Secrets By Moonlight (Secrets By Moonlight Saga Book 1) by S. L. McMullin

Author:S. L. McMullin [McMullin, S. L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: R & S Publishing
Published: 2023-01-29T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

Confusion

Niall is only a few short blocks away, but I power stride like it will take an hour to get there.

Leaning against the corner building, Niall faces the steep road leading to the town park. Occupied by people watching, he fails to notice me sneaking up behind him.

"Hey!" I say, rattling his arm.

"Hah, 'bout time you showed..." he says, seemingly unfazed by my jarring as he swivels around smiling. "Thought you'd changed your mind!"

"Not a chance!" I say happily.

"Wow, hey, what happened there?" he adds, pointing to my arm. "You ok?"

"Oh, uh... yeah, it's nothing." I smile coyly, maneuvering my splinted arm subtly behind my back.

He frowns, "Doesn't look like nothin'!" and removes a small leaf tangled in my hair. "Have you been... rolling around on the ground?"

I laugh, "Not exactly," and shake my hair, releasing stray leaves I may have missed.

"Guh, a spider landed on you, didn't it... and you freaked?" His body shudders spastically like one is on him right now.

"It was not a bug," I say, trying not to laugh.

"Alright, then what?"

"Really, Niall, it was nothing," I say more seriously and nudge my head in the direction I desperately wish we'd go. "Come on, let's just go. Everything's already started."

Deep wrinkles line his forehead, and when his eyes stiffen with concern, a heavy weight shifts into my chest. "Please... Niall?"

"Shae..." He says my name so firmly my heart sinks. "Just tell me..."

Why won't he just let me forget and move on—?

With my lips pressed firmly together, I shake my head. "Niall, trust me, you don't want to know."

His eyes widen as he grips my arm. "Not... that Brad guy—" he stammers.

"No— not him," I say hurriedly, not wanting to unintentionally dredge up those messy emotions either. But I also can't help but smile warmly at Niall's protective instinct he seems to have for me.

"Phew, dang, bro!" He breaths forcefully, "You had me panicked," and puts his hand on my shoulder.

I inhale a staggered breath. Plunging into hysterics in front of Niall is the last thing I want to happen. But I feel panic rousing to life inside me, banging its way through the wall I created to keep it at bay. It will not hold much longer.

"Please... tell me so I can help," he prods softly.

Unable to maintain control, tears well in my eyes. Sniffing, I laugh my distress away. "Yeah, well, is anything in my life drama free these days?" I gulp down hard. "I just feel stupid... ugh, why am I crying?" I roll my eyes and wipe the tears away.

Niall squeezes my shoulder, his concern for me evident in his sorrowful eyes.

"So, um," —I sniff again— "I went on a hike this morning— you know, because I like that stuff," I say nasally. "...and when I stopped... some animals came."

"Animals?" he says, perplexed.

With eyes squinched, I peer at him steadfastly. Don't make me say it! But when his brow creases into a deep v, I sigh, "...wolves." I whisper, even though we are the only ones around.

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