Page 16 of Fated to the Grizzly

“A mission,” he echoes, looking at me in that fixated way of his.

And I tell him everything.

Well, most of it.

How my dad’s gotten crazier and crazier over the years, and my mom’s not strong enough to protect us. How he took me out of school and made us move to the forest and live this pitiful lifestyle, while we all wait for theFinal Fiasco.

I’m so embarrassed for Orion to hear these things about me. I know from long experience how mad it all sounds. The kids at school seemed repulsed by my weirdness, and now I worry he will be, too.

The only thing I haven’t mentioned is that dad is planning to broker my virginity. That’s one humiliation I’m not willing to share.

When I’m finally done, my cheeks are burning and I can’t look at him.

A long silence rings out.

All those mean words flood into my mind:

Weirdo. Freak. Loser.

I can’t stand for him to see me that way.

I wanted him to take my virginity, but now it’s much more than that: I’m starting to care about him. And the thought of him rejecting me is like a punch in the guts.

“I’ve gotta go to the bathroom,” I mumble, jumping down from the stool.

But I’ve forgotten about my knees, how stiff the band aids have made them, and I stumble. A silly little cry escapes my lips and I brace myself to hit the deck.

Quickly—quicker than humanly possible—Orion is right there, catching me up in his huge arms.

“Steady, little one,” he says in his deep growly voice. “You hurt yourself?” His eyes are so full of kindness, I almost tear up again.

Sheesh, I swear I haven’t cried in ten years. You can probably imagine the kinds of things my dad says about weak little crybabies. They’re the first ones who’ll be devoured in theFinal Fiasco, in case you’re wondering.

“No,” I mumble. “I’m good. Just over-tired.”

“You poor thing,” he says in a low voice. “How could they have abandoned you like this? You should’ve been treated like a queen. A precious jewel.”

I stop breathing. “That’s not how my family sees me,” I choke out at last.

A muscle in his jaw flexes. “That’s their loss,” he mutters. “But I promise you, you’ll never be abandoned again.”

He pulls me closer and I go with it, relaxing against his big, naked body. When I close my eyes, somethingsweeps through me. A feeling of something opening that’s been closed tight for too long. I want to wrap my arms around his waist and nuzzle my face against his pecs.

“It’s been a long day, hasn’t it?”

“Mmm…” I say.

“Let me show you where the bathroom is.”

Is it silly that I’m disappointed when he releases me?

He guides me along the hallway to the bathroom, then closes the door softly behind me.

The bathroom is as high spec as the rest of the rest of the house, all luxurious and sparkling. I swear my family’s entire bunker could fit inside it. Heck, if they moved in here permanently, it would be a gigantic life upgrade. Everything is just sonice, from the stack of fluffy white towels beside the sink, to the delicious smelling soaps?—

Whoa…

I freeze in front of the softly lit mirror above the sink.

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