Page 42 of 3 Shifters to Break a Curse

“How do you suppose we catch up to them?” Luke asked. “Even in our animal forms, they could be too far ahead.”

I stopped long enough to meet his gaze. “Are you new here?”

“Rin, I mean it, what’s your plan then?” Luke pressed. “It’s not like you to wing anything or run into a battle half-cocked.”

“If you got a better idea,” I growled out, “then let’s hear it. Otherwise, we should be on our way.”

“Fine,” he said. “Lead the way.”

“Good,” I said. “Let’s go.”

I started running into the woods, shifting into my grizzly as we moved. The change took place in my feet first. Stretching and peeling skin, revealing my bear’s fur. Then up to my legs, through my hips to my torso. My arms and hands came next, filling out with fur. Long, sharp claws grew from my paws. My head cracked and popped as my bear took completely over.

The shift used to hurt. But now my nerves had developed a callus. I barely feel anything except relief during my shifts now.

In a matter of seconds, I was fully shifted, and I hadn’t lost a single step in my run. And not only was I stronger in my bear form, but I was able to see things much clearer than in my human form. Colors were more vibrant. Shadows weren’t as thick. Sounds came richer to my ears, and all the smells of the forest stood out individually.

I peeked over my shoulder after some distance and noticed that Ezra was in his black bear form and Luke was in his Kodiak. I smirked to myself. As much as my bear face would let me, which probably would come off as terrifying to anyone who caught a sight of it. Still, I was ready for a fight, and I had my two brothers in arms behind me.

That was an amazing feeling.

I caught Toni’s scent and took off after it, following the road her trail led us to.

Once we got Toni back, safe and sound, I was going to give her the lecture of her lifetime. She was going to learn to never do something as stupid as giving up her life again.

I just hoped we caught up to her in time. Because something about Jared told me he wasn’t exactly the patient type.

19

TONI

Jared continued to pull me through the woods. I tripped and fell. He yanked me to my feet.

“Keep walking,” he commanded.

“I wouldn’t fall if you slowed down,” I said.

He chuckled darkly. “You would like that, wouldn’t you? Give your new boyfriends time to catch up to us.”

“No. So I don’t fall anymore,” I snapped as I almost fell again.

He turned around and backhanded me. I lost my footing. He yanked me back up and a painful pinch entered my arm. I cried out.

“I suggest unless you want some more of that, you keep your mouth shut,” he warned.

I nodded, blinking through the tears that filled my eyes. A short few minutes later we came to a dirt-covered service road. I looked around and saw my silver sedan. I gasped. Somehow, he had my car. I shook my head and pushed the shock to the side. Really, it didn’t make sense for me to be surprised by any of his actions anymore. How he got my car didn’t matter. It was here, and that made things even worse.

He walked me to the passenger’s side and shoved me into the seat before walking around and taking the driver’s side.

I put on my seatbelt and sat quietly so as to not anger him further. I wouldn’t have put it past him to put my head through the door’s window if I said the wrong thing. And since that didn’t sound like a fun way to start the trip, I leaned back and squished myself as far into the corner as I could, just to make it more difficult.

Seconds later, he peeled the tires, spraying the road and trees behind us with gravel as he sped away. So long as he was quiet, I would bide my time and take the chance I was given to form a plan for the next opportunity I would have to escape.

Probably would be never though. Still, a girl could hope.

Jared turned the radio on to blast. He thumbed against the steering wheel, and it was then I realized I had never seen him drive before. In fact, I recall believing he didn’t have a driver’s license. With him, it was just one more thing that didn’t add up to the whole package of Jared.

Another few minutes passed before I saw a sign that gave me an opportunity to escape him again. Just a few short miles ahead was the town of Gypsum. If I could get Jared to stop at the gas station where Cadence worked, I can pass her a message to the men. Hopefully, they wouldn’t be too upset with my leaving. I needed to make sure they knew I was okay, and that I had a plan.

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