il

nd a promise to return, but her presence lingered in the cabin like the aftershock of an earthquake. Donovan retreated e

n who had always been able to pull me out of my own head-Paige, my best friend since freshm

ecame my refuge, a latte nursed between anxious f

but you're sleeping in separate rooms. His terrifyingly chic grandmother has moved in. And h

against the ceramic mug. "When you

. "April, honey, the Moon Goddess must have been day-drinking when she paired you

g through the mind was the image of him, drunk and vulnerable, growling "Mine"

nyone I know, and that's why you get hurt. Listen. You cannot put all your eggs in this cracke

flicker of pride cut through the gloom. "It's good. A few big orders

on their company server." The confession tumbled out. Addison, my sister, was going through a nightmare divorce f

get that sorted, April. Legally. Money is po

e phone on the table. A text

ecting the usual noti

the screen.

000.00 has been made to your account. Sende

housand.

eyes. The brain couldn't process i

s the screen was read. "Whoa. That is... a lot of l

right. A normal pack warrior, living in a run-d

question mark about who Donovan re

iliation. He thought money could be thrown at me? That this wo

send it back sought. But his account information wasn't t

opened. His name tapped. Contact

en angry, hurt messag

dare

nk I'm a p

want you

. From the heart, a simple

t this isn't what I want. I ju

efore the nerv

single blue bubble containing those vulnerable, naked words. Wait

assed. Then

little "Delivered" receipt under

van

at? Apologize? Provide for her? The impulse was born from watching her fend for herself on th

from an unsaved number, ins

t this isn't what I want. I ju

, bypassed. They struck something deep, something th

ts to b

screen.I want that too.

ngement was a lie? That she was being tested? That I was a paranoid, damag

would never say those things. He would stay s

nd of the desk. The financial reports lay open, but the numbers were m

il

side shrive

ly was

ile twisted the lips. "You're right, Paige," ca

s the loudest

ting. Do

on the café table. The familiar logo of

lew, pulling up emails and legal doc

orld so big and so bright would be built t