Anchor of Secrets by Tessa Hale
28
The only soundin the classroom was the ticking of a wall clock and the occasional flip of a paper or textbook page. But the side of my face burned as if someone were shooting laser beams at me. Instead, it was just hatred coming at me in waves.
I didn’t bother lifting my head or acknowledging Chloe’s presence in detention at all. She wasn’t exactly following the headmaster’s dictates. There were snide comments from Chloe, her friends, and random students I didn’t even know.
I tried my best to focus on my AP Bio textbook, but the words and diagrams swam on the page. That just pissed me off. Every time I thought I was catching a little bit of a break, something else would hit.
A buzzer went off, and Ms. Piper, my English Lit teacher and detention warden, looked up from her grading. “That’s it for today. Just remember, crime never pays.”
That had my lips twitching as a few other students laughed. I shoved my textbook into my backpack and got to my feet, heading for the front of the classroom.
Someone shoulder-checked me from behind, and I almost went sprawling.
“Watch where you’re going,” Chloe snarled.
“Chloe…” Ms. Piper warned.
“She cut me off,” Chloe shot back.
Ms. Piper arched a brow. “It’s a classroom, not an LA freeway. I think you could’ve avoided her.”
I stepped to the side, knowing the ensuing fight would never be worth it.
Chloe stomped by me, leveling me with a glare.
Definitely not keeping her distance.
Ms. Piper shook her head, letting out a low whistle. “And that’s what happens when Daddy never tells you no.”
A laugh burst out of me.
She gave me a gentle smile. “Take care of yourself, and watch your back around that one.”
“Thank you. I will.”
Declan popped his head into the classroom, worry creasing his face. The moment he caught sight of me, the anxiety eased a bit. “You all done?”
I nodded, glancing at my English teacher. “Have a good night.”
“You, too.” Her mouth curved. “But somehow, I don’t doubt you will.”
My face heated as I swallowed back a laugh.
Declan looked puzzled as he moved toward me, taking my backpack. “What’s going on?”
“Ms. Piper’s funny.”
She began putting her things in a bag. “I do try.”
Declan’s confusion didn’t lessen, but he dipped his head toward my teacher. “See you tomorrow, Ms. P.”
“See you.”
We headed out of the classroom and down the hall, Declan slipping his hand in mine as a couple of Colt’s security guys trailed behind us. Declan glanced down at me. “You have everything you need?”
I nodded. “Good to go. Where are the guys?”
“They had a meeting with Darius to go over a few things.”
My lips thinned.
Declan squeezed my hand. “Colt won’t be alone, and he’s back to full strength.”
“He said it would take a few days to get his energy back.”
“Meaning he shouldn’t go run back-to-back marathons. He can handle a meeting with a less-dominant wolf.”
I grunted some choice words about Darius, and Declan grinned.
He released my hand and wrapped an arm around me. “So protective.”
“Well, I clearly need to be. You guys get yourselves into all sorts of dangerous situations.”
“Says the girl tackling someone in the hallway today.”
My cheeks heated as we stepped outside and into the afternoon sunshine. “She deserved it.”
Declan opened the passenger door of his G-wagon for me. “Not arguing with you there.”
I climbed inside, buckling my belt as Declan rounded the vehicle and the security guards got in their Range Rover. Declan slid behind the wheel and started the engine.
“Thanks for waiting for me. You didn’t have to,” I said.
“No problem.” An unnamed emotion passed over Declan’s eyes, something shadowy that had my stomach twisting.
“What’s wrong?”
He shot me a quick glance as he backed out of the parking space. “Nothing.”
“Don’t lie to me. We don’t do that anymore, remember?”
A muscle in Declan’s cheek jumped. “Sometimes it’s better for me not to be in on those meetings.”
“Why?”
“They don’t trust me.”
An ache settled in my chest. “They’ve fought alongside you. They’ve welcomed you into their home.”
“I think welcomed might be too strong a word.”
“Declan…” I reached out, weaving my fingers through his.
“I’m not the one who bailed, but they all look at me like I’m a traitor.”
I stiffened, my fingers tightening around his. “What happened?”
Declan’s hand tightened on the wheel, making the leather creak. “Ronan ran off when we were ten. We’d always been close. Life might’ve been shit, but we had each other. Then he just took off. Hid out for a few years and then just reappeared, living the high life with Colt and his dad. I dunno…maybe he was with them all along.”
My mouth went dry. “How do you know he ran away? That something didn’t happen to him?”
Declan shot a look in my direction, those eyes of his a molten silver. “He left a damned note. Said he was done and didn’t want to be a part of our family anymore.”
My heart hammered against my chest. It didn’t add up with anything Ronan had told me.
“I get wanting to leave. Our dad…he’s not a good man. But I would’ve gone with him. Instead, he just bailed. On me. On our bond. And then he acts like I betrayed him. I’m the one who had to live with the monster alone.”
A sourness took root in my belly. “Monster?”
Declan’s fingers twitched in my hold. “He’s a hard man. He never accepts anything less than perfection.”
“No one’s perfect.”
Declan scoffed. “He thinks I should be.”
“And if you’re not?”
Declan was quiet for a long moment. “He’ll make sure I know that it isn’t acceptable.”
That sourness rooted itself deeper, spreading. What hell had Declan been living in all these years? He thought he was alone, that his brother had abandoned him, but in reality, they’d been ripped apart.
Ronan’s words echoed in my ears. Ones that warned me against meddling. But I had to. I couldn’t watch them both live in agony, hating each other, when that hate should be focused on someone else entirely.
“He didn’t run away, Dec.”
Declan glanced my way. “What are you talking about?”
I swallowed hard. “Ronan didn’t run away. Your father sold him to some underground fighting pits.”