Page 35 of 3 Shifters to Break a Curse

“I second that,” Rin said.

“And I third it,” Ezra added.

“Come on,” Luke said. “Out with the truth.”

I briefly glanced at all three of them. If I told them what was actually going on, they would probably rush into danger for my sake, and I absolutely refused to allow them to do that. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if they were seriously hurt or killed.

This was my problem. And I should have known better than to involve complete strangers. I had to figure this out on my own. I should have done as much from the beginning. But I wasn’t thinking as clearly as I was now, and the only thing that was going through my mind was leaving before any of them got hurt.

“Go sit down on the couch,” Luke said. “Ezra can make you some tea. Then we will sit and talk about this and come up with a way to keep you safe without rushing out there and putting your life at risk.”

They weren’t understanding what I was trying to do. I wanted to tell them I wasn’t worried about myself. But saying so would have gotten too close to the truth.

“I can’t,” I said. “I made a promise I wouldn’t be any trouble. And I believe trouble is coming. No matter what shape or form it takes. Why can’t you guys understand I refuse to put you in harm’s way?”

Rin chuckled. Luke smirked. I didn’t even want to see Ezra’s reaction.

“I appreciate your concern, but we are a lot more capable than whatever you’re afraid of,” Luke said.

“You should give us more credit,” Rin said. “We are bear shifters, after all.”

“Yeah,” Ezra added. “We’re hardly pushovers.”

“I know that you are all shifters,” I said. “I figured as much about you when we first met. But you need to understand your animals aren’t going to be enough for what’s coming. Just please, please, I’m begging you, let me go.”

“And you’ve watched me and Luke shift,” Rin said. “Not too long ago.”

“So?” I asked. “It won’t matter. Please. I need to leave.”

“Don’t you think you are overreacting just a bit?” Rin asked.

I scoffed at him. “No. I don’t. If you guys could feel it, you would understand.”

“Perhaps if you explain it,” Ezra said. “We would be closer to understanding than you think.”

My breaths started to come shorter. “I… I can’t. I have to go.”

“Don’t you dare move, Luke,” Rin said. “She’s not telling us everything.”

I sighed as tears started to sting my eyes. It appeared nothing would ever be enough. Not when Jared was involved. But making these men realize they were out of their element was the biggest struggle yet. Worse than trying to convince them to let me stay with them for just a few days.

“Still, you should stay and get more rest,” Luke added.

I shook my head. My voice cracked as I said, “No. The best thing for everyone involved is to let me leave.”

“Nope,” Luke said, crossing his arms over his chest and shaking his head. He resituated his feet in front of the door, planting them onto the floor about shoulder-width apart.

This was hopeless. They were bound and determined to make me stay.

“Second,” Ezra said. “You still have healing to do.”

Rin sighed. “As much as I despise the fact that you showed up in the way you did, I can’t stand the idea of any harm coming to you. And don’t let my words confuse you. I still believe what I said before. But they have a point, my brothers do. You need to heal. Then you can mosey your round little heinie out the front door and go on about your life.”

“But we refuse to let you leave until then,” Luke said firmly and pointed toward the couch.

I didn’t have time to stand around and argue about staying or not. But they didn’t seem like they were going to let me leave regardless of what I said. I really didn’t want to see them get hurt because of me, but they insist I stay and trust in them.

How do I even start to trust them when everyone I’ve ever trusted always wound up hurting me in the end?

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