"Personal matters?" His eyes narrowed. "Related to that man who took you? Serenity, tell me—who is he? What's his relationship to you?"
"That's none of your business, Frank." I avoided his intense gaze and pretended to busy myself organizing the counter. "He's just someone from my past. I have nothing to do with him now."
But Frank wasn't giving up. He circled around to stand in front of the counter, forcing me to face him. "So he's your ex-boyfriend? Or?—"
"Frank!" I suddenly raised my voice, cutting him off. When he stopped in surprise, I took a few deep breaths to calm myself. "I'm sorry, Frank. But I don't want to talk about this. He's nobody important."
"Your reaction says otherwise," Frank said. "Serenity, do you have any idea how worried I've been this week? I filed a police report. I searched all of Tara. I checked every hotel and hospital, and even hired a private investigator. And I realized I know almost nothing about you!"
His voice rose as he stepped back and dropped to one knee. He pulled out a small velvet box from his pocket. I recognized it—the ring from his earlier proposal. "I can't take this anymore! So,Serenity, marry me! Let me into your life. Let me become your family and know everything about you. I want to be your man and protect you!"
"Frank..."
"Don't say no, Serenity," he cut off what I couldn't say, his voice urgent. "Whoever that man was who took you, he's the past! You can forget him, Serenity. You can have a completely new family. Choose me as your future, and I'll help you forget him!"
Family. Forgetting Elias.
Those words pierced the weakest part of my defenses.
I desperately wanted to forget Elias, to forget everything between us. But no matter how hard I tried to suppress it, to overcome it on my own, everything he'd said this past week kept spinning in my head. He hadn't chosen not to save me. Liv had deceived him. He had reopened the investigation from four years ago and seemed to have found something…
I knew these were just excuses I shouldn't believe. But I couldn't stop wondering if there had been some misunderstanding between us.
Was this the power of fated mates? I didn't know.
Maybe my own strength wasn't enough. Maybe I was just too weak. Like Frank said, I needed to cut ties with my past more decisively. Maybe accepting this proposal and starting fresh really could help me forget.
"All right. I accept."
I closed my eyes and made my decision, hoping this courage wouldn't lead to regret.
"That's wonderful! Serenity, you finally said yes!" Frank jumped to his feet, joy dancing across his face. He opened his arms to embrace me. But at that moment, the sound of shattering glass interrupted him!
A gray beast crashed through the café window, landing on the floor amid a rain of glass shards. Frank and I stared in shock. It was a gray wolf, twice the size of an ordinary wolf. Her claws clicked against the floor as the glass failed to penetrate her fur. Her brown eyes burned with mad hatred, and her bared fangs gleamed coldly.
"Why is there a wolf here?" Frank cried out. He didn't know about werewolves and thought it was an ordinary animal. But I recognized her immediately. It was Liv. I had never seen her wolf form, but I could smell her scent.
Why would Liv reveal her wolf form in human territory? Wasn't she afraid of hunters?
Alarms screamed in my head.
Frank tugged at my sleeve. "Don't just stand there, Serenity! We have to run!"
He pulled me toward the exit. But Liv's target was clearly me. The moment Frank moved, she coiled and launched herself at us with a snarl!
"Frank, get out of the way!" I screamed.
But it was too late. Liv slammed into Frank, who'd been shielding me. He cried out as he flew backward, crashing into the café's wooden tables and chairs with a tremendous crash. He didn't make another sound.
"Frank!" I tried to run to him, but Liv blocked my path with a growl. Her claws swiped down. I barely dodged. Her attack was clearly meant to kill.
"Have you lost your mind, Liv?"
I realized she was serious. If I didn't shift too, Frank and I might both die here.
Novella was ready to fight. I took a deep breath and stopped suppressing her urge. Instantly, my bones began to shift, muscles tearing and reforming in waves of agony. It was my first voluntary shift in years. The lack of practice doubled the pain. My nails became claws, my teeth sharpened into fangs, and fur erupted from my skin.
Seconds later, my wolf form clashed with Liv's inside the café.
