Being normal was a thing that didn't come easily to Alec. He stuck out like a black sheep in the New York crowds. Okay, maybe he didn't. Most people edged away from him, thinking he was some creepy goth-emo kid with creepy tattoos.

Which was laughable, but Mundanes could believe anything but the truth.

Alec should have known to not go with Cassie today, he should have known better, but he was sick and tired of his sisters blabbering about TV shows and hot actors, and he was also tired of Jace's weird obsession of tracking down that girl from the club. And he was also tired of eating takeout and shooting arrows at the wall.

He should have known better.

Alec should have also seen the thing creeping along with them, keeping them at a respectable distance, but close enough to strike. Alec should have listened more carefully to those strange sounds instead of waving them off as a stray cat or something. And he should definitely not let Cassie go in that alley.