AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She nods. “Okay. Spill it.”
“I went to talk to Natalie, but she was on the phone with the doctor when I got there. So, I stood outside her door, eavesdropping, thinking I might get more truth out of her if she didn’t know I was listening. Apparently, the medical department has decided against removing your implant before the trails.”
“Why?” Juliet asks. “That pretty much guarantees I won’t make it through. Without the ability to shift, I’m not much better than a human. I can take more damage, but that’s about it.”
“That’s what Natalie said. But from what I could tell, the doctor said his department’s hands were tied and the order came from the top.”
The look in Juliet’s eyes grow murderous. “My mother.”
“We can’t know that for sure, but sheisthe president. Can’t get much higher than that, I wouldn’t think.”
“I’m going to destroy her,” Juliet says. “I’m going to get into this school, even if it kills me, and I’m going to take what’s hers, the same way I’ll take what’s Hammer’s. They think they’re sorry I was born now, but they have no idea.”
I want to tell her that her parents aren’t sorry she was born, but considering everything she’s been through, all I can say with any confidence is, “Well, I’m not sorry you were born. And I’m not going to let you head into the trials with your hands tied behind your back. We’ll take care of this, but we have to do it soon. Before Natalie tells you that the surgery is off. If she does, we won’t have plausible deniability.”
“Plausible deniability for what?” she asks, proving she isn’t always the first one to the plotting and scheming finish line, after all.
“For an accident,” I say. “An accident that will prove I’m a piece of shit wolf who hates Variants and take care of your implant, all in one fell swoop.”
Juliet pales, but only a second passes before she asks, “When?”
“Tonight. The wolves are going on a secret run in the woods after lights out. Find a good excuse to be out there, too, and I’ll take care of the rest. Just be sure to avoid talking to Natalie until then.”
She exhales, turning to go before spinning back to face me. “Should we head there now maybe? Scout things out and pick a place? Otherwise, how will you find me? If the wind is still blowing as hard as it is now, all you’ll be able to smell is sea breeze until you’re right on top of me.”
“I’ll find you. It won’t be a problem.”
She arches a challenging brow. “Now isn’t the time to get cocky. Not with half the school against us.”
“I’ll know where you are, Jules. I’m not worried about it.” I step closer, brushing her hair from her forehead only for the wind to blow it right back into her face again.
She shoves it roughly behind her ear. “I’m not a fan of romance at the best of times, Ford. And in case you haven’t realized it, these aren’t the best of times.”
“I don’t know,” I say, very aware of the fact that she doesn’t move away as I lean my head closer to hers. “I’ve had worse ones. And I think the fact that I can track you down without even trying is pretty romantic. I didn’t have to look around after I left Natalie’s. I knew exactly where you were. I could just…feel it.”
Her lips part and her already pale face goes nearly white. “Don’t start with that kind of shit.”
“What kind of shit?” I challenge, playing dumb because I want her to say it, the suspicion that’s been flitting through my head all morning, since she ran from the safe house, and it felt like a piece of me had gone missing.
“I don’t believe in fated mates,” she says. “Dad had half a dozen of them, remember? Plus his bonus family in the Parallel. ‘Fate’ kept changing its mind whenever it was convenient for him.”
“Hammer’s a liar. That doesn’t mean the thing he lied about isn’t possible. I’ve met people in fated mate relationships. They seemed pretty real to me. And pretty damned happy.”
Her jaw clenches. “Seriously, stop it. I have enough on my plate without this. And I have no idea where you are at any given time. I didn’t know it was you walking up behind me on the lawn until I turned around and saw your stupid face.”
“Ouch.” I wince, pretending to be hurt by that last part to cover the very real hurt her words send flashing through my chest. She’s telling the truth. I can tell. She truly doesn’t feel the same connection I feel. “No need to insult my face. I can’t help what it looks like, you know. Genetics and all.”
Her shoulders relax a little with the joke. “Whatever. You know I don’t think your face is stupid. Your face is fine.”
“Fine…” I press a hand to my chest. “Be still my heart. Your compliments are too much, Jules. You’re going to have to dial that back if you want people to believe we’re enemies.”
Her lips twitch. “Yeah, I’ll work on that. And you work on not looking at me like you want to lick me like a lollipop. My roommate wasn’t buying that we’re ‘just friends’ for a hot second.”
“Popsicle,” I say, bending my lips to hover over hers. “You’re definitely more of a popsicle than a lollipop. Ice cold, but easy to melt with a little heat.”
She sighs, but her head tips back, offering me her mouth. “I hate you so much.”
“I hate you, too,” I say, and then I kiss her, and it’s fireworks and home fires burning all over again.
