Free Broken Promise (The Broken Ones Book 3) by Jen Wylie Page A

guide for them already.
    She smiled at the woman as she handed
the armload of food over to him. "Eat."
    "Arowyn Mason," the Were
greeted her.
    "Good morning."
    The woman regarded her for a moment.
"My name is Neena. Rhee-En has asked me to guide you to Westport."
    Aro nodded. "Thank you."
    Neena's brows rose slightly. "No
thanks are needed. I do as my alpha wishes. Fetch your horse. We can leave
immediately."
    Confused at the woman's harsh manner, she
stuttered over her response. "I…I'll not be riding."
    "You are walking?" Neena
looked to Kei and back to her. "You are human." With an irritated
huff, she turned on her heel. "We better get started then."
    Picking up her pack and settling it on
her shoulders, she shook her head. "This should be fun."
    Kei laughed quietly as he donned his
pack. "She'll see." He lightly punched her shoulder as they followed
the Were. "Don't overdo it though. You don't need to prove anything to
her."
    She smiled but didn't promise anything.
    Once away from the settlement she
settled into an easy jog next to Kei. The sun rose higher, sending more light
into the trees. Though she didn't see Neena again, Kei seemed to have no
trouble knowing which way to go.
    She found it comforting to be out
running with her best friend again. Unfortunately, their slow pace gave her
time to think. It didn't take long for worry to tense her whole body.
    Kei…what I felt. I don't… Is it because
of the bindings?
    She stopped running when she heard
laughter behind her. Turning, she found Kei stopped, a hand braced against a
tree, and laughing uncontrollably. Frowning, she headed toward him.
    "You think," more laughter cut
off his words, "the most ridiculous things sometimes."
    A smile curved her lips as she crossed
her arms and watched him try to stop laughing. She didn't care if he laughed at
her. The relief his words brought took a great weight off her mind.
    Still grinning, he walked to her side
and threw an arm over her shoulder. They started walking and he tipped his head
toward her. "You felt what I feel for you. Our bindings have connected us.
They don't create feelings."
    She mulled over his words for a moment
and then glanced over at him. "So you felt what I feel for you?"
    A wide smile lit his face.
"Yes."
    From his reaction, she assumed he was
happy with how she felt about him and relaxed even further. Even though she was
in love with Prince, things were still good between her and Kei.
    "So then what does it do?"
    "It is a promise."
    "I know that," she said in
irritation.
    He laughed again, making her smile. It was
good to see him so happy and relaxed. "If you find that spot within you, then
you can find me. If you ever need me, I am there. No matter where I am."
    "So I really will never be alone
again."
    "No," he answered softly.
"We'll always have each other."
     
    ∞ ∞ ∞
     
    Aro managed to easily keep up with Kei
throughout the morning. When they stopped around noon to eat, she only felt a
little stiff. Neena regarded her thoughtfully but remained quiet.
    When they finally stopped as the sun set,
Aro welcomed the fact they wouldn't set up much of a camp. They ate dry food
from their packs, and both she and Kei spread out their cloaks to sleep on next
to a small fire.
    "Humans do not run like that,"
Neena stated suddenly into the quiet.
    Aro blinked at her, unsure where that
comment came from or what exactly to say.
    "I suppose it is true then, what
they say about you," the Were continued.
    "That depends on what they
say," Aro said carefully.
    Can you hear me?
    Yes.
    Neena nodded, as if to herself. Her gaze
moved to Kei. "You can heal them? Their fury?"
    "Yes."
    "And yourself, I hear."
    "With their power, yes." She
looked down, uncomfortable with the memory. Many things had faded, but not the
pain of healing.
    "You can mind speak him as
well," Neena continued. "Because you created a pack."
    Silence hung between them. She wasn't
sure what to say, not knowing how much Rhee-En had told his