m

e tap until icy water gushed out, splattering across the basin, splashing up onto my chest. I barely

yn

rough bar of soap, the one that always smelled faintly of bleach, and lathered it hard enough to burn. My arms moved furiously

"Mate," she purred, her voice dark velvet in the

d. My voice cracke

rs ago, the leaky roof of the Pack shelter dripping onto the thin blanket I curled beneath. The same desperation to

ved a garbage bag at me, half-filled with my clothes. I'd been fourteen, still shaking from the shock of my first shift. Stil

. The disappointment carved into my father's face that day had been the last thing he ever gave me. He'd hated

he present. I wasn't that kid anymore. I

ver me until I couldn't tell whether the trembling in my b

ound a scent patch. My fingers shook as I slapped it over the mark. It dulled the pull, b

ubbed until suds frothed and my arms ached. The scent of Rayne and me still lingered fa

egas, I was an outcast due to my appearance. They'd laugh at me, tugging at my red hair and whispering things like freckle-face, ugly. They stole the small scraps I

gile. They never saw t

The air was bright, the sun climbing fast, warming the cracked pavement unde

mb

fr

e

and impossibly bright. His energy filled every space he en

, striding toward me. "I'v

couldn't cover everything. Rayne's hickeys still dotted my ski

m instantly. His grin mor

feather-light. "Amber Queen, you sly little minx. I was worried sick when you

ding my cheeks. "I don't

you got mauled. Who was it, huh? Come on, spill! You never date, you never even flirt, and now you s

ut it," I snapped, hanging a shi

d, undeterred. "Fine. Keep your secrets. I'm just glad you finall

ee

irking. "You've been so anti-dating, so against finding your mat

in their wake. If only he knew. If only he

hat about you, huh? When are you planning

ng. "I don't know. You know how it is here. People don't accept d

n the closet forever. Someone's going to notic

rned pink.

wers, trinkets, that custom bracele

he sighed. "Okay, fine. Maybe he spoils me a lit

line. "But secrets have a way of surfacing. Especially w

scares me. But if anyone finds out, we're screwed. Rayne's supposed to be the next Alpha. An Alpha doesn't

essive. "He's ours. Rayne be

nd stood in front of me, baring the rawest part of

, he saw Amber freaking Queen, his partner-in-crime, the girl worth dragging to parties and daring to laug

was betraying him

on my tongue: R

f love he was clinging to. And I remembered standing outside my fat

't do it

his eyes. "We'll figure it out," he murmured, alm

oplets. I swallowed down the truth and forced my hands to still

ed myself. And now, if I had to, I'd save Reed too-