She's back in town. The only girl to ever hold my heart in her hands is back in town. The news is like the blow from a hammer. It prevents any constructive thoughts from forming in my mind. All I can see is her. All I can think about is how I've missed her. All I know is that I have to keep her at arm's length to protect her. From the threats still coming the club's way, and from . . . me. Alex has always had this bright light burning in her beautiful baby blues, and the last thing I need is to smother it with the darkness that settled in mine when every last member of my family was murdered. But the lines I drew back then quickly blur when the Spiders threaten her directly, forcing us to get ready for a possible war. More than ever, I wonder if keeping her close to me, instead of pushing her away, is the right thing to do. Did I make the worst mistake shoving her out of my life? Maybe. But does it really matter now, when she's so guarded that her heart has most likely irremediably shut down to me? Contains mature themes.