Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 70338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
The Tesla is exiting the parking lot. I sprint toward it, reaching just as they get to the gate. “Lauren!” I thump the back of the car with my hand, like tagging it will somehow make them stop.
Lincoln and Lauren both completely ignore me. Lincoln hits the accelerator, and the Tesla shoots out of the gates, zipping into traffic and leaving me standing on the corner, panting.
Fuck.
I pull my phone out of my pocket, but I can’t text because I can’t see a damn thing. Pain stabs through my head. The sunlight hurts my eyes.
My wolf is howling inside me. Howling at me for letting her get away. For damaging what we had.
I am the biggest asshole on campus.
It’s honestly not something I was ever proud of. I considered it an act, something separate from my real self, but today it feels true.
“Dude, what happened back there?” Asher appears at my elbow.
I double over in pain. I can’t have another seizure. I need to get to Lauren and fix this.
“Fuck. Should I call your dad?”
“No,” I pant, straightening again. Even with my lids closed, the harsh Arizona sun sears my sensitive eyeballs. “Can you drive?”
“Yeah. Are you sure?”
For once in my life, I resist the urge to lash out at him to deflect from my weakness. Lauren was right. It’s not strength–it’s cowardice.
“I can’t see,” I admit. “My wolf eyes are glitched.” I crack my lids, but my eyes are in spasm, and I can’t see anything.
“Damn. I can tell. Let’s go. Just stick right beside me.” Asher’s smart enough to know I wouldn’t want anyone else to see, even though it’s probably way too late for that. “What about tonight’s game? There are scouts coming from three different schools.”
Heaviness descends over me. “I don’t know. I’m probably fucked.”
It doesn’t matter. The only thing I care about is Lauren.
I find my way in the darkness, using my shifter hearing and sense of smell to stick right beside Asher. He leads me to my Range Rover.
Asher doesn’t have his own car–his parents were low status in the pack even before his dad got kicked out–but he has a license.
I hand him my keys and climb in through the passenger door.
“Do you want me to bring you home?”
“No. Take me to Moongaze Hill.”
Searing pain grips my temples. Nausea hits at the same time. I slumped low in the seat, trying to recover.
“Dude, I think I should take you home. You don’t look so good.”
“I’m fine—just drive, asshole.”
Asher starts the Rover up and peels out. As we drive, I count measured breaths trying to steady my nervous system. My vision starts to return—first the peripheral and then, finally, my full sight. I slump back against the seat in relief. The roiling in my stomach calms.
I don’t know what I’m going to say to Lauren. Words won’t be adequate. I’m going to have to make it up to her in some other way. Maybe that’s what I’ll tell her. I’m going to prove to the whole school that she’s mine.
My wolf likes that idea. But there’s a nagging sense of unease that tells me something is not right with my plan. Or maybe it’s just that it won’t work.
Asher turns my car up the road that winds up Moongaze Hill, and my right eye starts twitching. As we drive, the twitching grows. Pain starts in the nerves behind my eyes, traveling back to the base of my skull and down my spine.
I’m panting, hard enough for Asher to notice.
“Abe?“
I squirm in my seat, thrashing my legs. I’m trying to get a grip on this complete and utter fail on the part of my body.
It only gets worse, though. I fight the sensation of being out of control, of my body, taking over and leaving me behind. I roll down the window, even though it’s hotter outside. I hang my head out the door sucking in deep breaths.
I can do this. I can make it. We’re almost to the Sterling mansion. I just need to get there and talk to Lauren. I just need to fix this.
My body starts to convulse. I can feel my eyes rolling back in my head, but there’s nothing I can do to stop.
I lose complete control, my brain, fully detached from the body I’m in. I’m unable to speak.
Fate has royally fucked me this time. I can’t help but think that this is my punishment for being cruel to the only female I’ve ever loved.
Lauren
“What happened?” Lincoln waits until we’re home to ask.
A week ago, I would’ve shrugged and deflected the intrusion. But everything feels different. I’ve been awakened. I’m alive. I may not have a mom, but I do have a dad and a brother who both love me.
“You want to take a walk?” I ask.
“Sure.” He looks down at my still-swollen ankle. “Is your foot okay?”