Bride (Ali Hazelwood) by Ali Hazelwood

            “Do you want to?”

            “What do you mean?”

            “You don’t have to live there if you don’t want to.”

            “What about the alliance?”

            He shrugs. “Next week the council will take a formal vote on the parameters of our alliance with the Weres. In the meantime, Lowe and I see eye to eye, and neither of us is going to ask you or Gabi to serve as Collateral any longer.”

            “I doubt the council will approve of—”

            “The council has enabled Father to do a bunch of very illegal things, which they are now scrambling to pretend they knew nothing about, and even if they weren’t intent on covering their asses, I’m bringing them a conditional alliance with the Weres and the Humans. So yes, they’ll approve whatever I tell them to.” Okay, maybe I was wrong. Power does become him. “Gabi’s already back in Were territory. You’re free to live wherever you like, so let me ask you again: Do you want to live with Lowe?”

            It’s such a baring, direct question, I can only deflect with another. “Has he said anything?”

            “Like what?”

            “Like, does he want me to—does he expect me to . . . Has he said anything?”

            He gives me a merciless look. “I am not an agony aunt.”

            I tilt my head. “You look like it, though.”

            “Get the fuck out of my office.”

            I step out to avoid the paperweight he’s eyeing. Then I realize I never got what I came for. I make an executive decision: retrace my steps, steal Owen’s car keys, and a few minutes later Serena and I are on the road, crossing the bridge as a pallid sun sets behind the oaks. I don’t have any diplomatic paperwork on me, but when I declare my name the Were at the checkpoint puts me through the face scanner and lets me through.

            I drop Serena off at Juno’s and smile as I watch them prance into the woods in wolf form, the wind weaving ripples through their soft fur. Were company is what Serena needs right now, and I’m happy to facilitate that. Also, I’m staggeringly relieved that she’s asking for help and not shutting me out.

            “Text me when you’re done chasing moles, or smelling each other’s buttholes, or whatever,” I yell after them. “I’m going to Lowe’s!”

            His home is unlocked, as usual, but uncharacteristically empty. I toe off my shoes and pad up the wooden stairs, wondering if blood bags are still being automatically delivered for me. When I’ll get to see Ana again. Whether Serena and Sparkles/Sylvester will ever be reunited.

            My stomach drops as I enter my room. The place looks uninhabited, more than when I first moved in. My knickknacks, books, movies, and even some clothes have been put back inside boxes.

            I’m not welcome here anymore. I am being evicted.

            There’s probably a reason. Lowe wouldn’t just kick you out.

            But I can’t twist myself into not caring. There is a shrinking pull in my heart, and if I’m not being thrown out, I’m still being inched away. I have served my purpose, and—

            “Misery?”

            I turn around and my heart flips.

            Lowe. Staring at me in the warm glow of the ceiling lights. Not smiling per se, but radiating happiness at seeing me. He’s wearing a leather jacket and his hands are at his sides, a bit stiff. Like he’s consciously keeping them there. “Hey.”

            “Hey.” I smile. He smiles back. Then we’re silent for long enough for me to remember our last conversation alone.

            Too long.

            “I wasn’t sure if I could . . . I hope I’m not trespassing.”

            “Trespassing?” His delight at seeing me fades into confusion, which morphs into a stern sort of understanding. “You live here.”

            I don’t ask, Do I? because that would sound insecure and whiny and maybe a little passive-aggressive, and I just remembered that I’m none of these things. Not with Lowe, at least.