Page 124 of Secret Shifters Next Door

Kellan popped a fry into his mouth. “Yeah. I knew it had to be something extreme as shit for you to leave April.” He waved at Aiden to come eat. “Being a secret magical creature is pretty goddamn extreme.”

Finally realizing that this conversation was really happening, and that Kellan believed, another fear erupted in my mind. “This is a secret, Kellan. You have to swear to me that you won’t tell anyone. Can you do that?”

Frowning, he nodded. “Of course. I get it.”

I sighed and let myself relax. “Good. People could die. I could die, if the wrong people found out. You understand that?”

He looked at me with sincerity. “Secret is safe with me, brother. Don’t worry. I promise.”

My bear gave a happy jolt, and a massive weight lifted from my shoulders. My friend knew. He knew and he didn’t care. He wasn’t scared of me, wasn’t horrified, and didn’t want to run screaming. It made me beyond happy, but also sent a sliver of shame and pain through my heart. I could have told him all those years ago. What if I’d told him and he could have helped me explain it all to April? What might have been?

Aiden sat and started scarfing down his food the way only nine-year-old boys could eat. Kellan looked over the table while we ate. “I’m guessing April doesn’t know, right?”

I shook my head. “There’s so much I need to tell you, man.”

Kellan pulled out his phone and checked the clock. “I’ve got time. Aiden, the coach and I need to step outside and talk for a bit. You good?”

“Yeah, Dad. How long are you guys gonna be?”

“A little while. If you’re done, order a milkshake. Then go finish up those dollars on the video games.”

“Nice.”

Kellan nodded to me, and I followed him outside. Then, in the sunlight of a beautiful Fourth of July, I told him everything. All of it. And it felt so damn good.

By the time I made it home later that afternoon, I felt like an entirely new man. I’d need to tell the guys about Kellan knowing the truth, but they’d understand. There were very few humans who knew about shifters. The secret was guarded, and for good reason. Kellan would never betray me, or us. It was such a fantastic day, that when I stepped out of my truck, I almost didn’t hear the yelling next door.

I froze and tilted my head, trying to pick up the words. April was chewing someone’s ass out. I headed toward her house, rounding the corner to the back patio. She was pacing and had her phone in a death grip to her ear.

“You dirty motherfucker. Goddamn money-hungry piece of shit. I hope you catch an STD and your dick falls off.” Her face was red as she screamed into the phone, and despite myself, I had to stifle a laugh.

“You betrayed me. How could you do that?”

It was that Luca asshole. The one who’d known all her dirty little secrets and sold her out for a quick buck. What a douchebag. Now he was calling for God knows what and making April upset? I couldn’t have that.

By the time April finally saw me, she was shaking with rage. Her hands were trembling as I pulled the phone from her hands. Her eyes were wide with surprise but there was a sense of relief on her face now that I was there.

“Is this Luca?” I asked.

There was a long pause before the voice on the other end finally spoke up. “Yeah. Who the hell is this?”

Not bothering to answer his question, I said, “You aren’t to contact April again. Ever. Is that understood?”

“Look, pal, I don’t know who you think you are, but?—”

“Shut the fuck up. You’ll stop harassing April, or you’ll have me to deal with. Trust me, that is not the kind of trouble you want. One more word from you, even a single text, and I’ll make your life a living hell. Goodbye.”

I hung up and immediately blocked the number. Shoving her phone into my pocket, I took her still shaking hands and led her into the house. She was mumbling under her breath. I could barely hear her, but it sounded like she was talking through all the ways she was going to torture and kill Luca. I didn’t blame her. Dude was a grade-A cocksucker.

I poured her a glass of wine, hoping it would help calm her nerves. When I handed it to her, she finally seemed to snap out of her rage-filled daze. She blushed and smiled, taking the glass from me. I let her take a minute.

After a few sips, she sighed. “Sorry about that. I kind of spaced out after getting off the phone with him. That tends to happen when I get overwhelmed. I sort of go to a place in my head and… I don’t know. Like I said, I’m sorry.”

I shook my head. “Nothing to be sorry for. It’s fine,” I said as I sat down across from her.

She took another long sip of wine. “Thanks for stepping in. I was getting so pissed that I don’t think I would have been able to form coherent words if you hadn’t pulled that phone away. Probably should have handled that better.”

When she drained her wine, I refilled her glass and helped myself to a glass of my own. I was more of a beer and whiskey guy, but it seemed weird to sit there and watch her without partaking myself.

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