VIOLET

I spun around, trying to locate the source of the voice.

“Violet?”

I looked out into the crowd and confirmed my worst nightmare. It was Donovan, shouting in the crowd like a frantic person.

What was he doing here?

Donovan fought his way to the front of the line but didn’t make it within three feet of me. The shifters blocked his path.

“You know him?” Jayce asked.

I nodded. “My ex,” I mumbled.

“Violet!” Donovan called. “Let me through, you idiots. That’s my fiancée.”

I closed my eyes briefly and breathed outward for a few seconds, but when I peeled my eyes open, Donovan was still there.

Jayce tapped on the shoulder of one of the shifters and whispered something. They let Donovan through while continuing to hold back the frenzy of journalists snapping pictures and asking questions.

“I’ve been calling you every day, all week. What the heck are you doing in this town…here?”

“I took a vacation. I told you I would.”

“Out here? Who’s this guy?” He looked Jayce up and down which seemed sort of weird. Jayce stood a good seven inches taller than him.

“The question of the day is why are you here? How’d you find me?”

Donovan’s gaze shifted from Jayce to Draven who was standing behind me. He frowned. “Look, can we at least go somewhere and talk? I don’t know who the heck these people are.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you,” I stated without hesitation. “How did you find me?”

“Your cell phone records. I still get the bill, remember? I thought you went out to your dad’s lake house to think about what we discussed and how we could make us work, but I couldn’t believe it when I saw that you’d gone out of the state.”

I put my hands on my hips. “Let’s get this straight. You got my cell phone records and tracked me?”

“I told the cops I thought you were missing and they wouldn’t do anything because they didn’t suspect foul play,” he shrieked. “You made me look like an idiot, Violet. You should’ve just told me where you were.”

“I made you look like an idiot? Whatever. I’m a grown woman and it’s my prerogative if I want to enjoy a vacation. I don’t need to tell you where I am.”

“Well, I told your dad where you are, but he’s in London at the moment. He gave me permission to come get you until he could catch the next flight out,” Donovan spat. “I came to the station to file a missing person’s report and here you are with…with these people. Do you know them?”

Sensing my aggravation, Jayce slipped his arm around my waist.

“Who the fuck are you people, anyway?” Donovan asked.

“Time to go.” I heard Draven’s voice behind me. He must have gotten sick of Donovan’s bellyaching because I didn’t feel his presence behind me anymore. Jayce didn’t budge.

“Are you with this guy? Is that why you dumped me?” Donovan stuttered.

“I dumped you months ago, Donovan, for reasons I’ve already explained.”

Donovan reached out, but then shrank back when a feral growl erupted from Jayce’s throat.

“What the hell?” Donovan shrieked.

“Please, Donovan. Don’t cause a scene. There are dozens of reporters here.”

“I don’t care. I don’t care about my campaign anymore. Just…come back,” he said, and I almost felt sorry for him.

“No, Donovan. I’m not going back with you.”

“But you are coming back, right?” he asked.

I sighed. I hated upsetting people. “Tell my dad he doesn’t need to cut his work trip short.”

“Why don’t you tell him yourself?”

“I’m not the one who told him I was in trouble. I took a three-week vacation and he knows that. It’s not over. Just because I wasn’t in a place where you could harass me doesn’t mean you get to report me missing.”

“You didn’t tell anyone you were going out of state! You should have answered my calls!”

“Hey!” Jayce interjected. “Why are you shouting at her?”

Donovan swallowed hard. “Look, I don’t know you, man.”

“You can leave now. I’m fine. Okay?” I urged.

“Fine? If I’m not mistaken, I just saw this guy’s face on the news at my hotel. He’s a criminal!” Donovan pointed at Jayce.

“It’s not what you think. Please do us both a favor and go. There are journalists everywhere. Recording everything.”

Donovan peered at the news reporters as if he was seeing them for the first time.

The prying questions started again. I was doing a good job of drowning them out, but not anymore.

Just as I thought, the journalist had dug and pried until they uncovered who I truly was. It didn’t help that Donovan was here. Sooner or later, they’d know who he was too. I wanted to disappear down a sinkhole and never come out. Media attention had never been my thing. Donovan, however, lived for the attention. But not this kind. He looked mortified.

“Fine. If this is what you want…” Donovan folded his arms over his chest.

I took one look at Jayce and it was as if he knew what I was thinking. He held out his palm and I placed my hands inside and then slipped inside the SUV.

“So much for staying low key,” I mumbled, chuckling nervously.

Jayce grinned. “The cat’s out of the bag now, huh?”

“Well, it’s a good thing I have a wolf to chase it away, right?”

“You’ll always have me.” He wrapped his arm around me and I leaned on his shoulder as the SUV sped off.