It was close to two in the morning when Eli came home. I’d been curled up on the couch with Moonshine watching TV for hours. I hated nights when he worked and then went to a pack meeting. I knew it was something I’d have to get used to, though. Eli was in training to become the alpha.

“Hey,” he said as he kicked off his boots at the door. “I thought you’d be in bed by now.”

“I wanted to wait up for you,” I said as I paused the movie I’d been watching. “Did you mention anything to your dad about Jane?”

“Yeah. Apparently, he’s already been in contact with Dan at the police station about her. Dan paid her a visit yesterday. He thinks she’s crazy, and because of that, Dad doesn’t feel there’s any information we can gain from talking to her.”

“What? Why?” I didn’t understand how officer Dan could write her off. Of course she was crazy; she’d witnessed people being mutilated in front of her. That would be enough to drive even the sanest person crazy.

Eli’s hands shot up. “I know you think she has information about the Midnight Reaper we could use to catch him, but officer Dan said she’s schizophrenic or something. She never stopped looking out the window while he was talking to her. At one point, she thought spiders were crawling up her legs, but there was nothing there. She repeatedly said someone was watching her, and that she was next on his list. She’s paranoid and delusional. He couldn’t make sense of the things she said.”

“One of us might be able to,” I insisted.

“Dad thinks it’s a waste of time. However, he does believe the Midnight Reaper is headed to Mirror Lake.”

“Exactly what I said.”

“I know. I thought you’d like that part.” Eli grinned. “He wants to do patrols around town. Day and night. Which means you’ll see a lot less of me until this monster is captured.”

“I won’t see less of you because I’m patrolling too.” I lifted my chin, challenging him to argue with me.

“Figured you’d say that. I already told Dad you’d be onboard to help.” Eli winked. “We’re going to need all the help we can get, because, like you, Dad also believes this is something supernatural.”

I was right. A chill crept up my spine. I hoped whoever was responsible would be caught before they reached Mirror Lake, but it didn’t seem as though that would be possible. Hell, he’d already made it across the United States without being caught.

“Who is taking part in the patrols?” I asked.

“Dorian, Sabin, Max, Frank, Tate, Glenn, and some others. Dad suggested we ask your mom too,” Eli said as he moved to sit beside me.

“I’m sure she’ll want to help.” I sat up straighter on the couch. Moonshine kicked her legs out as though telling me to be still. “You should ask Violet too. She might want to help.”

Eli nodded. “I’ll ask. The two of you could partner up during patrols.”

“I’d be okay with that. Violet is a good kid.” I smoothed my hand along Eli’s forearm, soaking in his warmth and the feel of his coarse hair there. I’d missed him today. “I still think your dad should reconsider talking to Jane. My gut is telling me she knows something valuable.”

“Your gut, huh?” Eli smirked.

I narrowed my eyes. “Are you mocking me? You should know by now never to mock my gut feelings, Eli Vargas.”

“I’m not mocking you.”

“Sure does seem like it.”

He licked his lips and his smirk grew. “I think it’s cute when you play off your intuition like that.”

“It’s not going to be cute when you realize I’m right.”

He exhaled a slow breath. “I’m sorry, but we can’t just go talk to her. My dad is really on me about doing things by the book now, especially after everything that happened last time with Drew, Peter, and Shane. All he wants me to focus on is rounding up people to patrol and setting a schedule for everyone. It isn’t our job to figure out who’s doing this or why. All we need is to make sure they don’t get into Mirror Lake.”

“I get that. I do,” I said, truly meaning it.

“But?”

“No but.”

“Wow, I figured you’d continue listing reasons why we should look into this further.”

“Nope. I’ll agree to disagree on this one for now. We’ll focus on patrolling and making sure the Midnight Reaper doesn’t get into town,” I said. “But.”

Eli frowned. “And there it is.”

“I do have a bone to pick with you.”

“About what?”

“Oh, you know, the birthday party you’re planning.” I tugged on his arm hair, causing him to jerk his arm away from me. “I thought you understood I don’t want a massive birthday party.”

“I do,” he insisted as he rubbed his arm. “I’m not throwing you a massive party. Only a small one. And who ratted me out?”

“Mom did,” I grumbled. “It had better be small.”

“Your mom? Really? I didn’t think she’d be the one to do it. I figured it would be Gran, considering she was the one who found my list.”

“List?”

“Well, yeah. I’m not just going to wing this. I have stuff planned. Food. Music. Drinks.”

“Did Gran say something about what you have planned?” I asked.

Eli nodded. “Yup. She didn’t seem happy with some of the things on my list. She scratched them out and wrote suggestions she deemed as suitable alternatives in the margins.”

“Sounds like something she’d do.” I laughed.

“She’s not going to be happy when she sees I didn’t adhere to the bulk of them.”

“What did you plan that she didn’t like?”

A birthday party consisted of food, beverages, and cake. Well, and music. There wasn’t much Gran could disagree with.

However, this was an Eli Vargas party. Now that I thought about it, there was probably a lot she might not agree with.

“I can’t tell you that. You’ve already ruined the surprise, or at least your mom did. You’ll just have to wait until tomorrow night to find out the rest.”

Tomorrow night. I couldn’t believe my birthday was tomorrow. I would be turning nineteen.

Some days, I felt so much older.

“You still have the day off tomorrow from Rosemary’s?”

“Yeah.” I nodded. “Why? Are we doing something fun?”

“You know it. In the morning, in the afternoon, at night. Birthday booty has no limits.” He winked.

“Be serious.”

“I am being serious,” Eli said before his lips pressed against mine.

“Fine,” I muttered between kisses. “Be that way.” Moonshine hopped off the couch and pranced toward the front door. She scratched at it, letting us know she needed to go outside.

“Your turn.” I grinned as I pulled away from him.

“Not good timing, Moonshine, not good timing,” Eli huffed as he stood to retrieve her leash.

I chuckled as I leaned back against the couch. My mind dipped to thoughts of what Eli could be planning for my birthday. Whatever it was, I had no doubt it would be fun. Now that the surprise part was out of the way, I had nothing to be pissed about. I could enjoy myself instead.