Chapter 5

• "No," Dahlia replied firmly as she hurried past Hessa and darted into her room, needing to avoid detection by Hessa's father. It was common knowledge that Mr. Jennings harbored a deep disdain for her presence; he seemed to loathe every moment she spent with Hessa.
• Dahlia was uncertain about the source of his animosity, but she had learned to steer clear of him whenever possible.
• "Dad's not home. He had to leave early for something," Hessa stated, observing Dahlia's frantic movements, almost as if she were a bee in a frenzy, terrified of being crushed.
• "Really?" Dahlia said, her eyes widening.
• Hessa erupted into laughter, her amusement contagious, and then proceeded to pull the blackout curtains shut. The entire house plunged into darkness as the heavy fabric fell across the windows. "You can take the couch. I'm going to sleep in my bed. Goodnight," she whispered, her tone playful yet dismissive.
• "No, no, no, we aren't sleeping," Dahlia insisted, tugging Hessa back toward the living room. "I'm in full-on panic mode over here. I can't sleep!" she whined as Hessa settled down.
• "Come on, Dahlia," Hessa replied with a teasing pout, crossing her arms over her chest. "I know you must've had an amazing night with the Alpha, but this isn't the time to make me jealous."
• Dahlia could feel her friend practically waiting for a detailed recount of the night's events, but there was no way she was going to share everything—absolutely not.
• "No, it's something else," Dahlia replied, her tone serious.
• "What do you mean?" Hessa inquired, her curiosity piqued.
• "I don't know what happened after the night took its turn. Once it was over, I just faded out of memory; I can't even recall changing clothes or falling asleep. And that's not the worst part—I woke up feeling like I was on fire, and someone wrote on my bathroom mirror that I was going to hell, in blood," Dahlia explained, trying to convey the severity of her experience.
• Hessa's mouth fell open in shock, her thirty teeth gleaming in the dim light. "What?!"
• Dahlia could hardly believe the dramatic flair in Hessa's response, which lingered for a few seconds. "That wasn't me!" Hessa exclaimed hastily, trying to preempt any accusations.
• "I know," Dahlia reassured her, but her mind raced with questions. Who could it have been? It wasn't as if any of her other friends even knew where she lived.
• "I know. Exactly!" Dahila echoed, frustration evident in her voice.
• "I mean, it totally sounds like something I would do, but I was completely out of it last night. I didn't even notice when you got back," Hessa protested, making an effort to distance herself from the act.
• "I know, I know," Dahlia said, plopping down beside her with a huff, feeling grumpier than Hessa could ever be.
• After a moment of contemplation, Hessa finally piped up, "It could be Luther."
• It was the first time Dahlia heard his name in several months. "Luther?" she echoed, her brow furrowing in confusion. "No. The last I heard about him was that he was out of town, and I doubt he has come back yet."
• Hessa nodded in agreement, her expression affirming Dahlia's thoughts. "Yeah, plus he's too sweet to mess with you." Hessa's words rang true, reflecting Dahlia's own sentiments.
• Luther had been the first boy Dahlia ever dated, and their relationship had lasted only a few short months marked by a constant ebb and flow. She had given her virginity to him filled with high hopes, but the experience had turned out to be the most unremarkable moment of her life. Despite that disappointment, she still cared for him, and they had only broken up because things simply weren't working out.
• He had been the kindest person she had ever known, always gentle and attentive. Shortly after their separation, he had left town, and since that day, Dahlia had not heard a single word from him. It weighed on her that perhaps she had broken his heart, or maybe there were other reasons for his absence.
• As she dragged herself out of her thoughts, Dahlia found Hessa's gray eyes shining with concern. "What about your dad?" Hessa asked, her voice trembling slightly at the mention. Dahlia could not deny that it was unsettling to hear his name or think of that man as "Dad."
• "No. He wouldn't do something like that. I know he's the worst person imaginable, but this isn't his style. I would have known if he returned home," she replied, gritting her jaw at the mere thought of him.
• Mr. Brandon was what her father insisted everyone call him, even her. Her mother and he had separated when Dahlia was in her early teens. Her mother had sought a divorce, but he had refused to grant it and would often return to disrupt their lives whenever he pleased. As a high-ranking wolf and the Beta of the pack, he wielded a sort of power that left Dahlia and her mother with no one to turn to for help.
• "Are you sure? It could be him; he always pulls these kinds of stunts," Hessa suggested, placing a reassuring hand on Dahlia's back. "You should have told your mom."
• "I didn't want to alarm her. This could all just be a cruel joke from someone..." Dahlia reasoned, understanding deep down that her mother didn't need to know about the ominous blood smeared across the bathroom mirror.
• "And what if it isn't? What if this isn't just a joke?" Hessa pressed, concern lacing her voice.
• "Then," Dahlia sighed, resigning herself to the truth of the matter, "I'll take care of it."
• Without skipping a beat, Hessa leapt off the couch and disappeared into the kitchen. She reemerged moments later, her arms filled with chocolates and juices meant to uplift their spirits. With a bright smile, she sat back down beside Dahlia. Among all of Dahlia's friends, Hessa was the closest—everyone else was only there intermittently.
• "Let's forget about what happened earlier," Hessa said, handing Dahlia a chocolate bar before leaning back against the couch. "You need to tell me how it went. I'm all ears."
• Dahlia felt a warmth creep over her cheeks. "I can't."
• "Why not?" Hessa pouted, clearly wanting answers.
• "Because it's a secret, and I can't share anything that happened last night with anyone—not even you," Dahlia explained, giving Hessa a gentle pat on the shoulder, only to have Hessa swat her hand away in playful frustration.
• "That's just mean! I want some details too. Was the Alpha good? Did you two... you know? Did you see stars?" The spark of excitement in Hessa's eyes dimmed when Dahlia remained tight-lipped.
• "Yes, Hessa, I saw the stars and the entirety of the starry night, but that's all you're getting! No more from me!" Dahlia exclaimed, raising the glass to her lips and taking a generous gulp of the cold juice Hessa had retrieved from the refrigerator. The apple juice was just the refreshment she needed to restore her energy.
• "Was he rough?" Hessa winked, her playful demeanor not fading.
• Dahlia nearly choked on her juice. "Hessa! I'm not going to tell you that!" It wasn't simply due to their previous agreement; she genuinely didn't want to share such intimate details with her best friend.
• "Ugh, whatever," Hessa huffed, sulking slightly at her friend's reticence yet clearly unable to mask her amusement.