In Her Shadow

Shadows of the Past

Chapter Two:

Chloe’s POV

The day after Christmas always felt quieter, like the world was holding its breath. The holiday cheer still lingered in the air, but the excitement had faded, replaced by the slow march toward New Year’s Eve. For wolves, New Year’s was more than a human tradition. It was sacred—a celebration under the first full moon of the year, a time to strengthen bonds and honor the pack.

This year, though, I couldn’t bring myself to look forward to it. Not after what had happened last night.

I sat on my bed, the red dress Gianna had forced me to wear lying crumpled on the floor like a bad memory. My fingers hovered over the leather cover of my diary, the one place I could spill everything without fear of judgment. Well, except for the fear that someone else might find it.

Especially Gianna.

My stomach twisted at the thought. That diary held every piece of me I didn’t show the world—my feelings for Skyler, my insecurities, and secrets I hadn’t told anyone. Secrets I couldn’t bear for anyone to know, least of all him.

"Sky".

I traced the edge of the diary with my fingers, my thoughts drifting back to when we first became friends.

---

We’d met when we were seven, back when his dad had just been named Beta and moved into the packhouse. I’d been in the stables, brushing down my horse, Whisper, when Skyler wandered in, his hair sticking out in every direction and dirt streaked across his face.

“You’re not supposed to be here,” I’d said, crossing my arms like the responsible Alpha daughter I was trying to be.

“I got bored,” he’d replied with a shrug, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief. “What’s his name?”

“Her name is Whisper,” I corrected, watching as he stepped closer to the horse without hesitation.

“She’s pretty. Can I ride her?”

I’d laughed, the sound surprising both of us. “Not unless you know how.”

“Then teach me.”

That was Skyler—bold, curious, and utterly fearless. From that day on, we were inseparable. We bonded over everything: gaming, dirt biking, training. He even joined me for horseback competitions, though he was terrible at it. I teased him endlessly, and he never minded.

We were different in so many ways. I was the studious one, the straight-A student who always aimed to please. Skyler was athletic, adventurous, and carefree, excelling in sports but never caring much about school. Still, we balanced each other.

But somewhere along the way, things changed.

I don’t know when I started seeing him differently. Maybe it was the way his smile lingered a little longer on me than on anyone else. Or the way he always seemed to know when I needed a shoulder to lean on. Whatever it was, I fell for him. And I’ve been falling ever since.

---

A knock on my door pulled me back to the present.

“Chloe?” Gianna’s voice called out.

I froze, my heart leaping into my throat. Quickly, I shoved the diary under my pillow and grabbed a book from my nightstand, pretending to read. “Come in.”

Gianna sauntered in, her hair perfectly styled as always. She was dressed in workout clothes, probably on her way to “train” with Skyler again.

“I’m heading to the field,” she said, leaning against the doorframe. “You coming?”

“Maybe later,” I muttered, keeping my eyes on the book.

She studied me for a moment, her gaze sharp and calculating. “You’re so weird lately. Is this about Skyler?”

My stomach dropped. “Why would it be?”

Gianna smirked, like she knew something I didn’t want her to know. “Just a guess. Anyway, don’t wait too long. Riley hates it when you skip training.”

With that, she was gone, leaving behind a faint trail of her floral perfume.

I let out a shaky breath, reaching under my pillow to pull out the diary. Flipping it open to a blank page, I grabbed a pen and started writing, pouring everything I couldn’t say out loud onto the paper.

---

*December 25th*

Sky kissed me last night. It was everything I’ve ever dreamed of. Except it wasn’t real. He thought I was Gianna. He didn’t even know it was me. And now I don’t know how to face him. How can I pretend like it didn’t happen when it’s all I can think about?

Gianna’s right. He doesn’t see me the way I see him. And maybe he never will.

I hesitated, the pen hovering over the page. My hand trembled as I debated whether to write the next part.

I’m scared. If Gianna ever finds this…

I couldn’t finish the thought. Slamming the diary shut, I shoved it back under my pillow and got up, needing to escape the walls of my room before they closed in on me.

---

The forest was my refuge. The towering evergreens offered a canopy of quiet, the scent of pine and earth grounding me in a way nothing else could. Whisper trotted beside me, her hooves crunching softly against the frozen ground. I hadn’t saddled her; I just needed her company.

As we walked, I let my mind wander. New Year’s was only days away, and the thought of celebrating under the full moon should’ve excited me. It was a time of renewal, of letting go of the past and embracing the future. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that this year would be different.

“Chloe?”

I froze, recognizing the voice instantly. Turning, I saw Skyler standing a few feet away, his hands shoved into the pockets of his jacket.

“Hey, Sky,” I said, my voice softer than I intended.

He smiled, the kind of smile that always made my chest tighten. “I thought I’d find you here.”

“Did Riley send you to drag me to training?”

“Something like that,” he said with a chuckle. “But I figured you could use a break.”

He stepped closer, his gaze flickering to Whisper. “She looks good.”

“She’s doing well,” I said, running a hand along Whisper’s neck. “You haven’t been riding lately.”

“Been busy,” he said, leaning against a tree. “Besides, I figured you’d rather not have me embarrassing myself in front of the competition.”

I smiled despite myself. “You weren’t that bad.”

“Liar,” he said, grinning.

For a moment, we just stood there, the silence between us comfortable yet heavy with unspoken words.

“You’ve been avoiding me,” Skyler said finally, his tone more serious.

I stiffened. “No, I haven’t.”

“Yeah, you have.” He stepped closer, his brows furrowed in concern. “What’s going on, Chloe? Did I do something?”

My heart pounded in my chest as I searched for an answer that wouldn’t give everything away. “It’s nothing. I’ve just… had a lot on my mind.”

He studied me, his blue eyes piercing in a way that made me feel like he could see straight through me. “You sure?”

I nodded, forcing a smile. “I’m fine, Sky. Really.”

For a moment, he didn’t look convinced. But then he smiled, the kind of smile that made me feel like everything might actually be okay.

“Alright,” he said, though I could tell he didn’t believe me. “But if you ever want to talk, you know where to find me.”

“Thanks,” I whispered, my chest tightening with both gratitude and guilt.

As he turned to leave, I watched him go, my wolf stirring restlessly in the back of my mind.

I wanted to believe things could go back to the way they were before. But deep down, I knew they couldn’t. Not after the kiss. And not with Gianna waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

---

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, I made my way back to the packhouse, Whisper trailing behind me. The world around me was calm, but my thoughts were anything but.

The diary, the kiss, Gianna’s constant games—it all felt like a storm waiting to break. And with New Year’s approaching, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this year would bring more than just a new moon.

It would bring change.

The kind of change you couldn’t run from.