Page 35 of Curvy Hostage Mate
“What can I say? I enjoy making things unnecessarily complicated and vague. It’s just part of my style.”
Will’s lip twitched upward, but for the most part, his expression remained stern, almost taciturn. “You know I’m not going to be able to give you any sort of advice if you don’t actually tell me anything. If you don’t want my input, that’s fine. But if you do want it, you’re going to have to give me a bit more information.”
I huffed. “You always were obnoxiously reasonable.”
“I try,” he retorted. “So are you going to tell me, or should we get back to hunting?”
The moment he asked, I realized that I really did want his advice. As much as I wouldn’t admit it, I felt completely out of my depth. I didn’t know how to handle Morgan. I wanted to help her, but I didn’t know how to protect her and keep her happy at the same time. If anyone might have insight into Morgan’s family, it would be Kendra’s mate.
Finally, I let out a deep breath and started talking. Once I started, I couldn’t stop. I told him as much as I could. Will listened with his normal stoic silence, nodding every so often. As I finished, he remained silent for a long moment, staring out in speculation.
Eventually, he said, “Do you know two of the first things Kendra asked for when she got to my house?”
“No.”
“A key to the house, and no locked doors. She told me the locked doors reminded her of how trapped she’d felt in theUnderside and all the time before. They made her feel restricted and confined. The key to the house made her feel like she could come and go as she pleased.” Lost in memory, he gave a small smile. “She told me the first week she was here that she was terrified of being trapped again. I promised her I would do everything in my power to make sure that never happened.”
I stared, not bothering to hide my surprise. “And you weren’t out of your mind with worry every minute? Especially with Cain still on the loose?”
“A bit. So I found other ways to keep her safe where she didn’t feel stuck or trapped.”
“Okay, but what if I can’t find any other way?” I asked. But Will was already shaking his head.
“You’re not getting it. What I’m trying to say is that Morgan’s had it even worse than Kendra. Longer confinement, and more or less tethered to that asshole without any say to the contrary. It’s hard not to blame her for being upset that it’s continuing here.”
“But—”
“Give her some leeway,” Will interrupted, giving me a stern look. “She’s been through a hell of a lot in the last months, and several years, for that matter. Kendra’s only told me bits and pieces about what she had to deal with. If Morgan had to go through the same, I wouldn’t blame her for being upset.”
I let out a huff. “I don’t know what it is about her. I just see her, and this overwhelming protective instinct comes over me. I can’t help it. I don’t want her to feel smothered, but the idea of letting her do anything remotely dangerous just sends me into an almost fugue state.”
Will cracked a grin, a knowing glint in his eyes. “That was how I felt about Kendra the moment I saw her,” he said. “You can make of that what you will.”
I went silent for a long moment, my mind churning as his words washed over me. His situation with Kendra was different. But was it? There had to be some reason I wanted to keep Morgan safe to the point of being an idiot. I had never treated another woman this way. I hadn’t felt this way about anyone before. I felt drawn to her, even now when I was angry. I wanted her safe. More than that, I wanted to be with her for the rest of my life, always at her side. And I could only think of one reason that might be.
I loved Morgan.
The moment I thought it, I realized it was true. I loved how sweet she was, that secret fire that she held back from everyone, her smile. I loved how determined she was, and how she always wanted to help, no matter what.
Relief washed over me as the understanding slammed into me like a speeding truck.
I loved Morgan.
And I had just left her locked in a cabin, treating her the way I had promised I never would again.
Fuck. I needed to talk to her. I clambered to my feet.
“I’ve got to get going,” I said. Glancing over at Will, I saw an amused, knowing smirk as he looked back at me.
“Thought you might.” He let out a puff of air, watching as the white fog that came from his mouth swirled and dissipated around him. “Good luck.”
I gave a short nod, then wasted no time shifting and racing back to the cabin. Now that I had finally realized how I feltabout Morgan, everything felt clearer. Things made sense again. A weight that had been pushing down on my shoulders for days now had lifted. I loved Morgan. I loved our baby. I didn’t want whatever this was to end when Cain died. And I wanted to tell her how much I loved her.
And Will was right. I couldn’t keep her locked up like a trophy. I wasn’t Cain, and she wasn’t an object. We could sit down and talk, figure out a plan that worked for both of us. We could work this out together.
All of that hope and excitement died as I got near the safehouse. I knew something was wrong the second I saw it. Something about it felt off. It felt cold, empty. The lights were off, and the area felt devoid of life.
I shifted back to human, the wolf inside me pacing anxiously, letting out agitated growls. He liked this even less than I did.
