I clear my throat. “So, there’s more… a-and I need you guys to be understanding and not judgemental of my friends, okay? We can have that conversation some other time. I’m well aware that’s a whole… thing.” “What do you mean, there’s more?” Mom puts her hands on her hips. “Keller, since when did your life spiral into drama series?” “Mom, please hear me out.” I put my hands up. “It’s about Jensen.” “Don’t tell me Jensen was at your penthouse last night, too.” Dad’s eyes grow wide. “No, but he was there for the surprise birthday dinner Jasper and Sam threw for me.” I feel my face contorting into a snarl, but I control it. “Lisa, Skylar, and Carla were there, too. I don’t know if they knew about it beforehand, but they all saw it. So did my human friends.” I clear my throat. “Saw what? He didn’t shift in front of your human friends, did he?” Mom’s tone is annoyed and slightly angry. “No, Mom. He made some sort of fucked up agreement with
Zara’s POV“Do I look alright? I can’t remember the last time I went to a fancy restaurant.” I stand next to the breakfast bar and look at Keller so he can get a good look at me.I picked out a light pink sweater dress with black tights and ballet flats. I styled my hair half up and curled it, then put on makeup, even though Keller says I don’t need any.“Hmm, I think it’s missing something.” Keller taps his finger on his chin and smirks at me.“My coat? I won’t put it on until I’m ready to leave. What else is there?” I look down at myself. Maybe he means I should add a belt to the dress?“There’s this.” He hands me a small, flat velvet box.“Wh-what is it?” I feel my cheeks flush. I wasn’t expecting a gift from him. Winter solstice is almost two months away.“Just a little something I picked up for you today. Open it.” He pulls me a little closer and b
On the way to the restaurant, I sit in the back of Amy’s Mercedes Benz. It’s practically a limousine. My feet don’t even touch the floor. I settle into the seat while we pull away from the curb. Amy looks at me through the rearview mirror while she drives. “Alright, now that we have some privacy, we have business matters to get out of the way, Zara. Estelle and Keller told Phil and I your concerns about working in the lab with Estelle. We want to offer you a solution so you can continue working on the cure for the sigma pheromone.” “Wh-what did you have in mind?” I feel my heartbeat grow faster. I really don’t want to work in the lab if Jensen is going to be there. Even if they are going to let me work on the sigma pheromone cure. I look out the window. We are moving too fast for me to open the door and jump out. I look back at Amy, but she has returned her attention to the road. “It’s alright, baby girl. We’re going to set up an office for you in the dining
“So Zara, how are things going with you and Keller?” Amy surprises me by aiming a question at me. I look at her with wide eyes and force a smile. “Oh yes. He has been wonderful.” I blush with my response. “He may seem like he acts aloof, but it’s just an act. He’s really paying closer attention than people realize.” My fingers brush against my new necklace, grateful he knows me well enough that they did not make it of sapphires or diamonds. I take a sip of my water and hope that’s a good enough answer for her. “Yes, that sounds about right.” She puts her chin on the back of her hand and observes me. “I take it you two have mated, right?” I choke on my water and set the glass down. I cough and try to clear my throat, while Estelle pats me on the back. “Excuse me?” “I’ll take that reaction as a yes.” She takes another sip of her champagne and winks at me. “Keller told me you two are waiting on having pups. I guess I’m a little itchy for grandchi
I wake up in bed by myself, feeling like a balloon is making my head swell. I blink to adjust to the low light, but even my wolf vision can’t cut through the darkness. There is a faint light coming from under the door and a slight chemical odor in the air. It reminds me of scorched beakers in a lab. “Lavender? Was that a bad dream?” I groan and rub my fingers on my scalp, trying to get relief from the pressure in my skull, but it doesn't really help much. Wait a second. There is no injury to my hand. How long have I been asleep? It takes a minute to realize Lavender hasn't answered me. I take a second to collect myself and call for her again. "Lavender? Are you there?" I still feel connected to her. It's like she’s there, but she seems distant. As if she’s not close enough to the surface to answer me. I close my eyes and search my mind for her. Actually, no, it feels different. Mom always used to use the expression ‘I was beside myself.’ I think that is
Keller’s POVI pull into the parking lot and pick a spot on the side of the building where there aren’t as many cars. My thumbs drum on the steering wheel, anxious for Jasper to pull into the parking lot.“Are you really gonna tell him?” Rocky sounds unsure of the idea.“Dad thinks I should.” I shrug and run my fingers over my forehead. “I’m on your side on this one, Rocky, but I trust Dad too. If it seems like it isn’t going well, I can always tell him it’s a prank.”I finally see Jasper’s Audi pull into the parking lot. He parks next to me and gets out of the car. I wave at him to open my passenger side door to get in. He looks a little confused and looks around the parking lot, but does it anyway.“Hey Kell, where are we going? You said you wanted to eat here, right?” He gives me a worried look.“Yeah. Uh, not going anywhere. I just want to talk in p
"So you have a wolf living in your head? And he talks to you?" Jasper asks for the tenth time. He is holding his glass close to his lips, but I think he forgot he was holding it because he hasn't even taken a sip for almost ten minutes. For the most part, he has taken this pretty well, but he is still trying to wrap his brain around the concept of sharing a body with a completely separate consciousness."Yes, Jas. Rocky is my wolf spirit." I nod patiently. “He and I share a body. Most of the time I’m in human form. Sometimes, he takes partial control, like you saw in the car. Sometimes, I transform into Rocky's pure wolf form which is like a regular wolf, but a Hell of a lot bigger.”“I never realized how dumb Jasper is.” Rocky scoffs in my head. “You tell people I can be dense? This guy beats me around the block.”“Knock it off, Rocky.”“So, he has sapience?” Jasper tilts his head at me and finally sips his lemonade.“HE’S USING PRETEND WORDS, FOR GODDESS SAKE!” Rock
“So this place is full of werewolves like you?” Jas asks as he looks out the window while we drive up the main road of Crystal Lake territory.“Yes. It was the last time you were here, too. So whatever you hear or see, I need you to just say cool. Okay?” I say without looking at him.“Yeah, of course. I’m a guest here. I get it.” He gives my shoulder a quick squeeze. “Zara’s going to be okay, Kell.”I park and grip the steering wheel. “Jas, you don’t have to be here. This isn’t your problem. I can get Estelle to drive you back to Cozy Up to get your car.”“You’re joking, right?” He looks at me like I’m crazy. “Kell, if you or Zara have a problem, then so do I. I’m staying with you.”We get out of the car and run inside. Estelle is waiting for us, teary-eyed, in the waiting room. “Keller, they are taking her to a room now. Your mom is with her. She woke up and was out of her mind. Talking about