecting a different answer. “You don’t need to rush. If you’d prefer, we could arrange a world tour. First class. Servants. Your every comfort attended to. Or maybe a peaceful retreat on the island? Remember the one by the coast? It’s yours. Fully equipped. Quiet. Just you and the ocean breeze.”
I smiled faintly. “It sounds beautiful, but I’m not really in the mood for solitude.”
He nodded thoughtfully, sipping his coffee. “Then perhaps a company of your own? I could transfer a publicly listed one to your name. You wouldn’t have to do anything unless you wanted to. Or,” he added with a playful glint in his eyes, “I can just give you a monthly allowance of a hundred thousand. No strings attached. You could wake up every morning and do absolutely nothing if that’s what you wanted.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “You’re making it very hard to say no.”
He leaned forward slightly, sincerity radiating from his expression. “Katelyn, if you want stars, I’ll pluck them from the sky. I just want you happy.”
And just like that, I felt my throat tighten. My heart, still so fragile from everything, swelled with something I hadn’t truly felt in years, belonging. For the first time, I was being cherished, not tolerated. My eyes stung, but I blinked away the tears.
“I do have one request,” he said, more seriously this time. “I’ve already taken steps regarding Lucas’s custody. If you want him with you, just say the word. He can come back whenever you’re ready.”
My breath caught. Lucas.
“I want him by my side more than anything,” I whispered. “But… I’ll respect his wishes. I want him to choose, freely.”
My father nodded. “That’s very mature of you.”
“As for work,” I added, “I think I’d like to return to the magazine. It’s where I started. I want to feel grounded again.”
He didn’t even hesitate. “Then that’s exactly what you’ll do.”
—
That morning, I stepped into the magazine office, and nostalgia hit me like a warm wave. The coffee-scented air. The quiet clicking of keyboards. The hum of creativity. It felt like I was reclaiming a piece of myself.
“Katelyn?” Rachel’s voice rang out from down the hall.
I turned just in time to be enveloped in a tight hug.
“Oh my God,” she pulled back to look at me. “You look like a goddess. What happened to you?”
I chuckled. “I found out I’m the long-lost daughter of a billionaire family. Casual.”
Her eyes widened. “Wait… what?!”
I laughed harder. “I’m serious.”
She blinked, then burst out laughing too. “So you escaped the nightmare family and landed in a fairy tale. That’s… I don’t even have words.”
I smiled, heart warming at her joy. “It’s been overwhelming. But I’m okay. I think I’m really okay.”
Rachel grew quiet for a moment, then said softly, “You deserve it. After everything you’ve been through.”
We walked to the break room together, where she pulled out her tablet and showed me a few sketches.
“I’ve been working on something,” she said. “I want to start a software company. But I’m short on funds… and honestly, I didn’t know who to trust until now.”
I looked at her. “I’ll invest.”
Her eyes widened. “Katelyn, you don’t have to”
“I want to. I believe in you.”
Tears sprang to her eyes as she hugged me again. “Then you’re officially a shareholder.”
She grinned. “And I want you on board. Tech support. You once told me you were a decent hacker in college, remember?”
“I was bored and curious,” I admitted. “Not exactly elite.”
“Still better than anyone I’ve interviewed,” she replied confidently. “With your brains and backing, we can really make this happen.”
A soft knock interrupted us.
“Hey,” Rachel turned, “I want you to meet someone.”
The man who entered was quiet, tall, with kind brown eyes and a quiet energy that seemed to settle the room. My breath caught.
“Matthew?”
He looked up, surprised. “Katelyn?”
“You two know each other?” Rachel blinked.
“I met him years ago,” I said. “He was living on the street. I gave him food, blankets. I always wondered what happened to you.”
“I never forgot,” Matthew said quietly. “You saved my life. I live right across from you now.”
Rachel smiled. “He’s been helping with some designs. His personality’s calm. Thoughtful. You two actually balance each other really well.”
I studied him. “I used to worry that someone quiet wouldn’t survive out there.”
Matthew shrugged. “Life’s quieter now. I’ve learned to adapt.”
Rachel clapped her hands. “Then it’s settled. The three of us—we’re a team now. Let’s help each other, make progress together. Agreed?”
“Agreed,” I said, and Matthew nodded too.
“Let’s go celebrate. Lunch’s on me.”
—
The meal was warm and easy, full of laughter and quiet understanding. For the first time in a while, I felt like I was sitting among people who didn’t expect me to be anyone but myself. Rachel teased Matthew about his quietness, Matthew replied with a crooked smile, and I just listened, my heart lighter than it had been in weeks.
Afterward, Matthew helped me carry some files and shopping bags back to my car. His hands brushed mine once, accidentally, and I flinched, not out of discomfort, but out of habit. He didn’t comment on it. Just held the bag steady and smiled softly.
“Rachel’s energy is something else,” I said with a chuckle.
“She’s a hurricane,” he replied. “But the good kind.”
We laughed, the sound natural, not forced. And I didn’t notice the figure watching us until we crossed the street.
Allen.
He stood stiffly on the sidewalk, his jaw tight, arms folded, his eyes following Matthew’s hand as he passed me another bag.
For a brief second, our eyes met.
I didn’t flinch. I didn’t smile either. I just looked right through him.
I didn’t owe him anything. Not explanations. Not kindness. Not even acknowledgment.
Matthew noticed the shift in my expression and glanced back over his shoulder.
“Friend of yours?” he asked casually.
I snorted. “Hardly.”
We loaded the bags in the trunk, and I thanked him again. “You didn’t have to carry everything.”
He shrugged. “I don’t mind. You once gave me food when I had nothing. This is the least I can do.”
Those words softened me. I looked at him, really looked—and for the first time, I saw a man who had grown through the hardship, not just survived it.
A few minutes later, as I slid into the driver’s seat, my phone vibrated against the center console. I frowned when I saw the name.
Ethan.
I let it ring once. Twice. I almost didn’t answer.
But I did.
“What?” I said, sharper than I intended.
His voice came out tense. “Where are you?”
I let out a soft breath, my voice even. “Is there something you need?”
“Katelyn，I think it would be better if you come here in person.”
“I don’t want to get into this right now,” I said gently, cutting him off. “If you just called to check on me, maybe we can talk another time.”
I paused, then added more quietly, “Some things are none of your business anymore.”
“It is now,” he replied, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Something in his voice made me pause. Urgency. Not anger.
I sat up straighter. “What’s going on?”
“Be at my mom’s house within thirty minutes,” he said, firm.
I blinked, my heartbeat quickening. “Excuse me?”
There was a long silence. Then his voice came through, this time softer, but heavier.
“Because Lucas has a persistent fever, and the situation is very serious.”

Katelyn’s POV
The scent of roasted coffee beans and freshly baked pastries wafted through the grand villa, mingling with the subtle floral fragrance that seemed to live in every hallway. I sat on a silk-cushioned chair, surrounded by polished marble and gentle morning sunlight filtering through high arched windows.
Jimson had insisted I help myself to the desserts on the silver tray. Chocolate tarts, lemon pastries, and a towering fruit platter glistened invitingly. I hesitated at first, unsure if it was truly meant for me, but Nancy nodded warmly.
“Eat, sweetheart. This is your home now,” she said, placing a soft hand on my shoulder.
I picked up a delicate coffee cup from the table and took a small sip. My eyes widened almost immediately.
“This…” I blinked in surprise. “This is Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee.”
Jimson looked impressed. “You know your coffee?”
I nodded. “It’s grown at high

Katelyn’s POV
The sun filtered softly through the curtains of my new room. The silence was so gentle here, not the kind that suffocates but the kind that asks you to breathe a little deeper. I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at my opened suitcase. Every item I folded felt like a memory sealed. A pair of jeans I had worn when Rachel and I stayed up gossiping all night. The sweater I had on when Cayden first kissed me. I tucked each into place with robotic precision, but my mind was a blur of emotion.
So much had changed, so fast. I was still trying to process it, this sudden, earth-shattering shift from one life into another. Few days ago, I didn’t know who I truly belonged to. And now? Now I was the daughter of a billionaire couple with private jets, villas, and priceless art. They were kind. Loving. Overwhelming, yes, but sincere.
“Maybe I just need time,” I whispered to myself. “Time to stop flinching at kindness. Time to believe this version of my life is real.”
I thought maybe I

Chapter 60 Some Goodbyes Hurt