A Promise

A P

t be a pawn again,

h the necessities: clothing, a concealed cash hoard in my drawer, and the silver blade I had taken from th

ip was unshakable. I was weak and blinded by it. However, it w

r ag

Pack was the gro

as the Moonshine Pack had their welcoming feast. It would be simple to go away unde

d when I saw him downstairs, his wolf-like grin around its victim. I was cr

y smell, reminiscent of smoke and cedar, clung

"Stop it." He is a liar and a k

ed by a knoc

e you coming? I'm already getting the stink

age on the bed. I was not yet ab

effort to sound st

tered through the door. Her eyebrows knitted t

look pale." "Are yo

d, claiming, "I'm okay."

all. My stomach growled as the scent of warm bread and roasting meat wafted through the

aw him, I

d at me like a magnet. I stumbled and balled my fists,

the Moonshine Pack arrived late? Invaluable

voice c

t's been a

seems to

he stood a few steps away. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and had a comm

d of his treachery by the knife, the

rius," in a

eer forming on his lips.

too." I made myself look him

ly. You've become mor

tightened my fists. "W

ith ease. "After all,

inder of who we were meant to be,

and said, "I have no

fore I could move. I felt a shock fro

er," he remarked in a low, menaci

I jerked my hand

ing anything more,

caught up to me close to the bu

and murmured. "Just someone t

brow but didn't s

inder of the evening. I stayed as far away from

the sensation that his eyes wer

ay back to my room. My luggage remained on the bed, p

ment h

The packhouse was quiet now, most of the visitors either gone or sleeping. The chilly ni

a few step

out so

in my tracks

in my throat as

ainst the doorway. In the moonlight, his golden eyes

y calm as he inquired, "W

ed my grasp on my bag's strap.

wall. "You're my friend. I don'

artner," I growl

ared on his face as his jaw clenched.

"I'm done with you, and I'm done playin

o go. Suddenly he was ahea

om this," he murmured quie

than my terror as I gaz

ened for the smallest instant. But before I could figur

ing anywhere,"

but he held on to i

you explain

n't trust you." "Beca

omething else-guilt?-crossed

above a whisper as he said,

a second. He

g was like a kic

hat he had done if

I ripped the bag free and took a ste

waiting for an answer, v

in my head as I ran away

flee from me. I wi