Page 155 of Cursed Bonds: An Alpha's Destiny

“What’s going on?” Stephanie’s voice echoed from Waylan’s phone. “Can someone tell me what’s going on?”

Waylan shook off his daze. “Um, it’s Carter. The boy is, uh… he’s back.”

“What do you mean, back?”

“It’s Kirsten,” Waylan said, shaking his head in wonder. “She got him to shift back to his human form. Steph, he was completely feral, and she brought him back.”

Stephanie let out a surprised sob. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah. We’re looking at him right now.”

The woman sniffled. “Oh my God. I need to go talk to Byron. If he’s human again, we need to get his mother out of here. Maybe we can break her out and evacuate her along with the kids when you come.”

“Sounds good,” Waylan said, though his voice had gone slightly dreamy when he looked at Carter. “Call or text with an update.”

He hung up, letting his arm fall to his side. He looked at me, and a goofy smile spread across his face. He didn’t say anything, just shook his head in bewilderment, then went back to looking at Kirsten and the boy.

Noah and Ivy stepped around the side of the garage, both trying to get a better look at Carter. The boy, sensing the movement, flinched and pressed his face into Kirsten’s chest. She didn’t seem to mind it, as she patted his back reassuringly.

“It’s all right,” she murmured. “They’re friends. You’re safe here.”

“Hey, Carter, buddy?” Harley called from the mudroom door.

Carter pulled his head away to look at her. “Yes?”

Harley gave him an apologetic smile. “Mr. Jace here is super lame and doesn’t have any pepperoni. How about bologna and cheese for a sandwich?”

Carter grinned weakly. “I like bologna.”

“And chips?” Harley asked.

Carter’s smile grew a bit wider. “Ranch-flavored?”

Harley winked at him. “I saw them in the pantry. Come on in here, I’ll have some lunch ready for you in no time.”

Looking back at Kirsten, Carter smiled. “I like her. She’s nice.”

“She’s the best,” Kirsten agreed. She stood, gently disentangling herself from the boy.

Our group followed them out of the garage and into the kitchen. Within a few minutes, Carter was scarfing food down like he’d been starving. Harley had to make a second sandwich, and the boy was halfway through an entire bag of chips before Abigail brought out a pack of cookies from the pantry, which he then proceeded to devour.

The entire time, Kirsten sat beside him. He seemed to have put all of his trust in her and didn’t want her to leave. I couldn’t blame him. She’d managed to do the impossible, had rescued him from a fate almost worse than death. She was so calm and tender with him that my heart wanted to explode with love for her. It was all I could do not to go over and kiss her.

She would be an amazing mother to our future children. The thought made my eyes sting with unshed tears of happiness.

Finally satiated, Carter turned to look at Kirsten. “I’m tired.”

He did look strung out. Dark circles under his eyes, his skin pallid. He’d been saved from being feral, but everything that had happened to him was still weighing on the boy. From the look on his face, he was ready to drop.

“Come on,” Kirsten said, and she and Harley led the boy toward the stairs. “Let’s get you in bed for a nap. Does that sound good?”

Carter rubbed his eyes with the back of his wrist, sleepiness overcoming him. “Yeah.”

Once they were upstairs, the spell of his miraculous cure broke, and the others began to murmur in conversation.

“Holy shit,” Langston muttered, flicking his eyes to me. “That shouldn’t be able to happen.”

“Right?” Waylan said. “I’ve never heard of this. It’s supposed to be impossible. A feral shifter has never come back to themselves.”

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