The Beacon Hills Preserve was eerily quiet, moonlight filtering through the trees as you stood beside Isaac, arms crossed.

"This is stupid," you muttered.

Isaac smirked. "You wanted to make your ex jealous, Tate."

Being Malia’s sister, faking a relationship should’ve been easy—you were raised to survive, not catch feelings. But Isaac made it feel too real. The teasing glances, the way he stood too close.

"You won’t even call me Isaac," he teased. "Always ‘Lahey.’"

"Shut up, Lahey."

Before he could respond, a branch snapped. In a blur, something lunged. Isaac shoved you aside, taking the hit. Claws raked his chest before he threw the creature off, collapsing with a sharp grunt.

"Isaac!" You dropped beside him, pressing against the wound.

His hand covered yours, lips twitching. "You—called me Isaac."

"Yeah, well… don’t get used to it."

"Liar," he murmured, smirking even through the pain.

Maybe this fake dating thing wasn’t so fake after all.