LOGINBillie nodded, digesting the information, analyzing my Moondream like she was trying to find meaning within it. I was sure I had analyzed it a million times over and not found any interpretation worth looking into. “When did you have it, exactly?”“Ah… it was right after Niko choked me.”Billie’s eyebrows rose. “When you went unconscious?”“Yep.”“You didn’t even say anything about it.”“Sorry, it kinda caught me off guard,” I drawled. “I wasn’t ready to blurt out that I just had a Moondream and found out my fated mate was fucking Everett March.”“I guess…” Billie frowned. “But you know, you can tell me these things and I won’t judge you or tell anyone. You’re my friend, Aislin.”The harshness in my voice petered into a laugh under my breath. Then it struck me, a second later, how much courage it must have taken Billie to say that. I couldn’t imagine she ever had a chance to be a source of comfort to somebody before. I was probably the first real honest friend she had outside of Hex
Muriel never ended up coming to my apartment that night. I wasn’t sure if it was because Gavin was so angry at me that he didn’t trust me, or if it was because it was too late to bring her over. Either way, I was in no mood to talk to anyone, and it was a miracle I managed to fall asleep as quickly as I did.The next morning, Gavin texted me, ‘Muriel will stay at your place tonight. Please let her heal you.’ I didn’t acknowledge the request. Memories of last night—Gavin and Everett both imploring me to get help with my injured lungs—suffused me with anger I couldn’t handle.Most of my day was spent working at a cheap accessory store in Grandbay’s strip mall. I was the Assistant Manager and usually worked four to five days a week, making just enough money to pay for my apartment, but not much else. The job was good enough, but I spent a lot of time surrounded by nattering tween girls and adult women that tried too hard to be cool, and both types of people grated on my nerves after a wh
I knew from the moment we experienced our Moondream that I would reject Aislin Mundy, but I hadn’t expected it to cause such strife within me. As soon as she left the cabin, the wolf inside me raged against my decision. The connection we shared implored me to seek her presence. My magnetism toward her was inexplicable, but with the finality of my rejection, I hadn’t realized how persuasive that magnetism was until she was suddenly gone.Gavin’s tension released in a loud sigh. “Damnit, Everett.”Faint remorse prickled the skin on the back of my neck. I couldn’t help but leer at him. The way he spoke made me feel like I was the bad guy for my decision, but I was only being rational. “You know it couldn’t have worked between us.”“Fated mates are chosen for a reason,” he said. “I wouldn’t have expected it to work with Billie and I, but look at us now.”“That’s because you provide each other with something you need. I don’t need anything from Aislin.”“You don’t know that.”“I have eve
I knew from the moment we experienced our Moondream that I would reject Aislin Mundy, but I hadn’t expected it to cause such strife within me. As soon as she left the cabin, the wolf inside me raged against my decision. The connection we shared implored me to seek her presence. My magnetism toward her was inexplicable, but with the finality of my rejection, I hadn’t realized how persuasive that magnetism was until she was suddenly gone.Gavin’s tension released in a loud sigh. “Damnit, Everett.”Faint remorse prickled the skin on the back of my neck. I couldn’t help but leer at him. The way he spoke made me feel like I was the bad guy for my decision, but I was only being rational. “You know it couldn’t have worked between us.”“Fated mates are chosen for a reason,” he said. “I wouldn’t have expected it to work with Billie and I, but look at us now.”“That’s because you provide each other with something you need. I don’t need anything from Aislin.”“You don’t know that.”“I have eve
I didn’t want to brush him off like I did everyone else. As discreetly as I could, I tried to clear my throat, but I ended up rasping anyway. “I don’t know. Somebody hit me really hard when we were facing off against Dalesbloom and the Inkscales.”“In your ribs?” Gavin stepped closer, his face darkening with concern. I stepped back. “Yeah. It’s whatever.”“You can barely breathe,” said Everett.It was really fucking aggravating that Everett was suddenly privy to everything I could feel. I felt everything he felt, too, but apparently Everett felt nothing at all because the only thing I’d experienced since our shared Moondream was the pain in my chest. Well, except for all the damage he had taken just now—but on the emotional end of the spectrum? Nothing. I bared my teeth at him. “If people would get off my case about it, I’d be able to heal.”“If it’s that bad, Ais, you need to get it checked out,” said Gavin.“It’s not that bad.”“It is that bad,” argued Everett.“Is that what sto
Shame was not something I felt often, but in the aftermath of my fury against Sebastian, I hesitated to show my face to anyone. I had a sneaking suspicion that it wouldn’t be long before my fated mate found out, and if Sebastian had been telling the truth—that I really was a contender for joining the ranks of the Mythguard—then I didn’t think I could stomach the disappointment that would follow my outburst.The easiest thing was for me to sit quietly in my apartment away from everyone else and not put any extra strain on my lungs. Easiest… physically, I guess. Everybody knew me for my penchant to stick my nose in peoples’ business. I was usually involved in Grandbay’s affairs to some degree. They would find it strange, no doubt, that I was suddenly keeping to myself. I think that fact just made me want to hide even more. The instant I didn’t act like my usual self, everybody would know something was wrong, and I didn’t want to confess that it was.Muriel was supposed to stay at my pla







