rsts open. I don't e

nnounce herself. She doesn't walk

brea

a civilized human being," I say, looking on a

r, arms crossed over her waist, eyes raking my body like a hunter. "O

brow. "

u d

t know that looking into a mi

rit. 'Keep up that sarcasm,

where two dresses are laid out - bo

know wha

red dress. "W

"I was thinking

not! Black is for blending in, and tonight, my darling Naomi Carter, we

in, enjoy the party, and leav

personally insulted. "Why

make your life a lit

but doesn'

t That H

cupied with the make-over pr

e y

ed. Five years since he spoke the words

ss. Wor

one like you woul

eigh

at it would be like to belong to someone in that way. But then I turned e

chosen hi

e in the eyes and s

to him. Less

I was weak

rson such as y

ing the memory away before it

at it sti

ll part of me still

pat

He never even offi

wolf - Haven - still aches f

eparture from the pa

I was wolfless. Turns out, Haven was

bout her. Not

ecially

 out of my thoughts. "

mage in the mirr

ng abou

eadpans at me. "Naomi, please. "I

wasn't thinking

e at lying," sh

e. Maybe I w

secretly hoping that he'll see you to

re isn't enough mone

s. "Now let's work on them gett

ut of your system. And not just him - the whole damn past. You ca

don

t you believe this entire thing is your fault. That had yo

ground, unable

t require anyone to affirm you. You've been busy five years showing that you're not t

in my ch

e she'

, but I never r

t ends

n the mirror. "Fine,"

"Damn rig

een Wa

ter, we wen

r us, and when they see m

n now," he says, his e

e she has. She's turning o

"Humble as eve

- same hazel eyes, same brown hair, same quiet stren

time in many moons, I thi

I b

ther says, pulling her shawl tigh

the request away. "We'll take Nao

you get the 

"Exactly. L

but we're not going to hoof it in he

r drives away, I

low in my belly, winding ti

be t

well as I kno

onna do whe

ledge me? Will

in the back of my head w

d sharply. No.

isn't ab

abo

knowing grin on her

ze, inhaling, s

th a slow, con

o make h