Page 38 of Corbin
Then she found out even her father had betrayed her.
She shook her head, thinking of the worst decision she’d made at that point when she ran away. The human male lover she’d taken had been sexy and fun for a week, then she woke up one day and realized no one outran their emotions.
Lost and with no idea what to do, she’d hung out with him for a few more weeks until he asked her to marry him.
She’d laughed. Marry a human or anyone else for that matter?
She’d believed she had met her mate for life in high school. That had turned out to be a foolish girl’s dream. One that still punched her in the solar plexus when she thought back to the last day that she’d seen him.
Just before her human lover stormed off, she discovered he’d wanted to marry her for fame and fortune.
If he had stayed any longer, he would have been appalled to find out she intended to live frugally and save every penny she could to help desperate female shifters. Not the life of luxury he’d been expecting.
That had been her reality check.
She’d blamed men for her problems for too long. The time had come to face what she’d lost and the fallout from her foolish actions. She accepted that she had to buck up and become an adult if she wanted to be treated like one.
Losing her sole female friend gave her a purpose in life greater than being fawned over as an entertainer.
She’d had her emotions under control since then.
Then why had meeting Corbin again left her ... struggling to sort out emotions she’d tucked away in a corner of her heart? How could he still affect her after all this time?
Maybe because he was no longer a young boy.
She couldn’t get over how sexy he’d looked with that filled-out body, his dark brown hair pulled back in a ponytail, and his beard. Hot motorcyclist for a fantasy dream.
Flipping back around, she slumped next to the door. Guilt dug a hole in her chest. She had good reason to be angry with Corbin, but what were the police going to do with him once they discovered he was a shifter?
Would they call in the Shifter Criminal Investigation Service?
Please tell her that would not happen.
“Are you alright, Eirene?” Ivarson asked, his face filling the rearview mirror again. As usual, he had already slid the curtain to the side after she left the car.
“I’m fine.” She had a question for him too. “Why did you call the police?”
“Because I had no idea where you had gone after I dropped you at the dress shop. I have never invaded your privacy, but I swore to your father I would do all in my power to keep you safe. You did not hit the button that indicated you only required a ride. You sent the message to come get you quickly.”
She closed her eyes and leaned her head back. She’d screwed up. Pushing the wrong button had made Corbin appear to be stalking the local wolf shifter celebrity. She had never wanted to be a celebrity, which meant having to constantly question everyone’s motives around her.
Look what a mess she’d left him in.
She’d been angry so long she didn’t know how to function otherwise. Mistreating a person, human or shifter, had never been her. She had to get out from under Leszek’s thumb so she could rule her own life and think straight.
If Corbin was one of Beckham’s people, which he must be since he hadn’t lied, she owed him an apology. She felt lower than the sole of her shoes for overreacting.
Could things be any worse?
Ivarson cleared his throat. “I’ve had two conversations. One with Brody on the way to pick you up. He said they’ve taken Archie in for surgery, and his chance at recovery is not encouraging. Also, Mr. Moore called and was anxious over not hearing from you. He wants me to bring you to his office right away.”
Yes, the universe replied.It can get worse.
By the time Ivarson drew near Leszek’s building, Eirene had swiped the curtain in place again, removed her hat, fixed her hair into an upswept do, and freshened her makeup. Her pants had a bit of dirt which couldn’t be brushed away and her blouse sported a tear.
She might be able to hide that from Leszek if she were lucky.
Ivarson maneuvered the sedan gradually through dense traffic in the financial district of Spartanburg as he neared the building for Leszek’s office. She hated coming here and humbling herself to appease the man pulling all the strings in her life.
