Chapter 62 Chapter 62
Angelina’s POV
"I know, Dad. I'm sorry—"
"Where were you?" His voice got louder. "We've been calling you for hours."
I pulled out my phone and looked at the screen. Twenty-three missed calls. Fifteen texts.
Shit.
"Do you have any idea how worried we were?" Dad continued. His face was red now, the way it got when he was really upset. "We thought something happened to you. We were about to call the police."
"Nathan, she's here now." Mom's voice was softer, but she still looked stressed. "That's what matters."
Leo was leaning against the porch railing, arms crossed, watching the whole thing with a smirk. Ethan stood next to him, his expression more concerned than amused.
"I put my phone on silent," I said quickly. "I forgot to turn it back on. I'm really sorry. It won't happen again."
Dad opened his mouth to say something else, but Mom cut him off.
"Graham, honey, thank you so much for bringing her home." She turned to Caelan, who'd gotten out of the car and was standing a few feet away, hands in his pockets. "We were out of our minds with worry. Thank God you knew where to find her."
Caelan gave a slight nod. Still expressionless. Still silent.
Dad's anger seemed to deflate a little. He walked over to Caelan and clapped him on the shoulder.
"Graham, man, we really owe you one. Seriously. Thank you for bringing her home."
I could see it in Dad's eyes. He was looking at Caelan like he'd just saved my life or something.
Dad had always liked Caelan. From the moment Caelan showed up at our house looking for a place to stay, Dad had been impressed. Responsible, respectful, good-looking. In Dad's mind, Caelan was the perfect role model.
And now? After this? Dad probably wanted to adopt him.
Mom smiled warmly at Caelan. "You should just stay with us for a while. We've got plenty of room, and you're welcome here as long as you need."
Her voice was genuine. The way she'd talk to one of her own kids.
Caelan's jaw tightened slightly. Then he lifted his chin and nodded.
"Thank you."
Leo, still leaning against the railing, rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on."
Ethan just smiled and didn't say anything. He wasn't the jealous type.
"Aria, it's getting late." Ethan's voice was gentle. "You should head up and get some rest."
"Yeah, okay."
I glanced at Caelan out of the corner of my eye. He was staring straight ahead, his face as blank as ever.
I walked past him and headed inside.
I closed the door behind me and let out a long breath.
The room smelled faintly like lavender—Mom's doing. She loved those plug-in air fresheners.
I kicked off my shoes and walked over to my desk, pulling out the black bank card Kingfisher had given me. Ten million dollars. I tossed it onto the desk like it was nothing.
It wasn't. Not really. But compared to what I'd had in my past life, it was pocket change.
My hand went to my neck.
The necklace.
I pulled it out from under my shirt and held it up, studying it in the light. The blood-red wolf fang dangled from the silver chain, catching the glow from my desk lamp. It looked like it had been dipped in blood. Dark, ominous, beautiful.
This was the reason I'd been reborn.
I was sure of it.
I turned the necklace over in my fingers, examining every detail. It was perfectly smooth, flawless. No markings, no inscriptions, nothing that explained why it had brought me back.
I'd been studying it for weeks now. Nothing. It was just a necklace.
Except it wasn't.
I let it fall back against my chest, the fang cold against my skin.
Caelan.
He had to be here because of this necklace. There was no other explanation. He was staying at my house, watching me, waiting for... what? For me to give it to him?
Not happening.
I lay down on my bed, staring up at the ceiling. The light was too bright, but I didn't feel like getting up to turn it off.
Knock knock.
"Aria?" Mom's voice came through the door, soft and gentle. "Lights out, sweetie. It's almost midnight."
There was a firmness under the gentleness. The kind of tone that said I'm not asking.
"Okay, Mom. Going to bed now."
I tucked the necklace back under my shirt so it was hidden against my skin, then reached over to my nightstand without even looking up. My fingers found the brush.
I tossed it at the light switch.
The brush hit the button perfectly. The ceiling light went out.
Darkness.
A convenient lazy person's method for turning off lights.
I pulled the blanket up, and turned onto my side.