Page 36 of 3 Shifters to Break a Curse

“No,” I said, standing my ground. “I made a promise. And I need to keep that promise. You have to let me go!”

Luke pinched the bridge of his nose. “So, what you’re saying is, we need to force you to the couch?”

I sucked in a breath and stared at him confused. His words terrified me. My heartbeats thumped through my chest. My blood turned cold.

Luke’s eyes widened and his mouth parted into the shape of an O as he took in my expression. He uncrossed his arms and held his hands up. “Shit. No, no, no. I didn’t mean it like that. I only meant I would carry you to the couch and keep you there if it meant keeping you safe.”

I let out the breath I was holding. His explanation was a much better image than the one I had conjured with his words. My heartbeats slowed a little and my blood warmed up slightly.

“I’m sorry,” he added and rubbed his face with a hand. “Poor choice of words.”

“Please, I don’t have a lot of time,” I said. Tears started to stream down my cheeks. “I need to go before it’s too late.”

Luke nodded. “I think I understand what’s going on here.”

“You do?” I asked confused.

He nodded. “Yes, I do.”

That wasn’t a great sign. That meant I had let too much of the truth out. I truly did suck at lying. But now the men were going to throw themselves at danger. They might be capable shifters, but they didn’t know what it was like to feel the strength behind Jared’s hands.

Things had just gone from bad to worse.

“It’s Jared.” Luke’s eyes held mine and I didn’t want to admit what he said was the truth. But somehow, he was already aware of what I was trying to keep from him. He saw right through me.

Damn me.

16

EZRA

I stepped closer to Toni and then shifted my weight to face Luke and Rin. “Maybe you guys should go check the perimeter. Make sure everything checks out. I’ll handle everything here.”

Luke pressed his lips firmly together. His eyes barely met mine, and I understood he considered the chances of me having sex with her again. I huffed a sigh and shook my head. My silent expression to let him know that was the furthest thing from my mind.

To be perfectly honest, I was more concerned with keeping Toni safe and in the cabin more than having the chance to touch her again.

“Rin, let’s go,” Luke said, apparently accepting my wordless promise.

“Not this again,” Rin muttered.

I glared at him. “It’s for Toni.”

He tossed his hands into the air. “Fine. Fine.”

“Thank you,” I said.

Before he walked out the door, he turned around and faced me. “You are doing it next time.”

“Sure,” I said. “Fair enough.”

Once he and Luke were out the door, I turned to face Toni and wrapped my arm around her shoulders, bringing her close. I breathed in her scent as she rested her head on my shoulder. Several seconds later, I said, “Come on. Let’s go sit on the couch and talk about this.”

She resisted a little, staring at the door as though she was considering walking through it anyway, but after a few more seconds, she gave in, and I guided her to the couch. She set her things on the floor before taking a seat. I took the spot next to her and draped my arm over the back of the couch.

Toni barely met my gaze. She sat with her head lowered. Her hands were folded in her lap. Her eyes focused on a spot in front of her, and her lips were turned down at the corners. With very little further observation, I realized that she was ashamed of something. I wasn’t sure what she could possibly be ashamed of, and I hated seeing her so tormented. So, I covered her hands with mine, and she finally locked eyes with me.

“What’s going on?” I asked. “You know you can tell me anything.”

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