Chapter 109
Ann Willow woke up after a long afternoon nap and enjoyed how the sunset splashed colors onto the white walls of her ground-floor hotel room. She has been wasting her days away instead of focusing on her online studies. According to her memories, she left behind her former life. Angry at her parents, but she does not remember why she ran away near the end of her first year of varsity. She didn’t need them since she had a filthy rich boyfriend funding her. Ann was sure not to go on to her social media accounts, fearing that her parents might track her down. She stretched out her tall body, her skin looking tanned against the white bedsheets, her long dark brown hair scattered over her pillow. What Ann didn’t know was that her life was a lie. She has been compelled by a vampire to forget about the supernatural world. Even though he loved her very much, Paris, a century-old vampire just turned day walker, decided to steal her away and left her on an island to keep her safe from the supernatural world. He compelled her to believe that she ran away angry at her parents. No one will be looking for her. Paris told her parents what he did, and they agreed for now that it was best for their daughter since she was in danger. Recently, it came to light that vampires can become day walkers if they take the heart of a hunter, pureblood, or half-blood like Ann and put it where their own heart used to be. Not a lot of the supernatural knew this, but no one was going to take the risk.
Even though Ann was content, she missed her best friend Jessica.
‘I wonder if she is worried about me since I didn’t tell anyone where I am,’ Ann thought, getting off the bed. Ann walked over to the glass door that led to the beach that was on her doorstep. Every day around sunset she would take a walk on the beach. Every day the same, alone but not feeling lonely because she was compelled to wake up every day with a sense that she spoke to her boyfriend the night before.
Normally, there was no one but her on the beach. Ann has not been long on the island, but she already knew all the locals and the island was not that popular of a holiday destination. A true hidden gem. Ann passed a man who she thought she recognized but didn’t want to look back.
Her curiosity got the better of her, and she looked back at the man that she just passed.
“Do I know you?” Ann asked, thinking she recognized the guy from high school.
“I don’t know, do you?” Wynn Mateo smiled back at her, his blond hair in need of a cut, his sky-blue eyes focusing on Ann. ‘Can’t believe I ended up on the same island as Ann,’ Wynn thought and wondered if Paris gave her a new name, so he allowed Ann to take the lead.
“You have a twin sister? You guys went to the same varsity as me. Well, and high school. Are you stalking me?” Ann questioned when her mind started to put Wynn in all the right places. Last year of high school, first year of varsity, and now on the same island.
“What are you on about?” Wynn chuckled and shook his head, thinking it was best he move on to find another happy place.
“Wynn, right?” Ann remembered his name.
“What is your name again?” Wynn questioned, pretending to be forgetful.
“Ann. Ann Willow. We had a little thing in high school,” Ann remembered, but at the same time, her mind was blurry.
“Oh, I remember you now. You are the swimmer,” Wynn said. “I don’t think we had a little thing,” Wynn said, wondering how exactly Paris compelled her. ‘Should I compel her to forget me?’ he wondered.
Ann opened her mouth to say something, but Wynn spoke first.
“Forget that you know me,” Wynn compelled her.
“Hi, I am Ann Willow,” Ann introduced herself, holding her hand out to Wynn.
“Wynn,” Wynn took her hand.
“On holiday?” Ann confirmed, not recognizing him as a local.
“Something like that,” Wynn said.
“I came for a holiday and decided not to leave,” Ann said, getting the conversation going.
‘I should leave,’ Wynn thought, but looking into Ann’s hazel-green eyes with the sunset dancing in them reminded him of how happy he was when she was compelled by his sister, Shysie, to be in love with him. ‘Maybe I can spend some time with her and just compel her to forget me?’ Wynn wondered, desperate not to feel heartbroken anymore, still not able to wrap his head around the fact that Queen Amirah chose someone over him.
“Alone?” Wynn asked, having decided to stick around. ‘Paris does not plan to be with her, so will it hurt if I spent a little time with her? Just until I don’t hurt anymore. Is it selfish of me to use her as a rebound?’ Wynn wondered.
“I have a boyfriend, but he is somewhere making lots of money,” Ann chuckled, just realizing she does not know what her boyfriend’s occupation was.
“Ok. Well, see you around then,” Wynn said. ‘I guess Paris is sticking around,’ he thought and decided to leave.
“Not so fast. Are you alone or on a honeymoon?” Ann questioned, dropping her eyes to his hand, expecting for a wedding band even though she thought he looked way too young to be married.
“Heartbroken,” Wynn stated without thinking. “Yes, alone,” Wynn tried to correct himself.
“I am so sorry. Run away, bride?” Ann questioned, putting her hand on his arm, feeling bad for him wondering what happened for any woman to stand up a handsome guy like him up at the altar.
“You nailed it,” Wynn said and turned to walk away, having changed his mind about using Ann. ‘She deserves better than being rebound and I doubt she is the kind of girl that will mess her boyfriend around even if it might just be an imaginary one that Paris compelled her to believe she has.
“Have dinner with me,” Ann called after him.
“I am not hungry,” Wynn said over his shoulder.
“Well, I am, and I am tired of eating alone,” Ann said running after him.
‘I guess being friends won’t hurt,’ Wynn thought, looking at her when she hooked her arm around his as if they have been lifelong besties.
