Wolf under an oak tree.

“I think now I get it as to why this crazy person is killing everyone in his way,” I said, but I have a feeling that there is more to his motive that we may not know at the moment. I mean, why should he kill women from each pack.

“Anyway, you don’t worry about that, I will take care of it,” Jace said, and I nodded my head, and we rode the rest of the car ride in silence until he pulled his car into my brother’s driveway.

“Iris, before you go, I would like to know when you want to start the renovation on the house that you bought?” Jace asked me, and that is when something clicked in my mind. The house that I bought is kind of close to where Jace’s house is.

“I think, maybe in three days because the sooner we can finish it, the better.”

“Okay, I will talk to a few builders that I know, and I will email you the design for the house within two days.”

“Sure, that sounds great,” I said, and after that, the car was back to a thick silence, I know that I will have to get out of this car soon, but my heart just didn’t want to leave Jace so soon.

“So, I guess I will see you later.”

“Sure, goodbye,” I said, and with a heavy heart, I got out of the car and slowly walked toward the front porch, when I turned around, I saw that Jace was intently staring at me, and with a last wave, I slowly opened the door and stepped into an entirely quite home.

“Iris, is that you?” I heard my brother’s voice from the kitchen.

“Yes, I am home,” I said and quickly made my way into the living room and peeped out from the huge floor-to-ceiling window to see that Jace has already left.

“What happened, Iris? I called Walter, and he said that you were at his place, and you fell unconscious.” Cole questioned, and I shook my head at what Walter had told them.

That idiot is never going to learn.

“Yeah…um, I got dehydrated,” I said, and I hoped my brother would believe me.

“How did you get dehydrated to the point of fainting? I mean, just before you left the house, I saw you drinking a huge glass of orange juice?” Cole said, and I saw that his nose was scrunched, and his eyebrows frowned in confusion.

“Honey, this has happened before when we were in high school, too.” Right then Ada came into the living room with two mugs of hot cocoa. “Iris tends to faint due to her low blood sugar levels.” Ada lied for me, but she was stealthily giving me a pointed look.

“But, I didn’t know Iris gets low blood sugar. This has never happened before and…” “I think you need some rest, you do remember that you still have a flight to catch in the morning, right?”Ada urged, and I saw Cole giving her a nod, he said his goodnights to us, and he warned me to not do this again before he left the living room.

“Okay, so now that my husband has left, care to explain what you and Walter were up to?” Ada questioned, while she took a seat on the sofa and adjusted her mug, she turned her deadly stare towards me, and I had a feeling that I was back in the principal's office all over again.

“I went hiking to clear my mind before heading home, and I didn’t know how the time flew by before it was already dark, and when I was coming down the hill, I encountered a vicious wolf.” When Ada heard the word 'wolf' she let out a gasp before placing her mug on the glass table, and she walked toward me.

“Did…did it hurt you?” Ada’s voice was barely a whisper, and I can feel her hands that were on my shoulder shaking.

“No, just then Walter came and chased the wolf, but I guess due to the shock of seeing a wolf up close made me faint, and so Walter took me back to his place.” Ada’s eyes were now the size of saucers, and her breathing was irregular too. I know I have altered the story a lot, but I think it is for her own benefit. It is better if she doesn’t know about werewolves and that I am Jace’s mate because even though she is my best friend, she has done more than what my parents have in protecting me from all those bullies, and I don’t want her to shoulder more of my problems anymore.

“Thank god! Didn’t I warn you about wolves earlier?” Ada asked me, and I didn’t answer that.

“I must thank Walter later for saving your sorry ass. What do you think would have happened if that wolf eat you, Iris? What would I tell you brother and your parents?” Ada stepped away from me, and now she was shaking with all the pent-up anger, and she kept ranting like this for a few more minutes before taking a seat on the sofa.

“At least you are in one piece, and I think that is good enough,” Ada said after a long pregnant pause, and I simply nodded my head before taking a seat next to her, and I took the mug of hot cocoa. And Ada took the remote before playing a random movie that was going on the television.

“Oh, I completely forgot to inform you.” Ada suddenly said after a long silence. “Your parents are coming here tomorrow, to stay for two weeks. And Cole is leaving for America tomorrow.”

“Did mom call you?”

“Yes, and she asked me where you were, and I told her that you were not at home and that you left your phone at home.”

“Thank you, Ada, I don't know what I would have done without you,” I said with a huge smile on my face, and I held both her hands.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever, but you owe me big time for this because I had to lie to my mother-in-law and my husband, too,” she said with a strong voice. And I gleefully nodded my head before we resumed drinking our hot cocoa.