Page 16 of Two Wrong Turns

He was married. That one would be a problem, though since no one else appeared to have ever been here for an extended stay, this one felt less like a possibility.

When he finally did speak, I felt a sense of relief that I’d finally get some kind of answer. The unknown was far worse than whatever he’d say.

“The people in this town are different,” he began. “We’ve all been here for a very long time. Most of us don’t leave, and those that do tend to come back to stay.”

I smiled encouragingly. “Small towns have a way of doing that for people. Your town wouldn’t be the first.”

“But we also don’t have a lot of people come here either. There’s a reason for that. It’s because they can’t.”

Squeezing his hands, I waited for him to look up at me before I said, “I’m here though. So whatever you think makes this place so bad isn’t the case. I really like it here so far from what I’ve seen.”

Nolan winced. “Sorry about keeping you here. I’m just… unsettled with the thought of you being out without me. I was planning to ask you out on a date later this week. We just had to get through this first.”

“Then let’s get through it. I want that date! Rip the Band-Aid off. Just say what you think I’ll freak out about so I can show you I won’t and then we can make out.”

His booming laugh filled the space around us. I smiled, happy my plan to loosen the tension in his shoulders worked.

“Alright. Band-Aid rip time,” he mumbled. “The truth is, I’m a shifter. A bear shifter, to be specific.”

I scrunched my face. “A bear shifter? Like romance book style shifter? Full moon stuff?”

“No, not full moon. That’s a misconception about wolves. None of us are beholden to the moon for our shifts, though we are all much more powerful and restless during them. It’s not safe for a human.”

Okayyyy.

Maybe this town was full of whackadoodles after all. Nolan clearly believed he was a shifter. That much was clear in how calm and rational he delivered the information.

On the other hand, I was doubting everything that had gone down between us. Why in the world did I end up fooling around with a man who believed himself to be part animal? What were the chances?

“I can tell you don’t believe me,” he said when I didn’t say anything else. “This is better than you being terrified, but it won’t do us any good for you to think I’m crazy.”

My eyes widened. “Can you read minds too?”

“No, we can’t. I knew because your face gave it away. You look ready to bolt out the door.”

“I couldn’t. All my stuff is here. I wouldn’t leave without my work. Plus, I like this place. And I like you. I’m just not sure what to make of this.”

He sighed, his gaze moving to the back porch. I watched him go over whatever thoughts he was battling, then he tilted his head.

“What if I were to show you? Then would you believe?”

“Well, yeah. But I’m not waiting for you to get your magic act together. No sleight of hand or magic glitter shit will make me see a bear where a man should be.”

Nolan shook his head at me. “You’re ridiculous. Come on then. Let’s get this part over with.”

I followed him outside, excitement and confusion warring inside me. Did I want this to be real? Maybe.

A small part of me loved the idea of him being a shifter. It would open up a whole new world of knowledge for me. Plus, there was that nagging feeling about the bear I couldn’t stop painting. My subconscious clearly had a thing for the animal. If the man I wanted to rail me into next week happened to be that particular creature, then this would be a win/win.

But also, it could be terrible. What if I’m going to become a human sacrifice or something? Will they hang me up like humans hang up bear skin rugs?

I blanched at the thought. I would not look good on anyone’s wall.

“Whatever you’re thinking is wrong. I’m not going to hurt you,” Nolan said as we stepped outside. “Have a seat in your chair. I’ll go down to the yard to shift. Even when I’m in my other form, I’ll still know it’s you. There is no danger. You’re safe.”

His need to reassure me eased some of the tension I had. It wasn’t all gone though.

I eased into the chair, then put my hands in my lap as I waited for what was to come. Nolan moved into the yard like he said he would. Then he began taking off his clothes.

---