I was right to say we were just setting ourselves up because it's exactly what happened. Months after Chase made me the promise at prom, he broke it. I was glad that I accepted his flaws and it served as a cushion for my inevitable disappointment, but it still hurt. Maybe knowing it was inevitably coming actually made it worse considering me and Chase had been close up until the betrayal.

After Zoey and Jackson's graduation, the topic of colleges came up. Zoey was going to a college in the area and so was Micah since he had to stay and take care of his needy family. Even though my mom held her tongue about how disappointed she was in Zoey reducing her dreams for some guy, the topic got flipped to us juniors. Jasmine and I had always wanted to go to NYU so that was a given, but Chase's answer was shocking. I wasn't caught off guard because he said he didn't know where he wanted to go or when he'd go. I was caught off guard because he announced that he was leaving our school to move out of the country.

My heart shattered at this.

[THREE AND A HALF YEARS LATER]

"Anything else?" I asked Jasmine.

"Nope. You've done enough," she smiled cheerfully.

As her maid of honor, I was helping her plan the remaining touches of her wedding to Eli. Going off to college really didn't change anything for me and her or her and him. New York University wasn't more than a couple hours from our hometown anyways. Eli stayed there and commuted back and forth from here and there whenever the pack needed him to be home. Under Wes' three-year authority, he didn't try to keep him away from Jasmine any more than necessary, but it was becoming harder and harder as the pack grew in numbers and more older members moved away so Eli just moved back home.

"Zoey's still coming right?" Jasmine asked as we walked out of the coffee shop we were planning at. Even though the binders and laptops were up, I knew she was gonna keep a running list of attendees questions in her head.

"Of course. She wouldn't miss it for the world," I answered. Maybe, I added in my thoughts because Zoey was currently dealing with a rather large problem. Even though her relationship with Micah had been on and off for the last three years, she was dealing with a pregnancy scare. She had simply missed her period and the take-home pregnancy test said she was negative, but she wasn't taking any chances. I was proud of her for being responsible enough to book a doctor's appointment for herself to be sure, but she was still Zoey meaning she was going to be dramatic as possible with it all. And seeing as she was hiding it from Mom...I had a front row seat to the whole ordeal.

"I'm so excited," Jasmine squealed and shook my shoulder. Her excitement made sense not only because the wedding was a week away, but also because she was completely in love with Eli as she always has been.

"I can tell," I laughed.

"Is Torrance still going?" Jasmine suddenly asked.

"Yes ma'am," I answered. Torrance Shaw was my boyfriend for an ongoing nine months. He was a senior English major from Albany who was absolutely amazing—an absolute gentleman in every way possible.

"What about Jackson?" she asked.

"Of course," I nodded. Having Jackson as my step-brother was more comfortable than whatever more-than-friends-less-than-lovers thing we had initially tried before finding out our parents were getting married. He was truly what any girl could dream for in a brother. He had an extremely fun side, but had a spectrum ranged from teasing me to being protective over me. But I was the same way with him, even through the werewolf secret. Even though I Collin was hypothetically the best person to come out to, considering his interests in the mystical world, Jackson still hid the secret from him and I had learned through Wes' complaining that Jackson's suppression of honesty was weighing on him enough to affect his abilities. But Jackson settled on taking his dad's historic supernatural course as a means of at least some sort of familiarity...hopefully before finally spilling the secret.

"What about—"

"Stop worrying about it, Jas," I laughed before she asked about every single person invited—essentially negating the reason for the RSVPs sent out. "Everything's done. I did that for you for a reason, not so you could worry about it getting done."

She let out her breath in laughter. "You're good at this maid of honor stuff."

"Of course I am," I agreed, sticking my tongue out at her. We continued down the street and an arm wrapped around my waist and a hand over my eyes. I sniffed the air and smelt familiar cologne.

"Hey babe," I sang.

"How do you always know it's me?" he asked. He looked down at me with his dark eyes and matching dark hair.

"Maybe because I've known you for so long?"

"Or the fact that you drown yourself in that God awful scent every day," Jasmine added with a laugh. He narrowed his eyes playfully at her.

"I'm gonna go with your answer," he said to me, leaning down to kiss me. I pulled away, remembering something.

"Answer! Crap. I forgot to study for that stupid literature test in two days," I hissed.

"Don't worry, I'll help you," Torrance assured, kissing my cheek as he wrapped his arms around my waist from behind. I leaned against his chest as we walked.

"You two studying together in a dorm by yourselves? Yeah. Sounds productive," Jasmine said facetiously.

"You know you'll be there to watch," Torrance said suggestively. I'm sure he was winking right now as Jasmine scoffed, but I just smiled at the immaturity.

"Actually no, I won't be," Jasmine informed. "I'm going back to town for once so I can see Eli."

"Yes, because you never see Eli," Torrance reminded sarcastically. I lightly hit his shoulder while Jasmine glared back at him. I laughed at both of them but my smile dropped as soon as I saw a stranger pass by an alley in what looked like a blur.

"What?" Torrance laughed because he noticed me pausing. It was only odd because I was used to him and Jasmine bickering.

"I thought I just saw...never mind," I shook my head. Torrance shrugged and Jasmine questioned me with her eyes. She knew something was wrong. I knew something was wrong, but obviously I was mistaken. Or maybe not because I was suddenly seeing the ghost in front of me with a backpack slung over his shoulder. His silver eyes stared right into my soul.

"Can I help you?" Torrance's demeanor went from playful to protective in an instant. Riley still kept his calm manner because even though Torrance towered over him, Riley's slim but supernaturally powered stature could take him.

"Alicia Lindros. What a coincidence," Riley chimed with his same smile. I don't know why I ever thought it'd change considering vampires never aged.

"Riley?" Jasmine asked. He smiled pleasantly at Jasmine too but there was a certain darkness that washed over his eyes.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him sternly. He wouldn't cause a scene here. There were too many people. I was pretty sure he was supposed to be on the run, not a few states away in New York—especially not here on my campus.

"I was just trying to achieve everything on my bucket list," he answered. Why don't I believe that?

"Good luck with that," I said, not at all meaningful as I grabbed Torrance's hand and hauled him off with Jasmine too.

"Wait," Riley called while grabbing my arm. I didn't even have to jerk out of his grasp because Torrance was already there, feeling his hand off of me.

"Watch it," he threatened. Riley's still managed to laugh before he looked to me.

"Alicia, I worry about you. At first I thought you were insane because of Wes, and then you had Cane of all people, but now this guy?" he laughed, pointing loosely at Torrance. "Maybe I was better off for you anyways."

"Maybe you're better off dead," I suggested. "Seriously. What the hell are you doing here?"

His eyes flashed to Torrance and then back to me.

"Personal matter," he answered before turning and leaving.

"Who was that?" Torrance asked once I turned around to walk away in the opposite way Riley went.

"Nobody. Just Riley. He used to be a friend of mine before I learned he was such a monster," I answered honestly with double meanings.

"Ex-boyfriend?"

"Pft. Yeah right. You know that I only have one ex and it's not even like we're exes," I reminded about Wes.

"Well what'd he do to make you hate him so much?" he asked. I cringed at the memory.

"Can't say."

"Wow. That bad," he commented. I nodded with wide eyes and continued on my route to my dorm.

***

"He's there?" Wes asked over the phone. "Did he hurt you?

"I saw him, but no he just talked to us," I repeated. I was informing him about Riley who I thought was on the run and who they thought would be dead by the Council by now.

"What'd he say?"

"I don't know. He was bad-mouthing Torrance and then didn't give me an actual answer on why he was here," I answered.

"Serves him right," Wes agreed, "about Torrance I mean."

"Wes..." I warned because I already knew he didn't like Torrance. Torrance didn't actually do anything to warrant the opposition, but this was Wes. He didn't need a legitimate reason to hate anyone.

"I was kidding," he teased. "I might as well get it all out before I see him at the wedding." I just took his epiphany at face value. "I can't believe they're actually getting married," he added.

"I can. They're mates." It was clear as day that they were meant for each other. Normally I would be worried about any couple being married off so young, but this was different. They were a sure thing.

"Eh...You don't see me getting hitched to April do you? I am twenty one years old, damn it. I have a whole live to live before I'm tied down to one person," he retorted.

"Too late," I mumbled within a laugh.

"Whatever. I can still do what I want. No legal bond, no rules," he stated.

"Hey," I heard a new voice say in a warning tone toward Wes.

"Hey April!" I greeted over the phone.

"Hi, Alicia. What's up?" she asked.

"Nothing much. Just—"

"If you two are going to have a conversation, find some other time to do it. I'm trying to talk to her. Shoo," Wes interrupted telling April.

"Harsh," I commented. I could almost see him shrugging through the phone. "How does she even stand you?"

"Don't know, don't care," he rushed within a lie. He knew the ins and outs of his relationship with April. He just didn't publicize it if he could help it. "What are you doing tomorrow?"

"I think Torrance is—"

"UGH," Wes groaned at his name.

"You didn't let me finish,"

"My apologies toward my hatred at him," Wes said sarcastically. I scoffed.

"He's getting fitted for his tux for the wedding," I finished form earlier, "so I think I'll be studying."

"Ew. Studying for what?" he asked. I could see his nose scrunched up in disgust without even being near him.

"Some of us are at a university," I reminded.

"Oh right. You're a nerd. Sorry. I forgot," he replied.

"Apology not accepted," I humored.

"Yeah right. You still love me," he rambled fast. "Anyways, I have something to tell you tomorrow night."

"Concerning...?"

"You'll find out," he said. "Just be at your dorm tomorrow," he demanded. "And no funny business with Torrance—go study!"

"Yes sir," I laughed. "Bye, lame-o."

"Love you too, Loser," he said before hanging up. As you can tell, we haven't really changed.