myself, flicking glances at me in the rearview every now and then.
“You might say that,” I finally whispered, rubbing the moisture from my eyes with the back of my hand. “I might be like you next month.”
“Like me?” He didn’t get it immediately. Though, once the realization dawned, his eyes widened. “Oh! Oh, I see. Well.”
He didn’t speak again for a bit. I put my hand over my eyes, unable to stop the tears and unwilling to let him see them cutting a path down my cheeks.
“I take it by your reaction this isn’t something you wanted.”
I bit my lip, not wanting to let some careless, caustic comment fall out of my mouth.
“It’s not necessarily a bad thing. You survived. Even if you are one of us now, you’re not dead or badly injured. I’m sure whichever pack is responsible for it will take you on—”
“I don’t want to be a Sunstriker!” I cried, slamming a fist against the Plexiglas hard enough to make it rattle. “That’s just it. I’m not contracted to anyone in the pack, and I never will be! Even if I was, and even if I do turn into—” I couldn’t say it. Saying it aloud might make it real. “… I don’t want to be one of them. Not after what they did.”
“All right, I believe you. Don’t get yer knickers in a knot. Are you saying you’d rather be a lone wolf?”
My head thumped against the seat as I leaned back, unable to believe the absurdity of this conversation. The worst part was that it was completely serious. What I said now might mean the difference between my being accepted into the Other society and being hunted down by anyone with a permit to exterminate rogues next month. I doubted this friendly cab driver would give my name over to any authorities—or worse, White Hats—but once his pack leader found out, I could be in a world of trouble. I hadn’t considered that when I first started talking, but now that the words had left my mouth there was no taking them back. He’d be obligated to tell Rohrik Donovan, leader of the Moonwalkers, that there might be a new wolf in town come the next full moon. For their own safety, they’d make an effort to draw me into their pack, just like the Sunstrikers had with Ethan.
Mouth dry, I croaked a few words, painful as they were to spit out. “No, that’s not what I want. I don’t know. I just don’t want to be one of them.”
His dark eyes reflected concern as he glanced at me through the rearview. I couldn’t bear to meet his gaze, and soon looked away, scrubbing at the tears that wouldn’t stop flowing. He pitched his voice low and soothing, and a sort of unwilling calm stole over me.
“Don’t worry just yet. I don’t blame you for being upset with the Sunstrikers if they’re behind this. Could be Mr. Donovan wouldn’t mind lending you a hand. The Moonwalkers owe you anyway; it shouldn’t be any trouble for us to take you in, if it comes to that.”
I nodded, not trusting my voice. At a red light, he twisted around to look at me, frowning as I withdrew and covered my face with my hands, peeking out between my fingers.
“Calm down, I don’t bite,” he said, giving me a forced smile. “Look, after I drop you off, I’ll call Mr. Donovan and ask him to meet with you. Do you mind my giving him your address? He can help you.”
“Okay,” I whispered, not sure if it was. What would Rohrik Donovan be able to do for me? Hold my hand and tell me everything would be all right? That I had a place in his pack structure?
A violent shudder rippled down my spine, but the cab driver was no longer paying me any mind. His focus was now solely on the road and traffic before him.
“Wait—how did you know my name? And how did you know the Moonwalkers owe me a favor?” I asked, alarm driving me to scoot toward the door in case I needed to seek a quick escape. Rohrik Donovan was the one who’d told me as much, and if he was anything like Chaz, I couldn’t imagine him sharing that information with just anyone in his pack. Their pride wouldn’t stand for it.
He laughed. “Are you kidding? I’d be surprised if there was an Other in New York who couldn’t recognize you on