Indianna's father had once told her that if you dream about someone, it means they are thinking about you. Now that she was older, she knew that this wasn't the case, but the idea had excited her when she was a child.
So, when she woke the following morning after her dinner with Greyson, remembering the dreams she had overnight, she couldn't help but wonder if she had been on Greyson's mind, just as he had been on hers.
She couldn't get him out of her head.
Her sleep had been restless. Her dreams were mixed between Greyson and the wolf that she had seen the previous night. She woke up countless times, gasping with her heart racing at the thought of the wolf, but then she fell back to sleep and slept soundly, dreaming of Greyson.
"You were home late last night."
Indianna jumped in fright when she entered the kitchen, not expecting to see her mother sitting at the kitchen island, drinking a cup of tea.
Indianna rubbed her eyes, too tired to try and force a conversation with Iris. She nodded and walked over to the counter, flicking the switch on the kettle and spooning a heap of instant coffee into a mug.
"It was past midnight. On a school night. You're seventeen, Indianna. I'd like you home before midnight on weekends and before 11 p.m. on school nights. It's not safe by yourself."
"I wasn't by myself."
Indianna had her back to Iris, so she didn't see her stiffen and grit her teeth at the thought of Greyson.
"You know I don't approve of that boy," Iris muttered.
Indianna poured water into her mug and swirled it around with a teaspoon, sighing.
"You wanted me to make friends. The first time I go out for dinner with someone, you disapprove of him. Make your mind up, Mum."
"Anyone but him—"
"Until you give me an explanation as to how you know him, then I'm not listening to you. Just go back to forgetting about me, Mum. It really was easier that way."
Iris's face paled, and she lowered her gaze when Indianna turned around and walked over to the fridge, taking out the milk.
"I'm trying, Indie. I really am."
"Maybe if you had tried earlier, then there wouldn't be an issue between us."
"I don't want there to be an issue."
"Neither did I when I was younger, growing up without the support of my mother and having to deal with so many things alone because you weren't there for me. I've grown used to not having you for support. That's not going to change now."
"Can't you see I'm trying?"
Indianna groaned and slammed the fridge door shut.
"This is giving me a headache," she murmured and pinched the bridge of her nose. "I'm going to head to school."
"I can drive you—"
"I want to walk," Indianna murmured and turned on her heel, leaving the kitchen and not wanting to face her mother any longer.
She made her way back upstairs slowly, not having the energy to go any faster. She grabbed her bag, pulled her shoes on and threw a pack of painkillers into her bag, reminding herself to take them later to help with the headache that was forming.
Once she had everything ready, she headed out of her room, but stopped when something caught her eye.
She frowned and walked over to the window, peering out and scowling when she saw a familiar car parked outside her house.
"What are you doing here?" Indianna asked once she exited her house and walked up to the car parked against the kerb.
Greyson looked up at Indianna through his dark lashes, blinking curiously.
"Good morning to you too. Why else would I be parked outside your house, sugar? Jump in."
Indianna was reminded of her dreams, and she swallowed, feeling the need to put distance between herself and Greyson because she didn't like how her body reacted to him.
She didn't want to be around him.
"I don't want a lift from you."
"I can see right through every lie that you make, sugar. If you stop wasting time standing there, then we can stop and get you a coffee because you're looking awfully tired."
"Thanks."
Greyson smirked. "Come on, you know how this is going to end. Get in the car."
Indianna sighed, glaring at Greyson's smug face as she sat in the passenger seat and shut the door behind her.
"That coffee would actually be appreciated."
"Rough night?" Greyson asked as he put the car in gear and took off towards a coffee shop.
"Partly," Indianna answered and leaned her head back, closing her eyes.
"Bad dreams?"
"Some," she sighed.
"About the wolf?"
When Indianna didn't answer, Greyson continued.
"You know it wasn't the same wolf—"
"Can we please not talk about it? Half of my night was spent dreaming of that wolf. I don't want to think about it now."
"Here."
Greyson passed Indianna a bottle of water.
"Take this."
"What's this for?"
"So you can take the painkillers you put in your bag."
"How did you— Of course, you're in my head."
"How are you feeling, Indie?"
"You still owe me answers, Greyson."
"I asked a question first."
"Greyson, you promised me answers last night. You were going to tell me more last night before we were interrupted."
"Was I?" Greyson mused.
"You know you were."
"I'm sure you can remain patient for a little while longer, sugar."
Indianna narrowed her eyes.
"Have you always been this infuriating, or do I just happen to bring out the asshole in you?"
Greyson smiled. "There's that anger of yours."
"Greyson!" Indianna shouted. "I'm not in the mood! Please, just give me some damn answers or leave me alone. Choose one! Respect what I want, because if you don't, then it's just cruel!"
"I'm not a nice person, Indianna," Greyson said. "So if you think that calling me cruel is going to get you what you want, then you are greatly mistaken."
"Do you not care that you're making me miserable?" she exclaimed.
Greyson slowed the car and pulled up outside a coffee shop. Once parked, he turned to face Indianna, noticing how her cheeks were red and her eyebrows were furrowed in anger.
"Not as much as you want me to," he said honestly.
"How do you live treating people like this?" she gasped. "You don't care about anyone, do you?"
Greyson leaned forward, surprising Indianna with the sudden close proximity.
"I do care about you, sugar. I just don't care about your feelings in this current situation because when you know the whole truth, I know they are going to change."
"You are so messed up," Indianna whispered. "You don't care about me. You can't. We hardly know each other!"
"I'm in your head, remember? You're not in mine."
Greyson stretched his arm out, leaning his hand against the door and trapping Indianna between the seat and him.
"So you have no idea what I think about you."
"Greyson," Indianna groaned, swallowing nervously. "Stop this. Please. I don't know how much more of it I can take."
"You can handle a little longer," Greyson murmured.
Indianna sucked in a breath when he raised his hand and ran his fingers down the side of her face, spreading tingles across her skin.
"Grey..." His nose was nearly touching hers. She could feel his body heat, see the lighter flecks of blue in his eyes and smell his intoxicating aftershave.
"Stop," she whispered. "I want you to—"
"What?"
Greyson's fingers stretched into Indianna's hair, tangling amongst her brown locks. She bit her lip and closed her eyes, trying to focus on reality, but Greyson was clouding her mind.
"What do you want, sugar?"
Indianna shook her head, refusing to answer.
"Open your eyes."
Now locked in Greyson's gaze, Indianna was feeling emotions that she had never felt with anyone else. Flutters formed deep in her stomach, making her heart race faster.
The urge to lean into his touch was overwhelming. He brought out feelings in her that made her rational thoughts fly out of the window.
"What do you want?" Greyson repeated.
Indianna shook her head again, keeping her lips firmly shut.
"Why are you refusing to admit the truth? I know how you feel, sugar. I just want you to admit it."
"Hate?" she breathed.
It wasn't the full truth, but it wasn't a lie.
Greyson smiled. "There's a very thin line between love and hate."
Indianna watched Greyson's mouth as he spoke. Her field of vision was taken over by his two alluring pink lips, and she found herself wanting to listen to the dark desires inside her.
She wanted to lean forward, close the tiny distance between them and—
No.
She didn't like Greyson. She hated him.
But... she wanted him. Greyson knew it, and Indianna hated thinking it, but it was the truth.
"I'd better go get that coffee, or we'll be late."
Indianna felt very cold when Greyson pulled away. The distance between them was like a slap to the face, and Indianna blinked rapidly, feeling slightly dazed and confused.
She was now back in reality and not lost in a world that only involved Greyson and her.
Greyson was already out of the car, and he pointed to the water bottle.
"Take those tablets, sugar. They'll help with your temperature. You're awfully hot, and not in the way that I want."
The door was slammed, the noise echoing in Indianna's ears. She winced and looked at Greyson's retreating figure as he walked into the coffee shop.
She stared for a few minutes before slowly raising her fingers and touching her lips.
She had been so close to doing something that made her want to scream at herself. And she couldn't say that she would never do it again.
Indianna was surprised that Greyson let her go off alone when they reached the school. He didn't argue as she climbed out of his car and rushed up the steps into the building, hurrying to get away from the curious looks of her fellow students.
She had survived the morning classes and had managed to escape to the library during lunch, where she was now sitting on the floor between bookshelves, reading a large, leather-bound book that she had found discarded on the floor.
She had meant to sit down at a desk, but she was feeling extremely tired and didn't have the energy to move from the floor.
It wasn't her usual genre of books, but she had picked it up and felt intrigued by the antique-looking book that had been rudely left on the floor.
Indianna guessed that this was a book on fairy tales and mythical creatures, possibly the darker versions of them.
She had just finished a chapter on vampires and rolled her eyes, flicking through more pages until a title caught her eye.
Werewolves.
Her eyes scanned the words, not fully paying attention until she saw the mention of packs.
Immediately, she thought of Greyson, who had said that exact word before.
A coincidence, Indianna told herself as she turned the page and read a subheading: SOULMATES.
A soulmate. Two mates share an intense connection so deep that not even death can break it. Mates are two people destined by the Moon Goddess to be together for the rest of eternity. A permanent partner to navigate through life with, a person you are bound to, a person best suited to you in every way possible. It is the most precious connection a werewolf can have; it should be cherished.
Soulmates can communicate with each other through a mind link, which is otherwise only possible with pack members. Sparks at contact are common and—
Indianna paused, staring blankly at the words in the book.
Another coincidence? Somehow, she didn't think so.
She looked back down at the book as she felt a familiar pressure in her head.
Greyson, she said.
Come to the canteen, sugar.
You're in my head. You know what I'm thinking. Am I being ridiculous?
Come to the canteen, he repeated.
Answer me, pleas—
Pain suddenly exploded in Indianna's head, wrapping across her skull like a whip.
Indianna gasped and clenched her eyes shut, clutching her head as a whimper escaped her lips. She felt breathless, as if she had just run a marathon, and she moaned when the pain travelled down her back, splintering off across her body and attacking her with waves of agonising pain.
Indianna, what's wrong?
She could hear Greyson's voice in her mind, but she was in no state to respond.
Her body doubled over, and she fell to the floor, unable to hold herself up. She whimpered and cried out when a pain darted through her body, spreading across her stomach.
She felt as if she had been doused in fuel and set alight.
"G-Greyson," she whispered.
Her body felt weighted to the ground, and she lay on the floor, writhing in pain.
Help me.
I'm already on my way, sugar, Greyson's voice said in her head.
She gasped and wasn't sure if it was in relief or agony.
Indianna did not know if she lost consciousness, but when she next opened her eyes, she could make out the blurry figures of Greyson, Ace, Kal, Harry and Brooklyn.
Her vision had darkened around the edges, and she cried when another shockwave of pain rushed through her.
Greyson cursed and crouched by Indianna's side, putting his hand on her forehead.
"She's burning up. Call Doc. Now."
"What's wrong with her?" Brooklyn gasped.
She was clutching onto Harry's arm, her knuckles white.
Greyson brushed Indianna's hair out of her face. A sheen of sweat had formed on her skin.
"She's starting the process. Her body is preparing itself for the changes she's about to go through."
"She's in pain, isn't she?" Brooklyn whispered.
Her heart broke when she looked at Indianna. She hated to see others in pain.
Greyson clenched his jaw and slipped his arms under Indianna, lifting her up.
"Yes."
Brooklyn wanted to turn away when Indianna let out a strangled cry. She leaned into Greyson's body, wanting the sparks to take away the pain, but they did not.
"When will it stop?"
Greyson shared a cold look with his friends, who all knew the agony that Indianna was experiencing.
"After it has gotten a hell of a lot worse."