RV

a j

Prick

t rej

know this guy, but his words hit different coming from him— they sliced right into

n’t hurt like this. What was with t

s faded in the hallway, but his expensive t

lk in the vineyards under the moonlight. Obviously, I was way over my

s jaw. Whatever enraged him that had twisted his b

me. Perhaps he was j

cab early in the morning. I just didn’t know how to break it to Kailin. It seemed th

such

y grandfat

you?” His voi

ss you are waiting

’s wr

ong, Grandpa.

. And I can feel it in your voice.” Sometimes, I thought

I would stay at least a week in California. He was

home. I booked t

The worry in his voice was palpable. He knew Kailin and I wer

here. The vineyards are so beautiful, and some of these guys are awesome. I met Heartley. She’s so sweet. Sh

’t go well. Come back home. Maybe

t to use my savings.

hought you were going to hel

s the

e, and we’ll t

orrow, Grand

too. Good n

as pretty as Kailin’s. After drawing some deep breaths, I walked out of

ong walk, and my mistake was to put my stilett

it in romantic movies where lovers chased or spr

han a Californian night under the silver moon and the light of the stars. I

ent lingered in the wind, and it

lked through the lines of vines with whit

ctually green. I wasn’t an expert on when the grapes wo

ailin. “Oh, God. I’

ard thuds and crunches a few feet ahead of me. Despite the

e other side but saw no one. Until a giant brown

s, my heart pounded so hard, and m

he wolf, and I had no idea t

erced my ears— it sounded like bones crunching and

manage to blink or breathe until my lungs

acked, and from the four-legged animal, it turned i

s not

or the shadow was pla

as imp

haky knees and immediately crashed into something

ance. Before I could fall and land on my ass, big h

, deep ramble somehow eased me

forest green gaze, his eyes electrifying under the moonlight, almost mythical.

calmly, eyes raking through

hard and sho

convince me he was sincere. He swiped hair on my

me,” I whispe

Let me take you b

gripped his arms wit

seen something around

d something supernatural, I saw tonight that terrified and sh

aped in disbelief. His expres

ht, you can’t wait to get rid of me. Why are yo

eemed filled with mise

ght tonight, I’m already out of your hair right now.” My knees wobbled as I walked

ng without te

in’s best friend.” I stopped and faced him. “I couldn’t think of anything I did wrong. Kailin an

ling me around. He pulled me against him, took the back of my head with his hands, and gro

ed than I had the strength to comprehend what he

anting, which confused me even more. “Alph

cer ball because right now I’m infuriated at yo