8. Jump Off a Cliff

-Jian-

I avoid Aline for about a week, keeping to myself while shoving away nagging thoughts about how I left things with her.

Breaking news interrupts my efforts to forget about her. Lance tells us the vampires left the city. Talu, still on forced bedrest, doggedly researches why and bends my ear with his theories during my visits to bring him his favorite boba drink. According to Talu, Chase, Mei's vampire ex-boyfriend, sent her a goodbye text saying his coven was moving across the bay to Oakland, but there was no explanation.

Without alpha commands to gather against bloodsuckers, I have too much idle time. I try to interest myself in Talu’s mission, but fail. Watching Tony dote on his middle schooler has me worried that he’ll get arrested if someone doesn’t check him on his stalkerish behavior. I convince Will to act as Tony's caretaker.

I even stay at home to help my mom around the house. After just a day, she sat me down and told me my h