Before anything else, Ryder explained to me what Stormy had told him about Stella getting bitten. She had been out, walking to the nearest convenience store as the pack was holding its meeting. Then, after Preston's banishment, he'd stumbled upon Stella. Of course, they were friends so she wondered what was wrong with him but he was still pissed, so he tried to make a move on her as if it would get to Ryder. Well of course Stella attempted to fight back and he was still stronger than her, so she ended up losing and then he Bit her. Apparently he had grabbed her, but Stormy had stepped in and used magic on him—much to her family's disapproval—but lone wolves aren't acknowledged the supernatural treaty. She left him nearly dying in the street and would've nearly killed him if it wasn't for her sanity kicking in. Then they ended up at my place trying to find Ryder after Stormy tried assessing the situation at her place.

"So then what's the big deal about her phasing?" I asked him. "I mean, I know she's your best friend, but—"

"You know how I told you Stella and I were basically together?" he asked. I nodded. "Well before my mom, my dad had been dating Carol Bloomingdale—Stella's mom. When my dad met my mom, of course he was bonded to her so Carol was history. I don't know all the details, but they figured that if their children were friends, they could stay in touch without it being too weird for my mom, but it's utter bullshit and they knew it.

Of course Stella and I aren't together now, but that first moment when I phased and lost interest in her, I felt like things needed precautions. I mean, when my dad basically brain washed me to try and see this girl as my future, I didn't really care if she possibly saw me slip up—or even if I happened to phase in front of her because if she was really the one, I'd have the urge to turn her into a werewolf anyways—"

"What?" He had thought about transforming Stella.

"Shh, shh, shh," he silenced and I closed my mouth reluctantly. "So in all that drama freshman year, we were at one of Zander's friend's party and I was trashed. Stella and I were sitting someplace talking and I was leaning in to kiss her when my eyes changed and I was in pain—I think because any time Stella and I got close, it hurt since she wasn't you—but she saw my eyes and she said they were glowing. Well, someone bumped into us and I was drunk and confused and angry that I tried to fight them and it happened to be Colin. I never phased in front of Stella but Zander had pulled me away right after I sprouted teeth and claws. My back was to Stella so I didn't think she saw it, but when I turned to apologize for putting her in that position, she was scared of me. She walked through the house just to get away from me, but I pulled her back and kissed her to try and keep her there. I thought it worked because she paused, but then my eyes burned again and she saw them glow for sure. She wanted to run away but right as she opened the door, Stormy was there and then hexed her."

"So...you got rejected?" I asked, confused. Everyone had rumors that something more serious happened between them. Deep down, I was hoping it wasn't true, but what he was telling me didn't add up.

"Yeah, but that's not how everyone else remembers it," he admitted. "Stormy got there and charmed Stella, who eventually went upstairs with me and of course everyone knows what that means at a party. Stormy met us up there and altered Stella's memory just so I wouldn't have to deal with the remote chance of her remembering seeing me...so she was under the assumption that we had sex that night just like everyone else."

I stood up.

"Ryder, you can't just do that to someone!" I yelled at him. "It's bad enough that you had Stormy make her believe she didn't see me at the senior trip, but you made her think you two had sex?! That's serious, Ryder!"

"I know!" he said. "I know that it was bad to make her think that—especially since everyone thought they knew the truth and it made her carry into her kissing me that last time, but is it really that bad? She moved on. She dated some other prick for a while and I'm pretty sure they had sex, so..."

"That's different, Ryder," I told him. "She probably assumes that you were her first time and—and—"

"And she does," he agreed. "But I've overheard her with her friends, when she said she wished I wasn't her first because after I wanted nothing to do with her in that way anymore; she figured she was just another girl on my list to hook up with. If she phases, she gets her memories back and she'll get her wish."

"That's not what she meant," I was sure to say. Ugh. I felt my skin boil and I wondered how I could love someone who did that, even if there was a possibility it was Stormy's idea.

"I know, but look," he said, standing up. "I'm trying to find any way to justify this so it doesn't kill me on the inside. If Stella does phase, I've lost her trust for real this time and there will be no way for her to even want to join the pack so—"

"Why do you keep saying 'if' and why wouldn't she already be part of the pack?"

"Because Preston bit her," he reminded. "He has no title and he isn't a bloodline werewolf to even try to be an alpha to start his own pack...and I keep saying if because the full moon is in two weeks and that's when Stella will change if that's how the cards play out."

"Cards play out?" I repeated. "Meaning what? Stormy's tarot cards?"

"No; there's a guarantee way for Stella not to phase or at least not stay a wolf," he sighed. Well what is it? "She has to kill her Maker."

***

"He's crazy if he thinks he can just let his ex girlfriend kill the guy who murdered the man who murdered our dad," Andrew expressed at dinner time.

"Why do you even care?" I asked him. "You don't know Stella, you didn't know Preston, and you don't even know if Marc even killed Dad now that I think about it."

"I don't need to know Stella, I certainly want my fist to get to know Preston's face, and I do know Marc killed Dad because I told you I had that scent memorized and it's always been all over your boyfriend until Marc died!" Andrew slammed his hand down on the table. "Not to mention, he could no longer shift after he murdered—"

"Hey!" Cassandra intervened, holding her glass that had trembled on the table. She looked at Andrew. "If you have a problem, you can take it up with Ryder but stop yelling."

"I would take it up with him, but no, he had to go home," he grumbled.

"He's being there for his mom," I notified in a lower volume, disgusted that Andrew was being so childish.

"Which wouldn't be needed if Preston didn't—"

"Shut up!" Cassandra finally yelled and it settled things. She looked at me while she continued her eating. "Is your head feeling better?"

"Back to perfect health," I assured. "Thanks again for getting me in and out of the clinic without anyone really asking questions."

"You're welcome," she replied. "I just hope Preston gets what's coming to him."

"Ryder gave him a few broken bones," I smiled as I forked at my food. "And he threw him out."

"Good for him," Cassandra said.

"Out of the pack or out of the town?"

"One will lead to the other sure enough," Cassandra assured Andrew.

"What does that mean, though?" I finally asked. Even Ryder had said that a wolf without a pack wasn't likely to survive.

"Preston's a hot head—"

"Yeah, most werewolves are," Andrew nodded.

"Well he's even more of one if I've watched him and Ryder wreck havoc for this long," Cassandra added. "He's arrogant and someone putting their business where it doesn't belong is going to end up badly without any extra strength or pack to defend him."

I remembered how Colin had been the one to attack him first. He defended me, but he still reacted unlike Ryder's wishes. Though I should be fearful about how Preston threatened me, I had no ounce of care considering that I had Ryder and the pack up to my defense. Ryder and Cassandra were right. Preston had no one.

Unless...he had Stella.