"That's probably it." Kylie motioned for her to move back again.
The girl took one step and then stopped. "But they say you're a protector, too. And at the ceremony, I'm told you had a were pattern. How could you..."
Kylie squeezed past her to leave the stall and went to wash her hands. And as much as she didn't want to think about it, her mind re-created the kiss she'd seen Lucas give Monique.
"Are you still mad at him?" Monique asked. "I'll bet you're furious."
Kylie gave the soap container an extra-hard pump. When she glanced up in the mirror at the were's reflection, Kylie was hit again by how pretty Monique was. Her eyes were dark brown with long dark lashes that matched her black hair. Her lips were pouty and plump like some famous actresses. Yup, she had a pretty face, matched by her picture-perfect curvy body.
Scrubbing her hands together, Kylie said, "If you don't mind, I don't think this is something I want to discuss with you."
"If I were you, I'd be drilling me with questions." She tilted her head to the side and studied Kylie's reflection as if trying to figure her out. "Since you're not curious, that means you believe him when he told you that we didn't fool around. Or at least you want to believe him," Monique said. "Don't you want toask me?"
A sharp, painful ache struck Kylie's heart. "You already said he didn't want you."
"Maybe I meant he didn't want to get married, but you know guys, they always want other stuff."
Kylie ran her hands under the faucet and rinsed. Then she looked up at Monique's reflection again.
"You were right the first time. I believe him." And the words slipped out of her mouth and didn't trip her heartbeat up a bit. Even she was a little surprised.
"Then why are you still mad at him? Clara says you hardly acknowledge him. That he's one sad puppy."
Kylie snatched some paper towels from the dispenser. "Let me repeat myself: I really don't care to discuss this with you."
Monique shook her head as if she was confused by Kylie's behavior. "It took guts to do what he did.
To call off the engagement. To risk it all." She tilted her head to the side and studied Kylie. "You do know what all he risked, don't you?"
Kylie didn't answer. She closed her eyes for a second and wished she didn't have to hear this.
"His own pack is considering banishing him," Monique continued. "If he can't get on that Council, he has lost everything. His father has practically denounced him. I've heard the forefathers have called a meeting to discuss his actions. My father is still debating putting a hit on him."
Kylie twisted and stared at Monique. "And you are going to let him?"
"Let him? I've told him that I'm thrilled to be out of the union, but what I say holds no importance to my father. Like Lucas, I'm expected to follow the rules. Funny, it took him calling off our engagement before I kind of liked the guy."
Monique moved in a little closer. "Call me a romantic, but I think it's kind of sad that after he did that, you don't take him back. Not that you would have him for very long. A lone wolf's life expectancy is very short. You either belong to a pack, or you are considered free game for any hungry were on a hunt."
The bathroom door banged open. The lone wolf stormed into the bathroom looking prepared to kill.
When his eyes lit on Monique, his killer instincts lessened, but his scowl tightened. "What the hell are you doing here?"
Monique shrugged. "When a girl's gotta pee, she's gotta pee!" She moved past him without a bit of shame and walked out the door. "Have a good life, Lucas."
Lucas didn't even watch her leave. He stared at Kylie, his gaze almost a caress. "I'm sorry. She had no right to-"
"She didn't do anything." Kylie twisted the paper towels extra tight, ripped them in two, ripped them one more time, and then tossed them in the garbage. She swallowed the knot of pain down her throat.
"You should go to her. Agree to go through with the engagement."
"What?" He stared at Kylie if she'd lost her mind.
"You heard me!" she insisted.
He shook his head. "You don't mean that."
"Yes, I do!" she said. And she did with all her heart. How could she stand by and watch him lose everything? Watch his own pack push him out, knowing it was because of her?
"You're just angry with me."
"Yes! You're damn right I'm still angry at you." Tears filled her eyes as honesty echoed in her voice.
"You betrayed me. It hurts like hell knowing you left me all those times and went to see her. But do youwant to know who I'm angrier at? Myself. I knew for the longest time how this would end. I knew that me not being a were would end up destroying any chance we had."
"I don't care what you are!" he growled.
"You should. Because the price you'll have to pay is too much." She saw the hurt flash in his eyes.
"Even if you hadn't betrayed me, I wouldn't let you pay it. It's over, Lucas, accept that and don't screw up your life because of me."
Head held high, she walked out. Unfortunately, her heart felt like the towels she'd just trashed- mangled and twisted.
* * *
Kylie watched Perry-still a hawk-follow her dad's car as they returned to Shadow Falls. While her stepdad drove, he talked about the possible hiking trip. When he slowed down to turn into the Shadow Falls parking lot, Kylie noticed the silver Cadillac in front of them with its blinker on, also pulling into the parking lot. The car's tinted windows prevented her from seeing who drove, but she couldn't help wonder if it might be the Brightens-her real dad's adoptive parents.
Kylie's stomach started to flutter. She still didn't know what to say, what not to say. Her heart kept echoing the pain she'd felt when talking to Lucas, but she needed to shift mental gears now. Unfortunately, she had too many issues to give herself over to just one.
She glanced at her watch. It was twenty till two. It could actually be them if they were the type to be early.
Glancing at her dad now talking about the camping gear they would need, she realized how awkward this would be if he had to meet the Brightens. It would probably lead to having to explain a whole hell of a lot of things that Kylie didn't know how to explain. And it would probably end up hurting her stepdad, something she didn't want to do.
The silver car pulled in and parked in a visiting parking spot. Her dad pulled in and parked two spots down. Releasing her seat belt, before her dad even had a chance to turn the car off, she leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek.