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shirt
around her waist, she climbed into the passenger side. She rolled down the
window trying to get some fresh air.
    “I’ve got to get the car in the shop. The air con went
a couple of days ago.”
    “Don’t worry about it, but I might melt into the
leather seats.”
    “I’ll peel you off if need be.”
    Tori chuckled. Staring out of the window, she couldn’t
believe how calm she felt by being with him. Ever since she’d learned about
what challenges she faced she’d been scared. It wasn’t a fear out of the unknown
but knowing something bad was going to happen. Even when she laughed with her
family, it was always there. Being with Jack, she actually felt that everything
was going to be okay.
    She trusted him, and that was strange considering they
had a past but not much of one. Their time away hadn’t stopped her from
thinking about him. She had found herself at odd moments wondering what he was
doing, if he was happy.
    “What are you thinking about?” he asked.
    “You.”
    “Do I even want to know what you’re thinking about?”
    “No. You don’t. You’re supposed to be cool, and what
I’m thinking is sweet, not cool.”
    “Great. Now I’m sweet. You’re so going to mess with my
rep.”
    “Jack, you’re too old to go with street talk.”
    “I’m nineteen.”
    “And yet you’re acting way younger.” She couldn’t stop
giggling.
    He pulled up in front of her house, and she climbed
out without waiting for him to help.
    “I wanted to open your door,” he said with a pout.
    “Don’t worry about it. Come on.”
    She entered the house to hear her family was worried.
    “She couldn’t have gone far,” Carl said. “Jack’s not
answering his damn phone.”
    “Dad, I’m talking to the alpha right now,” Emma said.
    “She’s with Jack. She’ll be fine,” Rachel said.
    Her siblings were also shouting. Some of them were
telling the others not to worry while others were arguing that she wasn’t safe.
    “Guys, I’m right here,” she said, keeping her voice
calm. They were all in the kitchen while she stood by the front door.
    The whole of her family rushed toward her. She held
her back pack tighter against her. Jack wrapped his arm around her waist,
pulling her close.
    “Where the hell have you been?”
    “I went out. Jack did call to tell you not to worry.”
    “You went out alone. We’ve told you not to go out
alone, Tori. God damn it,” Carl said, completely ignoring the rest of her
explanation.
    “It’s my fault, Mr. Hunter. I wanted to take her out
for breakfast. She told me you were all asleep. We were having so much fun that
we forgot to call to update you of where we were going. We didn’t intend to
take this long.”
    He’d lied for her. Her family worried over the
smallest thing. Jack had already called, and yet they were bugging them both
because they took longer.
    Glancing behind her, she smiled at Jack. “That’s
exactly what happened. Nothing out of the ordinary. Not alone in any way.”
    Her dad looked from Jack to her then back again.
“Okay, well next time you better call or you’ll be grounded.”
    “I’m going to put my backpack away.”
    “She wants to meet Marshall’s mate. I’ve organized it
already. I can have her back by six,” Jack said.
    Rushing up to her bedroom, she knew Rachel was
following her.
    “What’s going on?” Rachel asked, closing the door
behind her.
    “Nothing is going on.”
    “Jack Rowlands had his arm around your waist and it
was nothing?”
    “Well, it wasn’t.”
    “I think he’s got a crush on you.” Rachel folded her
arms underneath her breasts. Tori rolled her eyes.
    “Please, Jack could have any girl he wanted. He’s not
hanging around with me because he wants me.”
    She tossed her bag into her wardrobe, putting her cell
phone into her pocket.
    “He’s always been nice to you, Tori. In fact, you’re
the only girl I’ve seen him say anything nice to.”
    “He’s a nice guy.”
    “No, he’s not. He’s