Page 40 of Nitro

Then again, I couldn't keep pretending I was normal and fine all the time either.

"I lied," I admitted, the words escaping like a long-held breath.

I continued, “The last time I changed forms was two years ago when I tried to escape from Hicks and that house. I nearly made it outside and was already out of my clothes. The moment I turned into a magpie and took flight, Hicks was on my heels."

Nitro looked at me. He said nothing, allowing me the space to unravel the truth that I had concealed for far too long.

He knew I had something to get off my chest.

I swallowed hard, the memories vivid in my mind.

"He had a gun with him,” I added.

"Oh, Tommy," Nitro murmured, his voice a gentle reassurance.

Without a word, he enclosed me in a warm embrace.

I slowly breathed in, then let it all out. In the circle of his arms, I let go of the pretense of strength and allowed myself to be vulnerable.

The past had left scars, and sharing the truth with Nitro felt like a step toward healing.

"His bullet went through my left wing. It was silver, so it took a long time for my arm to heal, but lesson learned," I whispered.

"Tommy," Nitro finally said, his voice heavy with an intensity I hadn't heard before.

Nitro continued, “Sometimes, I wish I could resurrect that bastard so I could give him a slow and tortuous death. Payment for everything he's done to you."

I felt the vengeance in his voice, the raw anger, and knew without a doubt that Nitro meant every word.

This was the wild, dangerous side of my biker bear that I had only caught glimpses of, the part Nitro wanted to hide from me.

What he didn't realize was that I accepted all of him, even the shadows that lurked beneath the surface.

"Sorry for making this weird," I finally said, pulling myself away from the haunting memories of the past.

"You didn't make it weird. I'm glad you told me," Nitro reassured me, his gaze softening. "So you haven't let your animal half out in two years?"

I nodded, genuine fear in my voice as I confessed, "What if I forgot how?"

"We'll take things slow, and besides, I'm right next to you," Nitro said, beaming with a reassuring smile.

Sometimes, he made me feel like I could do anything.

"Alright," I finally said, drawing in a deep breath.

Besides, I wanted, no needed to whole for my mate. Nitro deserved nothing less.

“Let's do this,’ I said.

10

NITRO

Tommy and I spent the rest of the night cuddling. No surprise that when we woke up the next day, it was almost noon.

My phone started going off, and I groaned at the noise, the interruption to our lazy morning irritating me.

I wanted to find my device and hurl it against the closest wall, then spend the rest of the Saturday rolling in bed with Tommy.

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