Chapter 23 – Promise–2
–LIA’S POV–
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I let out a squeak, turning around, immediately backing into the door.
Zane closed the space between us, and pressed a finger to his lips. His eyes were back to blue now, but all I could see were glimpses of when they were completely black.
“Shh, shh,” he whispered, “it’s okay. Relax.”
Whimpers left my lips before I could stop them, and I clamped both my hands over my lips, trembling.
“Hey, hey,” he said softly, bringing his hand near my face.
I hiccuped, closing my eyes and turning my face away from him, lowering myself to the ground. I curled into a ball, crying, my body covered in goosebumps, stomach sinking with fear.
Zane sighed and knelt down as well, but moved away from me. “I’m not gonna touch you. Relax.”
I didn’t respond. I didn’t know how to. I was going to die.
“Love,” he said softly. “Please look at me.”
I hiccuped once more, mentally cursing myself. He’d told me to
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stay quiet.
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“Lia, please? Just look at me,” he said in the gentlest of tones. “I promise you’re okay. Please just look at me.”
I couldn’t keep defying his orders if I wanted to survive this. So I did as he said, and glanced at him with teary eyes.
“Good girl,” he said, nodding. He slowly raised his hands in surrender. “I’m not gonna touch you or harm you in any way, Lia. I promise. You’re safe. You’re safe with me.”
“What are you doing here?” I managed to ask, sniffing. “Why did you come here? Leave me alone, please.”
“I only came to talk to you. I promise. Nothing else.”
“Please go, Zane. Please.”
“Okay, I understand. I’m leaving, I promise. Just hear me out for one moment, will you? Please, Lia.”
I sniffed, and caught my breath, then nodded.
“I have always been a werewolf. We are born this way, just like humans. We aren’t bloodthirsty, rabid animals who cannot control themselves on full moons. We don’t kill humans, and we do not eat them like they show in movies. We are a full community living alongside you guys, coexisting, not harming anybody and staying out of your way. It’s kept a secret because
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Chapter 23 – Promise–2
the Goddess intended it that way. It’s safer for both, us and
you.”
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“Does that… does that mean I’m in trouble now that I know?” I
asked.
“No, no. You’re not in any kind of trouble, Lia. Not at all.”
“So why did that wolf attack me today? Where did it come from? You—you just said you cannot control yourself.”
“I can,” he replied, “but he couldn’t. Werewolves need packs to survive. When they do something treacherous, they are exiled from their packs and sent to the mountains to live alone. When that happens, if their soulmate isn’t sent along with them, they lose their minds. That was Peter, one such werewolf.”
I released a trembling breath, and wiped away more tears that rolled down my cheeks.
Zane moved slightly closer, making me gasp and back away
again.
“Calm down,” he said. “Sorry. Not coming closer.”
I swallowed the lump forming in my throat.
“Look, Lia. You have known me and The Hounds for ten years now. I know we have been jerks to you, we aren’t the kindest lot at school. But we’re just like you. We’re the popular group, we’re
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rich and good–looking, and we’re bullies. That’s bad, I know. But we’re not murderers or killers, love. Knowing what you know now should not change anything at all. We have been werewolves all along, you just didn’t know. So please, do not run away from town or leave school or do anything stupid. I beg you, Lia. Trust me. You’re safe with me, and around me. I won’t ever harm you. And I won’t let anyone else harm you either.”
His eyes reflected sincerity, but how could I trust him so easily? He could turn into an animal.
Everything was making sense now. How he’d ripped open my locker that day. How he and Blake got into a bloody fight, and yet returned to school without a single mark on their faces. It made sense how easily he jumped off the window of my room, and never hurt himself at all. How he disappeared so quickly, before I even got to the window.
“I know you must have a thousand questions,” he continued. “And I will gladly answer every single one of them. But I need you to trust me, and promise that you won’t tell anybody about this. It’s better this way.”
I wiped my runny nose. “I already promised Blake. I promise you as well. I won’t tell a soul. But please, leave me alone. Stay away from me. I—I don’t want anything to do with you.”
for
Zane smiled. “We’ll talk about that later, alright? I’ll go, now.” He stood up, immediately making me feel like a tiny squirrel he could crush under his boot. “Don’t bother inputting
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Chapter 23 – Promise–2
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new locks on your windows. None of it will work. I promise you, you are not in any kind of danger. Good bye, Lia. Please take. care of yourself. See you in school tomorrow.”
With that, he walked over to the window, and jumped off.
I released a breath of relief once he was gone, and broke into loud sobs, finally allowed to show my emotions. I pushed my hair away from my face, taking a deep breath and glancing outside the window.
How did I end up stuck in this mess? Why did I have to find
out?
I wish I could turn back time and return to not knowing.
How would I face any of them ever again?
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