Page 23 of 3 Shifters to Break a Curse

Besides, the shadows filling her eyes said much more than words could. I understood that much.

But if my brothers and I was going to help her, she had to find some way to open up to me. She had to figure out a way to share the things she tried so desperately to keep hidden. She needed to let me in. But I also understood what I asked for was a lot easier said than done. Her trauma was so fresh, and she probably felt her fight wasn’t over yet.

I took a deep breath and smiled softly. “I can tell by the way you hold yourself, what you had been through was something you would rather not relive for the rest of your life, but I want you to understand you are safe here. Nothing is going to hurt you while you are in my home. I promise you that.”

She nodded, lips stretching into a soft smile, though I saw it was half-hearted. She leaned a little closer. “I appreciate what you are trying to do, but there are some nightmares that should never be told.”

“Why not?” I asked. “Maybe talking about them takes away their power.”

She shrugged. Tears filled her eyes. “Maybe. Though I want nothing more than to believe that is the case, I can’t. Because talking about what happened is too hard. Too painful.”

“Do you think what you would say would make me look at you differently?” I asked.

She sighed. “I have no idea. Maybe. Isn’t that how it always happens?”

“Why does my opinion matter to you so much?” I asked.

She stiffened and stared out at the frosty grass. She briefly met my gaze and slouched back against the railing of the stairs as though she had deflated. “I am not sure. I guess I’m so used to performing for acceptance that it’s become a habit.”

I shook my head as anger roiled through my veins. It took me several seconds to shake off my emotional reaction to say, “Hey, I get it. You don’t owe me any explanations. But I promise you, if you trust me enough to listen to your story, I can handle whatever it is you have to say.”

“Really?” she asked.

“Yes. Besides, I only want to know because it will help us protect you and it will also ease the burden on your shoulders. Consider this a judgement-free zone.”

She smiled a little wider, though the tears still filled her eyes. “Yeah? Are you sure?”

I nodded. “I’m positive. I wouldn’t lie to you about something like this.”

“Thanks, hearing that is actually refreshing,” she said, but her voice was still a little distant.

“You’re welcome. Now, about Jared…” I started. “When you’re ready, of course.”

“Where do you want me to start?” she asked. “There is a lot to cover and narrowing down everything involving him is incredibly difficult to do.”

“I usually find the beginning is the best, personally,” I said. “But if you want to start in the middle or at the end, you can. This is your story, not mine. You tell it however you need to.”

“I don’t exactly recall how everything started,” she said, she stared out over the grass, eyes becoming unfocused. “I just know that when things between us went south, it went fast.”

I nodded. “Go on…”

“Well, we met during my girls’ night out with Savannah, she’s my best friend,” she said. “He offered to buy me a drink while I was ordering around for the both of us. He was so charming and personable and sweet, and everything else I was looking for in a romantic partner.”

“Sounds like he would have to be if he won over a woman like you,” I said then sucked in a breath and held it.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“A woman such as yourself should have exceptionally high standards,” I said. “Ones who force men like me to our knees, begging to have you settle your eyes on us for the briefest of moments. A woman like you would have to have someone who matches you. A man worthy of your time and devotion.”

“Oh. That…” She smiled a little warmer. “That was not at all what I thought you were going to say.”

I chuckled. “I’m normally much more eloquent than this. But I’m glad you got the point.”

She hid her face a little and nodded. “Yeah. I got the point.”

“So, you met at a bar, and you guys hit it off?” I asked.

She nodded. “The whole situation was too good to be true, but I absorbed every second I could. The moment was one of those times I didn’t want to look at too closely because I didn’t want the bubble to burst.”

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