Southern Shifters: Purred Promises (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read Free Page B

father said as he moved swiftly around the desk and pushed Genesis and Geraldine out the door.
    “Dad,” Genesis said.
    “Don’t call me that anymore,” he said, slamming the door in her face.
    Crumpling against Geraldine, she started to really cry. Her previous tears hadn’t been as real as these. “What happened? I don’t understand.”
    “I don’t either, but you’ve made your choice and we must be swift.”Geraldine rushed her down the hall and up the stairs.
    “I’m scared,” Genesis whispered.
    “Me, too.”
     
     

 
     
    Chapter 4
     
    She’d been given an hour to pack up and get the hell out of her chain’s territory. She hadn’t even had time to really cry or say goodbye to Geraldine. And then, as she’d been placing her bag in the backseat of her car with her aunt at her side, her father had come out onto the porch with a woman who had long, gray hair. Genesis had never seen her before, but she could tell what she was, even from a distance: a witch.
    Not bothering to fight what was to come, she’d tossed her bag into the car and walked up to the bottom step of the porch.
    “Does it matter which wrist?” Genesis asked the witch flatly . In the back of her mind, she’d hoped she wouldn’t have to be magically branded, that for the rest of her life she wouldn’t have an ugly reminder that she’d been kicked out of her home and family because she wouldn’t follow the rules.
    “Left,” the witch said, her high voice making shivers race over Genesis’s skin.
    She didn’t bother looking at her father . She knew he wouldn’t change his mind. He’d given her a choice, and she’d chosen to go against him. He probably didn’t even consider her his daughter any longer. Daughters weren’t supposed to defy their fathers. Daughters were supposed to do what their fathers said, period.
    Do as you’re told. Protect the chain. Be a good daughter.
    She swallowed hard against the lump in her throat. This wasn’t how she’d pictured her life, but here she was. Lifting her left hand, she turned her wrist up and tightened her fist. Determined not to make a sound, she closed her eyes and ignored the witch’s cold fingers as she grasped her wrist and began to speak in a strange language. Her wrist began to burn as the magic etched her skin with a permanent symbol. Pain exploded along her arm, and her whole body threatened to seize up. She’d never experienced such agony before in her life . T he desire to cry out was so strong that she had to clench her teeth together until her fangs cut her gums, to stop herself from appearing weak.
    Soft hands pressed against Genesis’s bare arms . S he opened her eyes and saw Geraldine, tears glistening in her eyes.
    “It’ll be okay in a few hours,” she whispered as she guided Genesis to her car. Her aunt pushed her down into the driver’s seat and then tucked a piece of folded paper under the strap of her tank top. “After you’re out of our territory, go to this address. She’s expecting you, and so is the leader of the neutral zone, who you have to check in with.”
    Geraldine bent and kissed Genesis on the cheek, and Genesis hugged her tightly, closing her eyes as they stung with tears.
    “I love you,” Genesis said, her voice choking with emotion.
    “I love you, too, sweet girl.” Easing away, Geraldine cupped Genesis’s face and said, “Now you can mate freely, for love. Find your truemate and name your first child after me.”
    Nodding, Genesis said, “I promise.”
    Geraldine straightened and shut the door, and Genesis turned the engine on, backed out of the driveway, and left without looking back. She’d cry later, when she got to where she was going. It didn’t matter if she was ready or not, because she had no choice.
     
    * * *       
     
    Genesis had never felt so freaked out and alone in her entire life. Her car idled in the driveway in front of a small house, which belonged to Geraldine’s friend Desdemona. The house was