Page 23 of Protected Promise
Breathe, Kaitlyn, it’s almost over,I reminded myself.
I planted a smile on my face and followed the person in front of me up the aisle of people to my seat. About halfway there, I felt a tingle run down my spine. I couldn’t seem to stop myself from looking around until my eyes locked with Landon’s.
He grinned and then winked at me. My heart did a little flip in my chest.
Dammit, this is not good.
It took a lot to force my attention away from him and back to my task at hand. I know several people got up and said some words that I paid no attention to and didn’t really hear.
Before I knew what was happening, they were calling names and my classmates were walking across the stage to receive their diplomas. I barely heard them call my name.
With a deep breath and a big smile, I took my turn. When I reached Dean Shannahan in the middle of the stage, he presented me with a rolled up piece of paper. We had already been told it wasn’t our real diplomas. Those would be coming in the mail in a few weeks. This was just a blank page symbolic of the diploma we had each earned.
I received it in one hand while I shook hands with the Dean in the other.
When we both turned towards the audience for pictures, a loud whistle pierced through the noise. I looked over just in time to see Landon sitting with the doghouse. His fingers were in his mouth as he cheered the loudest.
I stood a little taller as I thanked Shannahan and exited from the stage to return to my seat.
The rest passed in another blur. When the others rose to their feet, I assumed we’d reached the end of the ceremony. My mind had been a million miles away wondering where Landon had come from, who he knew in the doghouse, and a hundred other questions.
As graduation caps flew in the air, I faked throwing mine too. I didn’t want to lose it. I’d worked hard for this moment and that cap symbolized a bit of that. I fully intended to keep it.
As the Dean adjourned us all, the previously calm and orderly lawn became a complete madhouse. I tried to make my way back to where Landon was sitting with my friends, though a small part of me considered running as far in the opposite direction as possible.
I was curious about him yet terrified to get too close.
Sawyer found me first.
“Kaitlyn! Over here,” my Alpha said.
“Sawyer? I didn’t know you were coming here.”
He shrugged. “I do try to be present when one of my wolves graduates. It’s a huge accomplishment and I’m very proud of you.”
I hugged him, though my actions were stiff. Sawyer was a great Alpha of Longhorn. It wasn’t his fault that just seeing him brought back so many bad memories for me.
“Have you decided what you’re going to do next?” he asked me.
“I’m not coming back to the Pack if that’s what you’re asking.”
“I think we need to talk about that,” he said calmly.
“Talk about what?” Damon asked as he joined us.
“Kaitlyn’s plans for the future,” Sawyer said calmly. That instantly set Damon on the defense.
He growled. “She’s not returning there. She’s made that very clear.”
“I can’t protect her outside my borders, Damon.”
“You couldn’t protect her inside them either,” he reminded my Alpha.
I gasped. I couldn’t believe he would blurt that out like that.
“What’s going on?” I heard Tiffany ask Mila nearby.
“I don’t know yet. Grab some popcorn, I think we’re about to get an Alpha fight.”
