“Let the past go, Bren, or it will ruin your future.”

“Why did you choose to save me?”“I could not let you die.” He placed the plate and glass on the kitchen counter.“But you have let goodness knows how many people die. Why me?”“You made me...” He leaned against the counter and looked at her. “You made me…feel.”

“He moved closer to her. “You did not have to get me anything. The fact that you did means I have been in your thoughts. I am thankful for that.”

“I stumbled away. I pressed the back of my hand to my mouth and just looked athim. "What was that?"His chest rose and fell heavily. "A kiss.""Why?""Why?" He laughed. His blue eyes suddenly looked so sad. "Because I've wanted to do that for twenty years.”

“My family stood right in front of me, talking and smiling. I felt like I was viewing one of those cheesy ad shots for camera companies. The ones I looked at and thought, fake, because no one's family ever looked that happy. Yet, the perfect family moment bloomed right before my eyes, and I wasn't a part of it.”

“The nearest arched window poured its soft light over him, allowing me to seeevery inch. Dressed smartly in black loafers and slacks, he wore a thigh-length, blackcoat. He'd brushed his golden hair back, tucked behind his ears, and his cheeks lookedflushed, no doubt due to the bitter, evening air.He looks like an angel in the winter snow. The thought made me growl in irritation."Hello, Magpie."I couldn't move. "Adrian.”

“This had to be Hell.Well, myHell, and funnily enough, my Hell was in a church, surrounded by people I—either door did—love.”

“You have always been home for me, and nothing has been the same without you...”

“....I should have wanted you. I wanted so much to want you.”

“We’ll be all right. Somehow, we will. Trust it is the truth.”

“You have to stop doing, you know, human stuff,” I called. “It is seriously creepy coming from a wolf.”