Page 82 of My Solemn Vow
“Ian is sending a cleanup crew and a tow for the SUV.” Jack doesn’t bring up what Neil said. He doesn’t need to.
We’ll kill whoever hurts her.My wolf paces inside.
We’re anxious. My skin feels tight, and my fangs elongate as we drive to the school. I’m ready for conflict at a second’s notice.
My focus is entirely on Kerrianne’s safety and all thepossibilities. There is one possibility I absolutely can’t stand the thought of being true.Could Antonella have set this up? What would she get out of me being dead?
The rule has always been that, no matter what, Kerrianne goes with her bodyguard for consistency, but between the newness of Declan and being shot at, I can’t wait for him to bring her out to me.
In a flurry of texts, I let Dr. Thatcher know I arrived at the building to ‘check in’ my presence and ‘check out’ Kerrianne. Finally, I text Antonella when standing outside of her classroom door.
My heart is thundering, and all I want is to lay eyes on them both.
I hear Antonella’s heels click along the hard floors as she approaches the door. She asks softly, “Is it urgent?”
“It’s me.” I confirm for her.Smart woman not trusting and opening the door.
She unlocks the door and stands in the opening, looking behind me. She then opens it only far enough for me to walk through. Her scent of fear hits me like a shot to the chest. It floods all my senses, bringing my own back to the surface.
“What’s wrong?” I examine her and step around her.If this pup shifted uncontrolled...
But Kerrianne is still in her human form, her head down, resting on her arms on her tiny desk. Her shoulders rise and fall with the steady rhythm of sleep.
“There’s something strange with her eyes. I don’t... They’re not green.” Antonella puts her hand over her mouth and pulls it away. “I didn’t know if I should call an ambulance. I... She ate the same thing everyone else did today. I...”
“It’s okay. It happens. We’ll talk about it at home.” I’m swapping one problem for the next.
Kerrianne is safe, but Antonella has seen a glimpse of my daughter’s wolf.
Pup is safe.My wolf focuses on the important part.Our mate is safe.
I walk over to Kerrianne and crouch down by her desk. I run my hand up and down along her back. “Hey, little raptor. Let’s go home.”
Kerrianne growls. It’s low and would draw a little one from me to scold her.
She lets out a soft whine before turning her head to face me. Her eyes are bright yellow with her wolf right at the surface.
I pet her hair and whisper, “Tuck the wolf away, Kerrianne.”
It’s agonizing to watch her try. But ultimately, she’s not able to get the wolf to go back.
Pup is too tired.My wolf knows.
“Alright, I’ll carry you. Eyes closed though, okay?” I murmur, and Kerrianne nods.
It’s painstaking to watch her pull herself from her desk and into my arms. I scoop her up, carrying her like I’ve done so many times before.
With her in my arms, I walk back to Antonella. “Jack is staying here with you. I’m sending a couple cars to bring you home at the end of the day.”
Antonella draws her brows together. “Is something wrong?”
I nod, not wanting to lie to her, but that kernel of doubt is in the back of my brain. The one Neil planted. “It’ll be fine, but I’ll feel better knowing you’re safe.”
She doesn’t question me beyond that, but she does open the door and step out into the hallway first before flagging me out of the room. I effortlessly carry my little raptor back to the secured entrance and am flanked by Jack and Declan to get her in the car.
When she’s buckled in, Jack heads back to the school’s security office, and as Declan starts to pull away, I debate stopping and going back for Antonella and Jack to bring them home with us.
But I don’t. I hold Kerrianne’s hand and comfort her on the way home.
