Nina shrieked as she stormed off, and I just smiled after her. “Well, that was fun.” I turned to face Sterling, who was staring at me. “Ready?” I walked out the door, and he trailed after me.

“That’s it?” His voice sounded incredulous.

I turned back, confused. “What?”

“That’s your reaction to what I just said? Being related to Rowan, being part Lycan? Nothing?” He crossed his arms.

I felt my brows furrow. “Did you want me to freak out?” He shook his head. “Lose my mind and beg you to call him?” He tilted his head back and forth like he was considering it. I snorted. “Sterling, let me just say this: I like you as a friend, and nothing you say will change that. Not your position, and definitely not who you are related to.” I reached up and patted his arm. “Plus,” I pulled out my phone and wiggled it, “I still have his number. If I wanted to speak to him, I could just call him myself.” I grinned and then turned back to the car.

“You seriously don’t care?” He sounded genuinely confused.

I laughed. “Not one bit. Why would I?” He stared at me for a minute and then walked around to the other side of the car and slipped in. I heard my door unlock, and I opened it to see a small box full of things. I slipped it off the seat and settled it between my legs. I closed the door and looked at Sterling, who was already looking at me. “What?”

“I don’t know. I’m just not used to someone not caring about it.” He tapped the steering wheel and then looked at me again. “I’m honestly a little lost.” He snorted.

I looked at him. “Why?”

He shook his head. “This is stupid, but I’m going to be honest.” I nodded for him to continue. “Whenever someone finds out about Rowan…” He scratched the back of his head. “They try to use me to get closer to him.”

I nodded. “Makes sense.” He snapped his face toward me, but I just laughed. “I said it makes sense, not that someone should do it.” I sighed as I did my seatbelt. “People tend to be at least a little selfish by trait. The worse I find the person, the more selfish they are.” I shrugged. “But I knew Rowan before I met you, and if I needed to reach him or get close, I could do that all by myself. I don’t need you to help me.” He nodded and then pulled away, finally heading back to my pack.

“You are right. It’s just a weird feeling.” He cut his eyes to me. “Why are you so nice to me, then?” He sighed.

I laughed. “Because you are my friend.”

“It’s not because I’m a gamma from the royal pack.”

I snorted. “I used that because Nina wants to be close to Rowan, not because it actually matters.” He lifted his eyebrow, and I snorted. “Let me explain: I was raised to treat everyone as a person, not a rank. So I would have treated you the exact same whether you were an Alpha, Gamma, or unranked.”

He thought about it for a minute and then nodded. “You’re right.” He was quiet for a minute. “The box is full of letters, or things that were delivered to you I couldn’t give you.” He pointed to the box between my legs. “The one on top was the very last one.”

I looked down at the envelope. “When was it delivered?”

He sighed. “The morning of your graduation, right before you came down.” He gripped the wheel tighter. “I’m sorry, Amy.”

“Have you read any of these?” I grabbed the letter and twirled it in my hands.

He shook his head. “No, but I have a feeling I know exactly what’s in that letter.” He glanced at me, and all I could see was his puppy dog eyes filled with remorse. “I’m sorry.”

The look and his words filled me with dread. I slid my finger under the glue and opened the letter that just had my name written on it. I slipped it out and unfolded it.

Amy,

Goddess only knows why you haven’t called or texted me. I can only assume you are still mad at me, and I get it. I left you in heat, but I swear it, I didn’t want to. I wish I stayed, but I knew if I did, eventually you would have hated me.

I couldn’t live if you hated me.

I want our first time together to be something spectacular, and I want you to be sober enough to make the decision with me. No regrets.

Today is going to be bad, and I need you to know what is coming. Your father and I have been working on this plan for over a year, and now it’s time. It’s going to be fucking painful for you, but I swear your dad came up with everything.

Remember, I love you and only you.