Future plans

Troy looked far too pleased with himself as we sat around sipping our drinks and talking about all the trouble we'd inevitably get into at college.

I still couldn't believe everyone had decided to go.

When Lyall and I first made our plans, I'd imagined the two of us facing a new world together. Somehow, our entire friend group had decided that wasn't acceptable.

Now I couldn't imagine it any other way.

We had spent nearly our entire lives together.

We trained together.

Studied together.

Got into trouble together.

It was rare to see any of us alone.

Most packs had similar groups surrounding their future Alphas. Those friendships often evolved into the Alpha's future council and unit—the wolves he trusted most when it came time to lead.

For years, pack members had assumed our group would eventually become Lyall's council.

None of us had ever doubted it.

"Do you think any of us will find our mates now that we're finally of age?" River asked.

A smile immediately tugged at my lips.

Of course she'd ask that.

River had dreamed of finding her mate for as long as I'd known her. She adored pups and talked about having a family so often that none of us were ever surprised when the subject came up.

Lyall chuckled.

"You know it doesn't work like that."

River groaned.

"It could."

"No," Lyall replied. "The Moon Goddess reveals mates when she thinks we're ready. We could be standing next to them right now and never know."

His parents were proof of that.

They had known each other for years before discovering they were mates.

Sometimes fate seemed to move at its own pace.

"It would still be nice," River said quietly. "I know I can't be the only one who wants to find their mate."

Troy's ears turned slightly red.

"I wouldn't mind finding mine."

The look River gave him nearly made me laugh.

For years, most of us had secretly suspected they would end up together.

If anyone deserved a happy ending, it was those two.

As the conversation continued, I reached for my drink again.

Halfway through swallowing, a strange sensation twisted in my stomach.

I frowned.

Maybe I'd eaten something bad earlier.

Ignoring it, I set my glass down.

A few minutes later, the nausea returned.

Stronger.

The room suddenly felt warmer.

Too warm.

I shifted in my seat.

"You okay?" River asked.

"Fine."

The answer came a little too quickly.

The music seemed louder than before.

The lights brighter.

A wave of dizziness rolled through me.

My stomach dropped.

Something wasn't right.

Werewolves didn't get sick like this.

I stood abruptly.

"I'll be right back."

River immediately pushed herself to her feet.

"Want me to come with you?"

I forced a smile.

"No. I'm okay."

At least, I hoped I was.

The moment I started toward the stairs, I realized I wasn't.

The floor felt unsteady beneath my feet.

Each step seemed harder than the last.

The nausea intensified.

My vision blurred at the edges.

Behind me, I heard chairs scraping across the floor.

"I think I'm going to follow her," Lyall said.

For once, I was grateful for his stubbornness.

I gripped the railing as I descended the stairs.

Something was very wrong.

By the time I reached the bottom, my legs felt weak.

The crowded nightclub seemed to sway around me.

I missed a step.

Strong hands caught me before I could fall.

"Rowan!"

Lyall's voice sounded distant.

Like it was coming from underwater.

He wrapped an arm around my waist and guided me toward the hallway leading to the restrooms.

But after only a few steps, he stumbled too.

My heart lurched.

No.

Not him too.

I looked up just in time to see him signal frantically toward the bar.

The bartender's eyes widened.

Someone shouted.

The music suddenly seemed impossibly far away.

The hallway tilted.

Darkness crept into the edges of my vision.

Then everything went black.