Page 236 of Secret Shifters Next Door

“Celina?” Miles yelled from behind the door. He sounded panicked and afraid.

I went to the door as fast as I could and opened it. Miles stood there, eyes wide in fear. He stepped in, released a sigh of relief, and immediately started running his hands over my body––not in the let’s-get-naughty kind of way, more in a shit-are-you-hurt kind of way.

“Are you all right?” he murmured as he checked me over.

“Uh…yeah. Why?”

“Why?” His head jerked up to look into my eyes. He stared at me like I was crazy.

“Your bodyguard called me and said he hadn’t seen you come out of your apartment for a whole day. He called me last night. I let it go, thinking you were just laying low. Then I tried calling and texting you this morning, and no answer. I was afraid something had happened to you in here. I freaked and drove straight here from Denver.”

I blinked at him, a little shocked. Before I could say anything, he cupped my face. “Have you been getting enough sleep? You’ve got dark circles under your eyes.” His look of concern was both nice and heartbreaking. I shook my head. He sighed and pulled me into a hug. I was stiff at first, but soon, sank into his arms, letting my body mold into his.

“This is my fault. It’s too much. I never should have gotten you involved with this.”

Before I could say anything, I shoved him back. Not hard, but enough to break our embrace. The hurt I felt at his words must have shown on my face. From the way he spoke, it sounded like I was some kind of breakable thing. A fragile Christmas bauble on a tree that could be knocked off from the slightest breeze and end up shattering on the floor.

“Miles, I’m not weak. I can handle this. In fact, I was handling it. I unplugged and spent the day gathering myself.”

“I didn’t call you weak,” he said, holding up his hands in defense. “It’s only that if shutting yourself away for two daysstraight and unplugging from the world doesn’t necessarily scream overwhelmed, I don’t know what does.”

I usually kept my anger hidden. Most of the time, I was uncomfortable in arguments and any situation where I had to defend myself. In an ironic twist of fate, though, my relationship with Miles had helped me grow strong enough to say exactly what I felt.

“It’s okay to be overwhelmed, Miles. Christ, who the fuck wouldn’t be?”

“Easy now. I’m not trying to fight. I only want you safe. I think it might be best if I try to keep you further away from all this.”

“I’m a part of this,” I shouted, surprised by the strength of my voice. “And I deserve to be with you. The curse pulled me in, too. I’m eventually going to be a shifter, so I should shoulder some of the risks.”

“Absolutely not.”

My face was heating, and not with the usual schoolgirl blush I suffered from. No, this was the heat of anger. “Now wait one second. Are you giving ultimatums?”

Without hesitation, Miles said, “Yes. If it means keeping you safe.”

“Have you thought for even a second, that maybe I want you to stay safe as much as you want me to be safe? You’re the one being actively hunted.” The words started pouring out of my mouth, and I couldn’t stop them once I got going. “You’re the first person to ever care for me. Do you have any idea what would happen to me if something happened to you? You’ve focused so much on me that you haven’t even thought about your-fucking-self. I need to know you’re safe. If I wake up one day all alone again, I’ll—” The words finally stopped. I didn’t know what else to say. I’d laid all my fears out for him.

Miles simply stared at me. I couldn’t describe the look on his face. It was like a combination of horror, realization, sadness, and shame. He was quiet for a long time before he spoke again.

“I’m sorry. You’re right. I’ve been selfish. I need to make sure you’re safe, but I have to care about myself, too. From now on, I promise to take your fears into account.”

I didn’t even realize I was crying until he stepped forward and wiped at my cheeks, smearing away the wetness. I’d never been so open with anyone, but at that moment, I couldn’t help it.

“It’s scary. All of this. And I can’t stop thinking that it’s about to get worse. There’s another shoe about to drop. This impending doom?—”

Before I could go on, he pulled me into his arms, silencing me. “I won’t let anything happen,” Miles whispered.

I dug my hands into his back, holding him tight, my tears soaking his chest. “I can’t lose you. You mean too much to me. You’ve changed my life. Made me feel wanted for the first time.” A spike of shame hit me when I saw the smear of snot I’d left on his shirt. I groaned and wiped at my face with a sleeve.

Miles pulled away and lifted my head, cupping my chin and looking into my eyes. “I feel the same about you. It’s why I’m doing everything I can to make sure Felicity never has a chance to get near you again. I will move heaven and earth to protect you. I would tear down the pillars of the world and rip apart the fabric of space to save you. Whatever it takes.”

I grinned and sniffled. “Sounds a little overly dramatic. Can I use that line in one of my books?”

“Sure.” He chuckled as he squeezed me closer. “I’ll do everything I can to get this over with as soon as possible. Then we can relax and start our lives together.”

He kissed me then, long and lingering. Suddenly, with no warning, he scooped me up, kicking the door closed behind him. Miles walked us straight back to my bedroom.

“Uh…are we gonna do that thing?” I asked.

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