Page 20 of Cursed Bonds: An Alpha's Destiny

A moment later, her face popped up on the screen, and another tremor of delight went through me. Get it together, Jace.

“Here’s the issue,” Kirsten said, turning the phone around so the camera was angled on the underside of the sink.

“Looks like you were right about the O-ring,” I said, squinting at the screen. “That’s what seals the drain under the sink. Randomly enough, I’m at the hardware store as we speak. I’ll grab what you need and come around.”

“Thank you for agreeing that I know what I’m talking about,” she quipped.

The smile on my face was hard to hide. She did seem to know her stuff. My wolf was so happy, he was practically purring. The smile slipped when I remembered the curse and the boundary around her cabin.

“I’ll grab what you need, and I’ll let you know when I’m almost there. You can meet me at the end of your driveway so I can drop it all off.”

Kirsten looked at me like I was crazy through her phone camera. “Why don’t you just drive it up to my house? Isn’t that simpler?”

“See you in a little bit,” I said, then hung up.

After grabbing what she needed, I hurried to my truck. The entire drive, weird butterflies twitched in my stomach. My wolf was drooling at the thought of seeing her again. All of it irked me to no end. It was like my entire body and half of my mind was revolting against me, pushing me toward something I didn’t desire or want.

Kirsten met me at her mailbox as I pulled into the soft shoulder of the road.

“Here’s everything you should need,” I said, handing the bag out the window to her.

“What a guy,” she said wryly. “This should cover it.” She held out a twenty-dollar bill.

“I told you not to worry about that,” I said, waving my hand.

“And I said I have my own money,” Kirsten said, shaking the bill in my face. “Take it. I don’t need handouts.”

With a sigh, I snatched the bill from her hand. “All right, then. Thanks.”

“I’m gonna say it again. This would be much easier if I could swing into town and grab my own stuff.” She looked disappointed. “Do shifters really hate humans so much that you don’t want to be anywhere near the same vicinity?”

The look on her face was one of confused dejection. Yet more evidence that she truly had no idea what she was. It was a look you couldn’t fake.

“No, it’s not that,” I said hastily. “It’s just who you’re related to, that’s all. It would make things uncomfortable. For everyone.”

Her confusion faded, and a fire lit in her eyes. I kicked myself internally. In my attempt to smooth things over, I’d somehow made it worse.

“Who I’m related to? What is that supposed to mean?” She took a quick step toward my truck, laying a hand on the door. “If you’re insinuating something about my grandmother, then I’m not afraid to set you straight right here and now. She was an amazing person.”

“Hang on, hang on,” I said, holding a hand up. “Calm down. I wasn’t saying anything about your grandmother.”

“Well, what were you talking about?” She stared at me, eyes still stern, but her expression softening.

“It’s just that…” How did I say this without sounding like a dick? “I’m sure your grandma was great. Her ancestors? Not so much. She comes from a line of not-so-nice ladies. That’s what I meant.” Then another thought occurred to me, a way to get her to possibly find out about herself without me outright saying it. “It goes way back. Maybe you should research them sometime. Get a sense of your history.”

“Not-so-nice people?” Kirsten asked, the confusion evident on her face. “What about the men? If my great-great-grandmother was such an awful person, what about my great-grandfather?”

“Only been women in this cabin as far back as anyone can remember,” I said, hoping to plant more seeds in her mind. I needed her to find out she was a witch. It was the only thing I could imagine that might get rid of this curse. If she knew, then maybe her powers would somehow manifest themselves. It was a very long shot, but I didn’t know what else to do.

“Maybe I will do some research,” she mumbled, stepping back from my truck. I could practically see the wheels turning in her head. “Thanks for this stuff,” she said, lifting the plastic bag of tools and parts.

“Anytime,” I said with a wave.

As I watched her walk up the drive, my wolf rumbled his desire in my chest, the growl almost escaping my lips. I had to admit, my wolf had an eye for beautiful women. Kirsten might have been the most gorgeous person I’d ever seen in my life.

Once she’d vanished around the bend, I put my truck into gear and pulled away. Kirsten was a witch, yes, but she had no idea she was one. The sensation that hummed through me when I was near her was like nothing I’d ever experienced before. A strange sense that freedom was near, that I could have a chance at happiness. Like I was on the verge of finally being complete. I’d not realized how hollow and empty I felt until the first moment I laid eyes on her. As much as I didn’t want to, I wondered what it would be like to take her as my mate. Could I dismiss the idea out of hand simply because she was a witch?

After all, she was nothing like the witch who had come before her.

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