VALERIE.


    My heart races, the phone almost slipping from my hold as his words ring in my mind.


    Zade turns, carrying me over to the chest of drawers and ces me on top of it, still holding me tightly


    as he takes his own phone out and types something in on the web browser.


    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    “I’ming there,” Atticus adds firmly.


    I’m about to stop him when I hesitate. “Fine… umm, I’ll text you the address because I’ve moved out of


    the apartmentplex,” I say, looking at Zade who


    nods.


    “Ok, why?”


    “I’ll talk to you in person,” I answer slowly.


    “Alright, just stay safe, Valerie. Maybe you moving wasn’t a good idea.” Atticus replies quietly.


    “I’m not a kid, Atticus…”


    “I know, but it doesn’t mean I can’t worry. I’ll see you soon. I’m booking my flight right now.”


    I bid him farewell and close my eyes, leaning back against the wall.


    “It’s for the better, they need to know… I need to check if Matt is ok,” Zade says. quietly.


    “Yeah… I’m really sorry…” I say quietly as he clicks on another link and the


    words ‘Driver Dead‘ emzoned on the screen.


    Guilt rushes through me, and I feel terrible.


    “I’m so, so sorry.”


    “No… It’s not your fault… this isn’t on you.”


    I nod, although I don’t feel better.


    “We’re going to have to go down to the station. That was my car,” I sigh.


    “We’ll deal with this,” Zade promises.


    “You’re not chipped, and neither am I now. What if they ask for your name?” I


    ask, trying to calm the anxiousness I’m feeling.


    “I have a fake ID. You don’t need to worry about me,” he says, and I nod. He’s careful, he’ll be ok. It’s


    me who is a mess here.


    “Send your brother the address and we’ll head to the station in the meantime,” hebs his fingers


    through my hair as he looks into my eyes.


    I sigh heavily, resting my forehead against his. “Today is just going all wrong.”


    “It’ll get better. Come on, we’ll grab something to eat too,” he kisses my shoulder and I nod, sighing.


    “Means I’m going to have to tell Atticus about us.”


    “Not ready?” he asks quietly, his gaze dipping to my breasts, his eyes darkening. “We could leave that


    part out.”


    “No. I am ready,” I answer softly; even if it is going to be hard, I’m not going to pretend we are not


    together. I chose him because I have seen the good in him, even if he is rough around the edges.


    He’s watching me intently, his fingers ying with the strap of my bra. “Come on, then.“.


    A part of me wants to finish what we began, but life just isn’t giving us a break.


    I nod. “Give me a minute,” I sigh.


    “I’ll get the rest of the stuff out of the truck,” he says, his hands caressing my waist before he moves


    back.


    I nod. “Make sure you bring everything into this room…” I say.


    He raises an eyebrow, looking down at me. “Everything?”


    “Yeah, I mean when I need to cool off you can go to the other room… but I think we can share a


    room… I want to…” I answer with a pout.


    His grey eye glints. “I know other ways to cool you off…” he murmurs, ncing at me before he leaves


    the room, his fingersbing through his hair once again.


    I blush lightly, sitting there before my mind drifts to darker thoughts and I ponder over the crash.


    Unlocking my phone, I go on to my own web browser and search for the story. Watching the video as


    two cars with no number tes close in on my car from both sides.


    My heart thuds as one of the cars makes a sh of memory from the night before


    rush to the forefront of my head. Something I had not paid attention to. I had. seen that blue–grey truck


    parked at the apartmentplex the night before.


    MV /


    thuds as I stare at my screen, watching as the truck smashes into my car from the side, forcing mine to


    careen to the side of the road. The hazard lights are on and I feel terrified for Matt, knowing what is to


    come…


    What if I had driven it myself?


    Zade was right… it wasn’t sate… This is getting out of hand, and something needs to be done.


    “Still nothinging to mind, Doctor?” the officer asks patronisingly.


    “No, I don’t know who is after me. I have done nothing to be a target… but it’s bing a


    common thing, isn’t it? A werewolf being hunted?” I snap, my patience wearing thin with his indirect


    jabs regarding why I would have some enemies‘.


    “Not that we’ve heard-”


    “That is a lie. I have had two acquaintances gone, and I reported both…” Zade


    says.


    “I wonder why… you don’t really look like an honourable citizen, right? I see your type every day.”


    “Excuse me, you might be an officer, but you will show respect,” I say coldly, feeling a re of


    protectiveness and irritation rush through me, “I am a doctor, officer, and I won’t hesitate to report this


    appalling attitude of yours.”


    I’m not sure how much power that would hold, but it does make him look away from Zade, who remains


    emotionless.


    +15 BóNUS