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horansqueen · 4 years ago

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New Angel - Chapter 3

story masterlist [x]

chapter 1 ☆ chapter 2

NOTES

☆ written from Niall’s pov ☆ i don’t proofread, I never do, I hate it. ☆ AU comedy/fluff/smut/romance ☆ 2.6k ☆ i accept requests and ideas for this story, so message me in my inbox! ☆ if you want to be notified when this story is updated (or be taken off the update list) CLICK HERE

NIALL

For some reason I ignored, Louis' only solution if I wanted to get over Grace was to have sex with an other girl. I had no idea where it came from, and I agreed that it could make me think about something else for a few hours, but he was delusional if he thought it would make the feelings I had for Grace disappear completely.

I wanted to, though. After seeing Grace again, I knew that getting over her was the only rational thing to do. I also knew it wouldn't be easy, but i guess it was part of the process of a heartbreak and I had to go through the pain, the anger, and the sadness no matter what. It didn't mean I couldn't try to push all of those feelings away for a while. The worst kind of pain is probably the pain that never stops. It hurts until it actually drives you insane, whether it's physically or mentally. If you get a few moments of respite, even while knowing the pain will come back, it was not as bad.

As soon as we walked into the club, I regretted it. Louis and I were more into pubs where we'd sit with friends and have a good laugh and a pint. This place was anything but a place where I could relax with friends. I had agreed to follow though and I kept in mind that whenever I would have enough, I could just take a cab and go back home.

Millie was dressed to kill. I had never seen her dressed like that. She was wearing a skirt and a tank top, had put make up on, and the necklace hanging from her neck seemed to shine with the lights of the room. She tilted her head slightly to touch one of her long earrings and I raised my eyebrows, wondering what exactly she was looking for. She turned to look at Louis who was looking around the room and after a few seconds, we both followed him to the bar, ordering a few drinks.

"Are you trying to get laid tonight?" I asked my friend, glancing at her as I leaned against the counter, my beer in hand.

"I thought the goal was to get you laid." she replied with an amused smile, raising her eyebrows and taking a sip from the colored beverage she had ordered.

"So did you dress like that for Louis then?"

She rolled her eyes and shook her head, moving her face closer to mine. "I dress only for myself, Horan." she explained, licking her lips. "Never forget that."

"I'm just not used to it." I shrugged, placing both my elbows on the counter behind me. "You're more the sweatpants and t-shirt kind of girl."

She glanced at me and sent me an amused smile. "Fat girls can wear nice clothes too, you know."

"You proved that, Millie, there's no doubt." I smiled more. "But there's nothing wrong with sweatpants."

Millie didn't answer and I turned to her, noticing she was actually scanning the room. It took her a few minutes and she just sighed and turned to look at me.

"I noticed about 6 girls that could be your type." she pointed out. "I'm sure you won't have any problem to pick a girl tonight."

"My type?" I chuckled, grimacing. "I don't have a type."

"Tall, skinny, brunette, sexy. I can't tell their personalities from here but she's also got to be cheeky, flirty, and an attention seeker."

"That's rude."

"No, it's true."

I pushed my free hand in one of my pockets and took a long sip of my beer. I was a bit annoyed and insulted from Millie's words but I couldn't say she was wrong. Perhaps I didn't see the girls I crushed on in the same light as she did, and clearly, I didn't have the same relationship with them than she did, but at that moment, I decided to pick someone who was totally not my ‘type’ just to spite my friend and prove her wrong.

My eyes traveled on the room to find someone interesting. First, she had to be blonde, second, It would be even better if she was a bit shy. I noticed a cute girl sitting at a table on the other side of the room. She was looking around the room, nibbling on her bottom lip as if she was uncomfortable to be here, and when some of her friends got up, she seemed panicked. One of the grabbed her hand, pulling her with the rest of them and she shook her head a few times before giving in.

"Okay," I let out, swallowing what was left of my beer. "I'm ready."

Millie chuckled and got up from the stool she was sitting on. "Go, Romeo. I'll try to find Louis." she just said. "Will you bring her back home?"

"I'll try."

"Well if you do, text us so we're not surprised tomorrow morning, okay?"

I just chuckled and left, walking quickly to the girl who was now dancing in the middle of the dance floor. She started laughing with her friends and before I could reach her, she twirled on herself and finally bent down to tell something to her friends and left. It was weird to follow her again but when she reached the bar, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to talk to her.

"Hi." I said, bending down and sending her a smile when she turned to me.

Her face changed and she smiled back at me, clearly a bit embarrassed. She was exactly what I needed. She tilted her head slightly and started playing with a lock of her hair as I tried to keep the focus on her eyes. They were blue, but a darker shade than what we normally see, or maybe it was just because of the lights of the place, and her blonde hair was cascading down her back. She was pretty, very pretty, and when she pressed her lips together, I wanted to kiss her.

"Hi."

"Uhm, hey, can I buy you a drink?"

She seemed to hesitate and glanced back at her friends still going crazy on the dance floor before her eyes met mine again. She glanced away again and finally, she nodded quickly.

"Okay, sure." she smiled more. "I'm Summer."

"Nice to meet you, Summer." I replied, moving slightly closer. "Niall."

"So, you're here by yourself, Niall?"

I chuckled, sliding a bill on the counter when the bartender came back with her drink and turned to face her. "No, I'm here with a few friends. There's somewhere around."

"I'm here with friends too, but they're all a bit drunk." she explained, pointing behind us.

I turned to look at her friends laughing and dancing again and chuckled, raising my eyebrows and looking back at her. For some reason, I felt like her name suited her perfectly. Was it crazy to feel like she was a warm breeze on my cold broken heart? It didn't matter. All that mattered was that Summer could make me forget Grace for a few hours, and I really needed it.

They were so different that nothing from Summer's physical appearance to her personality could remind me of Grace. Still, I surprised myself to compare them, and it bothered me. I breathed in and closed my eyes for a few minutes, trying to remind myself that it was impossible for me to forget completely Grace just because one pretty girl smiled to me.

We talked together for about half an hour and every time she laughed, it made me smile more. She was like an angel appearing in my life at my worst time and somehow, she made me feel like it was possible to be happy again. We had a few drinks together and when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket, I grabbed it and read Louis' text message.

'We're leaving. If you need us, we'll be in my room.'

I chuckled and sent him a thumb up emoji before looking back at Summer. I let my eyes travel on her and groaned low when my eyes fell on the top of her dress. I hadn't had sex in over a month and it was getting to my head.

"Niall? Are you alright?"

I looked up at her again and chuckled, a bit embarrassed that I had been caught. I scratched the back of my head and raised my nose up in a grimace. "I'm sorry, you're just so fucking beautiful and... You wanna come to my place?"

She seemed surprised but her lips still curled slightly as she stared at me. "That's quite bold of you." she replied before giggling. "Do I look like the kind of girl who sleeps on the first night?"

My lips parted and suddenly, I felt stupid and guilty. It probably showed in my face because she started laughing louder and I exhaled.

"Niall, relax, I'm just kidding!" she smiled more, getting up. "Give me your address and phone number."

"Why?"

"So I can give them to my friend. You know, just in case you're a serial killer."

I took my drivers license out of my wallet and handed it to her. She quickly typed on her phone before looking up at me and tilting her head again. "So, do you have a car or we have to get a cab?"

I smiled at her and we ended up in the back of a cab, her lips pressed against mine. They were warm and I could have sworn her lipstick tasted like strawberries. I ran my hand on her naked thigh, moving up slowly, but she pressed her legs together, stopping me from going farther.

"I'm sorry." I whispered against her mouth, moving my hand away.

"No it's okay, I'd just rather wait until we're at your place."

I nodded and sent her a small smile, letting my eyes roam on her face. She was so different than Grace. In fact, she was different than all the girls I dated before, and if my memory served me right, from all the girls I had sex with, too. I didn't know what it was, I couldn't put my finger on it, but there was something about her that made me nervous. I was scared to do the wrong thing, or say something that would embarrass her, or make her mad. It was not a bad thing, I was just not used to that kind of girl, and I couldn't say I didn't like it. Uncertainty was somehow exciting, and the fact that I couldn't predict what she'd say, do, or how she'd react made me more attentive to everything I did.

It was dark when we walked in my apartment but immediately, I recognized Millie's whimpers and I closed my eyes and groaned low, slightly embarrassed.

"Don't mind my roommates, they're probably fucking in one of their rooms." I whispered as Summer followed me to the hall.

She chuckled and I turned to look at her just as the moon illuminated her face from the window and it made my lips curl. If I was with Grace, I would have told her something like, 'let's show them what we can do' or 'I'm sure we can outdo them' but with Summer, I had no idea if she'd think it was appropriate or not and I decided to keep silent.

I didn't take time to turn the light of my room on, I just closed the door behind myself and pulled Summer close to me, her body pressed against mine, only half a second before my lips pressed against hers. She followed my lead and that too, was a bit new. I was used to be with girls who knew what they wanted and would go get it. Summer was letting me take control, stopping me when she thought I was going too far.

I ran my lips on her neck, smelling the sweetness of her perfume, and she let out a very low whimper when I moved her dress up until her waist. I was impatient and I wanted her. Perhaps it was only because I hadn't had sex in a while, or maybe it was because I knew it would make me forget about Grace for about an hour, or maybe it was Summer who had that effect on me. It didn't matter, and I tried to push all those reflections at the back of my mind to focus on the way her body moved against mine.

I brought her to the bed, my lips attached to hers, and when I slipped my hand in her panties, I felt my cock twitch in my pants.

"Fuck, I want you so bad." I whispered before helping her lay down on my bed.

I moved on top of her and her hands ran on my back, under my shirt, leaving a warm trail on their way. They moved around me and she reached for my pants, unzipping them and pulling them off slowly. It was not the pace I was used to either and I started feeling dizzy but when her hand wrapped around my cock, I let out a curse word and blinked a few times, getting used to the dark. She was smiling and I smiled back at her as I felt her spread her legs a bit more.

"There's no rush, right?" she asked in a very low tone.

"There's no rush."

She sat up and pulled her dress over her head, moving it gently as her hair danced around her face, and I suddenly regretted that I didn't turn on the light. She sent me a shy but big smile and laid back down as I pulled on her panties slowly. She moved her hips up and the sight was amazing. I looked at her, laying naked on my bed, and I realized the constant pain in my stomach was not there anymore. I didn't know when it would come back, but I didn't want to think about it. I grabbed the back of my shirt to take it off, letting it fall on the floor and took the time to take my pants off, bringing my boxers with them.

Slowly, I moved on top of her and kissed her deeply, reaching at the same time for my bedside table. I grabbed a condom in the first drawer and Summer chuckled, making me move away slightly.

"You can reach them with your eyes closed?" she asked, raising her eyebrows. "I'm thinking this isn't the first time you bring a girl you barely know in your room."

I let my eyes roam on her face as my lips parted. I couldn't tell her I was used to make this move because every single time my ex girlfriend and I had sex, I would grab a condom in my drawer exactly this way. I couldn't tell her I was heartbroken and using sex as an escape from the pain killing me inside. I couldn't tell her that she was probably a rebound and that I was still not over my ex girlfriend. Instead, I decided to turn it into a joke.

"Are you jealous?" I asked with a smirk before chuckling.

"Mm, very." she replied, joking too, as her hands ran on my shoulders and slid on my chest. "But you're with me now."

I stared at her and my amused smiled turned into a fond one. "Yes, I'm with you now."

#niall horan #niall horan smut #niall horan fluff #niall horan fanfic #niall horan fan fic #niall horan fanfiction #niall horan fan fiction #niall horan au #niall horan writing #niall horan story #niall horan love story #my fanfics #newangel

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scribeofmorpheus · 6 years ago

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Mark of the Wolf Part 8 (Derek Hale x Reader)

Catch up here! | Chapter Masterlist here

A/N: So it's finally here, the long-anticipated eighth chapter! Three cheers for the amazing readers who asked when my next instalment would be, you guys kept me writing through this stressful and busy academic year! Also, was the wait worth it? No. You guys deserved an update months ago! (I still have Halloween prompts in my inbox... *laughs nervously*) I hope you enjoy this chapter. All I can say is... the action picks up in the next chapter!

Note: Reader’s last name is Markolf. A lot of season 3 callbacks!

Words: 3062 (this chapter was long!)

Warnings: Past Trauma??? An insensitive Peter? Some tropes thrown in there! That’s it I guess.

"What did you find out?" Liam whispered, conscious not to be too loud since you were passed out on the cot a few meters away.

"It's too much to get into now," Derek whispered, his eyes on your resting form. "But I think I know how she survived the first attack."

"The John Doe case in New Hampshire?" Stiles asked. Derek nodded.

"In her memories, she hid behind a sage bush that caught on fire."

"Are you suggesting these hunters are afraid of Sage?" Peter fired off the question like it was a race after rolling his eyes at the idea.

"She burnt some sage at the animal clinic too. I think they have to sense who their targets are. The sage probably throws them off the scent… or however they track people."

"There has to be a reason people use sage to cleanse houses. I saged the hell out of my house after I found out we had a Hellhound on the Police payroll." Stiles revealed boldly. Everyone turned to look at him like he’d set his underwear on fire. "What? Lydia told me sage cleanses negative energy and auras."

After a beat, Liam added, "Sometimes the answers to the hardest questions are the simplest ones." He sounded like a philosophy major. Now it was his turn to get everyone's confused glares. "What? I read it on a fortune cookie once."

Scott's head snapped up with a thought, "What if they see their targets the way we see Kitsune? Auras.”

“And the sage acts as a smoke screen," Stiles finished Scott’s thought.

"Are we supposed to start sporting necklaces made of sage? Maybe make a nice cologne? Don't know about you, but I'm quite partial to the smell of my Eau De Nuit Oud. Besides, we can't set fire to any bush we come in contact with in hopes it may be sage when the hunters attack again." Peter said.

"We aren't a priority on their kill list now that we know they want Y/N." Derek reminded his uncle bitterly. "Which means we can't leave her unprotected until we find a way to fight them."

"Who's gonna be on first watch?" Stiles asked, "Because I'm in desperate need of a shower and a nap."

"I'll do it." Peter offered.

"And are we just supposed to trust that a former homicidal maniac like you wouldn't just give her up to the Order to try and save your own skin?" Stiles shot back.

"Hey!" Peter acted offended, "Reformed homicidal maniac to you."

Derek made his way to the exit, "Peter comes with me. I have a lead to check out."

"I'll take first watch." Scott declared.

Derek took a double take of your sleeping form. He was becoming all too aware of how increasingly protective over you he was getting. He didn't like where this was going. He clenched his jaw, and with large strides, he left the bunker with Peter on his tail. He kept berating himself; he should have never fucking kissed you!

***

You awoke with a hell of a headache and a throbbing feeling where Peter’s claws used to be. Your legs were as heavy as logs as you dragged them off the bed and onto the ground, your hand pressed to the nape of your neck in a feigned effort to sooth the stinging sensation.

You heard the faint whispers of voices coming from the other side of the room. For a moment you thought you had been in your own house. Correction: your new house with unpacked boxes and fresh sheets, but after a few seconds, when you finally got your bearings, you realised you were still in the Bunker. You sighed, feeling exhausted of your dark surroundings more than anything else.

"Look who's finally awake," Scott said with a relieved smile on his face.

"How long was I out?"

"A little under four hours," he answered.

"Four hours?" you asked in disbelief. "Why didn't anyone try and wake me?"

Scott awkwardly shuffled his feet, "Honestly, we figured after the night you just had, you could use a little rest."

You gave them a soft smile, "You got any pain killers?" you asked, still rubbing at your neck.

Scott looked at you with both a confused and concerned look, "It hasn't healed yet?"

"I heal faster than humans, but not as fast as werewolves," You stood up from the cot, which took more effort than you'd have liked. That memory sharing fiasco left you feeling winded, even several hours after said aforementioned memory sharing. Though, something about it made you feel different. It was like you were forgetting something crucial. You only remembered bits and pieces, like the last remnants of a dream that was slowly slipping from your mind. Instinctively you traced your lips with the tips of your fingers. What were you forgetting?

"Here you go," Scott handed you a container of painkillers and some bottled water.

"Thanks," You looked around and noticed how empty the bunker was. "Where is everyone?"

"It's daylight. The hunters don't come out during daylight so Stiles went home for a change of clothes and some sleep. Peter and Derek took off on some 'urgent business' and Liam… Well, he's supposed to be here by now. It's his turn on guard duty."

"Guard duty?"

"You were unconscious. And with what happened to the animal clinic, the hunters are after you too."

"You guys would do that, help a total stranger?" You looked at Scott in awe. There were very few people willing to put their lives on the line to help a total stranger. Scott simply gave you a well-worn smile, like he'd practised it many times before. A smile that said 'you're not the first stray we've taken under our wing'. In a way, he reminded you of your older brother. They both have that annoying to God hero complex. Then, like a bolt of lightning striking twice, you remembered the devastating state of the animal clinic. "Shit! The clinic. How the hell am I going to explain what happened?"

Scott put a hand on your shoulder, "Don't worry. We have a sheriff in our pocket."

"What? The town's sheriff knows about werewolves?"

"He should. He's Stiles's dad after all."

"Who are you people?" You were completely dumbfounded by the level of transparency going on in this town. Maybe moving here for a fresh start away from all things supernatural wasn't the best idea.

"Actually," Liam's voice erupted from the entrance, he tried to take the steps gracefully but wound up almost tripping on an untied shoelace. He was flush, probably ran here. "Most of the town knows.”

"The whole town?" This was getting out of hand. Does no one know the first rule of surviving as a supernatural is to keep their very existence secret? Moving here was definitely not the fresh start you needed. You were wracking your brain trying to think of the reason you chose to move to Beacon Hills. You were coming up empty.

"Prompt as usual Liam," Scott teased.

Liam gave him the closest thing to puppy eyes you had ever seen, then shrugged and said "Sorry. Overslept."

Scott made his way out of the bunker, giving you a sheepish wave, you noticed the circles under his eyes at that moment. He was probably more tired than he let on. Liam dug his fists into his jeans and walked towards you, a curious look in his eye. He stood close to you, his nose protruding away from his body. He looked like he was searching for something with his nose. Wait… Was he?

"Are you sniffing me?" You asked with a raised brow. Liam almost seemed to jump from embarrassment.

"Sorry. I was just trying to see if I could sense your..." He stumbled around trying to find the right word.

"My being a werewolf?" He nodded. You giggled a little. "Unlikely. When you don't shift for a prolonged amount of time, the gap between your werewolf and human side grows." You touched your neck wound. Soon you'd probably no longer be able to heal faster than normal people.

Liam noticed your wistful expression and cleared his throat, "So, what do you want to do? We could leave the bunker. I'm sure you're tired of being cooped up in here."

"Is that a good idea?"

"Sure, as long as I'm on guard duty and you don't get kidnapped by tree people."

Your mood suddenly picked up. You knew exactly what you wanted to do. "How do you feel about unpacking boxes?"

***

Derek and Peter were walking silently side by side somewhere in the woods. Derek had a permanent scowl on his face. Even his stride was faster and more purposeful than usual and Peter noticed.

"You've been awfully quiet," Peter remarked as he walked with less purpose and more leisure than his brooding nephew.

"Don't have anything to say."

Peter rolled his eyes, "So you dragged me out to the woods for some Uncle-Nephew bonding time? Gotta say, you're doing such a good job. Bonding requires actual, you know, bonding. We can start with some small talk."

Derek simply ignored Peter and continued walking on.

"Okay, I'll start. That Doctor, she's quite easy on the eyes. Not to mention, very damaged. All that emotional baggage of watching her poor boyfriend die. But hey, from all the sexual chemistry I noticed between you two of you --" Peter was cut off by a very annoyed Derek suddenly grabbing the collar of his V-neck shirt. "Ahhk, careful! This is Armani."

Peter stared into Derek's angry glare and everything fell into place. It was like a light bulb went off in his head. "Oh, that's why you've been more broody than usual. You like the good doctor, don't you?"

Derek let out a deep sigh and let go of Peter's collar. He pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath. He had played right into Peter's manipulative hands. He'd overreacted. "Don't be ridiculous."

"So that kiss was just what? A European handshake?" Peter teased like the smug bastard he was.

Derek's brows rose up in surprise, finally ending his permanent scowls reign on his face. "How did you?"

After a beat of letting his nephew stew about in his shocked disposition, Peter finally reminded him, "The dream state? You may not have seen me, but I saw everything too. And from what I saw, she could do with a few counts of therapy."

"Don't be an ass."

"Fine, then tell me where we're going!"

"The root cellar. Alyster mentioned a 'Mother Tree'. The root cellar is right below the Nemeton."

Peter rolled his eyes, "Last year’s news. Get to the part that makes me go 'Oh!'"

Derek rolled his eyes, "In the dream state I saw a symbol. A tattoo. I think I've seen it before, in the root cellar where Pai--" His eyes turned dark from the bitter taste of that particular memory. Peter's face was no longer smug, he decided it was better if he say nothing. But being accommodating wasn't his winning quality.

"So, Y/N… She a good kisser?"

"Peter!"

He shrugged, "What? I'm just making small talk."

Derek began walking again, "Well, stop."

Peter hurried after him, "Ah, the youth. No time for the little things anymore."

After what felt like hours, Derek and Peter finally stumbled upon familiar ground. Derek did most of the heavy lifting, trying to make a path to the collapsed root cellar. Peter stood over his shoulder barking orders on how to clear the rubble. "No not that one, move the other one, it's bigger."

"You're welcome to come down here and help!"

"I already am!"

Derek sighed what was probably his hundredth sigh of the day. After clearing a path, both Hale boys went under the unstable structure. Derek's eyes grew cold and dark when he spotted the blood stain that haunted the cellar. He pushed his feelings under the surface and tried to ignore it. Even Peter was dishevelled by it, but he too swallowed hard and tried to ignore it.

"Here," Derek said, his eyes were their wolfish blue to see better. His hand was tracing the weird carved symbol on a snaky root.

"Is that the--".

"Celtic five-fold knot? Yes." Derek said grimly.

"So what, you think Jennifer's behind all this? Because I can assure you, she's very dead."

Derek wrestled with the idea for a bit, but considered it impossible, "No, she used the knot as a way to channel the power from her 'sacrifices'." Derek spit out the words like venom. "I'm thinking the Order of Sagittarius use it for the same purpose. Somehow, when they kill someone, it's like they absorb their essence. I think all this is linked to a Nemeton. A much older one."

"That's a bit of a reach, don't you think?"

Derek smirked at Peter, "You got another explanation as to what Mother Tree means? Or how the head hunter somehow absorbed Alex's… essence? Or the fact they can disappear into trees apparently?"

"No…" Peter saw merit in Derek's train of thought, didn't mean he enjoyed him being right. "But this is a druid symbol and our friendly neighbourhood vet seems to be otherwise occupied."

"Guess we'll have to do things the old fashioned way." He took his phone out of his pocket and waved it about. But first, Derek had to make a pit stop at the animal clinic. "Go ahead and fill the others in. There's something I need to do first."

***

You were absentmindedly leaning against the counter of your kitchen island. A hot cup of tea pressed between your palms. The steam formed curtains of white, blurring your vision. You kept moving the rim of the cup from side to side on your bottom lip -that feeling from earlier never left. You kept feeling like you forgot something. You had your keys and the stove wasn't on when you got home but the feeling refused to subside. In the background, you heard Liam and his friend, Mason -who he called to help with the unpacking of boxes- chatting.

"So then he tried to kiss me, and I didn't know what to do so I just turned my head and pretended to sneeze really loudly."

Your skin prickled a little when you heard Mason say kiss. What happened in the dream state? What were you forgetting?

"Didn't you tell him you're with Corey?"

"Well… not really. I said I was with someone, but long distance means I don't get to see Corey as much as I'd like. So, I'm always going solo to everything. Always." Mason said with a hint of dramatic flare. Liam let out a soft chuckle.

A knocking sound emanated from your doorway. The door was wide open to let the warm light of the golden hour into your living room. The knock was more a courtesy than a necessity.

"Hey, Derek. What are you doing here? Thought I'd be guarding Y/N till sundown?"

"Just here to drop something off," Derek answered. His voice was like a cooling breeze stirring you from thought. You felt hyper-aware all of a sudden. Like someone poured ice water down your back. And because the universe was always pulling rugs from under your feet, of course you were still wearing the dishevelled baggy clothes you had taken a nap in. You set your cup of tea down when Derek walked into your kitchen. He stopped for a second, studying your face like he was waiting for you to do or say something, but you didn't. Something about the way he held himself felt different. He seemed… almost self-conscious. It was jarring to see him look vulnerable, even if it only lasted for a few seconds.

Derek looked around your newly unpacked kitchen, "Hmmm… I think an old friend of mine in high school used to live here once. The house looks different though."

You felt cheeky all of a sudden, "Couldn't lead with a simple Hello?"

He looked you dead in the eyes, "Simple isn't in my nature." There was a bit of fire in his words. In the background, you heard Mason whistle lowly and something that sounded like a smack followed by a disapproving "Ow!" Derek smirked at the whole situation.

"Tea?"

"No, thanks." He walked closer to you, out of the view of the boys in your living room. "I came to drop this by and tell you everything with the animal clinic has been sorted. Talked to the Sheriff about what happened." Derek handed you the family picture that had been on your desk before the attack. There was a crack in the glass and a tear in the photo from an arrowhead.

A smile crept onto your face as you took the photograph. Your fingers touched for a moment and you felt a jolt. In your peripheral you saw Derek wrestle with his own face muscles, he was trying to keep a straight face. Then an image of a frantic Derek trying to wake you snuck into your mind. And like an elastic band returning after being stretched, you finally knew what had been haranguing you all day. The kiss. Your heart began to race and a flush raced to your cheeks too. You shook the memory away and tried to act as nothing had changed. Only, everything had changed. Were you attracted to Derek?

“Th-Thank you,” your gratitude came out as little more than a whisper, but you knew his wolf hearing picked it up just fine. You looked up to his eye-line, “I…” The golden light made his green eyes appear mystical. His piercing gaze threatened to drown you in a sea of green.

The sound of Derek's phone ringing shifted the tense atmosphere in the room giving you a chance to take a breath. Derek’s mood shifted. On the other end of the line, you could hear Scott say, "We may have a small problem."

Great! So now, not only was an all-powerful group of supernatural hunters gunning for you but apparently, there was yet another thing to add to your growing list of problems. And not to mention the mixed feelings you were struggling to decipher about your kiss with Derek.

Part 9 is HERE!

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ncmagroup · 5 years ago

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By Matt Shelar

Welcome to the 7th annual installment of DigitalMarketer’s 101 Best Email Subject Lines!

Within this post, I’ve got 101 PROVEN, swipeable email subject lines that are yours for the taking. And if you’re one of our email subscribers, there’s at least a 20% chance that you played a role in determining what made the list. If that applies to you, please prepare for a little déjà vu. 🙂

Though you’re currently reading one of the most aptly titled blog posts of all time, you’ll find more here than just subject lines. I’m going to break down the 8 components of every good subject line AND you’ll get an analysis of our top 10 performing subject lines of 2019. That way, when you’re finished with this post, you can:

1. Start deconstructing and reproducing the elements of YOUR best-performing subject lines…

…or…2. Completely steal ours, if you haven’t already.

If you’re new to the post (or email marketing in general), take a minute to familiarize yourself with the fundamentals of email subject lines.

These are 8 different components I found again and again in our top-performing email subject lines…

1. Self-Interest

These are your bread and butter subject lines—you should be using them most frequently.

They are usually direct and speak to a specific benefit your audience will gain by opening the email.

Self-interest subject lines also help pre-qualify openers by giving them a clue about your email’s body content.

2. Curiosity

If self-interest subject lines work because they communicate a direct benefit, curiosity-based ones succeed for the exact opposite reason.

They pique the interest of subscribers without giving away too much information, leading to higher opens.

Be careful though, because curiosity-based subject lines can get old fast and are the most likely to miss their mark.

3. Offer

Do you like free stuff? Do you like to buy things when they’re on sale?

So does your email list.

When you are giving something away or selling something your subscribers would be interested in, directly stating that in your subject line is a great way to convince them to open the email and learn more.

4. Urgency/Scarcity

This is the most powerful type of subject line you have at your disposal.

Subject lines that communicate urgency and scarcity tell readers they must act now.

But too many of these can lead to list exhaustion, so use sparingly and, of course, only when there is truly a deadline, limited quantity, or limited availability.

5. Humanity

Don’t forget to remind your list about the person or people behind your products.

Sometimes you need to thank your subscribers, tell them a story about yourself, or make a human appeal for their attention.

6. News

Keeping your audience informed about new developments in your field builds authority and keeps your open rates high.

These subject lines often work well when combined with a curiosity element.

7. Social Proof

A fundamental characteristic of humans is that we look to the behavior of others when making decisions.

You can leverage this in your email subject lines by mentioning an individual’s success stories, familiar names, or highlighting how many people are already using a product or service.

8. Story

Telling a story, or at least teasing the beginning of one in your subject line is a unique way to highlight the benefit and get the open rate you’re looking for.

As for our best subject lines of the year… here they are.

The 10 Best Email Subject Lines of 2019

10. bad news, NAME 😔 CONTENT: Facebook Messenger Execution Plan Flash Sale OPEN RATE: 19.21% ANALYSIS: William Shakespeare said brevity is the soul of wit. While this subject line might not have been exactly what the playwright had in mind, it tightly combines curiosity (a vague, negative declaration in the form of “bad news”) and humanity (the use of the first name field, a pensive emoji, and lower-case letters that soften the edge of said “bad news”). So anyone who saw this in their inbox knew that something was wrong enough for us to bring it up in the subject line, but not SO wrong that I needed to break out Title Case.

9. Content is King (and Queen) CONTENT: How to Craft a Pillar Blog Post Workshop Sale OPEN RATE: 19.29% ANALYSIS: While maintaining flavors of curiosity, I got declarative with this one. Seeing as how the bulk of our email list identifies as a “marketer” in one form or another, and Content is something that virtually all marketers need nowadays… I knew that if I took one of THE keystone levers of the industry and used the well-known Bill Gates idiom, “Content is King,” as a departure statement that would separate us as an authority on the subject, I’d both deliver valuable information to our subscribers and get a few opens.

8. 11 Copywriting books you should (probably) read… CONTENT: Blog Post OPEN RATE: 19.64% ANALYSIS: Benefit, benefit, benefit. If you read this subject line, you knew exactly what you were in for. The only curiosity that came into play was “WHAT ARE THE BOOKS??” And that simplicity made it one of the easier-to-craft subject lines of the year. The logic was simple: People love odd numbers, copywriting, books, books on copywriting, and a friend’s passive encouragement to read more often.

REMEMBER: When you’ve got all the ingredients for a hit, there’s no need to be clever.

7. The Ultimate List of Blog Post Ideas CONTENT: Blog Post OPEN RATE: 19.86% ANALYSIS: Remember what I said about our audience’s relationship with “Content” in number 9? The same thing applies to Blog Posts 🙂 Thus, if there was an “Ultimate List of Blog Post Ideas,” I had a hunch it wouldn’t make our subscribers like us any less. Again—no need to be clever when you’re transparently delivering EXACTLY what your audience is looking for.

6. video ads CONTENT: Billy Gene Shaw Video Ads Workshop Sale OPEN RATE: 19.9% ANALYSIS: “BUT WHAT ABOUT VIDEO ADS????” ← In our minds, that was the ideal question on our subscribers’ minds when the subject line “video ads” arrived in their inbox. I took a gamble on the clumsy, vague audacity of combining an “it” marketing topic with an all-lowercase subject line. There was no thesis. There was no hint of where I was going with it. There was NOTHING fancy-schmancy. And it felt great.

REMEMBER: Pattern interrupts WORK.

5. [ANNOUNCING] Messenger Marketing with Molly Pittman CONTENT: Molly Pittman Facebook Messenger Bot Workshop Sale OPEN RATE: 20.38% ANALYSIS: 2019 was a loud year in an already loud world. And while pattern interrupts are a great means to an attention-grabbing end, sometimes you’ve got to scream along with the crowd. And in the subject line world, [CAPS COMBINED WITH BRACKETS] has no substitute in the way of attention-getting. You put that together with another “it marketing topic” a la video ads AND an industry authority… and you’re going to get opens. This one played with elements of curiosity, offer, and self-interest.

4. Email Marketing Announcement: Enrollment is back open 🙂 CONTENT: Ryan Deiss/Richard Lindner Email Marketing Machine Workshop Sale OPEN RATE: 21.56% ANALYSIS: This one is a classic case of self-interest, offer, curiosity, and humanity, all wrapped into one simple, cohesive 7-word subject line. How’d I do it? I took our another one of the most POPULAR digital marketing topics (a.k.a. something our audience is greatly interested in), hinted at an offer by saying enrollment is open, NOT explicitly stating what the offer was, and adding a personal touch of humanity with a classic smiley face emoticon.

3. Netflix’s huge homepage fails CONTENT: DM Insider Newsletter OPEN RATE: 21.64% ANALYSIS: In the past decade, the words “failure” and “Netflix” haven’t typically been used in the same sentence. So when the streaming service tested a lackluster homepage in 2019, I capitalized on it for our weekly email newsletter and in turn, a winning email subject line. As you can see, this one’s not fancy or clever. It’s neither loud nor punctuative. It’s us getting out of our own way to present the information as concisely as possible and it’s exactly what it needs to be—because when you name-drop one of the most successful companies, hint at a misstep, and AVOID clickbaity bells and whistles, you’re going to garner genuine curiosity.

2. Ryan Deiss is FAKE CONTENT: Aprils Fools Day Campaign OPEN RATE: 23.64% ANALYSIS: In case you’re unaware, Ryan Deiss is DigitalMarketer’s Co-Founder & CEO (and also the “from name” for about 98% of the company’s emails). So when our team came to the conclusion that the best April Fool’s prank we could pull was a campaign centered around Deiss existing as an entity somewhere between the Illuminati and the Tooth Fairy…

… I knew that one of the toughest challenges we’d face was how to hint at the humor in as believable a way as possible. And in this case, our subscribers decided for me. That’s to say, “Ryan Deiss is FAKE” earned the number 2 spot on this list because it won a 3-way split-test, determined by our email subscribers.

REMEMBER: If you get meta, do it self-deprecatingly.

1. CANCELLED CONTENT: Black Friday Sale Close OPEN RATE: 27.28% ANALYSIS: Sometimes all you need is CAPS LOCK and a single word that screams URGENCY about as loudly as it can be screamed in text form. Strangely, the word that screams URGENCY more effectively than the word “urgency” is not “urgency.”

Turns out, it’s “CANCELLED.”

“BUT WHAT’S BEING CANCELLED?????”

Apparently, that ^ question burnt through people’s curiosity enough to earn this subject line the top spot in a year where DigitalMarketer sent more emails than it ever has.

Now that you know what made the top 10 the most opened, here are the other 91 top-of-the-line email subject lines that round us out to an even 101.

91 More Email Subject Lines to Swipe

• ⏰ my copy & paste email templates gone in 3…2…1… • $200 DISCOUNT is gone in 3…2…1… • NAME, are you part of the 41%? • [UPDATED MASTERY COURSE] I’m sorry, NAME • [WEEKEND UPDATE] NAME’s traffic strategies for 2019 • Your ads (probably) suck • TOP T&C 2019 Takeaways • Your step-by-step gameplan for marketing’s next frontier • 2.3 Billion leads for $7 • [SWIPE] My Updated FB Ad Templates • Your free FB Ad Templates are waiting for NAME • Your free download is waiting, NAME • [OPEN] NAME’s invitation to Office Hours w/ Ryan Deiss • How to Create a Video Studio on a Shoestring Budget • a video studio on a shoestring budget? • [SWIPE] 15 viral-video templates • I don’t see your name on my list, NAME • The answer: Strong __ Marketing • this email is about email 😱 • [EMAIL MARKETERS] Get Certified. Beat Amazon, Uber & Old Navy. • Get EMAIL Certified for 80% Off • The ONLY Email Metrics That Matter? • ⏰ Hours left to get [EMAIL] certified at 80% off… • [SWIPE FILE] Learn to Write Headlines That Get More Clicks • [READ & SWIPE] Learn to Write Headlines That Get More Clicks • [LAUNCH 🚀] How to Write a Pillar Blog Post that SELLS • [NEW RELEASE] STOP publishing new content every day • [VID] Write a “Pillar” Post That Flat Outsells • [CONTENT MARKETERS] The Importance of a Unique Angle • ICYMI: How to write a PILLAR Blog Post that Sells • READ: Boost Conversions by Providing a Consistent Ad Experience • Ad Scene: Boost Conversions by Providing a Consistent Ad Experience • NAME’s second (and last) chance • NAME – your 21-step Paid Traffic Plan is waiting • 1 Day left to get a proven [TRAFFIC] rollout plan? • [EARLY ACCESS] 4th of July Sale • NAME’s special early access to our “4th of July Flash Sale” • ANNOUNCING: Up to 90% OFF our best-selling products 🙂 • don’t say I didn’t warn you 😬 • the skill every copywriter should know (but most don’t) • Want to perfect your LinkedIn profile? Check this out. • Re: Want to perfect your LinkedIn profile? Check this out. • [REMINDER] 2_ days left to save $400! • [QUIZ] The SECOND Most Visited Website • This email is not about Facebook. • This is my (next to) last email about YouTube. • This is awkward, but… • this is it 🙂 • Ditch your “brand.” Create a “place” instead • This email is about Retargeting Ads. • “Your baby is ugly…” • you’ve got 5(ish) hours —> • This is an email about Paid Ads. • This email is NOT about Halloween. • Issue #7: Google rankings down? Blame BERT • ⏰ LAST CHANCE: DigitalMarketer Lab goes off the Market in 3…2…1… • say bye • Your Black Friday Order • NAME, got a few minutes for some 1-on-1 time with me? • the “Blitz Launch”… defined • It happens tomorrow… • [URGENT] the 2020 marketing plan you’ve been waiting for • CUT OFF • the “nice” list • NAME’s 4,400% ROI • day 5: the most important skill in marketing • Me holding an eagle = 4th of July savings for NAME • snag Billy Gene’s step-by-step video ad formula? • [ICYMI] Create a Video Ad that SELLS w/ Billy Gene Shaw • [SWIPE] 15 fill-in-the-blank video ad templates + FREE Notes • what is digital marketing? • “The A-Team of Paid Traffic” • [ANNOUNCING] Completely Re-Done Paid Traffic Mastery Course • Paid Traffic: 2019 EDITION • _ INVITATION: To the world’s best marketing Community • [Last Reminder] Up to 85% off our best-selling products gone in 3…2…1… • ⏰ 30 Minutes left to save Thousands? • 🚀 a BRAND NEW launch model • are “traditional” launches dead? • Save $200 on Your BEST 2020 Marketing Strategy? • NAME’s VIP Access to 12 Days of Deals! • the HUSTLE & bustle • this is not a “SALE!” email • ✉️ Up to 80% OFF Our Best Email Trainings? • grow your revenue 49% faster than the competition? • [VIDEO MARKETERS] Save hundreds and stock up for 2020 NOW… • 👉 Up to 85% OFF our best [COPYWRITING] strategies • NEW DEAL: $944 OFF Our Best Traffic Strategies • [TODAY] Save 83% on our Best Customer Acquisition Tactics • Prep for 2020 w/ 85% OFF Our “Essential” Trainings • 📢 [ANNOUNCEMENT] Every DigitalMarketer Product Now up to 85% OFF?

Aaaand…

THAT. IS. IT.

If you’re tired of reading “NAME” and seeing “[BRACKETS WITH WORDS IN ALL CAPS],” it’s for a good reason:

Last year, those were [REALLY POPULAR FOR US, NAME].

In fact, out of our 101 best email subject lines of 2019, 23 used the [CAPS BRACKET] and 15 used the first name field.

Another cool find?

While our average subject line was 6 words, our TOP 3 of 2019 were all less than 5 words.

REMEMBER: AGAIN: Brevity is the soul of wit and pattern interrupts WORK.

My thoughts?

There will never be a “golden subject line formula.”

And that’s GOOD news because formulas lead to stagnation. And stagnation leads to your subject lines (and as a result, your emails) being white noise.

For all I know, last year’s [CAPS BRACKETS] and sub-5-word email subject lines could be this year’s “all emoji” or “5 en-dashes and an ampersand” subject lines (whatever that is).

That being said, I won’t chalk it up to “who knows,” because there are CERTAINLY guidelines and best practices to follow.

And if you can combine said best practices, a little creativity, the power of split-testing, and the application of the scientific method…

…you’ve got yourself a pretty solid formula for consistently pumping out winning subject lines.

Huh. Maybe some formulas do work.

Food for thought.

Now get to work.

Go to our website: www.ncmalliance.com

101 Best Email Subject Lines of 2019 By Matt Shelar Welcome to the 7th annual installment of DigitalMarketer’s 101 Best Email Subject Lines!

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