Chapter 8 · Don't Bite Me Tonight

The note in my hand says DON'T GO UPSTAIRS.

I'm already halfway up.

The packhouse is full tonight. Every wolf in South Chicago showed up for the full moon gathering, and they're all downstairs drinking and pretending they're not watching Darius. Watching me. Waiting to see if the alpha's new mate is real or just another human he's going to get bored of in a month.

Kyle said Darius would try to claim me tonight. Said his wolf wouldn't give him a choice.

I should've stayed in the kitchen. Should've kept my head down and played the scared little fake mate who doesn't know what a bite means.

But my mom's face won't stop replaying in my head. The crime scene photo Kyle showed me. The way her car was folded around the tree, metal ripped open like something dragged her out. And Vivienne standing there in the background, blurred but smiling.

Vivienne killed her.

And Darius knew. He had to know.

So yeah. I'm going upstairs.

The hallway's dark except for the moonlight coming through the skylight. It's huge tonight, so bright it hurts to look at.