The Promise (Neighbor from Hell, #10)(87)

“I know that I promised that we could stay here, but after yesterday you have to realize that we can’t stay here. It’s not safe,” his father explained. “They’re shifters, Trace. You know how they feel about our kind.”

“But, father, Mary doesn’t care about any of that,” when his father opened his mouth to argue he rushed on, “and they don’t know about you. They think I’m here by myself. As long as I stay away from the rest of her Pack and take the long way home through the swamp, we’ll be safe.”

His father went still. “The Pack knows about you?”

Trace reluctantly nodded, shifting anxiously as his father’s blue eyes flashed silver. Trace didn’t need any light to know that his father’s fangs had dropped as well.

“You told me they didn’t see you!” his father snapped, coming to his feet.

Trace shifted back away from his father. He knew his father would never hurt him, but even knowing that didn’t stop him from stumbling back away from him when his father’s eyes flashed silver. He’d seen what his father was capable of and knew that he never wanted to be on the receiving end of his father’s temper.

“I-I t-think they spotted me when we were by the stream, Father. Mary told me to run, but,” he swallowed hard, “I think it might have been too late and that’s why they struck her, but she didn’t tell them about me!” he promised.

Ethan ran both hands over his face, muttering something that Trace couldn’t hear.

“Father?” Trace said, taking a tentative step forward.

“You fool!” Ethan bellowed, slamming his hand down on the small table, breaking it into a dozen pieces before he stormed towards Trace as his fangs slid down. Before Trace could back away, his father grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him.

“Her loyalty belongs to her Pack. Not you! She’s already told them about you!” his father snapped, shaking him harder. “Do you have any idea what they’ll do to you once they get their hands on you?”

“The full moon isn’t for another two weeks, Father! I’m safe!”

He knew they’d have to leave before the full moon when every shifter in the region would shift. Their sense of smell would become stronger, and they’d hunt them down. During those nights, they’d have to move to a city where it would be safer since shifters avoided humans to keep their existence hidden.

“You’re not safe,” his father bit out through clenched teeth. “Their Alpha can change at will. He can hunt you down when I’m not there to protect you, you fool!”

His grip tightened on Trace’s shoulders as he closed his eyes, almost as if he was the one in pain. “Please tell me that you didn’t tell her what you are.”

Trace winced as pain shot through his shoulders. “She promised not to tell,” he said softly.

“Her loyalty is to her Pack. Not to you!” Ethan roared, slamming Trace into the door.

“She’s my friend!”

Ethan backhanded him, knocking him against the wall, and destroying what little hope that he’d had left that his father would understand, making him realize that he no longer had a choice. He had to save her before it was too late.

“Oh my god...” his father said, looking horrified as he moved towards him. “Trace, I’m sorry.”

Trace shifted to his right and yanked on the short rope, pulling the door open and flooding the small cottage with sunlight. His father hissed as he was forced to retreat to the far side of the cottage where the sun couldn’t reach him.

“Don’t!” his father yelled.

“I’m sorry, father, but I have to make sure that she’s okay,” he said as he slammed the door shut and took off for the woods.

He could still hear his father screaming his name when he reached the woods. He looked up at the bright afternoon sun, noting that he would only have a few hours before his father would be able to leave the cottage and come for him. That was more than enough time to make sure that Mary was safe before he was forced to say good-bye. He needed to explain things to Mary and make sure that she knew that he’d be back for her once he reached his immortality so he could take care of her.

Maybe she’d run away with him and his father, he thought as he navigated his way through the thick swamp. That way he wouldn’t have to wait until he reached his immortality. The more he thought about it, the more he liked this plan. He knew that his father wouldn’t be happy, but once he saw how sweet and gentle Mary was, he’d be more than happy to help keep her safe.

This could really work, he thought excitedly, quickening his pace, eager to find Mary and tell her. A half hour later he stumbled through the thick foliage, gasping for air and grinning hugely when he spotted Mary sitting by the stream.

She looked up at him as he stepped out of the woods, making him frown when he realized that she wasn’t smiling. She’d always greeted him with a smile and a warm embrace, but now she looked nervous. He swore softly. Of course, she was nervous. Her Pack would punish her if they found them together again.

“I’m so glad you came, Trace,” she said, brushing back those golden locks that he’d love to run his fingers through.

“Of course, I came,” he said, reaching for her only to find her stepping back. “Mary, what’s wrong?” he asked, taking another step towards her.