" The others disappeared.

I only had eyes for him.

He nodded slowly.

He said, “I know.”

He said, “I know you’re scared. Confused.”

He said, “But we’re not going to hurt you. You’re safe, Robbie.”

He said, “You’re home.”

I took another step toward him.

“That’s it,” he said, stepping away from the Alphas. Joe looked like he wanted to stop him, but he kept his hands at his side. “Hey. It’s okay, Robbie. It’s okay now. You’re here.” He smiled, though it was broken. “You’re with me now.”

It would be so easy.

To go to him.

To let him fix all of this.

To have him take me away.

And part of me wanted to. Part of me believed him. A quiet part, whispering in the dark, but there nonetheless.

But it was a trick.

It had to be.

They were Bennetts. And they were the enemy.

He knew then. The moment before I made my decision. I didn’t know how. But he did.

Even as my muscles coiled, the skin around his eyes tightened.

There was an opening to my right. Chris and Tanner were spread too far apart.

The secret part of me whispered for me to stop. To stay. To listen.

I ran. "

― T.J. Klune , Heartsong (Green Creek, #3)