“Tory a father isn’t supposed to fear his fourteen-year-old daughter. That being said, you terrify me.”

“Tell me why, Been. Why would you trick us in the first place?" Ben stopped pacing. Looked directly at me. "Don't you know?'I shook my head,confused."To impress you, Victoria Brennan." His voice cracked. "I wanted you to think that I was special."The words rocked me.Oh, Ben."He'd started this madness... for me?'You were spending all that time with Jason," Ben said softly, staring at his shoes. "skipping around town with your new perfect guy. Cotillion this. fund-raiser that. I hated it. Hated him. When I finally told Rome, he said that I needed to amaze you. Said I needed to figure out a way to make you see me.”

“Whitney smacked Coop's snout while simultaneously pressing herself deeper into the couch. Coop fixed her with an unblinking ice-blue stare, gray-brown fur bristling along his spine. "Tory!" Whitney squealed. "He's going to attack!""Maybe." I walked into the kitchen and snagged a Diet Coke from the fridge. "Try to protect your throat.”

“I see you, Ben. I always have. You're in my pack."He pulled away."What if being packmates isn't enough for me?”

“I can't believe you jokers fixed it." Hi was picking his way down to the beach."Believe it, clown. Too much brain power here to fail." Still pumped, Shelton threw another palm Ben's way."Oh, I'm sure." Hi streched, yawned. "It was something highly technical, I suppose? Something requiring mechanical ability? Nothing as simple as tightening a wire or flippin a switch, right?"Ben reddened. Shelton developed an intrest in his sneakers.Score one for Hi.”

“You all right now?""I'm exceptional. Wonderful. Thanks for the concern. You complete me.”

“Observing Ben’s struggle, Hi scratched his chin. Glanced at me. Shrugged. Then he quietly slipped around behind Ben. And, without ceremony, kicked him in the ass. Hard”