I listen as her Jeep leaves the driveway and get up. I head to the kitchen and make myself another cup of coffee to wake me up. I head back to her room and sit down. My eyes wander around her room, so I decide to scan her bookshelf, hoping to find a good book to read. I come across an old leather book and pull it out. I flip through the pages and realise it's her diary. I put it back, not wanting to invade her privacy, and head back to her bed.

I lay back and look up at the ceiling. I wonder what secrets and memories are hidden within the pages of her diary. I feel guilty for even considering reading it, but my curiosity gets the best of me. I get up, reach for the diary, and open it, scanning the book to the most recent dates.

July 3rd

Dear diary

Today I met a boy, and I couldn't help but wonder if he had noticed me. He had a charming smile, and his eyes sparkled when he spoke, making me feel nervous yet intrigued at the same time. He left me gasping for air. As he walked away, I couldn't resist turning around to catch one last glimpse of him.

I flip the page and continue reading.

July 17th

Dear diary

It's been two weeks, and I still can't shake the thought of him, which terrifies me because I've never felt anything like this before. This bet between us is driving me insane, I don't know if I should just give in and tell him how I feel or continue to play along with this game. It's like my heart and mind are constantly at war with each other.

You know me better than anyone else on this entire planet does.

So diary I'll confide in you. I just wish I could find a way to make my heart and mind work together instead of against each other. It's exhausting, and I feel like I'm constantly battling myself.

As I continue reading, my heart swells. I never knew she felt this way from the beginning. I feel horrible reading this, but I need to know more. I can't believe she kept all of this inside for so long. I flip to the next page.

August 18th

Dear diary

Today, when I woke up, the boy was walking by, and I believed he was smiling at me. I wonder if he is aware of what is going on inside my head. I tried to smile at him, but I could hardly breathe. Today Laura and her new boy toy are having a party at our place, and I'm not sure if I can handle watching girls all over this boy. As I got ready for the party, I tried to shake off my feelings and put on a brave face, but deep down, I knew it was going to be a long night.

Should I be honest with him about how I feel, or will that make him go away?

Tell me what to do, please, and tell me what to say,

I flip the page and realise it's the last entry she wrote.

August 19

Dear diary

One little brush of his hand and the feeling of his breath against my skin made me tremble. The way his lips brushed against mine made me feel like I was on top of the world, but at the same time, I couldn't help but wonder if it was all just a game to him.

Our night together will be one I will always remember. I remember how he smiled, and it made me breathless. However, as the sun rose and reality set in, I couldn't shake off the feeling that he was just another player in a game I didn't want to be a part of. The memory of his touch lingers, but so does the uncertainty of his intentions.

Nevertheless, I cannot wait until the next time I see that boy.

And here I am, believing in the ability of my heart to soar.

Dear Diary, What are your thoughts on the possibility of us becoming more than just friends?

Something tells me we'll become more than just friends. I've been feeling this way for a while now, and I can't help but wonder if he feels the same.

I close the diary and put it back where I found it. I lay back in her bed and think of her words. I know the night I met her that she was the one and according to her, she felt the same. I know Levi did some damage to her; maybe that's why Star couldn't open up to me. Either way, I'll never let her know I read what she wrote. I turn the TV on and search through Netflix as I wait for her to come back.

☾

I must have fallen asleep as I wake to the smell of food filling the air. I get up and head to the kitchen.

I see Star dancing in the kitchen to the music on low as she cooks. Her movements are graceful and fluid, as if she's lost in the rhythm of the music. It's a beautiful sight to witness.

"What are you cooking?" I ask her as I come up from behind and kiss her cheek. She turns around with a smile and replies, "I'm making your favourite dish, spaghetti carbonara. I thought it would be a nice surprise for dinner tonight."

"Mmm, smells delicious." I watch as she finishes preparing it and then help her plate it. She takes a seat, and I take two wine glasses and pour some for both of us. As we start eating, I can't help but notice how the flavours complement each other perfectly. I tell her how much I appreciate her effort and how amazing everything tastes. She smiles and tells me that she's glad I like it and that she enjoys cooking and experimenting with new recipes. We continue to talk and eat together, savouring every bite and sip of wine.

She collects our dishes and tells me she will head to bed after she finishes cleaning up. I nod and head to her room. I strip down to my boxers and lay down. I can hear the music playing, and I smile. I get up and watch from the hall; I can't help but approach her. I put my hands on her waist, and I kiss her neck.

"Gage," she says softly. My body presses against hers, and my hands trail to the front of her shorts.

My fingers find her sensitive spot, and she moves forward, gripping the counter ledge. She moans softly as I continue to kiss her neck, and I can feel her body shiver with pleasure under my touch. I slowly pull her shorts down, kissing her back as I remove her panties. I move my way back up and continue kissing her neck as my hands explore her body, tracing the curves of her hips and thighs. She arches her back, pressing herself against me, and I know that she wants more.

She turns around, pressing her lips against mine. I can feel her desire, and I deepen the kiss, running my fingers through her hair and pulling her closer to me. I lift her onto the counter, pulling her legs closer to me. She tugs at my boxers, and I pull them down. Her legs wrap around my waist as I press closer to her. As I enter her, her soft moans fill my ears, and I feel her nails dig into my back as I move in and out of her. Our bodies move together in perfect harmony, building towards a powerful climax. As we both reach our peak, we collapse into each other's arms, breathing heavily and sweating. I kiss her forehead and whisper, "I love you."

Noise from outside grabs my attention. I grab her clothes and tell her to get dressed quickly. As Ace and Laura walk in, I'm drying the dishes as Star continues to wash.

"Dude, did you look at the schedule?" Ace asks me. I shake my head no, "We play the Lakewood Lycans in three weeks." I snap my head at him. "Are you serious? I thought we got them banned?"

"Apparently, they're back." The Lakewood Lycans are a pack from four towns over. We've been rivals for decades. We ran them out of town when they tried to take over our territory. Their constant attempts to encroach on our territory have caused us to develop a fierce animosity towards them, and we will not hesitate to defend our turf if they ever try to come back. The rivalry between us has become a part of our identity, and we take great pride in protecting our land. Our determination to keep them at bay has only grown stronger over the years.

"Earth to Gage!" Star waves her hand in front of my face.

"Sorry, I was lost in thought."

"Who are they?" She asks.

I look at Ace and say, "They are our rival hockey team; they like to play dirty."

"There's a simple solution to that." Laura says.

"And what's that?" I ask.

"You play extra dirty," Star adds.

"Damn, you girls are ruthless." Ace admits, and I nod in agreement. Star smiles, and her eyes light up. I grab hold of her and kiss her cheek.

☾

As the night progresses, we all head to our rooms. Star crawls into bed, and I climb in after I shut the lights off. I hold her close and whisper, "All I want to do is hold you." She snuggles up to me and begins to drift into a deep sleep. I lay there and watch as she sleeps. My mind is racing with thoughts about the Lakewood Pack. Their Alpha Zion and I have our own issues. Zion and I have been at each other's throats since I got him and his family kicked out of our pack. Making them lone wolves. How they found their way to a new one and were welcomed in blows my mind. But then again, Lakewood is known for being ruthless predators who don't care for anyone but themselves. I guess it's not surprising that Zion and his family found a new pack in Lakewood, given their reputation.

Our number one rule is that we don't kill for sport, only for transformation, and when Zion went against that law with our pack, I had no choice but to let the elders know. Everyone in our pack has killed, either to complete transformation or to protect our own. I'm the product of a true wolf who turned a human into one of us. Same with Ace, Keenan, and Kai.

I'm nothing like Zion; I earned my position as Alpha by protecting us, not by killing innocent humans for fun. The pack respects me for that, and I will continue to lead with honour and integrity. We may be wolves, but we still have a moral code to follow.

I look at Star, and I begin to feel uneasy, as I know Zion will do what he can to have her, all to spite me. I wish I could just keep her here in my arms and freeze time forever.

I pull her closer, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, and whisper, "I will always protect you." I kiss her cheek and finally drift off into a deep sleep.

☾

As I wake up the next morning, I realise that those words were not just a promise but a commitment that I will keep for the rest of my life. Her arms wrap around my waist, and she smiles. "Morning,"

"Morning, my love." I kiss her on the crown of her head. I look at Star and ask, "What the hell?" as music blares throughout the home.

"2000's dance party." She smiles and gets up. Throwing on her sports bra and cotton shorts and running out. I get up, slip on my sweats, and follow.

I walk out to the living room and see Ace sitting on the couch as the girls dance to the music. I take a seat, and my eyes lock on Star as she moves.

Damn, she's got moves. The thought runs through my mind as I lick my lips.

The next song comes on, and the girls begin to laugh as they try to remember the moves to the song. I can't help but feel envious of their carefree attitude as I watch them dance.

"I've got the best outfit for this," Star says as she runs back to her room.

Minutes pass, and as the next song comes on, she walks out. She wears low rise jeans and a white tank top that shows her stomach, and her hair flows down her shoulders, topped with a fedora. She distinctly embodies the early 2000s. I smile as she walks toward us. I sit back, and I can't believe how good her ass looks in those jeans.

She dances toward me and takes my hand. I shake my head, and she pouts. I get up and follow her lead. I hear Ace grunt as Laura takes his hand. My body grinds against hers, and I whisper, "You know I like it when you dance for me." Her hands come up and wrap around my neck as I move closer to her. My hand on her stomach as we dance.

She turns around and faces me, my hand on her lower back as we continue to move. "I told you, you can dance," she smiles.

"Yeah, like this. Not what you can do." I tell her.

"I can change that." She kisses me, and I feel the fire in me intensify. I grab her by the waist and pull her closer, feeling her body press against mine.

The day is filled with laughter echoing through the house as we all get lost and enjoy the moment between us all. We spend the rest of the day talking, laughing, and making memories that will last a lifetime. At this moment, I'm grateful for having these three in my life at a time that could end badly.