Chapter 155

Audrey

"Get out! Get out of my HOUSE!"

Tina and I burst out into the cold night air, bags in hand, hearts pounding. Tears streamed down my friend's face as screams echoed down the quiet street. The peaceful harvest feast had turned into a nightmare in a matter of moments.

"And don't come back!" Tina's father bellowed after us, followed by the slam of a door that was so hard it rattled the window panes throughout the entire house. In the background, her mother was still screaming. Not even screaming words-just- screaming.

Somehow, that was even worse than the slew of awful things that Tina's father had said.

We jumped into the car, the doors slamming shut as Tina fumbled with the keys. The engine roared to life, and tires screeched as she floored the accelerator. Her hands trembled on the steering wheel as we sped away from the house, the streetlights blurring into streaks of light.

"Tina, slow down." I said, my voice shaky as I gripped the dashboard. "You're going to get us into an accident." "Sorry."

Tina eased off of the gas, but her knuckles remained white around the steering wheel. "I can't believe they reacted like that," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the hum of the engine. "Like.. Like animals."

i

I shuddered, wrapping my arms around myself as I remembered the scene that had unfolded just minutes ago. It was something I wouldn't soon forget. "I'm- I'm **y."

There was a long, palpable silence that seemed to stretch on for eternity. Her parents' faces went ashen, their mouths hanging agape. Instinctively, I pushed my chair back, my muscles tensing to move. My wolf had sensed Tina's father's fury before it came. I could smell it on him, that rage that he had no intention of containing.

He dropped his fork to his plate with a clatter, white hands trembling.

Tina's mother had set her own fork down more gently, although her hands shook even more than her husband's. She swallowed hard and said, "What's that, dear?"

"I'm g**y, Mom." Tina turned to look at her mother, a pleading look in her eyes. Then she looked at her father. "I'm tired of living a lie."

"During the harvest feast...." Her mother shook her head, staring blankly down at the tablecloth.

Tina shivered. "I'm sorry, but I couldn't wait. I thought-"

"No one gives a d** what you think." Tina's father's voice was thin, reedy. Slowly, he rose from his chair. I rose, too, my eyes darting to the door as his lip curled back to reveal his fangs Get out of my house. Both of you."

Tina didn't move."Dad-"

Isaid, get OUT!"

noticed. I certainly noticed, however, when he

08:58 Fri, Sep 20

Chapter 155

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my wolf all the while warning me that it wasn't safe, wasn't safe. Tina, face pale and body shaking, stopped in the dining room

to growl. "Why is

chair. "What will the neighbors

eyes now, reached for

growl,

at some point while we were up there, loud enough to

now here we were, flying through

over to grip Tina's hand reassuringly. Her skin was clammy and cold. "No matter what, okay?

trembled. "I'm

hard, finding nothing to say. All I could do was

and Tina's occasional sniffles. The familiar suburban landscape gave way to darker, less populated areas. Eventually, Tina pulled

shaken to drive

steering wheel, her body wracked

Tina relaxed into the embrace, her tears soaking into my shirt. I could feel her whole

Tina hiccupped

stroking her hair, "you didn't ruin anything. We can still have our own harvest feast. Just the two of

I gave her one last squeeze before pulling away. "I'll go grab us some snacks

the cold air nipping at my skin. Wandering the aisles, I grabbed various snacks:

"Hide."

voice was

I wondered if Tina's father had followed us. But peering around the corner, I saw a

for a very long trip. The cashier was

08:58 Fri, Sep 20

Chapter 155

chips and granola bars and even a carton of cigarettes. I didn't know she smoked, but that

doing here, so far from the

that she'd stopped answering the phone and her house was empty when Claudia tried to visit. Something about a sudden business trip. But we were out in the middle of nowhere now. What sort of business' could she have all the way out here,

flat against the shelf, holding my breath until I heard the bell above the door

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