S'S

thing other than wo

d leaning casually against my office doorway

w, Bernard? And how

a man come over to hang out

, holding up a silver key and jingling it cheekily.

want, Bernard. Some of

with w

y is?" I asked, gesturing tow

moon rises tonight. You know what happens when the

every detail," Bernard argued, stepping into t

ngs before everything t

it later," Bernard said, wa

most of the hard work. Now com

by the arm and practically dragged me out o

shoved me toward the car. "Don't you

estering you," he replied

rry about where we are

pulled up to a cozy, crowd

ng here, of all p

estions. Just

the middle of the floor. We sat in silen

d we leave when the f

aroma like wet earth and rain pulling through a dry forest. It hit me straight i

was in a ponytail swinging from left to righ

we're-" I started, but Bernard

e called out across the dining room

taking in her almond-shaped eyes, her soft f

olent, aching pull tightened in the center of my ches

My puls

? Before I could stop myself, my eyes tracked he

ripping the metal frame until it almost cracked under my fingers, desperately trying to anchor myself. H

op. The sound of glasses clinking on the table jolted me out of my head. I looked

ard muttered, leaning across

e waitress asked for your orde

voice tight as I stared at the s

e even here

her mad," Bernard said, g

the magnetic pull in my chest threatening to tear me apart if I stay

the front doors into the cool air, I saw Bernard hastily slap a

there?" Bernard caught up to me at the c

don't know," I ground out, r

htened the second she walked near us. And didn't you s

tracks. A strange, knowing gri

ing out of the ordinar

hat

e," Bernard whispere

u what?" I said

." The word hit me li

know that's

specifically to your senses that nobody else c

re obviously the

't have mates!" I snapped, my vo

ursed. It's been that way f

not, your body c

A m

t a surge of pa

she probably hates me now.

s you," Bernard offered,

got off to a

e," I said, opening

me here? We aren't do

tting the door and pulling out into th

steering wheel. A mate? It coul

d. With what is going on currently, either the anc

, the sky was already darkening into dee

l where my head overseer was waiting. "Have all th

a respectful nod. "The perimeter is loc

or-to-ceiling window as the moon beg

s outside, but my mind was miles away still haunted