Witches & Werewolves: A Sacred Oath by Bella Raven Read Free Book Online Page B

watched a video online. I guess I was able to wash it off before it had chance to absorb into the skin.”
    I roll my eyes and give him a look. “Fine, if you want to keep playing this game, we’ll keep playing.” I let go of his hand and cross my arms.  
    “What game?” he smirks. “Are you sure you didn’t hit your head?”
    I grit my teeth and let out a grumble. Before I can plot my next plan of inquiry, uncle Jake stumbles into the room and Noah barrels to me, almost taking out an IV stand. He wraps me in a hug so tight it’s hard to breathe.  
    “I’ll leave you alone with your family. See you at school,” Ethan says, slipping out of the room.
    My mind is racing in a million different ways. I can’t get the words out to thank him before he leaves. And a simple thank you seems woefully inadequate.  
    I look at Jake, trying to read him—I’m a little nervous about how he will react. “Are you mad?”
    “Hell yes! They took my beer away.” Jake immediately pulls a shiny silver flask from his back pocket and takes a swig. “They didn’t get this, though.”
    “You didn’t drive with Noah drunk, did you?”
    “Noah ain’t been drinking.”
    “That’s not what I meant.”
    “Maddie, how am I going to drive when my car’s at the bottom of Wolf Canyon? Dean Miller ran us down here when I got the news.”
    Jake starts to rummage through the drawers and cabinets in the room.  
    “So, you’re not mad?” I ask.
    “If you’d have gotten hurt, then I’d be real pissed. I made a promise to your father a long time ago that I’d look out for you if anything ever happened. I may not have much, but one thing I’ve got is my word. We’re family, and family’s gotta stick together,” Jake says.
    Jake may be a drunk, but his heart’s in the right place. I can see it in his eyes, even though he tries to hide it, that having these unreconciled differences with my father has taken a toll. I don’t know what happened, but it’s clear to me that Jake has lived with this pain since their falling out. Which has been compounded by the loss of my parents and the inability to ever set things straight.  
    Drawers squeal open and slam shut. I think Jake has gone through every inch of the room.  
    “What are you looking for?” I ask.
    “We’re in an emergency room. They’ve got the good stuff in here,” Jake says.
    “Good stuff?”  
    “Every now and then you can score some pain meds. Maybe some morphine sulfate.”
    I just shake my head. How is it that I have to be the adult here? Sometimes I think the universe sent us here to take care of uncle Jake, instead of the other way around.  
    Another few hours, and I’m finally ready to be discharged. Jake is already trying to con me out of some of the Vicodin I’ve been prescribed. Fully booted, I hobble out of the ER, and we all catch a cab back to uncle Jake’s place, or Camelot as he calls it. A man’s home is his castle, and all that.  
    The waxing moon cascades a bluish glow across the mountainside as we wind our way through the evergreens. It’s one of those nights where the moon is so bright, you could probably drive without headlights. A few more days and it will be full.  
    The cab drops us off at uncle Jake’s castle, and I hobble with crutches to the door. Even in my current condition, I think I can walk better than Jake, who lists from side to side as he ambles into the mobile home. I look back over my shoulder at the cab driving away, and the magnitude of my current situation hits me. My already lacking transportation options have dropped to zero. I can count on Jen for social gatherings, that’s for sure. I’m certain she’ll pick me up for school in the morning, but there is only so much that can be reasonably expected. Being my personal driver just isn’t in her job description.  
    I have no idea if Jake even has insurance for the rust bucket. My guess would be that he doesn’t. I mean, it was practically scrap metal before