Miracle's POV
A hard jolt from the bus shook me out of my memories and back into my terrible new life. I took a deep breath. It was the only thing holding me together.
All around me, people started standing up. Why? I looked out the window. We were in the middle of nowhere. Just a desert with one lonely building.
A low groan came from beside me. Hardy stretched like a big cat. "You coming, darlin'?" he asked.
I just blinked, confused.
"Early supper," he explained, pointing a thumb at the building. "And a break. We've been driving forever."
I turned my face away. I wasn't going anywhere with him.
He just nodded, not surprised. "Alright. I'll grab you an energy bar. Can't have you fading away on me."
He got up and left with everyone else. I waited until the bus was empty before I finally moved. I clutched the backpack Xavier gave me. I wasn't hungry for food.
All I was hungry for was a place to scream. I needed to scream so loud that the heavy, aching rock in my chest would finally break. I needed to let the grief out before it swallowed me whole.
Right then, I would have done anything just to breathe normally again.
I found a small dirt path behind the sad-looking cafeteria. It led into some woods. I might not have a wolf like the rest of my family, but I was still one of them. The woods felt more like home than any place ever would.
I found a spot on a small hill and sat down. The huge, empty valley spread out below me made me feel small. It should have made my problems feel small, too. But it didn't. All I could think about was Steve.
I thought about the exact moment my happily ever after began to crack.
---
(Two years ago)
For weeks, everything was perfect. Steve was the perfect gentleman. He was everything I wanted. If heaven was a place on earth, this was it.
We took things slow. There were mind-blowing kisses, and sometimes his hands would wander. It made me a little uncomfortable, but I didn't mind. Every book said it took time for two people to get used to each other. We had our whole lives to figure it out.
Then, a few weeks later, he told me he had to go back to school in Oswald. It was goodbye forever… unless I went with him.
"I can't live without you, sweetness. Come with me. Move in with me. You are my whole life, Miracle," he said.
"What about my family?" I asked. I'd just finished high school. College was my next step, and I still lived at home.
"I'll be your family," he promised, his blue eyes locked on mine. "It'll be you and me against the world. Please say you'll come. The thought of losing you is driving me insane."
Looking into his eyes, I knew it was true. There was absolutely nothing I wouldn't do for him.
Nothing.
So I did it.
I said terrible things to my family. I burned every bridge I had to make his wish come true.
Life in Cape City was a dream at first. He was everything I wanted, and I had him. We still took things slow. I wasn't ready for sex, and he said he respected that.
Everything was bright and perfect.
Until it wasn't.
It started small. With my name. He started calling me "Ira."
He started introducing me to his friends as "Ira." He said "Miracle" was a mouthful.
It was just a nickname, I told myself. It was still pretty. It wasn't a good enough reason to blow up the life we'd built. So I let it happen. I became Ira.
Then came the night of his birthday party.
A girl showed up. She was taller than both of us. And for the first time ever, my eloquent Steve was speechless.
"Lisa," he had whispered, staring.
I thought nothing of it. Steve was nice to everyone.
"Steve Jackson, in the flesh," she said.
He stared at her like he was seeing a ghost. "You're here? When?"
"A few months ago. London was beautiful, but it was time to come home," Lisa said. Then she pulled the man beside her closer. "This is my fiancé, Jared. Jared, this is Steve Jackson. A childhood friend from high school."
"Fiancé?" Steve said. His voice sounded strange.
Looking back, I should have known. His reaction wasn't normal. But he was my Steve. I didn't think any other girl could matter to him.
He turned and pulled me close. That possessiveness? It was a huge turn-on. Just like in my dark romance books.
"This is my girl, Ira," he said. Before I could even say hello, he pulled me into his arms and kissed me, right there in front of them.
I was over the moon. I decided right then. It was time. I was going to give him everything when we got home.
But he grabbed my hand and pulled me away. He led me to the back of his car.
I had a feeling what he wanted. The idea that cool, collected Steve was so crazy for me that he couldn't wait? It felt oddly sexy.
But it was still my first time.
In the car, Steve tugged at my jeans, pushing them down over my hips. I could see a patch of misty, starless sky through the window. The only light came from a faraway streetlamp.
He was experienced. I was not. For a minute, I just let him lead. He was just fooling around, right? He wouldn't take my virginity in a cold parking lot.
I didn't know where to put my hands. I felt his hand slide beneath my panties. He rubbed me there, but it was rough. Too rough. His grabs were harder than usual, like he was out of his mind. But was it with need... or with something else?
"Stevie?" I said. Panic started to rise in my throat.
Stevie!