Dustin turns down the road that leads to Bellfrey, and not another word is spoken until he parks the car outside of a random Target.

  He opens the door, and walks off, not even bothering to wait for me.

  Asshole.

  We make the supply run like that. Glaring at one another, not speaking. That strangely heated kiss hanging in the air between us. It’s not the first time I’ve kissed Dustin, but he’s never kissed me like that before. I try not to think about it, but it’s easier said than done. I should probably forget about it anyway before I cause myself even more problems.

  When we get back in the car, Dustin sighs, and his shoulders relax if only slightly.

  “Do you want to grab a coffee or something before we head back? I know you haven’t really slept much.” He looks forward to the sparsely populated parking lot, avoiding looking at me again.

  “You trying to buy my forgiveness, Blackridge? Because it’s going to take a lot more than coffee.” I pout.

  Dustin throws the car into gear. “I’ll take that as a no.” He backs out much quicker than he should in such a busy parking lot.

  “You can’t just go all fucking alpha wolf on me every time you disagree with me or my choices.” I cross my arms.

  Dustin sighs, ignoring my comment. “You still like blueberry pancakes?” he asks to the windshield.

  “Yeah. They’re my favorite,” I answer.

  “Good. Because I’m hungry. Going to stop for breakfast before we head back.”

  I roll my eyes.

  “I’m going to order everything on the breakfast menu then, if you’re buying. And I’m not going to eat any of it.” I stick my tongue out at him, but if he notices he doesn’t respond.

  The diner isn't very busy in Bellfrey. In fact we have the place pretty much to ourselves. True to my word, I order one of everything. But I only touch my pancakes.

  I do need to eat.

  Still, I refused to acknowledge he was right.

  Dustin takes a sip of coffee, and the sunlight casts an ethereal glow on him. In its light, he looks younger, like he is sixteen again. I can’t help the tiny flutter in my heart, butI push it down.

  Not now, Jade.

  Maybe not ever.

  His eyes were lighter then, more full of life, and wonder.

  Now they are dark, shaded, and cold.

  The telltale mark of the Blackridge Pack.

  “I don’t get it,” he says quietly.

  I steal a sausage from his plate. He doesn't even notice.

  “What don’t you get, all mighty one?” I drawl sarcastically.

  “I’ve known you my whole life. I know you love blueberry pancakes. I know you hate to be last at anything. I know how you got that scar on your left ankle, and I know you piss me off more than anyone else on the planet, but the minute some bottom shelf, low rate human walks in the room you get all fired up like a damn teenager,” he grumbles as he takes another sip of coffee.

  “You really are green with envy aren’t you?” I smirk.

  “I know it’s not an ideal situation, but you’re going to be my wife someday, Jade. And someday soon. For better or for worse.” He pushes the eggs around on his plate.

  “I had a life too, you know. I didn’t ask for this.” He stabs a piece of sausage angrily.

  “I could have sworn there were three links here…” he says looking at the other plates for his missing sausage that is now sitting in my stomach.

  “Well, I’m so sorry to have ruined your plans, Dustin.” I scoff. It was the first time he’d said the word out loud since the declaration, and somehow that made it feel real. Wife. The way he said it, made me feel like complete shit. As if being married to me in the wolf sense was a chore. Something no one would want.He’d felt differently when we were kids. But things change, people change. I push the thoughts down, and stealthily take a piece of bacon from his plate.

  He catches me, glancing down at my fingers as I pull the bacon from his plate and pop it into my mouth. He slides the plate in my direction.

  “No, I don’t think you are. Sorry, I mean. You never are.” He calls the waitress over and sweetly asks her for boxes.

  Suddenly, I feel a pang of guilt for ordering all this food and not touching it.

  “I’m sure lover boy will appreciate breakfast, even if you don’t.” He scowls at me.

  We carry the boxes out to the car, and load them in the trunk. Just as he turns away from me, I can’t help myself, I reach out and touch his shoulder. He turns in surprise.

  “Why did you do it?” I ask.

  “Do what?” In the light of day in Bellfrey, he looks like an angel of death, dressed in that tight fitting black T-shirt that showcases his physique, ripped jeans and black boots. Or a rockstar.

  “Why did you help Ranger rescue Rev?” I ask.

  Dustin walks closer to me, his eyes burning into mine.

  “You’ll never understand, but—”

  Dustin seems to be fighting over what to say. He gazes back at me, flashing to my lips, then back at me once more.He steps into my space, boxing me against the back of the car. That damn stirring feeling is back, too.

  His eyes are bright right now, and they stare into me like they are looking for my damn soul.

  “Forget it. Get in the car.”

  Chapter 21

  Reverie

  Waking up this morning, I feel much better than I did last night. My head still aches and my neck still burns, but the nausea and sweating has gone away. Maybe it was waking up to Jade, or maybe it was having her so close to me that fixed everything.

  She’s gone now, out with Dustin on a supply run because the guy can’t seem to manage anything on his own. He very well could have taken Ranger, but I’m not stupid. Clearly he didn’t want to leave Jade and I alone.

  I get myself up and walk into the other room to find Ranger sitting on one of the bean bags, reading a book. I glance at the cover, it’s slightly faded but I can see something about myths and legends on it.

  “There a bathroom around here?”

  He looks up and smirks. “You’re in the middle of the woods. Take your pick.” I raise a brow. “Plenty of trees to choose from. I prefer the cedars myself.” He winks before looking back to his book.

  “But… nevermind.”

  I make my way down to the ground, do my business quickly, and then head back up. Thankfully I only had to pee. I’m also grateful I’m feeling better because climbing up and down this tree would have been impossible otherwise.

  “Feeling better, I see?”

  I nod and take a seat beside him.

  “What’re you reading?” I peek over the book, trying to get a look. Ranger drops it into his lap, his hands hiding the cover.

  “That really what you want to ask me?” He raises an eyebrow and smirks.

  How does he do that shit? Ranger is good at reading people, knowing their emotions or whatever they're thinking without them saying anything. It’s kind of creepy, if I’m being honest.

  “What’s Dustin’s problem?” I ask instead, knowing he doesn’t want pointless conversation about a book he’s reading. He’s always been all about the gossip.

  “You haven’t figured it out yet?”

  I have an idea, but it feels weird to say out loud. I’ve never been in a love triangle before. I mean, not that this—whatever is happening between Jade and I—is love or anything, but it’s the basic idea. When I don’t respond, Ranger keeps talking.

  “You, Rev. You’re his problem.”

  “I get that.” I let out a harsh breath. “But why?”

  He takes a deep breath and sits up straight. “Wolf stuff. Both Jade’s and Dustin’s fathers are alphas of their packs. Dustin has always been friends with us, though he shouldn’t have been. If you didn’t notice, his dad, Samuel, is kind of a dick.” I huff out a laugh. Wait… Samuel. No, it can’t be. Dustin belongs to the same pack as Donevan? The guy who attacked Ranger and kidnapped me? “Anyway,” Ranger says, pulling me from my thoughts and the bit of anger I feel rising up in my chest. I’ll have to worry about all that later. “Dustin was chosen to take over our pack when Jade’s father steps down. The decision happened the day everything went down in your store. Jade is pissed, she’s kind of always wanted to lead this pack herself one day but that’s not how things work. And how they decided on Dustin?” He shakes his head and looks out the small window. “I have no idea.”

  It’s silent for a long time, Ranger looks as if he’s in deep thought.

  “Dustin loves Jade. Always has,” he says softly. The words give me a dark, sinking feeling in my gut. “I don’t think she sees it. Or maybe she does and just ignores it. Maybe she feels the same way, but doesn’t want to acknowledge it? I’m not sure. Jade and I have been friends for a long time, but Dustin isn’t something we talk about often. They’re… well, they’re kind of supposed to get married… like, in wolf terms.”

  “What?” I choke out, an ache in my chest forming at the thought. I was finally feeling better but now I’m sick all over again. I close my eyes and rest my head back, taking a few deep breaths to calm myself.

  “It’s just pack politics. It’s not what she wants. Part of me thinks that’s why she can’t stand Dustin. She knows he’s something being forced on her, and if there’s anything in this world you don’t do, it’s force Jade Hollow to do something. Even if it’s something she wants, it needs to be on her terms. That’s just how it is with her, always has been.” I can feel Ranger’s stare on me but I can’t bring myself to look at him. “You really like her, don’t you?”

  I nod my head slowly. “Yeah, Ranger. I do.”

  “The universe works in mysterious ways, that’s for sure. There’s an old wives tale, one people around here have talked about for years.” He points to his book. “The Blackridge and Hollow packs have been rivals for a while, years, longer than I’ve been alive. It’s said that the lone wolf runs until she finds home. Then she will bring together the divided, and she will need the guidance of many men.”

  I open my eyes and turn to look at him. “I don’t get it.”

  He shakes his head and laughs. “You don’t have to. Not yet, anyway. But you will.”

  Ranger gets up and stretches. “Going to find myself a tree. Don’t miss me too much.”

  He heads down to the ground and I’m left wondering what the hell he could be talking about. Lone wolf? Many men?

  This world makes no sense to me.

  Chapter 22

  Jade

  Dustin refrains from turning the car off, even though we are parked. “Aren’t you coming?” I ask, my voice much lighter than usual. He turns his gaze on me.

  “No. I’ve got to check in at home. I’m sure by now my dad and Donevan have noticed their little chicken has sprung the coop.” His face is still cold and emotionless as it always is. I never realized how aggravating that is to me. Ranger wears his heart on his sleeve. His smile literally lights up a room no matter where he is, and he has a terrible time hiding when he is pissed or upset. But I never know with Dustin. He could be murdering me in his mind, or he could be thinking about chasing mice for all I know. He’s always been unreadable, even to me.

  I unbuckle myself and step out of the car, my hand on the doorframe still. I turn around, looking at him, and my breath catches from both the sight of him and my burgeoning anxiety.

  “What are you going to tell them?” I don't mean the words to come out as shakily as they do.

  “You let me worry about that. Just… go home. Get some real rest. Go for a run or something... I’ll meet up with you guys later tonight.”

  I could feel my anxiety forming, and Dustin must have felt it too.

  “I promise I’ll see you tonight.” His blue eyes sparkle and if I didn’t know any better, I’d think maybe it was the beginning of tears. But that isn’t possible. Dustin doesn’t show emotion, it’s just... not who he is; not who Samuel raised him to be. It must be a trick of the light, or maybe I really do just need more rest. I shut the door and round the back of the car to grab the takeout boxes.

  “Thanks for breakfast.” I murmur, partially out of guilt, but also because that damn stirring feeling is biting at me again. I come up to his driver side window. Dustin’s lips turn up slightly in the corner, bearing the hint of a smile.

  “You’re welcome, princess.”

  And with that, Dustin drives off out of the clearing and down the dirt road, leaving me in contemplation.

  Can I trust him? I had, once upon a time.

  The memories resurfaced and where I usually would try to push them down, I let them fill my brain as I traveled back to the clubhouse.

  Memories like swimming in the lake when we were kids, pretending to find buried treasure, like the time Ranger dared Dustin to explore one of the various caves and he ended up with a terrible case of poison ivy. His dad was pissed. Or our first kiss when we were fifteen. Outside the big Starfall party, under the stars in the forest. The big party we have only every so many years to celebrate our Elders and the founders of Starfall Creek.Knowing I was alone, I let out a small smile remembering how freaking gorgeous Dustin looked in his suit, his tie undone, eyes ablaze under the moonlight. There are good memories, I suppose. I just haven’t thought about them in so long. We were kids then. So much has changed. We’ve changed.Not all of those changes have been good.Dustin’s not the same person anymore, and neither am I. For the first time in what feels like forever, I wish things were different, but even I know you can’t change the past. You just have to keep on moving.So that’s what I do. I move forward. Out of the wistful memories of my past, and towards the future. Towards the clubhouse.I hope I can trust Dustin.

  Chapter 23

  Dustin

  As much as I don’t want to leave Jade alone with Reverie, even with Ranger, I need to get back to my father. The longer he goes without me around, the more he’s going to grow suspicious and the worse it’ll be for all of us, but mostly for Reverie.

  Why I care about that stupid human, I have no idea.

  Though, I guess I really do know why. Jade cares for him, and I care for her. Why she gives a shit about him, I haven’t a fucking clue, but she does and there’s not much I can do about it other than accept it. I know it’s what I have to do, but it doesn’t mean it’ll be easy.

  I don’t want to lose her. I can’t.

  Maybe to her this is just an arranged marriage. A forced arranged marriage. But to me, it’s so much more than that.

  I’ve loved Jade since the first day I met her. Call it bullshit, call it soft… I don’t care. It’s the truth. The first time I saw her running around, her long dark brown hair blowing in the wind, those bright green eyes glimmering in the sun, I was a fucking goner.

  And then when she shifted? Her wolf called to mine on a whole other level, one I didn’t understand at such a young age. But I understand it now. I need her, I can’t be without her.

  And either she’s blind and doesn’t see it, or she’s just more stubborn than I am. I know she feels something for me, I can sense it. Why she won’t give into it, I don’t know. I’ve always been here, always made myself available... but instead of going for it, instead of going for me, she swoons at the sight of a weak human.

  It’s still pretty early, late morning. This time of day, you can really see the history etched on Blackridge House. It was the first house built in Starfall Creek. It has that eerie, Victorian vibe, all black and gray with white hinges and accents, and it looks menacing even in the daylight. But I’ve always thought despite its terrifying exterior, it’s still beautiful. It is still full of good memories, even if they aren’t bountiful anymore.

  My knuckles are pale as I grip the steering wheel. I pull into the long stone driveway, rocks rumbling under my tires like they know what’s coming. Knowing I’m about to get some shit from my father. Shit I don’t want to hear and don’t want to deal with. Thankfully, it won’t be a problem for me much longer. Being Maverick’s successor, Blackridge pack will no longer be my business. Though something tells me it will be, just in another way.

  I turn the car off and climb out, hiding my frustrations with this stupid fucked up love triangle I’ve managed to get myself into, and put on my alpha face.

  I find my father and Donevan, his beta, in the main office, going through some kind of paperwork. It’s pretty spacious for an office, a big executive, ebony wood desk surrounded by tufted crimson velvet chairs and bloody paintings give the place an air of evil. Like some dungeon, or monster lair. How fitting.

  A week ago, I may have cared about whatever it is they are looking at. Now, I couldn't care less.

  “The fuck have you been?” Donevan asks, causing my father’s head to lift up.

  “Yes, son. Where have you been?” Samuel’s voice is calm and cool, but I can see the anger in his eyes.

  “Nice to see you too.” I move deeper into the room and take a seat beside Donevan, my father sits in the fancy ass chair on the other side of the desk like some fancy ass king or something.

  Donevan leans towards me, his face turning up in a scowl. His eyes are shaded by his long, dark hair. “You smell like that bitch,” he scoffs.

  I try to hide my distaste for him simply existing and the fact that I want to rip his tongue out for saying such a thing about her. But I know I have to go along with it… for now. I grit my teeth, but respond the only way I can.

  “That bitch is going to be my wife. You should be more concerned if I smelled like someone else.”

  “You been with that human too?” Donevan growls.

  I smirk. “You mean you haven’t killed him yet? What’s wrong, Donevan, can’t even handle a pitiful little human?”

  “You shut your fucki—”

  “Enough! Both of you!” my father shouts, pounding his fist on the table. Donevan is turning red with anger but I just keep on smiling, satisfied with getting the last word in. Donevan has always been a cocky son of a bitch who needs to be knocked down a few pegs every now and then. He thinks what he says goes, just becaues he’s a fucking beta. “Donevan, know your place. You’re talking to the future alpha of a pack here.” I smile smugly. “And you”—my father points to me—“you need to grow the hell up. If you think you’re going to run a pack with a cocky attitude like that, you’ve got another thing coming.”