I’m a bit uncomfortable around Rita. Her sense of self-assurance contrasts with my insecurities, for starters. Her relationship with Alex, of course, is the main reason.I don’t know much about this werewolf stuff—or apparently about Alex and his family—but I know Rita is a warrior who has been paired with Alex. While they don’t seem…close…exactly, there is a familiarity between them.Now I don’t know where I stand with Alex. I know he cared for me, before. Then, after he returned and the attacks happened, we got close again. It felt like we were getting back on track.

Alex grabs my other hand and squeezes it gently to get my attention. “You okay?”I nod, maybe a little too emphatically.I look around at everyone. They’re holding conversations just like normal people. If I didn’t know better, I would think they were. In fact, nothing up to this point has seemed out of place. Well, other than Alex’s parents, who speak formally and sound like they’re already centuries old.I look at Alex. He fits in here. That makes my heart hurt because…well…I don’t.

I can’t help but wonder if he’s thinking about his brother.I can’t really see anything as we stroll through the forest. I don’t have night vision. Fortunately, Alex does. This makes it even more magical when the trees clear to reveal the most beautiful scene.“Wow!” escapes my lips.There is a stream ahead of us. The moon is glistening off the water, creating sparkles of white dancing on the slow-moving, barely rippling surface of water. With the stars above and this stream at our feet, I can’t help but feel like I’m in a movie. Again

It’s a long three days waiting for Alex’s birthday. I don’t leave the house much. Most of our meals are taken with just the family, and Alex disappears frequently to either sit with his brother or take care of pack business in his brother’s stead.His parents are also out most of the day, and Rita is gone to meet with the Malkeye pack, so I’m often left with my thoughts. Which is not good.But the first thing I do each morning is talk to my mom, to continually reassure her I’m okay. But to be honest, these talks also reassure me of the same. I need to know she’s not in danger, and when I ask her if she’s seen or hear

Rita and I haven’t spoken about it. She told me what happened with Ryan, the Malkeye Alpha, which is discouraging enough. If none of the Malkeye members have been attacked, then the rogues are exclusively after the Ayzena.And Cynthia. My heart aches just thinking about her, my damsel in distress. If there has ever been anyone—human or otherwise—I’ve felt the need to protect, it’s Cynthia.But I felt something stronger this morning. My body hummed with…adrenaline? Hell…I’m not sure. I was amped up, is all I know, which may explain the temper tantrum I threw. In hindsight, I think I may have overreacted.That’s embarrassing enough, but Rita? That my body so unmistakably reacted to her was not something I expected at all. I’m not sure I even like her as a friend, much less a mate. I’d even started to imagine myself with Cynthia. Living with her, being with her…I shake it off. I knew better. I only allowed those thoughts to make myself feel better in this shit show of a predicament I’m