-Aline- The feeling of raw terror I felt of being watched - stalked- in the woods has me trembling as I make my way to Mei’s room. I enter just in time to witness the happy couple engaged in one of their lovelorn video chats. Talu’s on-screen with his guitar, insert eye roll here, and Mei’s making cow eyes at him as he serenades her. It is a vomit-inducing scene, especially for someone as love-deprived as me. But this isn't the reason I elbow Mei away from the screen and move to take her place. I stare into the camera, holding onto Talu’s glare with one of my own a little longer than normal. He seems to catch on to my unspoken message: Contact me later. For good measure, I snarl into the camera and make my own gruff goodbye. I hit the end call button before Mei can get back on. She shouts at me, with her hands on her hips, but I don’t hear her. I am simply relieved she blocks the door since it’s my only way out. "And to think I was going to warn you about Stefan being back to visit

-Talu- For the first time since Aline answered the phone, I truly listen to her. She sounds... scared. The vibe I'm getting off of her is definitely fear. Aline is not afraid of anything and knowing this makes my hot blood run cold. I called ready for a fight, ready to yell at her for interrupting my time with Mei, but find myself truly concerned for my... friend? Weird. I process the labeling of our relationship at lightning speed. In this space of time, I hear Aline’s muffled, pained mewling, trying to hide her crying from me. On a sigh, I decide, yes, she's my friend. "Aline, hey, girlie-wolf, what's wrong?" My tone is unusually gentle with her, using my regular taunt as an endearment tonight. The unfamiliarity of my kindness toward her seems to unravel Aline’s already tenuous control over her distress. "The girl next door, she... she pulled my hair and threw me out of the house." The whining little girl voice Aline adopts sets my teeth on edge. She's losing it, I think. Th

-Aline-Thick fog, named Karl by us San Franciscans, surrounds me in chilly dampness as I fidget on Lance’s porch, still unsure of what I should say to him. Mei and I got home about a week and a half ago. I know she's out there, somewhere, snuggling with Talu. The thought brings a scowl to my lips. I want to be somewhere like that with someone I adore. Despite my want, I am happy that Jian is not home for the holidays. My life is beyond insane.After having put off the chore for days, I'm at last here. It’s the last place I want to be. Staring at the front door, I practice what I mean to say to him for the millionth time.What is it with me and standing on porches, anyway?! OK, Aline, focus! I scold myself. Let's see. What to say, what to say...How about, So, um, hi, Lance. Long time. Yeah, I totally went AWOL on you guys to pursue a frivolous career far, far, far away. But I'm back to tell you, there's something out there that's way scarier than vampires and werewolves. Yeah... And

-Talu- December 30, on an airplane... __________________________________________________________________ "I don't even know if he's there with his sister, Talu." Aline frets, bouncing her leg beside me where we’re crammed in coach. I grip the armrests, my irritation heightening. I hate these flying sardine cans. I'm barely able to fold into my seat without banging my head and knees. She comes up with this only now? “Aline, you couldn't have thought to tell this to Lance before he bought the plane tickets?" I narrow my eyes and snarl grumpily at my teary-eyed seatmate. Her sudden show of emotions makes me surly. "Stop with the waterworks." She bites back a small, soft sob, and I roll my eyes. So fucking dramatic! Lance’s Alpha Command requires that I escort Aline back to her apartment in Syracuse and cuts short the already rare days I have to spend with Mei. And once I get there, what am I supposed to do, exactly? Protect her—Aline?! The toughest wolf in the pack? Am I suppos

-Talu-Day Two with Talu I watch Aline stretch backward, the front two legs of her chair in the air, a crumpled paper in her hand. She shoots the wad of paper toward the recycle bin. The makeshift ball bounces off the rim to land amongst a whole nest of similarly smashed paper projectiles.She mutters a curse and shakes her head, then turns back to her pen and paper."Do you always wear that shirt, Aline?" I’m walking past her, scratching my back, moving towards the kitchen. She makes a noncommittal noise through her nose. I smile and make a loud sniffing noise. "Stinks to high heaven."She narrows her eyes at me. I smirk."Sleep well, Beta?"She’s irritated, and this makes me grin. It was only fair that she is as put out as I am to be here with no imprint in sight.I wonder what's with the Beta, stuff. but I don't ask. It's fine because it sure beats her usual nickname for me - “dumbass.” The truth of it is, I actually had an awful time sleeping in Mei’s bed without her, but that's