Chapter 1:

The Late Night Call

My feet ached after eight straight hours shelving books and helping drunk freshmen find their textbooks. The campus library closed at midnight, and I had made the mistake of joining my coworker for one quick drink at the student bar afterward. Just enough to leave me pleasantly tipsy and giggling at nothing. “Juniper, you really should not walk home alone tonight,” I muttered to myself as I pulled out my phone on the empty sidewalk. The app loaded fast. I requested a ride and waited, hugging my coat tighter against the cool night air.

The notification pinged. Wilder Kane. Five minutes away. I leaned...