Page 31 of Roaring Flames

Felt relevant.

Reid

Can we talk?

Reid…wants to talk to me? About Grayson?

Or is it about the mating bond? Is he aware that Christian told me the truth? Does he want to tell me he’s secretly in love with Desiree? That Michelle chick?

I don’t respond to his last message, mainly because I don’t know what to say to him. Reid is the most mysterious of them all, and also the most elusive. He’s surrounded by cement walls, and those walls are reinforced with barbed wire and prickly thorns. Trying to scale said walls will lead to nothing but pain.

I’m just about to exit out of my phone when I see a message from Silas, my boss at the movie theater.

Silas

Can you work tomorrow? 6-11?

Silas

Oh happy birthday

Izzy

Yeah. I can be there. And thank you for the happy birthday message!

Silas doesn’t respond, but I’m not surprised. He doesn’t seem like the type of person who would spend a lot of time on his phone.

Sighing, I plug my phone into Grayson’s charger and then belly flop onto the bed. I’d like to say that the blankets are still warm from Grayson’s body heat, but that would be a lie. They’re actually cold to the touch.

But they smell like him.

I can’t help but inhale deeply, wishing he were here with me. Holding me. Promising everything will be okay.

Then I instantly feel guilty for having that thought to begin with.

He’s not mine, no matter how much I wish he were. I have to let go of this childish crush or risk ruining our relationship once and for all.

God, I hope he’s okay.

What even happens to people in…paranormal prison or whatever? And what did Grayson even do? What involvement does he have with this strange new world I’ve found myself in?

I shift on the bed, twisting so I’m no longer on my stomach but staring up at the ceiling while on my back. I place my hands on my chest and will my breathing to even out. I fear that if it doesn’t, I’ll pass out or spiral into a full-blown panic attack.

Deep breath in. Deep breath out. Deep breath in. Deep breath?—

Something moves in the shadows by Grayson’s window.

I jerk upright in bed with a gasp just as the figure lunges for me.

Eleven

IZZY

Ikick out instinctively and then roll myself over the intruder so he’s now underneath me. I brace myself over him, my heart hammering like a spooked rabbit, violence in my blood?—

“Grayson?” I gape in disbelief as I stare into the face of my best friend.

My best friend…who I last saw being carted away by a bunch of wolf shifters.

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