I'd always been told I was a stubborn person. When I made up my mind about something, it was difficult to change it. This was true in most cases and yet, I somehow managed to allow Archer to rope me into going out around the pack with him the next morning.

I hadn't meant to agree, it just kind of happened. He flashed me a pleading smile and large, puppy dog eyes which would have been easy enough to ignore on their own but when he quietly mentioned how he hadn't seen me a lot recently and was wondering if he, or Boston, had done anything wrong, the guilt kicked in and I was done for.

It wasn't necessarily that I didn't like my mates. I mean, they irritated the hell out of me at times but they weren't bad people. I knew that, which was partly why avoiding them made me feel guilty. They had done nothing wrong, but if I hung around them as often as they wished, they would undoubtedly find out about my...situation and I couldn't have that. Not yet.

"Reo." Archer tapped my forehead a few times, causing me to scowl and push his hands away. Instead of being irritated or offended by my reaction, he smiled. "Are you okay? You spaced out on me there for a minute."

"I'm fine. Just thinking," I told him. "Remind me where we're going again."

"One of our pack members returned home yesterday and I wanted to visit him. Plus, I was thinking you and I could use this time to talk."

My mood instantly dropped. Something I'd noticed recently was when it came to Archer, the word "talk" was often a pseudonym for impromptu therapy sessions.

"What did you want to talk about?" I asked reluctantly.

"I just wanted to see where your head was at, you know? See if maybe you wanted to talk about the Tatum thing...?"

I frowned, the familiar feeling of guilt rising again. "I'm not ready to talk about that."

I didn't want to talk about what happened between Tatum and me partially because it would potentially reveal the news I wasn't ready to share...and because talking about it would remind me of how I left things with him. Talking about Tatum meant acknowledging the fact that I'd singlehandedly managed to blow up our relationship in one conversation and I wasn't ready for that.

"Okay." Archer nodded, accepting the answer. "But you know I'm here if you ever are ready to talk about it, right?"

"I know, Arch."

I also knew his advice would be to call Tatum and apologize which was harder than it sounded. I wasn't sure if he wanted to hear from me-on the one hand, we'd known each other for years and that type of relationship was hard to let go of but on the other hand, he was happy. He was finally happy after so long and I didn't want to take that from him. I couldn't reinsert myself in his life and bring all my bullshit to him. I wouldn't.

"Tell me about this pack member we're visiting," I told Archer, desperately wanting to get rid of the depressing feeling clinging to me.

Archer seemed to light up at the question. "Well, his name is Vander and he's a vampire. I wanted to tell you about him a while ago since I know you said you've never gotten the chance to meet another vampire, but then everything happened...I thought maybe today would be a good opportunity. Maybe it'd cheer you up a bit."

"He's a vampire?" I repeated and Archer nodded. Was he the same one I saw yesterday? He had to be, right? "Why's there a vampire here?"

"He joined the pack a few years ago. He's a little standoffish, but he's a nice guy once you get to know him."

Standoffish, huh?

I opened my mouth to talk, but the overwhelming feeling of nausea washed over me and I could feel my fangs becoming more pronounced, causing dread to blossom inside my chest.

Not now. Not now. Not now.

"Reo?"

"I need to use the bathroom," I blurted out to Archer.

"Right now?" His eyebrows raised and he glanced around as if trying to remind me we were a good ways away from restaurants and home. "Can you hold it-"

"Just stay here. I'll be back," I cut him off and hurried deeper into the woods.

"Reo!"

The moment I was out of sight, I doubled over, breathing heavily as the sharp edges of my fangs scraped against my lower lip. I could feel my heart pounding, the blood rushing through my veins as my vision became blurry. This couldn't be happening-especially not here, not now, when I was with Archer. I clenched my fists, trying to steady myself.

I hated this part of myself. The constant threat of losing control, the fear of what might happen if I gave in. It was the reason I kept my distance from my mates, from anyone really. No one could know about this.

I leaned against a tree, my back to the pack grounds, forcing myself to breathe slowly, methodically. In and out. Focus. I just needed a few minutes. Once I had control again, I could go back and act like everything was fine. Archer wouldn't question it, or at least I hoped he wouldn't.

In and out. In and out. In and out-

"Stray?" A familiar velvety voice called out and the same metallic scent from yesterday flooded my nose.

I opened my eyes and I was sure they had to be bloodshot, but the vampire didn't seem surprised. If anything, he seemed annoyed by the sight of me. I took another whiff of his scent. The urge to move closer to him grew and the nausea seemed to dull slightly which confused me.

Just who was this guy...?

My heart continued to beat rapidly, but that didn't stop me from trying to focus on the vampire, Vander, in front of me. He took two steps forward and my gaze narrowed.

"Back off," I warned.

He didn't seem nervous in the slightest. He just continued to approach with that same gaze on his face-a mixture between calculated and irritated.

"I said-"

"Shut up," he ordered, kneeling on the ground a few feet away from me until we were at eye level. His silver-blue eyes seemed to glow in the dim lighting of the woods and for whatever reason, they seemed to capture my attention in an unrelenting manner too. "Calm down and breathe, Stray."

It was two words. Two annoying little words, but for whatever reason, my body seemed to comply with his commands. The beating of my heart slowed and my breath became lighter until the panic and near loss of control from before was little more than an afterthought.

Vander waited a few minutes before picking himself off the ground, but my eyes still followed him in a slightly dazed, slightly curious manner.

"What are you?" I questioned, frowning.

Those silver-blue eyes focused on me again and his mouth opened almost like he was going to say something-anything-but then he didn't. Instead, he glanced off to the side and then down at me again.

"You should get up."

I knitted my brows but did so nonetheless and turned around to see what he was glancing at. Not a second later, Archer came running toward me.

"Reo!" He shouted my name. "You can't run off like that. You scared me!"

"Sorry," I muttered.

"Why'd you go out this far anyway?" He sighed.

"I was talking to-" I turned back to where Vander had been standing just moments ago, but the space was empty. He was gone. Not a single trace of him remained as if he had vanished into thin air. "What?" I muttered, still searching the woods, my heart pounding again for a different reason now. How had he disappeared so quickly?

"Talking to who?" Archer asked, his voice confused as he followed my gaze.

I opened my mouth, trying to explain, but the words stuck in my throat. Explaining Vander was one thing, but doing so would likely open a different can of worms about what we were doing. Or, to be more specific, what he'd done to me.

"Reo?" Archer prodded, his concern deepening when I didn't answer right away.

I swallowed hard and shook my head, forcing a weak smile. "No one. Must've been hearing things."

Archer frowned, clearly unconvinced, but he didn't push. "You sure you're okay?"

I nodded quickly, too quickly. "Yeah, just... tired, I guess."

Archer's eyes scanned me, doubt flickering across his features, but he let out a sigh. "Okay. Well, let's head back home then. I'll take you to see Vander another day."

I wordlessly nodded and Archer placed his hand on my back, guiding me through the woods and back toward his house. However, as he did so, the only thing I could think was what the hell had Vander done?