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I hardly recognized Emely. She seemed completely overwhelmed. Was she afraid that I would mess with her future husband?

“I don't feel like getting into trouble with a werewolf,” I clarified with a grin.

“Senseque,” she corrected me. “And good. Then please stay away from this party.” Her phone started ringing. “That goes for your entire family. Please.”

I gave a slow nod, even though my gut told me it would be hard to avoid a party, especially one that was happening on the beach and that the whole campus would be talking about.

Emely's phone rang again.

She took it out of her pocket, looked at the display, then disappeared out the front door.

Through the panoramic glass pane next to the door, I watched her listen attentively to someone and pace nervously back and forth on the wooden walkway of the pond.

“Don't forget to party hard on the beach one last time before exams start again!” My attention slid back to the TV, to Joe, who was standing in his studio, pointing at the TV next to him. “And now for the weather.”

With gears turning in my head, I looked at Julie.

“This lake house housing project was where exactly?”

“In the Copeland Woods on Pavati Lake, near Noya and Oneida Beach,” she replied, confirming my suspicion.

I looked at my best friend. “Bayla...”

My bestie looked away from the weather report with hottie Oliver, directly at me, her gaze full of foreboding.

“I don't like that undertone. What are you up to now?”

I glanced at Emely, then back at Bay, before lowering my voice in case Emely could hear us.

“We have to go to this party.”

Bayla's chest visibly filled with air before she leaned back in her chair.

“I'm not in the mood for parties right now.”

Until a few minutes ago, I had wanted to go to this party. But my plan had changed.

Adrenaline shot through my chest like a beacon at the mere thought of doing something forbidden, especially if it meant I could get revenge on Kieran Wheeler.

“We don't actually have to go to the party,” I continued, grinning playfully at Bayla.

Her gaze darkened.

“What are you up to?” Julie asked, now visibly confused.

The moment Bayla's eyes widened was the moment I knew I had to force her to go.

“No.” She raised both hands and shook her head. “Hell no.” She picked up the pizza box, rose, and stepped over Buddy, who was dancing around her feet as if he was still hoping for a slice of pizza. “Mm-hm. I'm not going to get involved in something like that again.” She put the pizza box in the trash and turned to me with her index finger raised. “You should stay away from that guy, and you know it.”

What did she think? That I was into that guy? God forbid. I would never fall for a jerk like him again.

Julie looked confused between us. “Which guy?”

“Kieran Wheeler,” Bay explained with a frustrated undertone. “I don't trust him.”

“Me neither.” I jumped up, unfortunately too quickly, sending the chair flying, and my friends flinched. “Sorry.” I picked up the chair with one hand. “But that's exactly why I want to know what he's doing in this house. What if he's hiding something?” I looked conspiratorially between Julie and Bay. “What if he has skeletons in his closet?”

“Damn it, Larissa! No offense, Julie, but everyone in this town has skeletons in their closet. I'll be lucky if I survive this semester.”