Page 85 of Broken Bonds
“Ah, let me guess. That was something you were told wasn’t allowed to happen?”
I nod.
He snorts, this time not sounding amused. “Your father sounds like an asshole who wants to suck the joy out of everyone’s lives.”
“That’s the understatement of the year,” I say.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Todd
Revelation
More like the man gets off on sucking the joy out of everyone’s lives.
As much as losing my father sucked, and I obviously wish he were still alive, I’m eternally grateful Mom and I found our way to the Ocala Pack. Perfect case of making the best out of a bad situation.
Because as bad as things were, they could’ve ended up soooo much worse for us.
I wish Mal could’ve found his way here as a pup, grown up loved and safe and respected, and not knowing the kind of fear and assholishness people like Randolph Sterling think is their right to inflict upon others because their egos are so fragile they only feel superior by crushing people under them.
“Let me know when you feel like starting back,” I say, wishing I could run with Mal all night.
“Do we have to start back?” He tries to make it sound like a joke but I can’t let myself get sucked into something that could break both our hearts.
So I do my best to playfully deflect. “I was thinking more time in the hot tub.”
“Oooh, hot tub!”
I nuzzle him with my nose. “Then I’ll carry you back to the house and tuck you into bed. How’s that sound?”
He nuzzles me back and softly sighs. “That sounds good. Thanks.”
What I don’t tell him is, despite how I feel, it’ll be his own bed I tuck him into, not mine.
Not yet.
I can’t.
Not with so many unanswered questions and potentially dangerous situations circling over our heads.
I opt to take the long way around the property, even doubling back a few times, maintaining a slow lope Mal can keep up with because I can tell his gas tank’s near empty.
Good.
I want him so exhausted that, hopefully, he falls asleep in my arms in the hot tub and then I can put him to bed.
Me? I could easily run a few more hours, but I should try to get some sleep. I have a feeling there will be several long days ahead of us with preparations for the arrival of our “guests.” And I’ll be taking sentry shifts, too.
While it wasn’t a “secret” that I deal with vampires, it wasn’t something I wanted widely broadcast to the rest of the pack, either. Knowing the way many shifters feel about them, I felt it was better not to discuss it.
Still do.
Yes, vampires can be—are—dangerous.
So are a lot of humans. And other shifters.
Like wolves.
