At the sound of Kyle returning, I opened my eyes to see him lean over me.
"Sleep," he instructed, caressing my cheek with his fingers. "We can talk when you wake up."
I closed my eyes, allowing the darkness to take me, feeling safer than I had in years. When I awoke, I would do what I had to, but for now I could burrow in the soft bed and sleep.
I expected to see Kyle when I woke up but I was alone. I yawned and stretched as I tried to figure what time it was. I slid out of the bed, keeping my footsteps light. The dark curtains kept the afternoon sun out of the room.
My brain wasn't even fully awake and I was already trying to figure out how to get out without anyone detecting me. It was going to be hard to leave Kyle again, especially since we had touched, but it would be so much harder if I stayed and something happened to him because of me.
He still had no idea what I was and what that meant for the safety of the people around me.
Kyle cared for me. I was his mate.
I knew how this would end. He would do everything he could to protect me, even if it meant giving up his life, and that wasn't something I could allow.
And what about the werewolves in my pack? They would try to protect me as well, but we would be no match against the Keepers. The situation was hopeless. There was no choice, really; I had to leave.
I needed to leave now. The door to the room was closed. I turned the handle but it wouldn't budge. Frowning, I tried again but it was locked.
Damn it!Kyle had locked the door. Why had he done that?Because he knew you would try to escape again.
I could break the door but with a house filled with werewolves it would be like ringing a bell and telling them to come and find me. Frustrated, I walked over to the bed and slumped down, putting my head into my hands. There was no way out.
Not long after, I heard the sound of a lock clicking into place and Kyle walked into the room. I was still sitting on the edge of the bed, dealing with the outcome I knew was going to be inevitable.
"You locked me in the room," I accused him, and he shrugged.
"I knew you would try to escape if I gave you a chance," he said. He didn't trust me, and to be honest he was right. After everything I had done to him, I couldn't expect him to.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, his eyes watchful.
"I'm fine." But I wasn't. Inside I was shaking. I had kept my secret for so long. Telling him went against everything I had worked so hard to accomplish.
"Good. Now we can talk."
I didn't want to but I didn't have much of a choice.
He remained standing a few feet away looking at me expectantly.
"Why did you run away?"
I swallowed as I tried to put the words together.
"Don't play with me, Crystal. I've been more than patient but I'm done waiting."
I stood up and walked to the window. The view of the pack below going about their daily tasks was what I saw.
"Everything was fine until I turned sixteen." Taking a deep breath, I turned to face him. "I noticed slight changes."
His forehead creased as he listened intently.
"They were so small I noticed them before anyone else did."
"What type of changes?" he asked.
I wet my lips. "I noticed I was stronger than I should be. I broke the handle off my bedroom door."
His frown deepened.
