Page 44 of The Cursed Kingdom

Something hits me from behind, and my knife flies from my hand as I’m flung forward. My poor knees take the brunt of my fall, and I can tell the skin is all but gone at this point. If I make it out of this alive, I’ll be needing that first-aid kit.

A heavy weight is pressed into my back, flattening me to the ground.

It prevents me from getting up, and I writhe as I fight to break free. Leaves and twigs bury into my face, and grainy dirt enters my mouth with each movement I make, but I don’t care.

“Please!” I try to speak, but the pressure on my lungs and the dirt in my mouth makes it hard to get the words out.

Dirt and rock scrape against my cheek as I turn my head and try to see what’s happening behind me. I expect to find Mason or Kie pinning me to the ground, but to my complete horror, I’m met with the snarling face of an animal.

It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen, and it’s fucking horrific.

The face is similar to that of a wolf, at least in shape, but this animal is significantly larger. I can only see his head and shoulders from this angle, but if the rest of him is proportional, he’s the size of a brown bear.

Large, sharp teeth that look like they could easily rip into my flesh and tear me apart are only inches from my face, and saliva drips down the animal’s jaw as it snarls in my direction.

Is this Mason? It has the same green eyes, and the dark-brown hair is similar.

I heardshifterand thoughtcute, little wolf, not whatever the fuck this thing is.

My muscles burn as I continue trying to break free, but the paw buried in my back is too heavy. The animal hardly looks like it’s struggling to keep me pinned, and I wonder if it’s actually applying pressure to my back or simply resting its paw on me.

How much does this thing weigh? Easily a good five or six hundred pounds.

“That’s enough,” Kie says from somewhere behind me.

The animal releases another low growl, and my entire body breaks out in goosebumps. That’s not a noise I’d ever care to hear again, and I squeeze my eyes shut as I wait for the animal to kill me. I should’ve never snuck into this stupid, fucking forest. I should’ve never come to this world.

“Get off her,” Kie orders.

The weight is lifted off my back, and I instinctively suck in a deep breath. Even the feeling of my lungs filling doesn’t bring me relief, and I wrap my arms around my head as I lose mylast bit of composure. The tears come fast, and hard. Everything hurts, and I just want to go home.

“I’m sorry,” I sob.

My words come out in a jumbled mess, and I cringe and scramble away when a hand is laid on my shoulder.

“You shouldn’t run from a shifter,” Kie says. He’s right behind me, and I continue scrambling away when he touches my shoulder again. “They have a strong predator instinct, and when you run, they chase.”

My entire body is wracked with uncontrollable shivers, and I’m pretty sure I’m about to vomit. I try to get on my hands and knees, but my elbows give out and I fall pathetically onto my face.

“She’s bleeding.”

It’s Mason who speaks, and I swallow back the urge to scream as I turn to see if the animal is still there. It’s gone, now replaced with a very naked man.

Mason hardly seems to notice his current state of undress as he stands to the side, openly peering down at me. I don’t like it, but I’m scared if I stand up or move too quickly, he’ll turn back into the animal. I’ll do anything never to see that thing again.

Kie huffs. “I know she’s bleeding. I can smell it.”

He moves, and I turn to keep an eye on him. I’m not letting him, or Mason, out of my sight.

The pair close in on me, and Kie glances at Mason before shoving the clothes I didn’t realize he was holding into Mason’s arms. Mason continues to stare at me as he accepts the clothing, his gaze beyond haunting. I want it gone.

He bends and slides a pair of black underwear up his hips, the material tight on his skin. Every inch of his body is covered in thick muscle, and even through my tears, I can see them flexing as he moves. How did I ever think I’d be able to outrun him?

Long, thick legs lead to a tapered waist and a muscular abdomen. I avoid looking between his thighs, not wanting to send the wrong impression. I know I can’t realistically do much if they try to rape me, but I’m not going to put the idea in their heads if it’s not already there.

If they make any moves to touch me, I’m going to fight back. I have to.

“They’re going to smell her,” Mason says. “We need to get moving.”

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