A promise that i keep (Wolfblood)

Chapter 10.

Rhydian

"Know what?" I ask, but i know exactly what. I'm just lying to myself.

My fears are confirmed as he says the one thing that i never thought i would hear.

"i know that you're a wolfblood."

I stare back, utterly shocked. Whatever idea i had about what Mr Geoffreys knew before today, it wasn't this. There's no covering it up anymore. He knows.

"I don't understand," i whisper barely audiably, "How is that even possible?"

Mr Geoffreys inhales deeply; my hands start shaking.

"Do you remember the day Dr Whitewood taught your class about fossilisation?" He asks. I nod slowly, trying not to fume at the mention of that woman. Mr Geoffreys continues with a cautious tone.

"I saw something strange in Maddy that day. When she attacked Liam, It was like i could actually see blood pumping through her veins. At first i thought that i was hallucinating, then i saw her eyes. They were yellow. And with what Shannon had been saying about the "monster on the moors", i knew that something was going on.

"Then, when Liam fell through that old mine shaft, and Maddy had got through that impossibly small tunnel, i decided i needed to find out more.

"I researched the things that i had seen, and they were all linked to werewolves."

I laugh nervously. "Yeah, good one. Do i look like a werewolf to you? I swear, nothing's going on. Plus, you have no proof."

"You need to stop lying to me, Rhydian," Mr Geoffreys exclaims impatiently. "I heard Tom and Shannon talking the other day. They called you a Wolfblood. You may not be a werewolf, but you're not far off."

His voice softens slightly as he says, "I want to help you, Rhydian."

I lean back and run my hand through my hair. I don't understand, why hasn't he told me what he knows before?

I guess that, before, we had all of the teachers swarming around us. That makes sense, and shows that he can keep his mouth shut.

But something still doesn't add up.

"If you knew about me, then why did you hire Dr Whitewood as my councellour? Why did you even give me councelling sessions anyway?"

Mr Geoffreys looks confused, but i still look at him expectantly.

"Firstly, i needed to give you councelling sessions because i might have had a couple of teachers wondering why i let a boy with obvious anger issues wander around the school, attacking people, without doing anything about it.

"Second of all, what has Dr Whitewood got to do with this?"

Seriously, he knows all of this but he doesn't know about Dr Whitewood?

I stand up. "Nothing, forget it." But Mr Geoffreys stands infront of the door.

"No, i need to know what's going on. You can trust me."

"How do i know that?" I ask.

He sighs, "You don't, but if you give me a chance i can help you. I can protect your secret."

Maddy

Tears well up in my eyes as i replay the last few minutes in my head, wandering slowly back to our pack.

"What do you want me to do?" I ask.

"Go back and tell your pack that you are going back to the human world. Tell them you have a plan and that it will be safer if they stay where they are."

I already feel guilty, but looking into his piercing grey eyes, it doesn't seem like i could do anything else.

"And what if they say that i can't go?"

He sighs and mutters "That's not my problem. You'll just have to leave without saying goodbye.

"Do we have a deal or not?" He asks, somewhat irritated by my lack of cooperation.

I inhale deeply, and nod my head.

"Good. Now just stay out of the way, let us do our job and you and your "wolf mate" can live happily ever after."

I glare at him furiously as he turns away, disappearing into the woods.

I am so disgusted with myself. How could i betray my pack, my family? Surely there must be a way that i can save everyone and still live in the human world. I just wish that everything would go back to the way it was before.

It is dark before i reach the den. Trying to keep my emotions under control, i make my way over to my family.

"And where have you been, young lady?" My mum asks.

I shake my head. "It doesn't matter.

Look, i have something to tell you."

"Can it wait?" Asks my dad. "We were just settling down to dinner."

"No, it can't" i reply. "I- i'm going back to the human world."

Silence falls across the den; i watch their expressions nervously. Finally my mum responds with a concerned expression.

"Maddy, we've been through this," she sighs," We can't go back, not with that Doctor Whitewood in our village."

"No, you don't understand," i persist, "i have a plan-"

"No, Maddy," Dad interrupts, "It's way too dangerous." I rack my brains, trying to think of a way to convince them to let me go, but i have no success.

So, summoning up all of the courage i have left, i say to them "Fine, i'll just go then. I won't ask for your permission."

As i begin to leave, Jana grabs my wrist. "Let GO!" i almost growl, shocking Jana so much that she obeys, looking hurt.

"Jana," i gasp, "i'm sorry, i-"

"Don't even bother," She snaps. "Just go, and don't bother to come crying to me when your plan fails."

I try to apologise again, but she pushes me away and walks out of the den. I want desperately to stay, but i know that i'm not welcome here anymore.

Before my parents can stop me, i leave the pack and start to race into the woods.