and cutlery. Dad is sitting at the end of the table reading some papers, for once home on time for dinner. Of course, it has to be my last dinner. "Oh, set out five pl

the pack? She'll love

his is a big change, but it will be good for you," h

very nice,

want to go," I argue, and before my mother can say it, I continue for her, "and I know, you came

y father asks. "I must sa

. She's just being difficult because she woul

't want to be a Luna. I don't want to go to his pack. I don't want David. I don

dad starts, but

t happen to be his mate. My entire life is changing while all he ha

" My mother asks. "The

it matter whether I

ust answer y

feel it. I know

he end of the world for him, and I'm sure he would have done the same. So w

t as confused as my mother. "Beca

s on pu

w," I exagge

ive him a chance? Can't you just see where

t him yesterday. How about you relax a

front door. "That's Lindsey," my mother says. "Le

mate now. My best friend's eyes continually shoot to me, yet all I give her is a shrug to confirm that my mo

me sense into her," my

that's happened to me in the last twenty-four hours, but the second I close my door, s

es. That's the problem. Do y

aren't excited?

him in twelve hours. I don't ev

about you out in the world by yourself worried me, but I feel better knowing that you have an Alpha by

of them. All anyone cares about is that

e supposed to be feeling p

can't let myself—the

't do this to yourself. You're going

you because you're still the only person I can tru

tares

d to an Alpha, but I figured that if I played along with th

sey interrupts. "People don't j

m that I don't wan

want to b

be with him. What matters is w

u want

my freed

ne or the other?

orld. I'm never going to do everything I've dreamt of doing because he'll take over my brain. He'll be all I thi

rows as she comprehe

ow, right? You get w

e anything—you gain someone. It's not like I lost myself when I met Timothy; I

ou wanted to see

t's just that I have someone else to consider. That's

Alpha as a mate? You're saying that I'll be able to leave him behind

the floor. "I

don't work together.

he's yo

t's also my

gether begins to run low. She starts talking about responsibilities and communication; how important it is to be patient with him, t

ut this time I have no desire to speak. When we reach the guest h

, Brigie, okay? Promi

, "I'll be okay.

gs her arms around me. "And yo

re I'll need to get

y ear. "Okay. You go on then. And don't worry about your things. The A

toward the door before glancing

aves. I hurry inside before tears begin to trickle down my cheeks. I don't want he

he's here. I squeeze my eyes shut as if all the welling in my eyes will dr

're

Alpha walking down the last

ng into the afternoon, but we have to get up early

ollow. My gaze slowly sinks

anage and m

g against the wall. Inside is the passport my parents got for me when my mother's father was dying across the country. We didn't have time to travel there through our own means because my Dad had to be back for our Alpha, so the

y. I also have two sets of clothes and bathroom essentials.

many people out at night. We don't worry about wandering humans or rogues out here; we have never experienced anything having to do with them. My father told me how other packs have g

below. Steadily, I inch down the roof until I reach the edge. I turn onto my stomach and push down until the weight of my body yanks me to the grass. I scrunch my face as I drop

nd realizes I'm gone. He said there was no point in running, but if

g South, so if I can cover myself in the trees, I can undress and shif

and my stom

low an

inside,"

e. There's defeat on his face, and despite the u