Page 106 of Secret Shifters Next Door

His momentum had snapped my knee fully backward. Apparently, the sound of the snap could be heard through the whole stadium. A full dislocation, a broken tibia, fibula, patella, and femur. ACL, MCL, PCL—all torn. The patella tendon had torn free of the bone. I’d hit the dirt screaming. I’d never been in so much pain in my life. When I’d glanced down, I saw the vomit-inducing sight of my leg bending the wrong way. And then I passed out.

The injury was assessed and the doctors had first said my leg would have to be amputated. They’d never seen an injury so bad. I talked them out of it, and they informed me I’d walk with a limp the rest of my life, dependent on a cane or crutches until I got too old and had to use a wheelchair. Of course, they didn’t know I was a shifter.

The injury had been the single most painful thing I’d ever experienced, but I knew I’d heal from it. In fact, today my leg was as healthy and strong as it had been when I was eighteen. The problem had been that every doctor I’d been to had given the same diagnosis. My career was over. Zero percent chance for a full recovery. If I’d come back six months later looking like a brand-new man, it would have done more than turn heads. Doctors all over the world would want to know how I’d done it.There would have been questions, possibly even exposure of the shifters. So, for the good of everyone, I’d retired and returned home.

I didn’t want April to go through that. I’d lost my dream. I couldn’t take hers away because I was being selfish. Besides, why would she take me back? Even if I changed my mind and tried now? Not only had I done what I’d done when we were young, I’d also been an asshole to her since she’s been back. I didn’t want to think about whether or not Miles was right.

Sighing, I settled at my desk and researched pressure-sensitive floor alarms. I was thinking of incorporating them in a new security package. The day rolled by in a blur of websites, emails, schematics, and phone calls. It was a nice way to keep my mind off all the crap bouncing around in there.

After lunch, my phone buzzed with a text from Rachel, one of my more casual acquaintances. She understood my desire to stay away from serious relationships and shared the same mindset. We had a lot of fun together. Most of that fun happened with the lights off, but she was also cool to talk to and hang out with. The text asked if I wanted to have dinner tonight. Normally, I’d have jumped on the invitation. But as soon as I read the text, my bear growled in irritation. It did not want me going out with anyone not named April Knight.

With the first Little League game of the season in the morning, I didn’t really want to stay out late or have Rachel spend the night. So, just dinner and catching up. It would be nice to talk to someone who had no clue what was going on in my life. Eat good food, have some drinks, flirt, then go home to bed. I texted her that I’d pick her up at seven.

After work, I went home, showered quickly and shaved. I didn’t get overly dressed up as we’d decided to go to the steakhouse downtown. For how small Lilly Valley was, the restaurant was a hidden gem. Not only did they serve beef, butthey specialized in more adventurous stuff such as elk, deer, bison. Some nights, they had specials like moose steaks or bear stew. I tended to stay away on nights they had the stew. Felt too much like cannibalism.

I was buttoning my shirt when I glimpsed movement outside my living room window. It seemed April was also going out too. I stopped dead in my tracks as my eyes locked on her. She was gorgeous. Every bit the supermodel. She’d done her hair and makeup; it was the first time I’d seen her dressed up since she’d been home. The strapless sundress she wore made me go weak at the knees.

The bear was almost desperately pawing to get out and agonizing that it couldn’t be with her. I pushed it all back inside. I had to stick with the original plan—push her away until she truly hated me, then reveal the truth. She would reject me, and the curse would be broken. We would both be free. It would work. I was sure of it, regardless what the other guys thought. I couldn’t change April into a shifter. I wouldn’t.

After April was long gone, I got in my truck and drove to Rachel’s place. Rachel was a paralegal… and gorgeous. She had an amazing body, long blonde hair and a face to die for. Usually the sight of her made me hard. Tonight, I was distraught to find that as soon as I saw her, disappointment swelled in my chest. The bear made himself heard again, and I ignored it. Even my body was betraying me. It was hard to find Rachel attractive since she wasn’t April. I cursed Emily in my mind. If she hadn’t already been dead, I’d have given her a piece of my mind.

Rachel and I talked on the way to the restaurant, but I barely noticed what she said. I was basically sleepwalking through the conversation while images of April in that dress kept creeping into my mind. It was all I could do to make Rachel think I was actually paying attention.

The parking lot of the steakhouse was packed. I’d gone ahead and booked a table, which looked like a good decision. After opening Rachel’s door, I took her by the arm and walked inside. Before we even got to the host podium, the scent hit me. Over the smells of the people, the bread, salad, even stronger than the smell of sizzling meat.

April.

I let go of Rachel’s arm and took two unconscious steps forward, scanning the tables. It took a few seconds, but I found her. She was seated right behind a large party of eight, and she was sitting with the fucking hunter who had been at the bar. Every single rational thought vanished from my mind. I stalked across the dining room.

“Steff?” Rachel called from behind me. I ignored her.

Before I circled the big table, the hunter spotted me. His eyes flicked to me, to April, and then back to me. A smirk flashed across his lips, smug and arrogant—a direct challenge. Before I could control what I was doing, I was standing over their table. Rachel, who had hurried after me, put her hand on my biceps.

I ignored the hunter and focused all my attention on April. She wasn’t looking at me, though. She was staring at my arm. Rachel’s fingers were still curled around the muscles above my elbow. The look on April’s face made my bear chuff and squeal. It was upset. The face April made was gone quickly, but it had obviously been pain or sadness at seeing another woman touching me.

Realizing what I’d done, and how weird it was, I tried to compose myself. “April, uh… can I talk to you for a minute?”

She didn’t even meet my eyes. She grabbed her glass of water, took a drink, and said, “There’s nothing to talk about.”

“Oh my god,” Rachel gasped, leaning around me to get a better look. “You’re Fiona Steele. Holy shit, I am a huge fan. Iwant you to know that I don’t believe any of those things I’ve seen in the news.”

April went stiff and a blotch of red appeared on her chest and cheeks. I could smell her pheromones pulsing out of her. She was afraid. My bear couldn’t handle that. I spun on Rachel and hissed into her ear, “Don’t say anything to anyone about her being here. Do you understand?”

Rachel flinched away from me. “Seriously, Steff? I’d never do that. Especially not with all the stalker stuff going on with her.”

I wasn’t as oblivious now as I had been when Kellan had talked to me. I’d finally ‘fessed up to Miles that April was the famous supermodel Fiona Steele. He’d given me a look like I was messing with him. He hadn’t believed me until I showed him my senior yearbook. Once he knew I wasn’t lying to him, I asked him to try to figure out why she was really back in town.

“I know exactly why,” he’d said, surprising me.

“The hell do you mean? How do you know?”

Miles had rolled his eyes, and said, “You really do need to watch more TV, bro. She’s literally been all over it the last month or so. Some ex-boyfriend went rogue, sold all her dirty little secrets and pictures. Got everyone talking about her. A bunch of stalker weirdos decided to start harassing her. I guarantee that’s why she’s here. She’s running from the cameras and stalkers. She came back home because it’s safe.”

That bombshell had come a day or two before, and even though we weren’t together anymore, and she didn’t want anything to do with me, I still felt the need to protect her.

I gave Rachel a hard look. “Good, make sure your mouth stays shut.”

Rachel’s face creased into a frown, but she didn’t say anything else. She crossed her arms and took a step away from me. I sighed, and turned back to April’s table.

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