Page 65 of 3 Shifters to Break a Curse

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EZRA

We sat gathered in the living room. All of us waited for the signal. Holding our breaths for the fight and for the spell to begin. Silence filled the room as we waited. After all what was left to be said?

But there was one thing I found incredibly hard to ignore, and that was the persistent chill on the air. Despite the fire that was burning, forcing heat into our home, it did little to push away the chill. It was almost as if it was unnatural. A foreboding sensation.

I wondered if anyone else felt it, but I didn’t want to be the one who disturbed the silence.

All morning long, we sat in the living room… doing absolutely nothing but waiting. Then the morning bled into the afternoon, and I was struggling to stay awake. It was during one of the times when my head was bobbing on my shoulders, as I struggled to keep myself alert, and failing miserably, that Toni sat forward, sucking in a breath.

That did it. Alertness coated my senses as the three of us sat forward, looking at her waiting.

“He’s on his way,” she said, settling her eyes on each of us.

Luke nodded and stood. “Then we should get ready.”

“How long do we have?” Rin asked.

“Enough time for us to get set up, I would think. He’s moving fast. His intentions are clear, too,” she said. “So, keep your eyes open when you are out there. Jared shouldn’t be underestimated.”

Rin snorted. “Nor should we.”

“I’m serious,” Toni added. “You don’t know him as well as I do. He’s cunning and has the element of surprise on his side still.”

“We’ll be fine,” I said and stood from the couch. “Let’s get you set up and we’ll do our part. This whole thing will be over soon enough.”

She smiled and stood from the couch. “Please be careful. I don’t know what I would do with myself if any of you got hurt.”

“We will be fine,” Rin said. “You focus on the spell and let us handle the rest.”

She looked over my shoulder at Luke. I followed her gaze in time to find him nodding with a soft smile stretching his lips.

She let out a deep breath. “One last hug and then we can go.”

Rin hugged her first. He whispered something in her ear that made her squeeze her eyes closed and smile in a way I hadn’t seen before. I was instantly struck with a jealous bug until they broke from their embrace, and she approached me with her beautiful eyes holding mine.

“Please be careful,” she whispered and wrapped her arms around me.

“I promise to try,” I said. “My main focus is helping you.”

She nodded, and I breathed in the scent of her hair. Loving how it smelled. Everything about her was bright, warm, and sweet. And all too soon, she pulled from me, and we shared one final, parting glance.

I looked up as she joined Luke and noticed Rin had already gone outside. I walked toward the door in time for him to finish his shift. He pranced to his spot in the woods to start his watch.

“Help me carry this stuff out?” Toni asked, pulling my attention.

I turned to face her with an armful of her supplies and the herbs I had helped her collect.

“Absolutely,” I said and took the armful from her. She gathered what little was left to collect and met me outside about fifty feet in front of the cabin.

“You can just set everything down right there,” she said. “I have it from here.”

“Are you sure?” I asked, hoping for another few extra minutes with her.

She smiled. “I’m positive. Now, go.”

I nodded and then turned around and headed to my spot in the woods. Once I was there, I raked my gaze around everything. Then I shifted, sat on my haunches, and strained to hear for the slightest sound that didn’t belong. I also sniffed the air for Jared. So far, things were as they had always been.

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