Big Bad Wolf

By Stephanie Nichole

Mysterious disappearances are plaguing the small, hidden town of Mystic Hollow. The locals toss it up to being tired of small-town living but Lakeyn's family thinks differently.

Lakeyn's father is moving her and her older sister, Loxley back to his hometown of Mystic Hollow. The small-town charm draws Lakyen in but she's not ea

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kingston Publishing Company
• Release date: Nov 25, 2022
• ISBN: 9781645333890

Book preview

Copyright

Big Bad Wolf is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

BIG BAD WOLF: A NOVEL

Copyright © 2022 by Stephanie Nichole

All rights reserved.

Editing by Pure Grammar Editorial Services

- www.puregrammar.com

Formatting & Cover Design by KP Designs

- www.kpdesignshop.com

Published by Kingston Publishing Company

- www.kingstonpublishing.com

The uploading, scanning, and distribution of this book in any form or by any means—including but not limited to electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the permission of the copyright holder is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized editions of this work, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

Table of Contents

Copyright

Table of Contents

Dedication

Playlist

Prologue

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

Seventeen

Eighteen

Nineteen

Twenty

Twenty-One

Twenty-Two

Twenty-Three

Twenty-Four

Twenty-Five

Twenty-Six

Twenty-Seven

Twenty-Eight

Twenty-Nine

Thirty

Thirty-One

Thirty-Two

Thirty-Three

Thirty-Four

Thirty-Five

Thirty-Six

Thirty-Seven

Thirty-Eight

Thirty-Nine

Forty

Epilogue

Extras

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Also by the Author

About the Publisher

Dedication

To all the ones who see the good in the Big Bad Wolf. To the ones who find love in the most unexpected places.

Playlist

Big Bad Wolf by In This Moment

Wolves by Sam Tinnesz ft Silverberg

The Downfall by Ruelle

Alone in a Room by Asking Alexandria

The Demons by Erick Baker

A Reason to Fight by Disturbed

Hurricane by Fleurie

The Dark of You by Breaking Benjamin

Wolves by Selena Gomez with Marshmello

Black Holes by The Blue Stones

Wolf by Highly SuspectThe Number of the Beast by Iron Maiden

Wolf by The Delta Bombers

Monsters by Shinedown

Hellhounds

We are many when you hear our cries

It means your body is about

To die, we howl our presence

Into the night, you cannot run,

You cannot fight.

When our masters send us to play

Nasty hallucinations

Will come your way.

No longer will you know what’s real

Until our claws and bite you feel

And as we drag your soul to hell

We feed on your dying breath

And we leave what’s left in a bloody mess.

Our play is using your last pieces of

Humanity as a toy tossed for us to chase.

We gnaw at your bones and bury you

Inside the gates of hell.

- Unknown

Prologue

Tucked in the woods, near the state line of Washington and Oregon, is a small town, Mystic Hollow. From the outside Mystic Hollow seems like your ordinary small town, but stay for a little while and you’ll see it’s very different.

The whole world is different. It’s nothing like we’ve been led to believe. From the time we are kids we are told things like magic, supernatural creatures and even our worst nightmares are fake—a trick of our imagination. But what if they’re not? What if you took the time to truly look around you? What would you find?

Certain places in this world are supernatural hot spots. Creatures with abilities that seem made up blend in with humans, attempting to live a normal life. Following the laws and rules of WASP, Warriors Against Supernatural Predators. If they break the rules then WASP breaks them. Everyone tries to live in peace but sometimes you just can’t.

Mystic Hollow is a supernatural hot spot. However, if you manage to find the road off the highway, cloaked by trees, that leads to the sleepy little town, then you find a town that is both inviting and welcoming. The residents, well most of them at least, will treat you as if you’ve been there your whole life. The town square is beautiful with its gothic inspired gazebo, trees are scattered throughout with gothic water fountains and benches on each corner. Charming shops and local diners line the streets as well as the beautiful Mystic Hollow Public Library. Reel Wheel Drive-In Theater is a town staple. Mystic Hollow has plenty to offer, but stay within the town limits. Step into the woods, as intriguing as they might be, and you will find yourself in a different world.

The woods hold secrets that no one has lived to fully discover. Unusual trees with unexplained markings, a mysterious river that secretly leads to the ocean yet no one knows that bit of information. Howls from the wolves are often heard as the moon rises within the trees.

Mystic Hollow is an unusual place but it’s soon to be my home—at least for a sliver of time. Maybe, some of the secrets will reveal themselves after all.

One

Lakeyn

I sit in the back seat listening to one of my older sisters, Loxley, complain about this move for what seems like the hundredth time. I roll my eyes, but I guess in some ways I get why she’s so set against it. She loved Seattle and all the city lights, but not me. No, the moment our dad, Vaughn, told us we were moving to the small town of Mystic Hollow, I was excited. Some part of me has always wanted to live in a small town. Something about the small town charm and all that jazz that you always hear about. It would also be nice to reconnect with my other older sister, Linsley, who is Loxley’s twin. They both ended up looking just like our mom with reddish blonde hair and hazel eyes as well as her facial bone structure. I ended up with our dad’s brown hair and blue eyes but I did get my mom’s facial structure. Linsley moved to Mystic Hollow to live with our grandmother, Livvie, after our mom was murdered.

However, when our dad explained why we’re moving, a little of that excitement died. Mystic Hollow is a small town that borders the state line of Oregon and Washington. It’s tucked away in the mountains and surrounded by trees. There’s also an unusual river, Mystic River, that runs through the wooded area. Some even claim that it changes colors. It seems peaceful and welcoming, but the mysterious disappearances seem to say otherwise. According to Dad, the human townspeople are oblivious to the world around them. They seem to think that nothing can taint their sleepy little town. They go to bed feeling safe and secure, and wake up at peace with themselves, none the wiser. My dad says all of this because he grew up in Mystic Hollow with his mom, my grandmother Livvie, in a cabin located in the forest surrounding the town. Grandmother Livvie still owns and runs one of the local diners, Grandma’s House Diner.

No one really considers the horrors that lurk in this world but then again most people don’t. My family isn’t like most people though. No, we know of the things that lurk around corners, the things that go bump in the night. And the horrors that we’ve seen? Well, let’s just say even with the best imagination you couldn’t conjure some of them up. I sigh as I look out the truck window and try to ignore Loxley’s constant complaining.

See my family isn’t your typical family, far from it actually. My mom and dad were both members of the WASP, Warriors Against Supernatural Predators, which sounds a lot cooler than saying they were hunters. Well, my dad still is but my mom’s family originally started WASP centuries ago. Let’s not forget that technically my grandmother Livvie is a witch. Lucky for my dad that in his bloodline magic only lives in the female bloodline, and even then it’s only a chosen few. Yeah, my life is basically an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer without the hot vampire boyfriend. My dad and Loxley both hunt anything supernatural but me, I’m different. Maybe, I’ve read one too many books or watched one too many supernatural movies, but I don’t see the world as black and white. No, my world is more shades of gray.

I know looks can be deceiving and reputation can be misconstrued. Just because a creature falls into the category of monster doesn’t mean it’s harmful. I mean, not all humans are good. Some humans are worse than some monsters, I’m sure. Anyways, my point is that I refuse to really train with my family. I won’t be a member of WASP if it means killing everything that is different from me. So, my family uses me for research which works for me. I’m good at it. I love books and don’t mind being lost in one for hours. Admittedly though, I’m pretty good with a bow and arrow.

You might think that my life or family sounds cool, but don’t go jumping to conclusions because it’s really not all that it’s cracked up to be. We move around a lot, which makes it impossible to meet people and really, what’s the point? I’m lucky if I’m there long enough to learn their names. Up until a few years ago, Loxley, Linsley, and I were homeschooled by our mother because we were on the road so much. When both of your parents belong to WASP you just move from mission to mission. Then one day three years ago our mother was killed as a repercussion of my father and his team nearly eliminating an entire vampire nest. The problem was, Linsley witnessed our mother’s death before Dad managed to get there and save her.Consequently, , that night changed her, and after a few weeks, Dad realized that Linsley needed more help than he could give her, so he took Linsley to live with our grandmother Livvie in Mystic Hollow. She just walked out the door and never came back, or at least that’s how it feels. After our mother’s murder, Dad, of course, picked the biggest city near us at the time and put some temporary roots down there. That city just happened to be Seattle which made Loxley’s day.

The other thing that sucks about having a family that are active WASP members is all the secrets and lies. I’m not a good liar. Sarcasm, random quotes from books or movies, singing song lyrics at random times, sure those things I’m good at, but lying? Yeah, not my strong suit. The whole time we lived in Seattle I never had any friends aside from Loxley. I didn’t want to lie to them when they asked to come over and hang out. I didn’t want to keep the big secret that the world is a much more dangerous place than they could imagine. So, I kept to myself. I went to school, ate my packed lunch in the library, went home and studied for school. I’d help Dad when he needed research done but other than that I spent my time alone, it was just easier that way.

Maybe that's why small towns excite me. In every book, movie and TV show I’ve seen, a small town is always friendly and they always take the time to get to know you. Some part of me envied that. Even if I couldn’t be completely honest with them, I still wanted to be in a place where everyone knew my name. No, I don’t mean in some famous way, just because I matter to someone. Small towns give off that vibe.

Then again, Mystic Hollow may be small and beautiful, but it certainly doesn’t seem like your normal small town. Mysterious disappearances don’t exactly draw the people in unless you’re my dad. The trees line the road as we make our way. Streaks of yellow catch my attention reminding me that autumn is just around the corner. At some point, while I’ve been lost in my thoughts, the truck has fallen silent with the exception of Bob Seger playing over the speakers. I pull my current read out of my purse and open up to my dog-eared page.

I can’t seem to concentrate on the words I’m reading through. My mind is going in a ton of different directions. I know that moving here isn’t for fun. It’s for a mission. I try to keep reminding myself of that so that when Dad and Loxley complete the mission and we pack and move again, it won’t be so bad. See, the thing about being a WASP member is that you can’t officially call yourself one of them until you’re eighteen. Therefore, I’m not technically anything but a tagalong. I still have a year before I have the decision to make even though my decision has been made for years now.

The thought of that decision causes me to start shaking my head. Normal teenagers when they turn eighteen and graduate high school have to decide where to go to college, or what they want to major in, or if they want a full-time job. Not me though. No, I will be deciding if I want to follow in my father and sister’s footsteps. If I had to make this decision right now I know that I’d disappoint them.

Dad makes a turn on a road that would be easy to miss unless you’re looking for it. The lights of Mystic Hollow come into view through the trees ahead. Loxley groans in the front seat while dropping her head back onto the headrest dramatically. I have to bite my tongue to keep my smart remark within the confines of my mouth. I’m normally pretty quiet but I have these moments where I need a sensor on my sarcasm. I’ve been working on it but it’s not easy, especially with Loxley and her reaction to everything lately.

Loxley looks over her shoulder at me as if she’s waiting for my comment. She raises her eyebrows and I just shake my head. She has long, fiery red hair that hangs a little past her shoulders and is as straight as a sheet of paper. I have porcelain skin that never tans, but Loxley was blessed with the skin that looks naturally sun-kissed. Where my lips are full, hers are thin. I have got Dad’s eyes though, ocean blue green, and Loxley has Mom’s, a greenish hazel. Loxley is tall and lean, all muscle, but I’m short and curvy. We look similar to a point, yet we don’t.

Finally, Loxley figures out that I’m not going to comment on her overly dramatic antics so she turns around and faces the front of the truck again. Looking out the window, I watch as the trees pass me by. I have no desire to be here in this truck right now. It’s causing me to fidget in my seat.

As soon as we leave the thick wooded area I breathe a sigh of relief. I don’t know why, but from the moment Dad announced we were moving to Mystic Hollow, I have felt pulled to the tiny, tucked away town. It’s like we couldn’t get out of Seattle fast enough. Officially pulling into Mystic Hollow gives me a sense of calm while Loxley mutters a curse under her breath that our dad catches. Why she thinks he wouldn’t hear that is beyond me. The man could hear a pin drop. He’s trained to hear everything. Loxley… he says in his deep, warning voice.

Loxley blushes and mumbles an apology. Even at nineteen, Dad can still put her in her place. It’s probably a good thing. Loxley has always been the one for adventure and needed constant surveillance when we were growing up. Some things never change. It’s late and the town is dead, but I take in the darkened shops and streets as we pass by them. I roll my window down to breathe in the thick air that smells earthy, almost as if I had been gardening all day.

Dad takes a right on a street that I can’t see the name of and drives a couple of blocks before pulling into a semi-circle drive. The one-story brick ranch-style house with a wraparound porch has all the small-town charm I could have asked for. I hop out of the truck and stretch my stiff and achy muscles. Dad climbs out of the truck and gives me an appreciative smile. My dad is a man of few words but I know him well enough to know his actions. The smile he is giving me right now is his way of thanking me for not being difficult about this move. I smile and shrug my shoulders to let him know it’s no big deal. My dad and I have mastered the art of communicating only through actions. Loxley seems to be the outcast in that area.

I walk around the truck as Dad drops the tailgate and starts to pull our luggage out. As I walk around, I see Loxley is still sitting in the seat pouting, so I walk over and open her door. She whips her head around to glare at me.

 I’m not Dad, I tell her and watch as the look of anger fades away. Look, I know you’re not happy about this move but he’s doing the best he can. He’s doing what he thinks is right so I don’t know, maybe give him a break.

Loxley huffs and crosses her arms over her chest. Moving here is a waste of time. People didn’t go missing; they just realized this world had more to offer than this boring, sleepy small town. They packed up and left, end of story.

Shaking my head at her theory I remind her, That’s the thing, Lox, they didn’t pack up. They are gone but all of their belongings were still in their homes. Mystic Hollow just doesn’t want to admit it’s less than perfect. You don’t want to admit there might actually be a mission here because you don’t want it to be here. No mission means we don’t have to stay, so you’re grasping at straws. Plus, Linsley and Grammy are here.

Whatever, Loxley mumbles, with a roll of her eyes as she unfastens her seat belt and climbs out of the truck. Dad has already opened the dark cherry wood front door and turned on the outside lights. The multi-shade brown brick and the white pillars along the porch give the house a homey feel. I can already see the pillars with lights tangled around them during the holidays.

My dad and Loxley are already inside while I’m still daydreaming about the holidays spent in this house. As I step on to the first of three stairs leading up to the porch, I hear a howl. My head whips around because it’s a well-known fact that werewolves and even wolf shifters (because yes there’s a difference) tend to howl more than once and close together. But actual wolves howl more than once, and there is usually more time in between. I wait for another howl but nothing comes. I’m being ridiculous. Maybe, I’m as bad as Loxley. Maybe, I’m wanting there to be a mission here so badly so we can stay that I’m grasping at straws just like Loxley.

Most of the house is dark so I can’t see much detail about it yet, but I can tell I like it already. I love that it’s only one story. That means less worry. When there are two floors, you always have to worry if a fire breaks out downstairs and you’re upstairs, what do you do? If someone or something breaks into the house on the opposite floor of where you are, what happens? These are not questions that normal seventeen-year-old girls ask themselves, but then again, I’m not normal.

Two

Lakeyn

Despite the fact that I got to bed ridiculously late, I’m up before the sun rises. I guess my internal alarm clock will always be set to get up before the sun. That’s another thing about growing up in a family of WASP warriors—they get up at the crack of dawn—and over the years, Loxley and I have gotten into the habit. There’s never a time we sleep in unless one of us is sick. I’m up before my dad and Loxley are so I roll out my yoga mat and decide to find my center before I head down the hall to cook breakfast. Dad and Loxley will be up shortly and they’ll head out for their daily run.

Once I’ve gone through the stretches and workout, I sit and position myself into the meditation pose. The meditation pose allows me to find peace and quiet in a world that is far from either of the two. It allows me to find a center within myself. I drop my chin to my chest as I pull in a deep breath. I hear the front door close