an's

e football field weighed on my c

e to school. Instead, I sh

field, but whenever I found myself alone, all the

of Adrian I had secretly kept on my phone. In t

heard the butler make a respectful announcement from the hallway. "Ms. Ashford,

parents h

htness gripp

pened. The moment I h

all knotted together, leaving

face in the mirror, I drew

ed today, I was determined not t

r, put on something suitable, a

g like the oppressive, tense pl

her, Arthur Shaw. The packs' territorial defense plans and the quart

's mother, Alice Shaw, sat drin

y mother called with a smil

pproaching them and offering a greeting. "

g at me with the same affectionate warmth she always had. "It hasn

tension, expecting them to raise the painful s

inute passed a

business, completely absorbed in their discussion,

em knew about

arents anything about wh

the force of lightning, and I

on could he have f

some small part of him

thought as soon as

giving myself

ep fooling mys

ittle, would he really have humiliated

me, and all that relentless doubt and u

e me a tender smile, gently patting the back of my hand. "We're having an outdoor dinner

ce down the bitterness lodged in my throat. "Certainly

a pillar on the porch, feeling completel

g between his brows. "What's been going on with you over

in her eyes. "Sweetie, do you want m

ted in both my parents' faces brough

courage to explain what had

ad. "No, Mom, Dad. It's just... I think I might have a m

hug. "I'm glad you're all right. Never forget that you're

.

ith a resounding bang. "Vivian! Are you seriously going

, letting the glaring sunligh

. "Get up, Vivi! Someone as gorgeous as you can have any guy you want. Let'

th emptiness, but I couldn't bear to kee

e among them.

"You're absolutely right. Why keep making myself miserable over someone who d

.

own plaza was crowded with p

o boutique, until shopping

the middle of the plaza, I

howing a worldwide advertisement

tailored black suit, and his striking, cool

from the screen with a distan

s Adr

ry advertisement, he looked

I knew so well yet now felt so far away f

t? Come on, hurry!" Celicia cal

r, however, the moving crowd p

d to find her, Celicia was a

the plaza's loud music and all the surrounding n

to call her, only to find that

destrians, I slipped onto a narrow path beside

I found myself in an alley that led to

area, and the tall, dirty brick walls lining

k to the main street when a thunderous engin

und the corner and slid sideways, pinning me

wly sized me up, their looks ope

attoos, aggressively twisted his throttle. Thick, foul-smelling black smoke filled the air as he gave me

ng to be calmer than I was. "Get out

then, men like these wouldn't hav

f remained dormant. As things stood, I couldn'

rcycle closer, sealing off the only way past. "I couldn't care less who you are. Since yo

imbed down from the seat, and stretched hi

back hard against the brickwork. There

loser and closer to me, cold per

for someone, anyone,

the alley, its tires screeching loudly as it made a sharp, co

black leather motorcycle jacket. A completely bl

oad, intimidating outline and felt the unmistakably cold prese

it was actu