“Well well well,” Rafe says, his face twitching, as Victor and his family approach the fire pit, Victor limping slightly. “Look who finally showed up.” The rest of the family are already gathered. Bridgette sits in a camping chair next to Rafe, her hands folded anxiously in her lap. Even Henry has
Victor glares at his brother, shaking his head slowly at his lie. “As for the helicopter,” Rafe continues, looking at his father, “it did indeed come, but to deliver medical aid which I had previously arranged for the Betas. Not to deliver me.” Rafe scoffs performatively. “Honestly,” he says wit
Here, Marissa shifts her gaze to Victor and Evelyn. “By tradition and express written right, the Luna is considered the other half of the Alpha. In essence, they are one.” Realizing suddenly what she means, Evelyn’s eyes go wide. Victor and Rafe understand a moment later. “If Evelyn was on the f
But despite my dismissal of the thought, I recall moments from the night with unease. When I had run into the woods, I hadn’t thought about where to go. I had just run, run until my lungs burned with the effort. I hadn’t felt the cold, hadn’t stopped to think about where Victor might be. I had just
I laugh, snatching his hand away and pulling him close against me. “You worry about your own face, baby,” I say, “leave me to my own.”“What’s wrong with my face?” he says, looking up to me and raising his hands to his own cheeks, prodding there. “Is it different?”“Oh yes,” I say seriously, looking
When we arrive home very late that afternoon, everyone is exhausted, unloading themselves from the van with slumped shoulders and bleary eyes. Even the Betas who work to help us out are worn low, I see. When I step out of the van I’m glad to see fresh troupes coming to replace them.I watch them, cu
I feel the pit drop from my stomach, then. This, really, is why I wanted to stay at Victor’s big house instead of heading immediately for my own. Trust me, my bed is definitely calling to me, but this…I feel a strange responsibility towards Bridgette, now. She is my friend but also, as Rafe’s fianc
“You invited my brother to stay with us? Here?” He hisses, his face suddenly red with exhaustion and anger.“I had to!” I protest, keeping my voice low and glancing to the living room, where I know our two little spies are surely listening.“Evelyn,” he says, exhasperated. “Rafe just betrayed me – b