"Mathias, you have to stay here."

Her brother whined and nudged his cold, wet muzzle against her calf.

Harley walked to the pack house garage where Bailey waited in her little white sedan. Mathias was right at her heels, his warm breath fanning over the back of her knees.

She spun, sympathy coating her features as she said, "I told you, you can't come." Crouching, she rubbed under her brother's chin. "Wolves don't belong at the mall."

He licked her hand and sat, tilting his head to the side. Very dog-like. Despite her efforts, a laugh escaped. "I don't care if you look like a dog," she told him. "Dogs aren't allowed at the mall either."

In the garage, the car's engine spurred to life. "I have to go. Love you."

"Sorry about that," she said as she climbed into the passenger seat.

"He's not right behind me, is he?" Bailey asked. She put her hand on Harley's headrest and turned to look as she backed out of the garage. "The last thing I need is to accidentally run over your brother."

A grin ticked the side of Harley's mouth. "I told him I'm going. If you hit him, it's his fault."

"It's just the mall," Bailey said as she sped off. "Retail therapy is great for the soul. He should be happy you're getting out."

Harley shrugged, "Mathias is confusing sometimes. It doesn't help that he can't talk."

They pulled into the vast mall parking lot around eleven o'clock. Because it was a weekday, not many people were out shopping. However, mall shoppers still filled the food court to the brim.

"Have you ever had thai food?" Bailey asked as they passed it.

"Nope. Is it spicy?"

"Depends on the kind. It's really good though. We'll have to try it later," Bailey pointed at a store not far from them. "There's that dress shop I told you about. Come on."

Bailey had expensive tastes. She dragged Harley to all the little knick-knacky boutiques where the shirts were stringy and the dresses were missing half the back. She liked the style of the boutiques, but it cost more for a ring there than a shirt at one of her department stores.

"Harley, look at this dress!" Bailey held up a red halter neck summer dress. "This would go perfectly with your dark hair."

Harley snorted and put down the glow in the dark pencil she'd been looking at. "Is it more than thirty dollars?"

"It's 32."

She shook her head. "I think my wallet would have a heart attack and die if I bought that."

"Are you kidding? This is so you!" Bailey shook the hanger. "Try it on. Please?"

"Bailey--"

"Just try it!"

Harley groaned. "Ugh, fine."

The dress was beautiful. The vibrant red worked well with her hair and even gave some life to her plain brown eyes. And the halter neck kept it modest, though the shorter skirt made it flirty.

She should never have tried it on. Because now she wanted it with a ferocity that tightened her gut.

What would Will think if he saw her in this dress? It was only a summer dress, yet it accentuated her shoulders and slimmed her waist.

She imagined him coming home with Ben. He'd step through the front door, and she'd be waiting at the top of the stairs in the red dress. When he saw her, he'd freeze. Then she'd run down the stairs to fly into his arms. He'd smile at her, and his eyes would warm as he took her in--

"Well? Does it fit?" Bailey called out.

Harley smoothed the sides of the dress down and pulled back the curtain.

Bailey whistled. "Girl, you have to get that dress."

She bit her lip. "I can't. It's way too much." But damn, was it a pretty dress.

"If you don't buy it, I'm getting it for you."

She ended up buying the dress. But only because it was 25% off. And then, since she'd already blown money she hadn't intended to, she went all in and got two more shirts.

"I'm never going to the mall with you again," Harley muttered.

Bailey bumped shoulders with Harley. "You love me."

She did.

"Now, onto thai food!" Bailey declared.

They sat near the edge of the food court where the glass railing overlooked the fountain. Harley's plate was a strange mixture of noodles and vegetables and meat and to be honest, she couldn't identify it all.

Bailey frowned over Harley's shoulder. "Is that...?" Recognition flashed over her face. "Oh my gosh, that's Blackthorne." She waved someone over.

A middle-aged man with a terribly receding dark hairline appeared at their table. "My, my if it isn't my dear Bailey."

Harley tried to switch her frown to a smile, though she knew it looked politely fake. How did Bailey know this guy? Was he part of the pack? A family friend?

Blackthorne focused on Harley. "And who might this be?"

"Blackthorne, this is my friend Harley Pierce," Bailey said, "Harley, this is my friend Blackthorne."

Something about the interaction between Bailey and Blackthorne seemed off. Politely teasing, like they were only playing friends. Though Luna knows how many times Harley pretended to be friendly with people she didn't like.

She'd get the details about him later.

"Nice to meet you," Harley shook his hand.

"Blackthorne used to coach my little league," Bailey explained. "He was the best baseball coach in the area."

He frowned at Bailey, then coughed and crossed his arms. "I don't know about the best, but..."

"You were," Bailey assured. "Well, for sixth graders, at least." She gestured to the empty chair beside them. "Sit for a bit."

Blackthorne did, then pulled a pack of cigarettes from inside his coat pocket. Which was another weird thing about him. Who wears a jacket in the middle of summer?

He slid a cigarette free. "Either of you got a light?"

Bailey wrinkled her nose. No doubt to her sensitive senses, the cigarettes were a bit much. They were strong for Harley, and she didn't even have a wolf. "No. We don't. You can't smoke in the mall anyway."

"Such a shame."

Harley set her fork down, "I'm going to run to the bathroom." She shot Bailey a questioning look. Will you be okay if I leave?

Bailey nodded.

"Be right back," Harley said.

The mall didn't have many restrooms. The only one Harley knew of was down another corridor, by one of the major department stores.

When she was done she headed back the way she came. A lady by one of the kiosks tried to stop her and explain why the curling iron she sold was better than any other. But Harley not only didn't want to spend more money, she also didn't want to leave Bailey with Blackthorne for too long.

Why did he go by Blackthorne? Surely that wasn't his first name.

Though Harley knew of some people at her old pack who went by their last names, so maybe it wasn't so weird.

You're looking for reasons to find him weird.

She couldn't help it. There was just something about him.

At the table, Bailey and Blackthorne were in some type of intense discussion.

"Sorry about that," Harley said and sat. She picked up her fork and ate more of her food. Already it had gotten cold and didn't taste the same. When it was hot and fresh it was pretty tasty. She'd have to remember thai food in the future.

Blackthorne had his arms behind his head. "It's alright my dear. Actually, I should probably get going." He gazed at Bailey, "The misses is waiting for me outside anyway."

"It was nice to meet you."

He put a heavy hand on her shoulder and grinned down at her. "You too, Ms. Harley Pierce. You too."

"That was...weird," Harley said, eating more of her noodles. "How long has it been since you've seen each other?"

Bailey frowned down at the ice in her cup. Her plastic container of food was empty. She must've finished while Harley was in the bathroom. "Quite awhile."

"Well, I'm ready to go when you are," she said, pushing her food away.

"You sure you don't want more?" Bailey crunched on a bit of her ice. "You've got half a plate there."

"I'm good. It's cold and doesn't taste the same."

"If you're sure..." Bailey checked her phone. "I've got a patrol shift in half an hour anyway. We should go."

They threw away their garbage and went back to the parking lot to search for Bailey's car. At some point, while they were inside, dark, ominous storm clouds had accumulated. Rain now poured from the sky in large sheets, puddles turning the parking lot into a minefield.

And now they couldn't find the car.

"I don't understand," she said. "I swear we parked under the 5C marker."

"I know we did," Bailey said, "But I'm not running out there until I know which direction to run."

Harley peered through the rain, "I can't see a thing. Are you sure you'll be okay to drive? Because we can wait here..."

"We'll be good," Bailey pointed, "I think that's it right there. You wait here, I'll bring the car around."

While Bailey ran into the rain like a brave soldier, Harley piled their bags right outside the door. The rain had brought a bit of a cold front that pulled at her clothes and messed with her hair. Damn, she hated misty wind.

"Sucky weather, right?" Blackthorne came out of the doors. "Do you guys need any help?"

Harley frowned. Didn't he leave earlier?

She hugged herself. The wind snapped at her shirt and snuck under her sleeves to wrap its chill around her bones. She couldn't wait to get into the nice warm car.

"I think we're fine, thanks," Harley grinned politely at him. She looked back at the parking lot. The rain cast a misty fog over the area. She should have still been able to see Bailey's headlights. Where was she?

Harley yawned.

"Tired?" Blackthorne asked.

Why wasn't he leaving? And where was his wife?

Exhaustion struck swift and hard. One minute she was fine. The next, her whole body felt heavy as cement.

Harley frowned. The muscles in her legs went weak. What the--? She blinked hard and shook her head.

Wake up.

Fatigue threw itself around her and pulled. She leaned against the brick wall near the door.

Where was Bailey?

Her eyelids got heavier and then the fear kicked in. This wasn't normal. Nothing about this was normal--

Through dimming vision, she saw Blackthorne check his watch. "About twenty minutes. I told her it wouldn't take that long."

Bailey's car pulled up to the curb. Sweet, cold relief appeared briefly, then disappeared as Bailey came up to her. "We need to get her into the car," she told Blackthorne.

"You have those plastic ties?"

"In the trunk."

They grabbed her by the upper arms and it was all she could do to keep awake. Her body was like a ragdoll, sagging between them.

"She's not going to like you when she wakes up."

Bailey's face appeared over her. "She won't even remember."

Harley fell into oblivion.