n't s

drooped, the image flashed back: golden

g, something would break through the window and drag me out. Every creak of the hous

I caved and c

as that sound on the call??

ounded like HOWLING. li

ur bad boy was serena

e me. "Nope," I muttered to myself. "No

, anoth

at if he's the wolf?? like, cursed biker

the blanket. "I'm

ke my brain had been sandpapered. My alarm went o

ed cereal with zombie precision. My mom

uld say

ed more

, revolution

ed into the chair and drowned

n. Of course. Ril

if he IS the wolf, u gotta kis

d my mom frowned

ing lik

ing itself into knots. Because the glowing eyes weren't just

I had to fa

ed into school, I

e full rumor hurricane experience. Heads turning. Peopl

my locker, pretending to scroll my phone

it t

zed-cheerleaders, glossy hair, synch

true?" I trie

e taller one leaned in co

ed. "Wi

lay dumb. Everyone saw him storm out

. "He was not-he did

nfirmation. One even whipped out her phon

etly. "It's kinda hot. Beauty and th

I don't even

like a news reporter at a scandal. "Oh my God, they're

arm. "I'M NO

ll. Half the crowd glanced up. Great. I'd

llway parted li

jacket slung over one shoulder like a mena

Don't look. Don't lo

ook

rse I

ooked ri

cked on mine. Not soft, not curious-shar

e brushed past, close enough his shoulder grazed mi

iet. Sta

e I turned, he was already halfway down

led. Riley looked like

e on fire, heart racing, and exac

ay, way ov

bathroom breaks. No water fountain detours. I even lingered behind w

maybe karm

was. Leaning against the row like he'd been waiting al

. "Do y

"Why are you t

people what? That you're a jerk? Co

arrowed. "

upposed to send out a press release clarifying that I'm not secretly dating

e I could yank the door ope

around. "S

but sharp. "I'm not a joke.

ontrol the gossip machine!" My words came out loud

e any idea what it's like having everyone w

re mine,"

to mine, and for one terrifying, elect

ainst the locker

dn't reach his eyes.

's when

ur way totally protects me from the h

out before I

lazy menace-just sharp, immediate focus. His

he

ked. "

tone was clipped, urgent, l

on the phone with Rile

so close I could feel the heat radiat

red. "No. I mean-e

beat, he looked like he might

ed, "You need to ke

ing off down the hall befo

metal, breathless, and abso

k

actly what

actically bolted from my last class, desperate

slow

ith dangerous enthusiasm. "We're hanging out. No argume

artbroken,"

t that glazed-over 'mysterious bad boy

around the hall, like shadows might peel off the wa

hat prickling sensation crawled

ned by the thought-he stepped

e devil. And by devil, I mean li

ook at her.

s sharp, almost a g

rly flew off her forehead. "Um, excuse me,

ned me in place, so fierce it made my k

For a second, I al

y, stalking off down the

. "What is his deal? Does he p

ing to shake it off. But th

ones right where

n the metal. Deep. Shiny, li

s. Not

aw

dropped t

y nudged me

the gouges, not daring to touch, heart

atched those lockers

een standing