Page 88 of Tempting Fate

Chapter Thirty-Five

Emerson

“Hey.” Nick raps on my door, then sticks his head into my room. He’s wearing a shirt and tie on his top half, but pyjama bottoms and slippers beyond that. “I’m going down for lunch. Want anything?”

“I’m good, thanks.”

He nods and smiles, but there is no missing the concern that flits over his face. I sigh once I hear he’s downstairs.

It’s been two days since I discovered… everything. That werewolves exist. That Patch is one.

Two days since I ruined everything.

No one has been by to check if I’ve stayed inside, even though I have. I don’t even dare to go into the back garden. No one has been by to tell me to leave, either, which I’m honestly glad for the breathing room. Cate is desperate to come here, but I’ve asked her to wait until the weekend. If I still can’t leave then, for whatever reason, at least we can get some of my stuff out of here.

Jamie is out all day at work. Nick works from home, but while he’s working, he only bothers me once or twice, so I have plenty of time to think.

I sigh now, still staring up at the ceiling. I hauled myself up this morning and got dressed, only to return to bed and stare at nothing. Did I do the wrong thing by coming here? No. I don’t think so. I don’t think chasing the idea of magic is wrong; I can’t believe that.

And it’s not as if… I pluck at the duvet with restless fingers. It’s not as if I was certain I’d find anything before this job. I’ve come across angry ducks and herds of nervous cows and multiple groups of teenagers out drinking and smoking weed in the woods, but never a werewolf. Never actual magic.

I poke at the strange feeling in my chest. Now I’m sad. Guilty.

Disappointed.

Disappointed in myself. I know I’m the only one to blame for what happened. Patch chose to show himself to me, and that was his choice, but he couldn’t have known I was livestreaming the entire thing. Kieran couldn’t have known about my social media accounts—I don’t show my face for a reason. No, I caused all the trouble.

But I’m disappointed in what I’ve found, too. People scared of other people, and even if it makes sense, it’s just—I roll onto my side, eyes burning. The world feels so small again. It felt bigger before. When Patch and Jamie were here, it felt like I’d never be done marvelling at the vastness of it.

My phone rings and I sniffle, setting my glasses back in place as I sit up. Cate’s name flashes up on the screen. I’m unsurprised. She might not be coming down until the weekend, having decided she doesn’t care what Kieran has to say about that at all, but she’s called every day to check in on me.

“Hey,” I answer. “Everything good at work?”

“Not exactly.” She sounds tense, and I sit up straighter. “Someone came here asking for you.”

“Someone?”

“I don’t know. They didn’t let him in—not like you work here. But Rose was on reception—you’ve met her, remember—so she came to let me know.”

“What did they want?”

“Just said they were looking for you. Some concern about your welfare. She said they showed her ID, but they weren’t police or anything like that.”

My stomach drops. Who could this be, on top of everything else? Can’t be the packs—they know I’m still here.

“They didn’t ask after you at all?”

“No,” Cate says. “And I’m going to be careful. I’ll leave with Rose tonight, and the bus stop is only a couple of minutes from the house. What’s the last address you registered?”

“Not yours. I think… God, I don’t know. I barely get post anymore.”

“Okay, okay. Is everything locked up there?”

“They can’t actually be after me.”

“Em. Seriously. You got a sketchy-as-fuck email that lured you down to London and after you do what they asked, someone’s come around looking for you?”

“Yeah, but—Wouldn’t they know I’m here?”