She began saying things like, “He’s the most respectful young man I’ve seen in quite some time,” and, “I wish other boys were like you, Knox.”

I marveled at how Knox was able to get everyone on his side. Me, Anamae, Ms. Wakely… Well, almost everyone. Victor was still going out of his way to avoid him. He made it no secret that he didn’t approve of my riding home with Knox every day after school, which really wasn’t my choice.

Friday night was another of a series of sleepless nights. What Knox had told me about how he’d severed his dreams from his mate had gotten stuck in my head. I lay awake for hours, hoping I’d dream about James while simultaneously worrying I wouldn’t be able to. I didn’t fall asleep until early morning, then slept so soundly I didn’t even hear my bedroom door open, nor did I feel someone climbing into my bed.

I rolled over to turn away from the sunlight streaming through the sheer curtains in my bedroom, and was face to face with Anamae. She giggled madly.

“It’s about time you woke up,” she said excitedly.

“Anamae,” I groaned, smacking her in the head with a pillow. “We really need to talk about personal space.”

“But I love you so much, Leaf,” she said.

I hated it when she called me that. And she knew it. I rolled my eyes and sat up.

“Don’t you love me?” Anamae pouted, sitting up beside me.

There was no further avoiding the start to this day. My irritation dissolved as I mentally marked another night off in my head. Three more until the next full moon. I couldn’t be upset with Anamae, not when I knew our time together would soon be over. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders.

“Of course I love you, you idiot. But why are you here so early?”

“Early?” Anamae asked. “It’s two o’clock.”

I flopped back on the bed. “Your point?”

“The guys are picking us up at four,” she said.

“Wait, what? Did you say the guys? As in Victor and Knox? Coming together? In the same car? How did you manage that one?”

“Well, Knox is pretty easygoing. He said he didn’t have a problem working things out with Victor. And when I talked to Victor… well, I guess I still have some power over him.”

To say the least, I thought.

Anamae had Victor wrapped around her little finger. It had always been that way, ever since kindergarten when she’d spilled her apple juice at snack. She’d batted her long eyelashes at Victor, and he’d handed over his juice without being asked.