Luna’s comment onfateplays through my head again.
“I don’t want to fight fate,” I whisper, more to myself than to her. “Luna, I need to go.” Because I need to talk to the pack, to tell them I’m innocent and make themhearme.
No more wallowing on this balcony.
I’m going to fix this by telling them they’re wrong to distrust me. And I’m going to demand that they give me a proper chance.
“Thank you,” I tell my best friend as I move away from the railing outside the balcony and step backward toward the house. “You helped me more than you know.” She didn’t really give me a pep talk so much as help me process the situation.
“Uh, Lark?—”
“Seriously, I’m good,” I cut her off as I spin toward the house. “I’ll call you back later tonight. Normal time, okay?”
“Yeah, but?—”
“Love you!” I hang up before she can say anything to change my mind and practically sprint toward my room. I’m going to convince?—
I run right into the closed glass door.
“Ow!” I shout. I could have sworn I left that thing open!
I lift my hand to smack the offending object, only to find my wrist caught in a strong hand.
I blink, realizing I didn’t run into a door at all.
I ran into Lazarus freaking Ferraro.
Shit!
My eyes widen. “I-I wasn’t talking to my brother,” I sputter. “I swear I didn’t call him.”
“I know you didn’t,” he answers calmly.
“I was talking to—” I frown, then look up into his dark eyes. “Wait, you know I didn’t call him?”
“I’ve been standing here for the last five minutes, Aurora.”
My eyelashes flutter again. “I…what?”How the hell did I miss that?“Did you knock?” Okay, that’s a stupid question. So I shake my head and try again. “How much did you hear?”
He arches a dark brow, his thumb gently running across my still-captured wrist. “I stepped out onto the balcony around the time your friend mentioned maple donuts.”
“So basically my entire conversation,” I say, feeling oddly defeated. “What I talk about with my friends is meant to be private.”
“I didn’t hide my presence,” he tells me. “And for the record, yes, I did knock. I’m guessing you didn’t hear it out here.”
My phone buzzes, causing me to glance down at it.
Luna: There’s a ridiculously hot, Italian-looking guy standing on the balcony. I’m guessing you figured that out by now.
My lips pinch.
Luna: I was trying to warn you when you rudely hung up on me. So I’m not sorry if he startled you.
I sigh.
Luna: Please tell me he’s one of your scent matches.
I shake my head, but the dots on the screen tell me my friend isn’t done sending me messages.
