Peering out of the window once again, Arabe grimaced. The street appeared empty, but she couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. She wondered if Sandro had managed to track her down and sent his henchmen after her. She sighed just as Thalia stepped into the room, dressed in jogging pants and a crop top.


    “Where are you headed?” Arabe inquired.


    “Where else?” Thalia replied.


    “It’s close to midnight, Thalia. Please don’t tell me you’re going for a walk,” Arabe eximed, her eyes widening as Thalia nonchntly shrugged her slender shoulders.


    “I’m going for a jog. I need to clear my head,” Thalia exined.


    “At this hour?” Arabe shook her head. Thalia had been acting strange all day as if she were harboring a secret. Arabe had asked her multiple times, hoping for some insight, but had received no satisfactory answers. And now, Thalia was heading out for a jog at midnight.


    “I find it more refreshing at this time of day,” Thalia reasoned. “See youter.”


    Thalia yfully blew a kiss at Arabe before slipping out of the door and heading toward the entrance. There, she encountered Orga, who narrowed his eyes at her.


    “Don’t give me that look. Have I ever told you how creepy you can be?” Thalia teased.


    “I understand what you’re up to. But, for Arabe’s sake, I’d rather you not go through with it. It would affect all of us in one way or another,” Orga warned.


    Thalia scoffed. “You understand what I’m doing?” She took a step towards him, locking eyes. “Why don’t you enlighten me, big guy?”


    Orga shook his head. “I can only assume, and I’d rather not. Besides, you should be protective of Arabe. Whoever reaches her first could spell the end for the werewolf race, and you, my dear, are a werewolf,” he said with a smirk, taunting Thalia further.


    She didn’t want to get entangled in his games. She knew he was clearly trying to stall her. “We can discuss thister. I need to get to my jog.”


    Thalia dashed out of the gate before Orga could stop her, rounding the corner in search of ze, just as he had instructed. He had contacted her, and though she couldn’t be certain, nobody else had her private number but him. Plus, he addressed her as ‘T’ as he always did, which made her believe it was truly him.


    She couldn’t fathom why he wanted to meet at this hour of the night instead of during the day. Yet, she was certain it had something to do with Arabe, even though he never mentioned her by name.


    Arabe let out a sigh, her gaze fixed on the spot Thalia had upied moments earlier. She had intended to confront Orga the moment she approached him, but instead, Thalia had hurriedly left through the gate. Stepping back from the window, Arabe paced around the room, unable to shake her suspicions.


    Thalia was concealing something significant, and Arabe was determined to uncover the truth.


    ***


    ze nced at his wristwatch for what felt like the hundredth time. Where in the world was Thalia? He pondered. Time was running out, and he was certain that at any moment now, someone might notice he was absent from his post. Still, he had faith in the person he had left in charge, James. He could handle it and cover for him.


    After his conversation with Sandro, he attempted to contact Thalia once more, and her number finally went through after he received a text from her. So, he made his way to her residence, knowing she would be there and wanting to see her in person.


    Behind a towering tree, ze kept a hand on the shotgun in his pocket as he saw a figure approach. His eyes narrowed, ready for any oue. As the figure came into view, he rxed, recognizing Thalia.


    “Thalia,” ze whispered, utilizing the mind-link to contact her for the very first time.


    He’d always possessed this ability but considered it unnecessary, preferring to visit her in person if the need arose. Now, however, he believed it was crucial.


    “Quit talking in my head and tell me where you are,” Thalia muttered, her words almost lost under her breath, earning a chuckle from ze.


    “I’m by arge tree. Juste straight down,” ze directed.


    Thalia followed his instructions and soon stood before the tree. ze emerged from the shadows, causing Thalia to gasp, her eyes widening.


    “Cole…” she whispered, stepping towards him, tears shimmering in her eyes. “Is it really you?”Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    “Can you see Ghost? If so, then I’m no ghost,” ze teased.


    Thalia rushed into his open arms, holding him tightly and taking in his familiar scent. He was real. She felt the warmth of him against her and bit her trembling lip. “I thought you were gone forever.”


    “Well, here I am, not a ghost,” ze reassured, chuckling.


    Thalia pulled back slightly, delivering a light punch to his chest. “Quit cracking jokes at a time like this. It’s not funny.”


    “I never said it was,” ze pointed out. He sighed, studying her face, then shook his head. “I missed you too.”


    He moved in for another hug but was interrupted by a voice he never expected to hear.


    “ze.”


    ze tensed and turned toward the sound. His eyes narrowed as theynded on Arabe. She stood behind him, dressed lightly with his sweatshirt on top.


    “Arabe…” ze stammered. “What the fuck are you doing…”


    ze grunted as she crashed into him, cutting off his words.


    “Oh my God, it’s really you. It’s you!” Arabe repeated, her arms squeezing tightly around him.


    ze shot Thalia an using nce. “You told her, didn’t you? I told you not to!”


    “Hey, I didn’t do anything wrong,” Thalia shot back. “She probably came here on her own because I refused to tell her you got in touch.”


    “Do you realize how risky it is for her to be out here? I gave explicit instructions…”


    “Fine!” Thalia snapped. “You obviously care more about her than you do about me. Did you even stop to think that I’m also in danger from Sandro? No, you don’t care. You’re only concerned about your damn girlfriend while I’ve been doing my best to watch over her, and you show up here to berate me!”


    “Thalia…” ze groaned, sensing her anger.


    “Don’t ‘Thalia’ me, Cole. It’s a recurring pattern for you, and I’m not sure I want to be a part of your life anymore,” Thalia dered.


    “Don’t be so dramatic, Thalia,” ze scowled.


    Arabe released her hold on ze and took a step back, feeling an unfamiliar pang. It was the first time she’d embraced him, and he hadn’t reciprocated.


    He was engrossed in a spat with his sister, seemingly oblivious to her presence.


    “I think I walked in at a bad time. Maybe I should go…” She murmured, turning away. Perhaps she shouldn’t have slipped out after Orga left the gate. Maybe following Thalia wasn’t the best idea.


    Her fingers clenched the strings of the sweatshirt tightly. She had wanted to see him, but it seemed he didn’t feel the same way.


    Was that why he hadn’te looking for her?


    Had his feelings for her changed?


    Her mind raced with thoughts, and she didn’t notice ze reaching for her hand.


    Startled, she stumbled back into his chest.


    “Not you, too,” ze grimaced.


    Arabe pushed at his chest until he released her. “What?” She frowned at him.


    “I’ll leave you two,” Thalia interjected, stepping away.


    “No, I’m the one who interrupted. I should go,” Arabe mumbled.


    Thalia rolled her eyes and stated, “He obviously wanted to see you. So stay and talk with him.”


    Arabe crossed her arms in front of her and watched Thalia walk away.


    Turning back to ze, she studied him, realizing he was watching her as well.


    “Are you angry with me?” He asked, breaking the silence.


    “Am I angry with you?” Arabe retorted, her brows furrowing. “Why would I be? It’s my fault foring out to see where Thalia was going. I was wrong to hug you because I missed you, and I shouldn’t have expected you to do the same. So, if anyone should be angry, it’s you.”


    “Well, now you’re angry with me,” ze chuckled softly. He held her hand, pulling her closer.


    “Let me go, you jerk,” Arabe protested, struggling in his arms.


    “I missed you,” he murmured, holding her tighter as if afraid she might vanish.


    “I didn’t,” Arabe replied.


    “I missed you so much that it hurt, knowing I could only see you this way and briefly,” ze confessed.


    Arabe sensed him rx into the embrace, and she furrowed her brows, ceasing her struggles. ze’s shoulders moved, and she heard him sniffling.


    “Are you okay?” she asked.


    When he released her, she noticed his eyes were rimmed with red. It was the first time she’d seen ze cry.


    “Are you crying?” she inquired.


    ze held her hand tightly, leading her away from therge tree toward a car parked in a secluded corner.


    “Where are we going?” Arabe questioned.


    “We need to talk, and I can’t do that here. We might be watched,” ze exined.


    Arabe nodded, refraining from asking any further questions, even though she had many about how he had managed to escape from Sandro.