The doorbell rang a second time, sharper, like it knew exactly how close everything was to shattering.
Priya’s voice carried through the wood, high and shaky. “Everly? Please, I’m not leaving until you open this door. Something weird is going on and I’m freaking out—”
I reached for the knob before Damien could stop me.
His hand clamped over mine. “Everly. No.”
I looked up at him. Gold eyes. Bare chest still streaked with garden blood. The alpha who’d just torn wolves apart for me was vibrating with the need to lock me away.
“She’s my best friend,” I said. My voice didn’t sound like mine anymore. It had claws in it.
He let go. Barely.
I opened the door.
Priya stood on the porch in her favorite hoodie, eyes wide, phone clutched like a lifeline. The second she saw me she lunged forwar
