Page 3 of Tangled Hearts

“He won’t betray us,” Oria said, but didn’t look at me.

Was she afraid of me? My heart hurt at the distance that had been created.

“I promise, I won’t,” I said, putting my hand over my heart.

“Blondie, you don’t know anything about this guy,” Soren objected. “You don’t even remember him; he could be anyone.”

I clenched my jaw in anger that he was so adamant about leaving me behind.

“Have faith, Soren,” she said, cupping his face to look at her.

He pressed his forehead against hers. Jealousy reared its ugly head, making me want to lash out. I shifted into a wolf, thinking it would be easier to blend in with the background. My equilibrium felt better now that I was on all fours, but I was still exhausted.

The feeling of being watched washed over me as Ryder looked at me curiously. I grumbled, walking away, sitting down looking out into the forest trying to hear anything. Soren and Oria spoke in hushed tones, grating on my nerves that she had found her mates. I, unfortunately, wasn’t one of them, even though my entire life I had believed her to be mine and I would have to see her love someone else from afar… again.

Ryder started walking and I stayed behind him, so they didn’t think I was going to run away. The longer we walked, the more I thought that leaving might be the best course of action. Leaving her felt like I was ripping an appendage off; nerves gathered in my stomach like lead.

I would do my duty, and then I would leave; that would be it. I would make sure she was safe with her mates and then go back home, maybe find a nice woman. My stomach soured.

I can’t love her. I can’t force a bond. She will never be mine.

Maybe I just needed to stay in animal form, so I didn’t have to talk to her, and I could just keep to myself. Less interaction was going to be good for us, it would be better for me.

“Where are we?” Oria asked.

“We are about a couple miles from the safe house,” Ryder answered first. “It might be better if Loki, I mean, Maxton, and I run ahead to make sure we are safe.”

Thank the goddess.

“Ryder,” Soren growled.

“Trust me,” Ryder said, taking his clothes off and I thought I could fucking kiss the man for his trust in me.

My muscles relaxed at the excitement of running, getting some distance from her and getting out of my own head.

Ryder shifted quickly before nodding his head in the direction he wanted us to go in. If we were related or a part of a pack, I wondered if we would have been able to communicate.

“I think it's going to be better for all of us to run together,” Soren insisted.

I sat and looked away, waiting for Ryder to argue with him, but he just huffed and took off running. I followed Ryder, seeing Soren pick up Oria and we ran together. The feel of the ground underneath me, the fresh air and the freedom eased the turmoil I was feeling inside.

I just had to make sure she was safe from Laima and I could move on, even if it was the last thing I wanted to do.

2

RYDER

When I first started looking for Oria, never did I imagine finding the source. Or much less the source being a woman and that woman becoming my mate. The last few days had been exhausting and confusing.

Not to mention, the damn cat Oria always had around was a giant of a man and had been stuck in a grumpy cat's body all this time. I looked over at the man in question, wondering if he was a friend or foe. He had currently shifted into a wolf and we were running to our safe house to keep Oria safe.

I didn’t know if it was the kinship I had felt with him, but I couldn’t fathom him wanting to hurt Oria, not when he was so protective from the very beginning. But we don’t trust anyone. We can’t afford to trust anyone even though my gut was telling me that we could.

It didn't take us long to make it to the cabin, but I noticed Maxton getting slower and slower. I shifted to open the wards and barrier on the house, expecting to see him shift, but he laid down outside the door panting.

I opened the cabin door, letting Oria and Soren in, but Soren just stared at Maxton. His bond was telling him that he was the enemy; I could see the inner battle he was fighting. He clenched his jaw before going inside the cabin.

“Come on, we can eat some food and get some rest inside,” I said, nodding to the door, but he just laid his head down. “I think it will be easier for all of us to be inside.”

---