Secret Revealed - PART 2
Chapter 8 - A New Scheme is Born
I should have been paying more attention. Between me and Rhydian's heightened wolfblood senses we had no excuse for what happened next. We were all cuddled up in Shan's bedroom, I was still savoring my victory at disarming Rhydian's anger about me telling Shan our secret. Rhydian's hands cupped my shoulders. I sniffed at his scent like a drug I could never go without as his hands rubbed my arms, lulling me into blissful distraction. We haven't even started officially dating, and I already have him wrapped around my little finger. Yep, I could get used to this.
"And what do you two think you're doing!?" Shan's face matched the heat in her tone. How had she snuck up on us? Me still being shirtless, my face had the chance to turn the same shade of red as Shan's hair till, with supernatural speed, Rhydian shoved me behind him on the bed. I peered over Rhydian's shoulder. I couldn't stop cringing.
"Are you two seriously all over each other in my bedroom? On my bed?"
"I thought I told you we weren't to be disturbed," Rhydian bit back automatically, his protective wolf keen on wolfing out to safeguard his mate—i.e. me. I jumped into the fray before it could escalate any further.
"Shan, I'm so sorry. It's not what it looks like." Well, it kind of is…. "I've got good news though!"
"Good news? Are ye going to put your shirt back on? That would be fantastic news." Shan growled almost like a wolfblood herself. She angled a hip and crossed her arms, eyebrows arched. I quickly did as she hinted, still beet-red thinking how me best mate had caught me and my boyfriend cuddling, me partially undressed. I felt extra guilty because Shan had just sacrificed for me, giving up her curiosity in wanting to study my wolfblood heritage, to ease my fears and keep my secret safe. And how had I repaid her? By making out with Rhydian. On. Her. Bed. Or that's how it looked anyway, and for the moment that's what mattered….
Rhydian tried to take my hand to give me some comfort with physical touch, his wolf clearly still the boss of him. I was too rattled to accept it. I pulled away.
"Rhydian knows that you know—that you know about what we are," I muttered as I threw the tee over my head, yanking it down with forceful jerks. "The good news is that he's okay with it."
Shan eyed Rhydian like a honey badger not in the least impressed by a lion. "Is that so? And am I to be grateful that Rhydian, the boy you've known for what, a matter of months, not even a year, has given his approval for you to trust me? Especially since you and I have been friends for how long, Mads? Since we were this small!" She put her hand at about kneecap level, staring down Rhydian like a she-wolf in training. If it were ever possible for flames to leap out of Shan's eyes, well, we were on the verge of finding out.
"Shan, please. We'll go if you want. Let's just call it a night? We'll see you in school tomorrow?" My voice petered out like a mouse tiptoeing on eggshells. Please, please let cooler heads prevail.
My best mate sighed, chuckling to herself as the tension suddenly broke. The absurdity of the whole situation had finally declawed her outrage—almost. "Oh no, Maddy Smith. You're not getting out of this that easy. Rhydian, go downstairs. This is a temporarily girlfriends-only zone." She gave him a pointed stare to rival most alphas. Seeing that Shan's ire had cooled, I gave Rhydian a hopeful nod. It's all right. She's not going to hurt me.
Rhydian rolled his eyes and swept past like a thundercloud, grumbling under his breath.
When we were alone Shan turned to me. Her eyes sparkled.
Meanwhile I tossed her a bewildered look.
"Well?"
"Well, what?"
"The least you can do is tell me. Is he a good kisser? Come on, Mads. Give up the goods."
"That's top secret. Besides, just now we weren't kissing."
"You…wait, what?" The outrage and disappointment in her voice made me giggle.
"He did stroke my hair," I offered. "And other areas…." Shan swatted me as I broke into a fresh fit of laughter. She walloped me with a pillow as I flew back on her bed, which only made the laughter worse. My sides were hurting by the time I could make myself stop, and by then Shan had laid out beside me, throwing an arm affectionately across my torso, squeezing me tight.
"Anger aside about you and Rhydian hijacking my bed, I'm proud of you Mads. These last few days you were finally honest with me and you were honest about your feelings for Rhydian. I think I like this Maddy Smith very much. I hope to see more of her."
I turned onto my side, looking into Shan's eyes. The love there was boundless. The old cliché of her being like a sister to me just seemed so inadequate now. I thought of her as even more than that. It was as if she and I had lived other lives, and in each of those lives we'd somehow found each other. Almost like we'd been friends for as long as time itself.
Ugh, but that was when a depressing thought struck me like a palm to the forehead.
"What's wrong?" Shan skimmed a finger playfully down my nose.
"I'm not looking forward to telling me parents about you-know-what."
Shan scoffed. "They know I'll always be ready and willing to save your bacon, Mads. You shouldn't worry over it. If Rhydian trusts me enough, I'm even more certain that your mum and dad will. What you should worry about is what they'll do once they find out you and Rhydian are dating!"
I smothered her mouth firmly with the palm of my hand. "You will not say a word to them, is that clear Shannon Kelly?"
Her eyes smirked at me, and mine narrowed dangerously in reply until she put up both hands in surrender. Her muffled answer: "All right, all right! I promise."
My heart thudded more loudly than normal as I considered it. How much should I tell my parents? The old saying, What they don't know can't hurt them was starting to sound better and better, but no…I couldn't sustain that, and it wouldn't be a smart move anyway. Yet a new idea sprang to mind, one I knew Rhydian probably wouldn't fully support.
I snuggled closer to Shan and whispered.
"I need your help with something."
"Mads…why do you have that funny look in your eyes?"
"You know what they say?"
Shan frowned. "No Mads, I can't say that I do."
"You know how it's easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to ask for permission?"
Shannon's eyes darted about. She adjusted her glasses just so, this adorable nervous tic that I loved about her. "Mads, are you about to ask me to help you do something illegal?"
"Nope. Even better." I grinned as I told her my plan, hoping to God that Rhydian couldn't hear.
A/N - I should have at least another chapter soon and more updates next week. Traveling to Florida for a few days, and then I'm looking forward to pushing ahead on Secret Revealed Part 2. As always, please leave a comment/review, suggestions or whatnot. Even short and sweet is better than nothing :) Thanks Wolfblood fans! xx
