As soon as the words escape my mouth, phones buzz and chime and ring all around us. People whisper, casting glances our direction. Even my cell vibrates madly in my pocket. It’s like someone flipped a switched and shrouded us in darkness.
What the fuck is going on?
Eyes begin to zero in on Janie and me. Like we’ve just undressed in the middle of the field. Naked. Bare. My pulse speeds.
Brad practically cackles, glancing from his phone, then to me, back to his phone. Then to me. “No wonder you’re so defensive of Jane Cobalt,” he says. “You’re fucking her.”
I lunge.
“Nope.” Farrow grabs me around the waist. I’m all boiling wrath. I point at Brad, my feet dragging in the dirt as Farrow restrains me.
“You’re a piece ofshit,” I sneer.
“You think I’m a piece of shit?” He laughs. “Dude, I’m not fucking my cousin.”
“I’m not fucking her!” I scream, my lungs on fire.
“Moffy,” Jane says in warning, her voice trailing ominously. She’s staring haunted at her phone.
What the fuck happened?
40
MAXIMOFF HALE
Jane,Farrow, and I only have about ten minutes to talk before my parents, her parents, and our aunt and uncle show up at the camp. All six of them drove over as soon as they saw the article.
Maximoff Hale and Jane Cobalt: The Secret Love Affair!
It’s fake.
You shouldn’t believe it either.
Fake articles always pop up online. We process. We put out a public statement. And we deal with it. This isn’t any different as far as I’m concerned.
Alright, it’s a little damn different.
I’ve never been accused of incest. Never even thought that could be swung my way, but as soon as we tell our side of the story—everything will be as it was.
“They’re waiting in there for us?” Janie asks an Alpha bodyguard who exits a camp cabin namedGreen Willow.He nods tensely, face stoic.
I climb up the short stairs with Jane, and we pause on the porch.
“Everything’s fine,” I remind her. “We’ll deal with it like we always do. My publicist is on speed dial, and I’m sure your dad wants us to coordinate with his people.”
Damage control.We’re all seasoned pros.
Jane inhales a tight breath, and nods reassuringly. I glance back.
Farrow has one foot on the step and looks between us. “If you two need anything, I’ll be right here.” Chatter in his earpiece distracts him. His jaw tics before he touches his mic on his collar.
I can’t distinguish his hushed words.
I move forward, grabbing Jane’s hand.
Right when Jane and I enter the cabin, hand-in-hand, the energy shifts. Our parents and aunt and uncle grow eerily quiet all of a sudden.
We take seats on two wooden chairs. Facing a wall of bunks and some of the people we love most in our lives. The six people who’ve influenced us. Raised us.
