Thankfully, the drive to school is short. Any more silence and I would have screamed. There was nothing more for me to say. Yes, I lied, but I did it for a good reason. If he knew I was deliberately with Wake, he'd be livid. But I'm my own person with my own power. I'm also the one caught in this never-ending loop of premonitions. What’s frustrating is that I’ve seen nothing of importance. I’m always being chased, the scenery blurring past me.

Rion needs to start understanding I can take care of myself. But I'm unsure how to make this right with him. He gets out of the car and opens my door for me. Of course, there is a group of girls who stop and practically drool seeing my boyfriend. I stare them down, causing them to shuffle away. Be gone, trollops. He's mine, and he isn't going to leave me for you.

Taking my hand in his, Rion pulls my attention back to him. He holds our hands up, staring at our palms touching and the invisible connection we share. It’s there, flowing through my body in a low hum. “I don't like it when you lie to me, Ari.”

“I didn't want to worry you. I could have this dream every night for all I know. It was handled, however. I was able to teleport out of it.”

“Tell me next time when I ask. Please.”

“Okay.”

“And please come by Lealla's and have Des look at your feet after school. Cace can bring you.”

“It's a few cuts. I'll be fine.”

“I don't like seeing you in pain.”

Without thinking, I reach up with my free hand and run my fingers through his hair. He leans into my touch. “And I don't like seeing you so tired. Please go home and rest. Cace is out here somewhere. I'll be in school learning boring stuff all day. You need sleep.”

“I know.” He kisses me as the bell rings loudly. Lovely, I'm late. “I love you, Ariane. Have a good day.” Instead of giving him a verbal reply, I kiss him and pour my emotions into it. One day, I'll be able to tell him how I feel.

I take a seat in third period English when one of the guys in my class comes running in before the bell rings. “There are wolves on the baseball field!” Oh, no. This can't be good.

I grab my bag and run from the room, while everyone else sits slack-jawed for a second. Maybe if I can beat most of them out there, I can find out what's going on.

The bell rings, alerting everyone to be in their classes. My hurried steps ring out in the silent hallway as I run from one end of the school to the other. Pushing open the door, I don't stop running until I reach the baseball field, where I find a small group of students and two massive wolves. This is just fantastic. The students are stunned speechless, and luckily, none of them have their phones out recording this yet.

“Go inside!” I yell. “Get everyone to safety!” They don't move. You've got to be kidding me.

Ford strolls around from the side of the bleachers like nothing is going on. He steps up to the students and taps each one on the temple, causing a glazed look on their faces, then he's by my side in a flash. “You grab Cace, I'll get our other visitor. Bring them to the clearing by Lealla’s.” I nod and run toward the fight without thinking about my safety.

The wolves are snarling at each other, teeth bared, as a wolf I don't know starts to lean back as if he's about to pounce. Ford teleports to its side and grabs a fistful of fur. The wolf is startled and swings around on him. Then they’re both gone. I run over to Cace and grab him by the scruff. He growls at me, not liking my rough handling of him, but his wolf must recognize me, because Cace doesn’t hurt me. The damage he and this other wolf did isn't good. No way can Ford wipe everyone's memory.

I teleport to the clearing where Rion first revealed himself to me and where my nightly dreams bring me. Ford and the mystery wolf are on the other side.

Cace shakes my hand free and puts himself in front of me. The red fur of his wolf standing out in contrast to all the greenery around us. Ford still has a grip on the grey wolf. It snaps at him then tries to lunge toward me. Ford grips him tight and bares his fangs in warning.

“You're not getting near her,” he hisses.

“Who is that?” I ask.

“Javen. He's the beta in the Diaminsey pack. Shift,” Ford commands, in a tone I’ve never heard. Javen does. I’m not sure how Ford got him to do it, but I’m glad he did.

Standing before us is a tall man with lean muscle and nothing on but a pair of basketball shorts. His hair is blond and neatly combed back. He looks no older than thirty. But his smile is menacing.

Cace follows suit and shifts, appearing in a pair of jeans and a grey long-sleeve shirt. “What were you doing at the school?” he asks Javen, venom dripping from his voice. “Why were you near Ari?”

“Don’t speak to me as if you have claim over her. She doesn’t belong to your pack,” Javen replies.

“She certainly does. Her mate is one of ours.”

“Yet, I don't see a tattoo on her, nor does she smell mated. She isn’t; therefore, she has no allegiance to any pack.”

“Why did you come?”

“To talk to her.” That’s enough of this.

Moving around Cace, I start to approach Javen. Cace grips my arm as I pass by to hold me back, but I give him a hard glare and shake him free. He releases me, though he stays by my side. I don't stop walking until I'm standing in front of Javen. Ford steps away from him, flanking my other side.

I cross my arms. “What do you want?”

“The rumors are true. You do have quite an attitude for someone so young who can't shift.”

Rolling my eyes, I ask, “Seriously? Is this why you came? To find out if I’m tough?”

“Tough?” he cocks his head. Okay, that was the wrong word. I’m winging it here. “I'm not sure about that, but you’re intriguing.”

“Get on with it.”

“Travis would like to invite you to our pack’s home tonight for dinner at six. We’ve all vowed not to harm you. You can even bring that wolf of yours and your vampire, if it makes you feel comfortable.”

“You've lost your mind!” I reply. “I'm not coming to your den of evilness. You can find another girl to invite.”

“But we have.” A chill creeps its way over my skin as a feeling of foreboding settles over me.

“Who did you invite?”

“I wouldn't use the word invite. But your friend Paige is visiting us. She kept insisting we shouldn’t bring you by, but Travis would like to meet you in person. We’re making a dinner party of it.” My body turns cold. What am I supposed to do? I can't leave Paige in their clutches.

“Ford, can you teleport in and out of their place and grab Paige?” He shakes his head. “Get Kiara!” He shakes his head again. “You can leave me. Cace is here.”

“I know you two are talking,” Javen observes.

“Your point?” I ask.

“Kiara won't help you. We have her, too. She won’t be going anywhere. We're not as stupid as you think we are.”

“I never thought you were stupid. I don't even know you, but you taking my best friend doesn't exactly make me all warm and fuzzy inside.”

“Dinner tonight at six. Ford knows the way, but then again, you can teleport, too, now can't you?” I narrow my eyes. “And before you try to pop into our home and grab your friends, there’s a ward up. No teleporting in or out. Having a mage for an ally is definitely helpful.”

“Ford…” I prompt with my mind.

“Mages can create different types of wards. The ward he’s speaking of does exist.”

“How do I know I can trust you?” I ask. “You say you won't hurt me, but you still could.”

He straightens. “A wolf would never promise something and go back on it. When our alpha says you'll be safe, you will be. If anyone tries to harm you, they will be dealt with swiftly. You have his word and mine.”

“I'm bringing Ford and Rion.”

“And me,” Cace adds.

“Fine,” Javen replies. “That's it, though. No alpha and no beta.”

“I also want your word that Paige and Kiara won't be harmed either.” As much as I want him to vow to not harm Rion, Ford, and Cace, I know I’ll never get it. They’re paranormals, and they’ll be in the Diaminsey Pack house. Rival wolves. There’s no way they will agree to that. So I bite my tongue. I’m not stupid. I can only push Javen so far.

“You have it. I'm sure you've been told a lot about us, but we aren't savages. We're a pack like any other.”

“Except part of your pack killed Rion's parents.”

“And they were dealt with.”

“Yeah, by our alpha,” Cace replies. “Ari might be new to this world, but I'm not. Don't you dare try to pull anything in her presence, or you’ll regret it. I’ll make sure you suffer a long, painful death.”

“As will I,” Ford adds.

He rolls his eyes. “I get it. Ari is important to your pack. Though, the vampire being so committed to her is interesting.”

“Is it?” Ford asks, cocking his head. “Why’s that?”

“You don't fool me, Ford Verascue. We know you're friends with Orion and others in the pack, but you've never put your neck on the line for anyone.”

“Let's talk more about necks,” he says as his fangs descend again. “I can hear the blood coursing through your veins, wolf. One wrong move tonight, and I will drain your body before any of your brothers can come to your rescue.”

“Very interesting.”

“All right, that's enough of this,” I interject. “You go your way,” I tell Javen, “and we'll go ours. I'll see you tonight for dinner.”

Javen shifts into a wolf and is off running through the forest. I spin and face Ford and Cace. “That was fun. Can we not do it again?”

“We need to get to the mansion,” Cace states, a muscle ticking in his jaw.

“Yes, and someone needs to do damage control at the school,” I state. “The fact that wolves were seen fighting on the baseball field won't go over well.”

“We know all the wildlife officials in a wide radius. They’re shifters posing as ordinary humans. They’ll be able to say they'll scour the area and make sure the wolves are gone. Put on a nice show of it, too. This isn't the first time we've been caught fighting in public. The team we have in place is good at making everyone feel safe. I'll call them back at the house. Can you teleport us?”

Nodding, I take Cace’s hand in mine and face Ford. We both teleport at the same time, appearing in the entryway of the mansion, suddenly surrounded by the rest of the pack, including Aries and Rion.

“Ari!” Rion shouts and rushes forward. He engulfs me in his arms, lifting me from the floor. “Are you okay?” he asks when he puts me down. He glances from my head to my toes, then carefully over my face.

“I'm fine. Honest.”

“What happened?” Aries asks. “The alarm sounded, but you appeared before we could get out there. One of our wolves caught Javen's scent.”

Cace steps forward. “He went to Ari's school today. He and I got into it. Well, our wolves did.”

“In front of students,” I add. “On the baseball field.”

Aries drags a hand down his face. “You couldn't have kept it hidden? You had to make yourselves known?”

“It wasn't intentional,” Cace defends. “We started fighting in the woods but somehow made our way onto the field.”

“And while they were fighting, Paige was taken from school property,” Ford interjects. “My guess is Javen was merely the distraction so that they could grab Paige. Once they had her, Javen could deliver his message.”

“How did you know they were fighting?” I ask Ford.

“Your thoughts were very loud. I'm used to getting those kinds of messages at night when you're sleeping. Apparently, now I'm getting them while you're awake, too. Like the other night with Wake and today. When you're upset, angry, or scared, I can hear you and come find you. We share a connection, princess. One you should be thankful for.”

“I am. I wouldn't have been able to teleport both wolves out of there.” Oh, no. The cameras.

Ford focuses on Cace. “Can one of your brothers hack into the school’s security system and erase the entire incident from the feed? It’ll help if there are no videos of them fighting on property. It’ll be the kids’ word against the video. Plus, we don't need anyone knowing Ari can teleport.”

Cace nods. “Cash!”

“On it,” he replies and leaves the room. I hadn’t even noticed who all was here, just that there were a lot of guys.

“Now that we have that taken care of, tell us what Javen wanted,” Aries states.