Page 20 of Forever Mine

Oscar looked so torn. He didn't understand what was happening to him emotionally. I had never told him about my heritage. Being half human, I had assumed it was impossible for him to have a spirit animal, but the way he was acting with Liam, I again questioned that theory.

“Mommy doesn't like to be touched,” Oscar said. “She only likes it when I hug her, so stop touching her.”

Liam put his hands up in surrender and I tried not to blush. “Okay, I can try to do that. Think you can stop growling at me long enough to enjoy our trip today?”

His eyes got huge with a mix of uncertainty and excitement. “You mean we're still going? But I thought that after yesterday you wouldn't want us to go with you.”

“Not want you? Never. It was just a little misunderstanding. I didn't mean to make Mommy cry.”

Oscar nodded like he accepted that as an apology. “It makes me really angry when people make Mommy cry.”

“Lesson learned,” Liam said good-naturedly, and my heart softened a little more for the only man I had ever cared about. “I can give you some pointers on how to control that growl, too,” he whispered softly to Oscar, who nodded like that was a very good idea.

I needed to tell Liam that Oscar didn't know about our kind. I needed to tell him so much more than that, but I didn't know how or even where to begin. I had gotten up the nerve to start yesterday and it ended in disaster. I was hesitant to try it again.

Oscar got his food and went to sit at a table. I turned to Liam and whispered, “We need to talk.”

He nodded towards a small veranda just off the breakfast area. I nodded before heading back to Oscar. I watched from across the room as Liam got his own breakfast and headed outside. When Annie and Jacob joined us, I excused myself and headed for Liam.

My breath hitched at the sight of him. He was perched on a concrete wall looking out away from the hotel. The morning sun was shining down on him and he looked more handsome and carefree than I ever remembered. Some part of me that had been dormant for a long time, or perhaps never even truly existed, began to awaken. Everything about him called to me.

“Hey!” he said, waving me over to join him, and I did.

“Hey.” I didn't know how to begin but knew I had to be fast. “Look, we don't have much time before they come looking for me. You need to know that Oscar has been raised with humans. He doesn't know what you are.”

I was careful not to say what I am or what he is, because I didn't believe in my heart either of us had spirit animals. I knew I couldn't shift, because I had never changed, not in all my twenty-four years.

I saw Liam struggle to accept that. His forward crinkled in frustration. “But. . .”

I shook my head. “No buts, he's half human. He doesn't carry an animal spirit in him.”

“You're sure? Because even in the little time I've known him, he has all the signs, Maddie, half human or not.”

I shook my head no, wishing in part that what he was saying was true. “He's not.”

“But how does he not know about you? I mean, I get you live among humans and must have gotten good about hiding it, but there's no way you can go all that long without shifting. I've been in this city right about twenty-four hours and my skin's already itching to change and run. How are you controlling it so well?”

My heart rate started to pick up and the palms of my hands began to sweat. Darkness started clouding my peripheral vision and I tried to take deep, calming breaths, but I could feel the start of another panic attack coming on. I needed to get away. I was withdrawing into myself quickly. I didn't want to have an attack in front of him. I didn't want him to know how weak I truly was. Thinking about it only made the feeling that more intense. I was losing myself to the fear and darkness once again.

“Hey, hey, hey. It's okay.”

I heard him, though it sounded like he was a great distance away.

“Madelyn, I need you to breathe. In and out, just listen to my voice. In and out. You're okay. I'm here. Everything is going to be just fine. In and out. Just breathe for me, sweetheart.”

The moment he pulled me into his arms, everything stilled. I gasped out a big breath and my entire body went limp, falling into him. I breathed in his scent and felt a sudden calm overcome me that made my whole body shudder.

“You're okay. I got you,” I heard him whisper before his lips brushed across my forehead. It felt like an electric shock hit my body, causing me to jump from his arms. “Whoa, it's okay. Maddie, look at me.”

I needed a minute to compose myself. I was no longer feeling pulled under by the anxiety. This was an entirely new sensation shooting through my body that I was equally unprepared for.

“I'm okay,” I managed to whisper. “Just give me a minute.”

I had never come out of an attack feeling quite so well. My body was warm and tingly all over, kind of nice. Normally I feel like a truck ran over me then backed up and did it again.

“How did you do that?” I asked him.

He shrugged. “One of my frat brothers in college served a few years in the Army and had some pretty deep battle scars. He'd get similar attacks from PTSD. We all learned to deal with them. Stay calm, keep talking, the faster you could pull him out the easier it was on him. I'd spend hours just sitting with him, waiting for the worst to pass. I promise, I've seen way worse than this.” He hesitated as he looked me over. “You okay now?”

---