Page 7 of Protected Promise

Chapter 4

Even though it was too late for me to turn back, I was still considering it. I had a million things on my mind. Dozens of things I wish I had done first or should be doing were distracting me as I drove south into the US and down to Archibald Reynold’s College.

I had gotten up early and drove until I couldn’t drive anymore before pulling over in some heavily wooded area that called to my wolf. Seeing the place void of any humans, I had shifted and spent the night in my fur.

I knew I had a hotel awaiting my arrival just outside the ARC. I could wash up when I got there. I just didn’t see the need to pay for a room to sleep only a couple of hours.

By the time I saw the gates of the school come into view I was equally excited and exhausted. I had to keep telling myself that this trip was going to be worth it.

I checked the clock and saw it was only one in the afternoon. I couldn’t even check into my hotel until three. I pulled over as soon as I was on campus and called Jackson. It rang twice and rolled to voice mail.

A second later before I could even get frustrated, my phone chimed with an incoming text.

JACKSON: Can’t talk. She’s here.

The second text was an address.

There weren’t any instructions or anything, just an address. I plugged it into the GPS on my phone and found I was only steps away. I drove to a nearby parking lot and then got out to stretch. It looked like I’d have to walk the remainder of the way.

I took my time looking around and taking it all in. I wondered what college life would be like. I was a little sad that it was something I would never personally get to experience. People were rushing around in every direction. Many of the cars in the lot were loaded down with stuff and ready to start the journey back home. There was a buzz in the air that was contagious and lifted my sour mood.

The closer I got to the address, the faster my pace became, until I was standing in front of a large white house with a big porch and larges letters of D O G proudly displayed.

I hesitantly walked up the stairs, uncertain why I was nervous. Perhaps it was more of a nervous excitement. Tobi was probably just on the other side of the door awaiting a surprise she didn’t know was coming. I grinned thinking of the smile that would break out across her face.

Despite an unnatural anxiety my wolf was projecting, I raised my hand and knocked on the front door. It swung open before anyone answered. There were a lot of people standing around just inside and among them were Tobi and Jackson.

“Landon?” I heard Tobi ask, sounding like she had just lost her mind.

I smiled back at her.

“Landon!” she shrieked as she ran across the room and launched herself into my arms. “What are you doing here? Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”

I just held her in a crushing hug as all her questions poured out of her.

“Who the hell is that and why aren’t you kicking his ass for touching your girl?” someone asked.

I chuckled as I set Tobi back on her feet and extended my hand to Jackson. He easily took it and I pulled him in for a hug too.

“Oh, they know each other. I guess?” the same guy asked.

“Why aren’t you surprised to see him here?” Tobi demanded of Jackson.

We both looked at each other, smiled even bigger, and shrugged.

Tobi punched him in the arm. “You knew and you didn’t tell me?”

Then she turned on me and punched me too. “I just talked to you three days ago. You didn’t say a word.”

“Surprise,” I said, wondering if I had done the right thing.

Her scornful face morphed in the biggest smile and I knew everything was going to be okay.

“So, who might this be?” someone asked.

“Everyone, this is Landon, my Alpha.”

Someone spat their drink out and choked. “That’s how you greet your Alpha?”