Page 16 of Their Promise

Scales rippled along my skin and my jaw ached as it tried to shift.

Maya ordered the cab to stop in the middle of the road a mile from the house, but along the edge of our clan’s property. She opened the door and waved me out.

The driver sped away as soon as I was out of the car. Running through the wards, I headed into the woods, searching for an animal to hunt.

Maya shifted into her bird form, but kept her fire minimal, and flew overhead, using her eyesight to help my search.

Movement to my left.

Shifting into my full snake form, I moved silently along the ground until I found just what I needed. A badger ripe for eating. With a quick strike, I bit down on it and coiled around him as tightly as I could.

Chapter

Six

Mom and my dads took turns coming to check on me where I lay curled up on the forest floor, digesting the badger, over the next couple of days. Maya had let them know where I was, but I had no idea if she’d told them what had happened.

Honestly, it didn’t matter since Ezio knew now.

As the morning sun rose on the third day, the day before my birthday, I shifted and walked towards the house, taking a deep breath as I prepared for the barrage of questions.

Pushing open the door, I quickly realized that no one was home. I hurried to my room and grabbed my cell phone to check for messages. There was just one from Mom telling me they were going to the werewolf Den, the werewolves’ territory where they had their own city for the werewolves who didn’t want to or weren’t yet ready to be around the other races. My parents had left only an hour ago, which meant I could take a shower and change before meeting up with them there.

The hot shower felt good on my cold skin and I stood for several long minutes under the hot water. The anger I’d felt was gone, but the pain in my chest hadn’t lessened.

After the shower, I meditated for an hour before dressing and heading to the garage to drive Mom’s car.

I called Mom as I drove towards the gate.

“Hey!” she answered happily. “How’s it going?”

“I’m on the way to the Den,” I replied as happily as she had answered.

“Great! Dan will be excited to see you.”

“Okay, love you, bye.”

“Love you, too.”

I called Maya next and as soon as she answered I apologized.

“Girl, you do not need to apologize. I’m still mad at them.” She huffed.

Smiling, I could picture her annoyed face right now. “I love you.”

“Love you, too. So, what are your plans for today?”

“Going to meet my parents at the Den. Want to come?”

“Yes! I’ll be ready in five!” She hung up on me without waiting for my answer, which just made me laugh and shake my head.

Altering my course, I stopped at her house first to pick her up, then we drove to the Den. As soon as I parked in front of the main house, Great Grandpa Dan walked out and opened his arms.

Maya and I ran forward and hugged each side of the large werewolf who was the former king, and one of the sweetest males I knew.

“There are my girls!” he boomed and squeezed us. “I was debating ordering Ezio to kidnap you just so I could visit with you.”

I patted his back before stepping back to look up at the large man with a full head of grey hair. “Sorry, Great Grandpa. Things have been … busy.”

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