RA'S

ndow. For a moment, I lie there, staring at the ceili

t night because I kept on seeing

. The impossible idea that

sinking feeling in my c

n't a

d head downstairs, dreading

he sets a plate of pancakes on t

ble, sliding int

tching me. His gaze is heavy, un

everythi

his stare burning int

akfast, he clears h

pt, stabbing my fo

't even know what I

t's about the mate thin

his jaw. "You can'

chin. "W

en us, frowning.

Just a friendly disagre

sharply but

cape to the front

ra, w

wolf's fated mate, and I am definitely not interested in wh

"You are in it. Whether

hat sounds li

oice soft but firm. "It's

I don't believe in t

. hurt, frustration, some

ain this,"

eact, his hand

spark jolts through me; sharp,

into a thin line.

pounding. "It's just.

ne. "Lying to yourself

Because I don't

se still racing. And for the firs

f he's

actually a werewolf?" His voice comes from behin

o that?" I raise

be dangerous for you to be around me at that time, I

ither ways." After saying that, I wa

*

ion, and things between Jon and me have

en us. We don't talk about the mate thing anymore, and I pretend the weir

ty. And I don't feel as defensive around him. It's strange..al

t of the full

things I don't want to think about. The house is quiet except for the occasio

p. Maybe a glass

? But how can he record something

down the hallway, my socked feet m

y own eyes right? At least, that way

top. His door is slightly open, just a sliv

sound. Almost

. What

he leave his TV on? Is

rthink it, I pus

fr

sn't

...cha

is skin. His hands claw at the floor, nails elongating into

racking and reforming. His clothes are in ta

, sickening crack,

no, wolf's eyes

ling growl f

catches in

ank. This is real. Jon...his wolf...t

ly thing I

ru

'S

a

ripping through me

coming hours before it happens. The itching under my skin

a- wasn't suppo

even through the fog of my shifting. My wolf's inst

d. She p

she's

arls in protest. My claws dig into the floorboards, anchorin

ding down the hall, then t

my body still half-wolf,

's no tur