LOGINI had been watching him for the last few minutes.Not because I was suspicious.At least, not entirely.There was something different about him.Something I couldn’t quite put my finger on.His scent was different from anyone I’d ever met.Not human.Not werewolf.Something darker.Older.My wolf had noticed it almost immediately.Vampire.Star’s voice was certain.I glanced at the man beside me.He was smiling as he watched the dancers.He seemed completely relaxed.But I knew what he was.And I decided I wasn’t going to pretend otherwise.“You’re a vampire.”His head snapped toward me.For the first time all night, the confident expression disappeared from his face.“What?”I smiled.“You’re a vampire.”He stared at me.I couldn’t help laughing.“You look shocked.”“I am.”“Why?”“Because most people don’t figure it out.”I shrugged.“I’m not most people.”His eyes narrowed slightly.“You’re not afraid?”I shook my head.“Should I be?”He stared at me for several seconds.“I don’t k
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d laughed this much.Not the polite laugh I gave pack members when they told me a joke.Not the small smile I forced when someone asked if I was okay.A real laugh.The kind that made my cheeks hurt.The kind that made my stomach ache.The kind that made me forget, even for a few minutes, that my life had fallen apart.And somehow, this man was responsible for most of it.“I don’t believe you,” I said, laughing as we stood near the dance floor.He looked completely innocent.“What?”“You expect me to believe that?”“I swear it’s true.”“You’re a terrible liar.”He placed a hand over his heart.“I’m wounded.”I laughed again.He grinned.“There it is.”“What?”“That laugh.”I felt heat rush into my cheeks.“What about it?”“I like it.”I looked away, suddenly feeling ridiculously shy.I couldn’t remember the last time a man had made me blush.Actually, that wasn’t entirely true.I could.Joss had made me blush countless times.But this was different.
ArielleTwo weeks had passed since the night Tori and I had gone to the club.Two weeks since I’d laughed.Two weeks since I’d danced until my feet hurt.Two weeks since I’d discovered that, for a few hours, I could forget everything.And tonight, I was going back.Alone.I stood in front of the mirror in Tori’s spare room, studying my reflection.For the first time in months, I had actually made an effort with my appearance.I wore a fitted black dress that hugged my curves without being too revealing, my hair falling loosely around my shoulders.I looked different.Not because I’d changed physically.Because there was something different in my eyes.Something I hadn’t seen there for a long time.Independence.I wasn’t going to the club because I needed Tori.I wasn’t going because I wanted to prove something to Joss.And I certainly wasn’t going because I wanted to find another man.I was going because I wanted to have fun.I wanted to feel like Arielle again.The woman I had been b
JossI couldn’t stop thinking about what Tori had said.She’s tired.Not angry.Not trying to punish me.Not waiting for me to chase her.Tired.The word followed me all the way home.When I walked through the front door, Clare was sitting on the couch.She looked up immediately.“You’re back.”I nodded.“Where were you?”“I went to see Tori.”Her expression changed.“About Arielle?”“Yes.”Clare’s lips pressed together.“What did she say?”I looked at her.“That Arielle is hurting.”Clare sighed.“Joss, I know she’s hurting.”“Do you?”She looked surprised by the question.“Of course I do.”I said nothing.Clare stood and walked toward me.“She’s the one who chose to leave.”“I know.”“She made that decision.”“I know.”“Then you can’t keep blaming yourself.”I looked away.Maybe she was right.But something inside me had changed.For weeks, I’d been trying to convince myself that Arielle leaving was temporary.That eventually she’d calm down.That eventually she’d come home.That e
JossI had always believed Arielle would fight for us.Even when she was angry.Even when she was hurt.Even when she walked away.Some part of me had always believed she’d eventually come back.Because she loved me.Because I loved her.Because four years couldn’t simply disappear.But as I drove toward Tori’s house, a horrible thought settled into my mind.What if Arielle wasn’t coming back?I tightened my hands around the steering wheel.No.I couldn’t think like that.She just needed time.That was all.But the closer I got to Tori’s house, the harder it became to believe my own excuse.Arielle wasn’t answering my messages.She wasn’t calling.She wasn’t asking where I was.She wasn’t asking about Clare.She wasn’t asking anything.And suddenly I realised how much I had relied on that.I’d taken Arielle’s love for granted.I’d assumed that no matter how badly I hurt her, she would still be there.Still waiting.Still loving me.Still hoping I’d choose her.But what happened when s
JossSomething didn’t feel right.I couldn’t explain it.Arielle hadn’t contacted me since she left.Not once.At first, I’d told myself that was a good thing.She needed space.She needed time away from me, away from Clare, away from the house and everything that had happened.I’d convinced myself that giving her that space was the right thing to do.But now…I wasn’t so sure.I sat behind my desk in the pack office, staring at my phone.Nothing.No message.No missed call.Nothing from Tori either.I opened our conversation.The last message I’d sent Arielle was three days ago.I hope you’re okay.She hadn’t answered.I stared at the words for several seconds before locking my phone.Three days.Three days without hearing from the woman who had been part of my life for four years.Arielle had always answered me.Even when she was angry.Even when we’d argued.Even when she needed space.There had always been something.A short message.A call.Something that told me she was okay.No







