DAPHNE'S POV

"Daph!" my sister wrapped her hands around my neck and kissed my cheek. "I've missed you so much. Uni is terrible being apart from you."

My older sister had dyed her hair blond with highlights. She looked stunning with her freckles and tanned skin. Standing next to her, I looked even paler and duller in comparison to the goddess called my sister. Still, I was happy to see her.

"Daisy," I smiled just breathing in her scent. She'd arrived a little later than me but, all that mattered was, my family was together again.

"How has the academy been? I'm so jealous. You get to attend the fancy wolf school," Daisy started to say. She was always the chirpier one of the two of us.

I couldn't tell her that I had spent three hours stinking up the whole bathroom before the janitor did his rounds and found me. I also didn't tell her I spent five hours trying to wash off the smell.

She wrinkled her nose. "Why do you smell like fish?"

Thankfully, before I could reply, my father burst through the door, his hands weighed down by grocery bags. "My girls!" he said, putting the bags down and barreling into us. He grabbed either of us in both hands and twirled us right there, grunting with the effort.

I giggled as he put us down and hugged us. "I missed you," I said, inhaling that familiar scent of popcorn and caramel that clung to his clothes.

"I know that you girls just got back but we're short staff because of the season and all the travelling, we need a little help at the theatre," he pulled his lips into a thin line, feeling bad for asking so soon.

Daisy and I exchanged a look. We'd been thinking about the theatre all through the semester. My parents ran the local theatre, although it was anything but local. It had the best movies, beautiful and a steady stream of customers. That place was home. I had memories as far back as three, hiding under the counter while my mom made popcorn and chatted with customers.

Still, we weren't going to let our father know that we were excited to be back. "Well, you see, Dad," Daisy began, "It's Christmas and kids like us got out, watch fireworks and fall in love."

"Not my Daphne. She loves her parent's too much to leave us," Dad pulled me into his side, holding me.

"I always knew she was your favourite," Daphne feigned annoyance.

I chuckled, "We'll help out, Dad. Whatever you need."

"Great. We received tons of new Christmas movies and I'll need two young, intelligent girls to go through all of them and eat all the popcorn and drink all the slushies they want," Dad stroked his chin. "I wonder where I can find them now that everyone's caught up in festivities."

Daisy immediately started guiding me towards the door. "Look no further, Dad. Daphne and I will handle the movies. You just stay here and rest up. We'll go help Mom."

Dad thanked us, wrapping his red scarf around my neck. He tightened it, making sure that it was secure. "Are you okay, cupcake?" he asked.

He rubbed my shoulder tenderly and for a moment, I wanted to melt into his love and tell him everything. But, he had worked hard to get me into Bateview Academy. It had been his dream to go and it would absolutely crush him if he finds out that I was being bullied.

"I'm okay," I lied, forcing a smile on my face.

Daisy was already shoving her feet into her boots and putting on her coats. "Come on, Daphne, let's go!"

"I'm coming, I'm coming," I chuckled, hurrying after her. We linked arms together, walking as we always did to the theatre.

Daisy told me all about her university. She spoke about her roommate and all the parties she'd been through, the lectures and the library and then she talked about this Beta who she was interested in. They'd gone on a date once and thing seemed to be picking up well.

I listened carefully, smiling as she spoke. I was happy that at least one of us was having fun in another state, in a new school. No one had to know what I'd gone through. Back here in Louiseville, I was the sweet Daphne Curtis who stayed out of trouble and was always at the theatre.

It took us about ten minutes and we made it there.

Daisy and I exchanged a look and giggled, rushing to the front door. The doorman and part security, Benson, grinned. He's been working here for as long as I could remember.

He grinned, holding the door open. "The Curtis girls are back in Louiseville."

I waved at him as we rushed in. My mom was behind the counter, going through the books while one of the newer girls was making popcorn and working the slushie machine.

"Mom," Daisy said, lifting the counter top and going to hug our mother. I joined in, inhaling her scent.

"My babies, you're back," she looked tired but her face lit up. "It finally feels like Christmas."

We talked for a few minutes before Daisy went over to set up the next movie. I went to the ticket booth.

There was a long line in front of the closed ticket booth. I took a seat, turned on the small heater on the counter, cracked my knuckles and opened the small square space at the bottom of the glass window facing the crowd.

"Form an orderly line, please," I instructed as I began to sell the tickets. I smiled, seeing couples in matching hats, coats or scarves. Even families. Christmas was my favourite season. The people, the love, the kindness and this theatre. It was all so perfect.

"I'd like a ticket for the next movie, please," a voice said, through the glass

"That would be five ninety-nine," I said, arranging the notes and coins in cash register.

The guy slipped a ten dollar note through the space at the bottom of the glass window. I took it, fishing out his change and ripping a ticket free. I looked up, "Thank you. Enjoy your –"

The rest of the words died in my throat as I recognized who it is. My heart raced in my chest and my hands started to shake. It was impossible. When I left Bateview for Christmas, I believed that I would be safe.

But, monsters never leave their prey alone. They hunted them down to the ends of the earth.

My monster had come to find me. Zachary Ackerman was here.

ZAC'S POV

I slammed the door of the taxi shut and got my luggage out. Hillary joined me, standing to look at the house. It was a storey building, the walls a sky blue and the window panes white. It looked like one of those houses you would see in the movies with happy families.

"We must be at the correct address, right?" Hillary asked, voicing my thoughts. He checked his phone and confirmed it.

"It's...," I searched for the right word. "Small."

That was the nicest thing I could say about it. It was smaller than our own place in my father's estate. My mother could afford something better. I'm not sure how to explain her choices.

"It's like a matchbox," Hillary added. We could agree on this.

"Boys!" my mother squealed, rushing out of the house to hug us. She pressed kisses into our cheeks. "My newest Student President is finally here."

"Mom, what is this? What did you see here?" Hillary said after hugging her.

"Well, for one, I can tell that it is a sorry ass of a town," I said, shaking off the snow on my boots and looking around the neighbourhood.

"Zac, always so mean. It's not that bad," my mother said, coming to stand between us to look at the house.

"If beneath your standard, in the middle of nowhere and quiet and sad is the vibe that you're going for then yes, it's not that bad,"

"I wanted something that feels warm and like a home. This town," she sighed, standing between Hillary and I, and giving our arms a squeeze, "it just feels like Christmas. Something magical is going to happen."

"Yeah, like me leaving," I turned, walking down the sidewalk.

"Where are you going?" mom asked in that voice I hated. Whenever she saw me, she liked to baby me. She felt guilty that my father pushed me hard and there was nothing she could do about it. I had a feeling that this move was about Hillary and I.

Still, I wasn't kind enough to make her feel good about her choices.

"To see if he can find someone new to torment probably," Hillary replied. I heard him wheel our luggage towards the house.

I flipped him the finger, grateful that I had a coat on. It was colder than I expected. Hillary was right though. I was walking around to see who I could torment. But the truth was, I wanted to see if I could notice the power play here. Someone always made the rules, even in small towns like this. I wanted to be able to control it.

I must have walked for twenty minutes, passing my many diners and a sheriff's office. I wondered how long it would take me to spot other wolves.

"Thank you. Enjoy your movie," a lady said.

I stopped in my tracks, looking around. The voice sounded very familiar. I don't hear it often but I could recognize it. My eyes found the theatre across the road. There was a short line of people at the ticket booth. I couldn't see anyone I knew but my body started to move before I realized.

I joined the line, sticking my hands into the pocket of my coat and regretting that I didn't put gloves on. When it was my turn, I stepped forward, fishing a note from my pocket to hand it to the person there.

"That would be five ninety-nine," she said, absent mindedly.

I froze for a moment as the voice washed over me. It was her – Daphne Curtis. She sat behind a glass, those curly brown hair tucked behind her ears and a red scarf around her neck. It made her eyes look larger and prettier than it usually was.

I shook my head. What the hell? Did I just think the plus size omega was pretty?

I quickly gave her the note and as she handed me the change, she looked up. "Thank you. Enjoy-"

She froze, whatever she wanted to say dying in her mouth. Her hands began to shake, holding onto the change and ticket. I didn't know what to say to her because she suddenly looked trapped. She looked like she would run if I uttered one wrong word.

I reached forward and took the ticket. "Thank you," I turned quickly and walked towards the entrance.

I didn't know what I was thinking when I walked up to that ticket booth. I didn't come there to bother her or to remind her of her place. I just heard her voice from across the road and came there with zero thoughts.

My heart was racing uncontrollably. I made a mental note to visit the doctor. Something was undeniably wrong with me.

The doorman checked my ticket and smiled kindly at me, letting me in. I didn't know what I was doing but, for some reason, I didn't just want to leave. I felt the need to apologize. I was Student President, why should I care if the omega was scared to see me?

As I took a seat one row from the exit, I wondered what she was doing in Lousieville. Was she visiting family? Was this where she lived? And why was she working in the ticketing booth?

I was so curious and it irked me. A few minutes later, the lights went out and the movie came up on screen. I had no idea what was showing but it didn't look that bad. It was a romantic comedy, the usual where the girl or the guy returned to their hometown and reunited with an ex or best friend and fell in love.

Surprisingly, it wasn't as bad as I thought. I caught myself laughing more times than I expected.

When I looked back, I noticed two people standing at the back, whispering to themselves. I would have ignored it but then, I noticed that red scarf around her neck when the screen turned brighter.

Daphne. And she was with a guy.

I watched her carefully, realizing just how different things were now. This was Christmas. I was in a new place, in a new house and in a theatre: three things I rarely ever did. I guess I could do things differently. And surprisingly, what I wanted to change had something to do with the brown head, plump sized, beautiful Daphne Curtis.

DAPHNE'S POV

The moment I was done with the line, I closed the blinds and left the booth, running to the film room. There were rolls and boxes of movies. I found a corner and sat there, bringing my knees to my chest and begging myself to relax.

"This has to be a mistake," I told myself, burying my hands in my head.

There was no way that Zachary Ackerman was here in Louiseville and in my parent's theatre. I would know his face even in my dreams, I was sure he was the one. I thought that Eleanor bullying me that final day was all I had to go through. I thought that I would be able to find peace during Christmas.

Why was he here? How did he find me? Wasn't I already miserable enough?

"Oh, goddess," I began to gasp, feeling like I was trapped. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't see.

"Daphne?" a voice called.

I looked up to see Kane West. I knew him from high school. We weren't really close but we weren't really strangers either. Still, I didn't want him seeing me like this.

I ducked my head, wiping at my tears. "Hi, Kane."

"It's actually you. I saw you come in and I had to confirm that it was really you," Kane smiled, that smile that used to sweep me off my feet. He pushed his blond hair away from his face. It had grown longer since the last time I'd seen him. He settled down on the floor next to me, our knees touching.

"How are you doing?" he asked.

I shrugged, not trusting myself enough to answer without crying.

Kane nodded. "Do you want me to ask why you're crying or pretend I didn't see you?"

"Pretend," I choked out finally.

"Daphne Curtis back in Louiseville. You went to that big shot academy and forgot all about us here in the small town. You're a bad girl now," he bumped into my shoulders playfully.

The truth was I had cut off all my friends from my old school. I didn't want them to know about the bullying. I only posted pictures once in a while because I was scared of people from Bateview finding my account and trolling it.

I had to delete the last one when things started to get out of hand.

"How have you been?" I asked.

"So-so, high school is still the same shitty place if that's what you're wondering. We don't go on cool school trips in other continents like you guys but it's still home. Still nice, I guess," Kane replied. There was a brief sadness in his eyes and I wondered if, maybe just if, he was having a hard time too.

Kane didn't quite fit in. He had a few friends but he wasn't always hanging out with them. He was a bright student but on the surface, he seemed like such a bad boy.

But, thanks to him, I felt like I could finally breath.

He must have noticed because he stood to his feet and held out his hand. "Come on. The great Daphne shouldn't be hiding around in a corner at a time like this. Let's go peek at the movie that's showing on screen."

I looked at his hand and then his face. He sensed my hesitation. "I promise, I don't bite."

I took his hand and let him help me up. He pulled me with a little too much force and I ended up falling into his arms. "Sorry," I apologized, blushing red.

"Don't be," he said, "It's my fault."

Together, we walked to the first screening room. We quietly snuck in. It was packed. We couldn't even find seats at the back. Kane asked if I was okay standing. We talked for a while, laughing over things that happened in Louiseville while I was away.

That's when I noticed the eyes staring at me.

Even in the dark, I could recognize him. I could almost see that blue glow he had used to intimidate me months ago and force my submission to him.

I felt weak again, a feeling I never felt being back home. I turned to Kane, "you mentioned something about getting away."

Kane smiled. "There's a little festival happening in the square right now. It's supposed to be a little gathering but you can trust the teens to turn it into a party."

I could run into friends from my old school. Mom may still need me in the ticket booth. But right now, Zachary Ackerman was in the theatre and for the first time, I didn't want to stay. "We should check it out."

Kane and I left the theatre. I grabbed my coat and told Daisy I won't be gone for long. I followed Kane to the square, remembering how nice it was to have someone to talk to without being scared of repercussions.

The first friend I made in Bateview Academy sold me to the wolves, literally. She invited me for a party, told me that it was a costume party. When I showed up, she was standing with Eleanor and her friends.

It had been a pool party and she convinced me to show  rrrrrrtgup as a sexy bunny. It was embarrassing and my pictures circulated BA app for days. I was a literal meme. After that, everything went to hell. I became bait for everyone, simply because Zachary believed an omega like me had no place at the academy. I was never going to forgive him.

The square was full of people socializing and dancing. Lights were strung up high above us and there was a giant Christmas tree in the middle, giving the square some sort of homely warmth. Kane led me a little into the gathering and stopped us by a pole.

"Wait here, I'll get you something to drink," he said and began to walk.

I nodded and looked around for something to entertain myself while I waited.

I felt it then; a pull deep in my soul and felt like I was flying and drowning at the same time. It knocked the air out of my lungs. I turned, feeling my wolf stir slightly. I had to find here this was coming from.

I came face to face with the last person I wanted to see. I flinched, not because he was standing in front of me but because what I was feeling multiplied until it was almost unbearable.

I flinched, taking a step back as he came to stand in front of me. "Zachary..."

His brows furrowed and I knew he felt the same thing. "No way..."

He was my mate.