TWISTED FATES BOOK 1: THE FIRST TWIST by Jacklyn Rogers (read after TXT) 📕

plummeted. The bloodstained pavement came into view, mocking me. The smell of peppermint and white chocolate mixed with the coppery smell of blood wafted into my nose.

Bile formed in my mouth.

It was Devon's blood.

Oh, God. I didn't even know how to find him and see if he's even OK.

Out of the shadows, I saw his Beta, Michael, quickly stride towards me. He donned a stern face as he clenched his jaw upon his approach.

"I can't say I know what the fuck is going on, but Devon told me that I needed to bring you to him."

"He's alive?"

"Yeah, Dev was lucky he fell when he was still in his stronger wolf form; otherwise, he wouldn't have made it. Aiden took him to one of our nearby Pack Hospitals, and Dev said that he needed you to come with me. Not gonna lie; I'm not too keen on bringing you, considering I don't trust vamps. But since there seems to be some weird shit going on between the two of you, I figured I'd trust his judgment since he is my Alpha and all." Michael shrugged his shoulders while running his fingers through his messy light brown locks as he motioned me to join him.

"Thank you." That was all I could reply.

I needed to see Devon and make sure he was really doing fine.

**********************************************************

Michael brought me to a small clinic a couple of miles away from the hotel. To look at it, no one could have guessed that this was, in actuality, a small hospital dedicated to werewolves. It seems that this place was masquerading in the human populous' eyes as a veterinary clinic. I could smell the mixture of antiseptics and disinfectants amalgamated with lupine scents all over the area.

I scrunched my nose as we made our way down the stark white tiled corridors until we reached Devon's room.

Michael opened the door and looked at me, questioningly as if to determine whether I would enter. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself, and nodded to him, indicating that I was ready to follow him into the dimly lit room.

The moment I walked in, Devon's scent encircled me with its warm comfort. I warily approached the small hospital bed that barely seemed big enough to hold his athletic frame. There were machines to the side of his bed that were monitoring his heart as well as his vitals, and an IV drip had been inserted into his veins. Devon appeared to be sleeping.

Once I was close enough, I slowly reached my hand over towards his hair. I felt the urge to run my fingers through his loose tresses but then quickly withdrew them. I was still unsure if my being here was the right thing to do. After everything that had happened, did Devon even want me to be in his life again? It wasn't very likely that he would.

I sighed and decided that was a question that I was not ready to hear the painful answer to. At least not tonight.

The moment I turned to walk away, a firm hand grasped my wrist.

"Don't go, Sammie."

"What ... you're awake? S-sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you. I just...I just wanted to make sure you were ok. I just needed to know that you were fine."

"Leave," Devon spoke up. At first, I thought he was talking to me, but then Michael and Aiden's retreating figures made it clear that this was not the case.

My eyes widened in surprise that he was still holding onto my wrist and staring at me. I felt the slight tingling sensation with the skin on skin contact. The mate bond was re-emerging.

"Devon, I think I should leave too. I know the mate-bond was restored once our memories were returned to us, so if you are going to reject me, can you at least wait until tomorrow. I just don't know how much more I can deal with- "

"Please … please don't leave me again, Sammie. " A tear slid down his cheek. "I am so fucking sorry, baby. I should have never listened to that fucking psycho. I should have trusted us, trusted you. Instead, I was an idiot who pushed you away. I know things aren't perfect right now, Sammie. But I feel like we've been given a second chance at happiness by the Moon Goddess, and I don't want to lose you again. Please, Sammie, tell me you'll come back to me."

"Devon, I'm a vampire now, and you're a werewolf. So much has happened. I mean, how would this even work?"

"Do you still love me?"

"What?"

"Do you still love ME, Sammie? Simple question. The moment my memories returned, all I could think about was how much my heart ached to be with you again. So, I’m asking you again. Do you still love ME?”

I looked down at the floor.

Did I still love him?

All the memories we shared were now my own once again. Everything. The pain, the tears, the loneliness. But I also remembered the happiness, the joy, and the love.

I looked up at the ceiling, wondering if this is what Jareth would have wanted for me. My heart ached for Jareth, but it also swelled with the memory of Devon.

Did I still love him?

"Y-yes, I do, Dev. I still love you."

His eyes lit up with hope as a small smile graced his lips.

"Then, no matter what comes our way. This time, I promise you. This time, we'll make it work."

Devon tugged my arm, pulling me closer to him as he gently kissed away the tears that glistened on my lashes.

I knew that the road ahead wasn't going to be the easiest, but I believed Devon was right. Fate was giving us a second chance at happiness, despite all the heartache of losing my Jareth. I knew that