You really don’t get it, do you?” Brody turned Mina toward him and held tightly onto her shoulders. “I don’t want to be your friend.

Does he not know that even a pawn can take down the queen?

Oh! You scared me.” Mina put her hand to her heart. “I would never do that on purpose.” “If I didn’t know better,” Mina frowned at Brody, “I’d say you’re definitely stalking me.” “Of course. I’m trying to prove to you that I don’t care about social status, and you promised to give me a chance.” Brody grabbed her backpack and marched off with it toward his car.

Brody spun, and Mina stared over his shoulder to see an impossibly large black wolf only feet away. The wolf’s mouth was opened wide, teeth glaring as he lunged for Brody’s throat.

Our path dictates how strong we will be and how tall we will grow. Will our life grow into something beautiful, or will we develop thorns for protection.

Darren stayed way past visiting hours and Healer Prentiss, not swayed by Darren’s good looks, kicked them both out.

I spent so long going through the motions just to make the background noise fade, but when I’m near you, it’s gone. The pressure to be something or someone I’m not is gone.

The dark does not like to be ignored, and its call is sweet like honey, but it will devour you whole and spit you out.

She looked up and caught Jared’s eye. He had watched the whole exchange, and he looked amused by Mina’s actions. He pointed down at the apple that had come to rest against his shoe, the apple she had smacked out of Savannah’s hand. He laughed as he reached down and picked up the apple. Mina frowned. Dusting it off against his shirt, Jared took a bite out of it and chewed slowly, taunting her.

Silently she thanked her mother for never giving in to her request for skinny jeans; otherwise, her dressing time would have doubled.