Page 58 of The Blairville Legacies

Their territory was the most extensive, but they didn’t own much that had influence on the city, except for the university. Two more reasons to expand the pack.

I wanted to distract myself, so I tried again.

“I would miss it if I were you. The sun, the beach, and most of all, that carefreeness.”

This time she glanced at me with a look that for a moment showed longing, but then it turned into one that suggested that one more word would make her explode. I noticed that she was pulling her sleeves down further. Was she cold, perhaps?

She must have noticed my searching gaze because, finally, she folded her arms and looked back at the street.

How did she see me? Maybe the way I really was? A clumsy jerk who didn’t know how to behave?

A sobering thought occurred to me.

What if she saw me as I really was?

“I’m sorry,” I sighed, wondering to myself what had just slipped out of my lips. Yet I didn’t even know exactly what I was apologizing for. It was almost as if I had apologized for my past. A past that, to this day, had far-reaching consequences.

I shook my head.

No. Not here. I was on the road with a passenger. Not a good place for such thoughts.

Bay just kept silent, and I interpreted her silence as a finalleave me alone.

So be it. If she didn’t want to talk to me normally before I dropped her off in the wolves’ den, it was her choice.

I turned on the car radio—a mistake, as it turned out because Joe Bexley's annoying voice blared out at me.

“...Maybe no new wolf sightings, but a much more exciting topic! It looks like the DeLoughreys are ready to buy up the Copelands hospital.”

I almost laughed. Those bastards deserved it.

“It’s no secret that the Copelands are in a tight financial spot. Whether their university’s revenue can save them this month is unclear. However, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Copelanddisputes the situation. The university director, Professor Alarik Copeland, is avoiding making a statement.”

I pressed my lips together.

Why was everything about this family?

“Blairville Dailywishes all Blairville students a Happy New Semester!”

Indie music from a local group began to play.

Only now did I notice Bayla’s concentrated look on the car radio.

“Who are these Copelands?” she asked.

I wanted to be honest with her, but I also knew not to tell her anything wrong. This was her mother’s job, and I wasn’t going to mess with Diana.

“People you don’t want to have anything to do with, trust me.”

Bay looked at me, but I didn’t take my eyes off the road.

“So, you know them?”

“Old acquaintances.” That almost sounded like a compliment to this scum.

“And the DeLoughreys?”, Bay probed further.

God, how long would I be able to lie to this nosy girl without her noticing?

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