rk was

dress was ruined. Dirt on the hem. A tear along the side where I had run too fast. The heels Adrian bought me sat on the

led it out. Twenty three missed calls. Fifteen from Adrian. Ei

e off and shoved

ies or explanations or promises that everything would be okay

er was

. Murder. Kelvin put his hands on her and ended her life because his father told h

d to th

w again. Empty. I stared at my hands in my lap. They

Adrian they were

ewo

n into a wolf and fight off three others. After seeing his

my mother bound my wolf to

as awakening. I felt li

lders. She leaned into him like he was her whole world. They did not ev

. No werewolves or murder or supernatural bonds. Just regular

Wanted normal s

Not anymore. Not if Adr

ng fit. The dreams. The restlessness. The way my senses had been sha

a

we were destined. That some

not want destiny or fate or whatever cosmic

t my mother. Lost the truth about who I

losing my

lf and tried to figure out what to do next. I could not stay in

Money. My laptop. Everythin

n said Asher's people might be waiting

ter running away. Could not handle more truths or revela

nough to grab what I needed. T

lk. The concrete was cold under my feet. Rough. A piece of glass cut my heel

ding looked the same as always. Old brick. Peeling paint around the windo

rm

elt heavy. When I reached my floor I stop

ed so hard to keep. The place where Ke

biggest problem was a cheating boyfriend and m

ent inside. Hit the light

wer wa

ect. Just w

dead. The apartment looked wrong in the dim glow. Shadows in all th

e bed. Started shoving clothes inside. Jeans. Shirts. Underwea

all room. At the bed where I used to sleep. The desk where

her's

til I found the box in the back. Cardboard. Taped shut. I had not op

e was anything. Any clue about what Adrian

the tape. The cardboard was soft from age. Inside we

Wooden. I opened it. A necklace. Some ea

e ring was a fold

The paper was old. Yellowed. Co

etter.

t made sense. But at the top in

HER

hey blurred. Keep her safe. Kee

d aside more clothes. My finge

our

a thousand times. I pulled it out and just held it for a momen

to the fi

en I am gone. And you are o

I read the words

me. She wrote

tell you. So much I wish I could explain in person.

her was not human. He was something else. Som

erew

ng so hard the word

eve it. But it is true. Werewolves are real. They live am

ng through the city. One look and I knew. Knew he was

d not

ts and whispered promises. He told me what he was. Showed m

out I was preg

chest and tried to breathe. My father was a w

en she

yself to k

claim me as his mate officially. But his world was danger

o his people. And mating with a human broke those

ght for us. Wanted to change the rules. I wa

they

love as a betrayal. They attacked. Your father fought

safe. He knew a witch. Someone powerful. She could bind your

would take away part of you.

agr

h. I held you while the witch worked her magic. Watched your e

y. I took away part of you

safer if no one connected us. Said he woul

ot seen h

o many questions. Getting too close to the truth about where

ing this then I

ed onto the page. I wiped them away qu

protect you. The binding. The lies. Moving to thi

turn nineteen it will start to break. Your wolf w

drian M

art s

ngest. Your father trusted him. Made him pro

ken. He will help you.

en when it feels imp

ll from my han

ri

t Adrian. My father

accident. Not fa

was p

ent three weeks ago. He had been waiting. Wa

ing was

ay he looked at me. All of it was just

ate. I was his

ight. Harder than learning about werewolves. H

l. Wanted Adrian to actually want me for me. No

ding. Needed to know the rest. Nee

out your father. About your bloodli

f time. They are gettin

hidden in the lining of my jewelry box. Bank

's letters. The truth about the p

in this world. I am sorry I could n

ve. Be the woman

u are more power

alw

o

ank. That was it. Th

ther was an Alpha. My mother loved him. They had me. Enemies came. She boun

ad known thi

at I was. What I wa

hemistry or attraction or fate. When really

ation broke through my thoughts. I grabbed it and tu

forever. We kno

oded my

he journal inside. Went to the jewelry box and tore at the

footsteps i

low. Del

ped outsi

tared at the doorknob.

it. I knew

r opene

Broad shoulders. Eyes that g

ce was cold. "We have