Page 3 of Their Promise

But would he rescue me from his own son?

Chapter

Two

“My girl!” Mom shouted as she ran out of the house and tackle hugged me, sending us rolling across the grass.

Laughing, I squeezed her and nuzzled my nose into her neck to inhale her scent. “Hi, Mama.”

“I missed you,” she whined as she hugged me.

“Stop strangling our daughter,” Dad said and pulled her off of me, only for him to immediately scoop me up under the armpits and crush me against his chest in his own hug. “Hello, Lily.”

“Hello, Caleb.”

He growled, hating when I used his name.

“Where are my other fathers?” I asked. Mom was Queen of the Hybrids and had four mates, including Caleb who was King of the Hybrids. Having so many dads made referring to them difficult, so most times I had to use their first names as well. Her other mates were Riddick, Branson, and Triston, all hybrid shifters. Caleb was the only one I called dad, though. When I’d gotten older, I’d asked them if it bothered them that I only called Caleb dad, but they all swore it didn’t bother them and they liked the nicknames I gave them.

“Your other fathers are busy with preparations for the party your grandparents decided to throw together last minute,” he answered as he released me.

“Yes, Ezio informed me about it,” I said and turned to see him carrying my suitcase up to the porch. “Ezio! Let me do that.”

He growled at me. “Don’t start with me. I can still throw a car with ease. I’m notthatold.”

Dad snickered. “He’ll get a lot of that treatment from Kayden soon enough.”

“Soon enough?” I asked, my heart starting to beat faster and my hair shimmering a bit.

“You think your best friend would miss your birthday?” Ezio asked with a scoff and shook his head.

“I’m her best friend,” Maya countered as she walked over to me, putting her arm around my shoulders. “Kayden lost his chance –”

I elbowed her stomach, making her stop talking to grunt an exhale.

“Something happen between you two that I should know about?” Ezio asked.

Dad folded his arms across his chest and Mom stood from the grass, eyes wide.

Shit.

“No,” I said quickly. “It’s just been a few years since we’ve seen each other, so –”

“Years?” Ezio asked, scowling so hard his forehead wrinkles deepened. “You didn’t see each other at Christmas?”

“Uh, no, um, we happened to miss each other,” I lied. I had purposefully hidden and avoided him the three days I had been home.

“Come on, I’ll help you unpack,” Maya said, grabbed my hand, and dragged me and my suitcase inside.

When we got into my room with the door closed behind us, I exhaled in relief. “Thanks.”

“Well, it was sort of my fault they started badgering you, sorry.” She winced. “I know it’s been hard to keep all that a secret from them.”

Flopping down onto my bed, I shrugged and said, “It was bound to come out eventually.”

She tossed the suitcase onto my bed, forcing me to roll off with a yelp to avoid getting hit by it. “Let’s get you unpacked.”

“What news is there since I left?” I asked as I unzipped the suitcase.

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