Chapter 10

Ten

IZZY

I can’t turn away from the photo on my phone. All of my worries… All of my fears…

They all come crashing down on me in a tsunami I can’t escape from, pulling me under and tossing me around like a rag doll.

In the photo, sent from an anonymous texter, Ethan and Emery are in a classroom with Desiree. I can’t see Emery’s face, but the tattoos on his bare arms, that messy blond head, and those strong shoulders are unmistakable. He has his hands on Desiree’s shoulders and is leaning down as if to kiss her. She’s staring up at him with wide eyes.

I can only see half of Ethan’s face, but I swear I see…heat in his eyes. Lust, maybe?

Jealousy threatens to capsize any rational thoughts or emotions. I have to remind myself repeatedly that I’m not dating either of the twins and a mating bond doesn’t mean we have to be together. They obviously chose Desiree.

Everything we’ve been through has been a lie. And not just with the twins, but Desiree too. She pretended to be my friend, and for what? To keep an eye on the competition? Perhaps she truly was my friend until I got in the way of her relationship with the guys.

My emotions swirl around and around in my chest—a toxic, acerbic vortex that tastes like ash on my tongue—and it takes considerable effort to lower my phone back to my lap.

Ansel glances at me out of the corner of his eyes. “Everything okay?”

A part of me wants to snap at him and say that I’m fine.

But he’s been wonderful today and doesn’t deserve any of my misplaced ire.

I squeeze my eyelids shut and whisper, “I don’t want to talk about it.”

I feel rather than see him place his hand over mine. He gives it a single squeeze before releasing me.

We drive the rest of the way in silence.

I only reopen my eyes when the car begins to slow down.

“Izzy?” Ansel’s voice is rife with concern.

“Yeah?”

“Are you sure this is the right address?”

We’ve stopped in front of a dilapidated apartment complex that has seen better days. Mold covers the roof, and overgrown weeds line the front entrance. Most of the windows are either broken, boarded up, or missing entirely.

I can see why Ansel is concerned.

“I can’t go home to Hale and Gerry right now,” I whisper, a ball of tension crawling up my throat. “I just…can’t.”

“And this place is better?” One of Ansel’s elegant eyebrows touches his hairline. “If you don’t want to go home, you can stay with me?—”

“Do you really think your mom will allow that?”

“Who cares what she thinks?” Ansel’s fingers begin to tap rapidly against the steering wheel, a clear indicator of his agitation. “We can get a hotel or something on the other side of town. Anything will be better than this.”

Before I can think better of it, I lean across the center console and plant a chaste kiss on his cheek. Ansel stops tapping immediately, and a ruddy flush explodes across his face, turning even the tips of his ears a bright, neon pink. A muscle bobs in his throat as he swallows.

“You’re sweet, Ansel, but I’ll be fine. I’ve been here before.”

“Do you know someone who lives here?”

“My friend does. My best friend.”

Though Grayson won’t be here for me to take comfort in.

Fuck, where even is he? When will he be home? Why did Ashton and the others take him away?

What if he’s injured? Hurt? Dead?

What if?—?

I swallow down the sharp spike of fear. It’ll do me no good focusing on the “what-ifs.”

A strange look inches across Ansel’s face before he gives a reluctant nod.

“All right. But can you just…” The blush that dissipated during our conversation returns with a vengeance. “Can you just text me every once in a while? So I know you’re okay?”

Heat and butterflies vie for dominance in my stomach, and I wonder what Ansel would do if I didn’t just kiss his cheek…but his lips too. His firm, plush lips that look as if they’re made for kissing?—

I clear my throat, trying to ignore the surge of energy shimmying down my back.

“I will. I promise. But Ansel, I’ll be fine. I can take care of myself.”

“I know.” There’s not a hint of duplicity in Ansel’s voice. He says those two words as if he’s stating a fact. “You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever met, Illy. Just be careful, okay?”

“Always.” Warmth snakes through me as I hold his gaze.

His eyes dip towards my lips, and I wonder if he’s thinking about kissing me. Do I even want him to kiss me? After the day I had, and all I learned, the answer to that question should be no, but the heat ravaging my body suggests otherwise. I’m a vibrating mass of knife-edged molecules, and all of them are inching towards him.

But then Ansel turns away and focuses his attention back out the windshield once more.

“See you tomorrow?” he asks as both disappointment and relief settle in my stomach.

“Yeah, of course.”

Even if I want nothing to do with the four assholes who claim to be my mates, I refuse to drop out of school. I need to graduate, receive my degree, and then I’ll get the hell out of this town. Fuck the paranormal.

“And…happy birthday, Illy. I hope it ends better than it started.”

Me too, Ansel. Me too.

Ansel waits until I’m inside the building before his car slowly pulls away. I watch until it disappears around the corner before taking the steps two at a time. The damn elevator in Grayson’s apartment is always out of order. I keep telling him he should move somewhere else, but he says it doesn’t matter where he lives, only that he’s near me.

When I reach his apartment, I half expect to find Grayson sitting on his bed, waiting for me.

I’m only marginally disappointed when I find the room empty, the lights off.

I don’t have anything with me except for my backpack and the clothes on my back, but that’s okay. I started over with less than that on more than one occasion. I can do it again.

I toss my backpack onto the bed and then take a moment to return some of the text messages I’ve received throughout the day. I’m furious at most of the people in my life, but I’m not a complete bitch who wants them to worry unnecessarily.

Hale

Your teachers told me you skipped classes today. Decided to have an early birthday celebration? LOL! Happy birthday!

Hale

You’re still not home yet. Is everything okay?

Hale

Isabella, call me. We’re worried.

Izzy

I’m fine. I’m safe. I just need to be by myself for a little bit to get my head on straight.

Before I can even click out of the message, Hale shoots back a reply.

Hale

Is this about what happened yesterday? With your friend?

Yes. No. Maybe.

How do I tell Hale it’s everything ? All of the lies and secrets and deceit? I’m not ready to have that particular conversation with him just yet.

I leave his message unanswered and then flick to Gerry’s messages. He sent me a standard happy birthday message with a plethora of GIFs. His most recent one is a simple…

Gerry

You okay, kid?

Izzy

I will be. Just need to take some time for myself. I’m safe. I’ll be back soon.

Ethan, Emery, and Desiree have all sent me over a dozen messages each, but I ignore them all. There’s nothing from Ashton—no surprise—but there is a text from Reid. Curiosity makes me click on it, despite my trepidation.

Reid

Happy birthday.

Reid

Sorry.

Reid

About yesterday.

Reid

I’m an asshole.

I snort before I can stop myself.

Izzy

Yeah, you kind of are.

Reid

Never claimed not to be.

There’s a pause, and then my phone chimes once more.

Reid

You doing okay?

Izzy

Why wouldn’t I be?

Reid

You weren’t at school today.

Izzy

You’re never at school.

Reid

Because I’m an asshole.

A bark of shocked laughter escapes me before I can stop it. Damn him.

Izzy

What does that have to do with skipping school?

Reid

Don’t know.

Reid

Felt relevant.

Reid

Can we talk?

Reid…wants to talk to me? About Grayson?

Or is it about the mating bond? Is he aware that Christian told me the truth? Does he want to tell me he’s secretly in love with Desiree? That Michelle chick?

I don’t respond to his last message, mainly because I don’t know what to say to him. Reid is the most mysterious of them all, and also the most elusive. He’s surrounded by cement walls, and those walls are reinforced with barbed wire and prickly thorns. Trying to scale said walls will lead to nothing but pain.

I’m just about to exit out of my phone when I see a message from Silas, my boss at the movie theater.

Silas

Can you work tomorrow? 6-11?

Silas

Oh happy birthday

Izzy

Yeah. I can be there. And thank you for the happy birthday message!

Silas doesn’t respond, but I’m not surprised. He doesn’t seem like the type of person who would spend a lot of time on his phone.

Sighing, I plug my phone into Grayson’s charger and then belly flop onto the bed. I’d like to say that the blankets are still warm from Grayson’s body heat, but that would be a lie. They’re actually cold to the touch.

But they smell like him.

I can’t help but inhale deeply, wishing he were here with me. Holding me. Promising everything will be okay.

Then I instantly feel guilty for having that thought to begin with.

He’s not mine, no matter how much I wish he were. I have to let go of this childish crush or risk ruining our relationship once and for all.

God, I hope he’s okay.

What even happens to people in…paranormal prison or whatever? And what did Grayson even do? What involvement does he have with this strange new world I’ve found myself in?

I shift on the bed, twisting so I’m no longer on my stomach but staring up at the ceiling while on my back. I place my hands on my chest and will my breathing to even out. I fear that if it doesn’t, I’ll pass out or spiral into a full-blown panic attack.

Deep breath in. Deep breath out. Deep breath in. Deep breath?—

Something moves in the shadows by Grayson’s window.

I jerk upright in bed with a gasp just as the figure lunges for me.