Prologue

I was at the store, buying some late-night snacks for Kristin and I, who was still at our dorm. As I walked out of the store and onto the parking lot when I saw to figures who seemed to be male on the opposite side of the street, I couldn’t see much with the dim lights of the streetlamps. As I looked closer I saw that it was them, more specifically him. I felt my heart almost pound out of my chest, and my mouth fell open "Ashton?" I whispered softly, but my whisper seemed to travel all the way to him. Ashton and Josh both turned to look my way. I hear him shout my name and before I knew what happened, I'm being pulled into a chest. How did he find me?

"Evie." Ashton says which sounded like he was almost out of breath, as if he is in shock from seeing me.

"Let go of me." I spit out angrily. Because yes I was angry, and most of all hurt. But I wouldn’t let him see that.

"I can't." He whispers softly in my ear.

"I don’t care if you can’t because you can ,just let me go. I thought I made it very clear last time I saw you; we are done." I say as anger and hurt crashing through me.

Ashton closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, "I am so sorry," he whispers, "But I have to do this."

Panic rushes through me "Have to what?" I asked.

Ashton leans down and puts his lips against my neck and starts kissing softly. Heat floods through me and chases away all the panic, anger or hurt, that I felt only seconds ago. I feel my body lean into his embrace and can't help but feel like I should never move from his arms.

"I'm sorry." Ashton whispers against my neck. Before I can say anything, I feel his teeth against my neck. Ashton's teeth bite through the skin in my neck. My hands, that were resting against his arms, now clamp down on his forearms as pain races through me. I cry out as the sting of his teeth biting down hard on my neck registers in my brain. His arms crush me harder to his chest as I try to get away from him and the pain. My mind flashes back to those horrid nights and I instantly start writhing, desperate to not feel the amount of burning pain ever again. It dulls to a throbbing pressure and I feel his teeth retract. His tongue licks over the new bite, where I know there is blood. Ashton kisses it and a slight shiver goes through my frozen body. His arms loosen and his blue eyes bore into my frightened, green ones. I'm speechless. Completely and utterly speechless. I can only stare at him with my mouth open and my eyes wide. 

Ashton looks concerned, "Evie, are you okay? Does it hurt?" I don't respond, too shocked at what happened. "Please, talk to me."

A harsh breath leaves me. "You just," I trail off, not sure what to say other than state the obvious.

 Ashton cups my cheeks, his eyes trail over my frightened and shocked expression. "Are you hurt? " He repeats, seriously? what a dumb question.

"You bit me!" I screech, yanking my face out of his hands and taking big step back with my hands in front of me. 

"Evie", an unfrozen Josh walks towards me, his hands raised so they're level with his shoulders. "Are you okay?"

I turn to glare at him, my hand moving to cover Ashton's bite. "He just bit me. HE FUCKING BIT ME!" I said while looking at Josh. I turn to Ashton, "YOU FUCKING BIT ME!"

"Please," Josh says from behind me, "Calm down. Stop yelling." 

I give a harsh, breathy laugh as I stare into Ashton's eyes. “Calm down? CALM DOWN? How dare you tell me to be calm." I say with a sadistic smile. Ashton's eyes seem to dim at my reaction as he glances at the now covered mark. 

"Evie," this time it's Ashton who talks, "please-"

"Leave.” A look of hopelessness crosses Ashton's face, but it's quickly replaced with a hard determination. 

"No." He said, with no room for discussion.

"No?" I scoff, my voice going high. "You don't have a choice, Ashton. Leave, now, I don't want you here."

"Evie, please-" 

I cut Josh off. "You don't get to talk, Josh! You don't ever get to give me your stupid excuses ever again!" I feel my anger grow at Josh. "You lied to me, so many times! You knew what I was going through and did NOTHING!"

"I didn't give him a choice, Evie." Ashton stops my attack on Josh. 

I focus on Ashton. "I don't care. You did it to me. You have absolutely no right to come back into my life."

"I have every right. You are my mate-"

"NO!" I scream. "You have no right! You lost it! And you are never getting it back!" I suddenly remember what I put into my pocket before leaving. “Always protect yourself," Kristen had said before I left, "especially at night.” I reach behind and pull out my knife, flicking the blade open. Irrationally fills my mind and I point directly at Ashton. His face grows concerned and shocked as I openly threaten him.

"Evie, do you even know how to use that?" Ashton asks calmly, almost making fun of me.

"Swing and stab" He takes a step closer. 

"Stay away!" I yelled at him.

"Evie please" Regret fills his features once again, but he stays where he is. I look towards the dropped snacks, now closer to them than to me. Fuck, I thought, well Kristin will understand. 

"Just stay away from me." I start carefully walking backward until I trust I'm far enough to turn around and run back to our dorm. As far away as I can form them.