Page 180 of Chaos At Second Sight

Normally, I checked the forecast—precipitation probability, expected UV levels, wind speed. Organization kept me sane between university, work, and relationships. Especially now that a certain blond lycan had claimed a rather large portion of my schedule.

Flashbacks of my time in the Highlands, wild, rain-soaked, and happy, crossed my mind. Here, I had books to protect and an outfit to keep dry for the party. Note to self: be wild again in Italy.

Accepting my wet fate, I stepped outside, the rain attacking me immediately.

“Yvaine?”

Blinking, I glanced over my shoulder and hurried back under the overhang.

“Hey, Daisy.” I recognized her thick glasses right away. The lenses were dotted with rain, partially hiding her pretty brown eyes and long lashes. One of her hands clutched a Thermos covered in black cat stickers, while the other held an umbrella topped with little cat ears, complete with painted eyes and whiskers.

“How’s life?” I winced, remembering our last encounter. Logan had basically spooked her out of the library. “Look, I meant to apologize…” My fingers toyed with my half-moon necklace. “My mate can be a little much, but he doesn’t mean it.”

Daisy shook her head, her braids swinging out of the hood of her red raincoat. “No, no! I shouldn’t have bothered you guys. You weren’t that noisy.”

I wasn’t sure I believed her.

“It was my fault. I had a really stressful day. Week.” Her lips curled into a sheepish smile. “It was two days before that evil anatomy exam.”

“Oh, how did it go?”

“Another subject off the list!”

We chatted for another minute until I glanced at my watch. “Oh shoot. I really need to go.”

Daisy shrugged off her raincoat and held it out. “Take this.”

“Oh, I couldn’t!”

She pressed it against my chest. “My car’s right there, and I’m done for the day. And I have my umbrella. I’d give it to you too but my sister wants it back!”

Appreciating the gesture, I smiled and wrapped my arms around her small frame. Daisy gave a tiny gasp before tentatively patting my shoulder.

“Thanks!” I released her. “Hey, do you want to come with me?” I added, not just to be polite; I genuinely liked her. “I’m going to a friend’s birthday. It should be fun.”

Her eyes brightened. “Um, where?”

“At Dark Diamond.”

She paled. I hid my amusement; their wereball team’s reputation preceded them.

“Oh, no. Thanks. My cats need feeding, and I already thawed a lasagna. I can’t waste food.”

I smiled. “That’s me on a normal night!” Just the cat was a raccoon and the lasagna was a lentil soup.

Before we parted, I added her on Instagram, promising to keep in touch.

Imagine standing alone in the savannah at night with nothing but a flashlight. You sweep the beam across the darkness and find a dozen glowing eyes, all looking back at you. Eyes of predators.

That was what walking into Killian’s birthday party felt like.

Dim strobe lights sliced through the darkness, and yellow eyes flashed between bodies as deep techno rattled the walls and shrieks of laughter rose above it. Killian was at the top of the popularity chain and had rented an entire club, and it was packed with Dark Diamond wolves, a scattering of Golden Furs, and exactly one Comet.

Me.

“Yvaa!” I contained an oomph when a larger body swallowed me in a hug. “Finally!”

“Bella!” I laughed, pecking her on the cheek. My future sister-in-law looked stunning in a metallic-blue dress, the snake pins in her blond hair catching the flashing lights.