Page 42 of Luna Cursed

Layla got up and went to the door like she could sense the moment Arne and Tor returned. Layla checked Arne all over, and he gave her a reassuring smile that he was okay. That they both were.

Ciara's stomach exploded into butterflies as Tor filled the doorway. She had never had that reaction before. Tor had never made her nervous. Now she felt like she was in trouble and didn't like it.

Lachlan kissed Ciara on the forehead. "Good luck, sis. I'll give you a call tomorrow."

"You might see me sooner than that," she murmured.

Tor wasn't smiling; he looked like he was about to go to war. Everyone vanished, leaving her behind to deal with a pissed-off wolf.

"I can smell your blood," he said in a low growl.

"It was a scratch," Ciara replied, lifting her arm. "How much shit am I in?"

"With the wolves? None." Tor stalked into the kitchen, a bag of food in his hands that he placed in the fridge.

"Don't lie to me, Tor. Petra was one of theirs, and I'm the Wolf Slayer," Ciara said. She wanted him to give her the bad news and not leave her stewing over it.

"Petra called aholmgang. She got what she deserved. The elders had her place searched, and she was definitely reporting back to Varg. Her family is horrified and dishonored."

"Shit." Ciara ran a hand through her hair. "Is she the only one?"

"They will look for more. At least they believe us now."

"It shouldn't have come to that. She was a raging bitch, but I didn't want to kill her."

Tor let out a sigh. "I know. Everyone saw you try and get her to yield. She shifted in the fight, and that was forbidden, which would have meant exile for her at the least if she had killed you. She dishonored herself from start to finish. The wolves don't blame you for any of it."

"Then why do you look so mad?" she demanded, unable to take it anymore. "What happened to make you so angry at me?"

"I'm not angry at you, Ciara. I'm trying to find a way to talk to you about us."

Ciara swallowed hard. "Us? What about us?"

The muscles in Tor's jaw feathered. "In the eyes of the wolves, you killed your rival and shamed them all as cowards. You swore blood vengeance on anyone who comes near me. You claimed me in front of the wolves, and we already have a bond."

"They think we are mating?" she squeaked, finally catching up to what they had all been trying to tell her.

Tor nodded. His expression shifted, and she saw the rawness underneath. "And they aren't the only ones, Ciara."

"No. No. No. You are only thinking that because you think I'm going to turn into a wolf, and I'm the only one who's ever stood up for you."

"Ciara, please just listen."

"No." Ciara was on her feet faster than if someone stuck her with a hot poker. Her day had been too fucked up as it was. She was not dealing with the idea of mating on top of it. She stuffed her feet into her boots and headed for the door.

"You can't run from this. If you do, I'll hunt you down," Tor said, his voice all growl and threat. "I'm not letting you go. Maybe before I could have, but not anymore."

Ciara stared him down. "I'm not afraid of you."

"You should be." Tor moved slowly around the counter, his eyes glowing. He stopped just out of her reach. He knew she would attack if he corned her like he had at the hotel.

His smile went feral. "I knew you were mine since Svartalfheim, and for such a great hunter, you had no idea that you were being stalked all this time."

A flicker of excitement danced inside of Ciara, all her instincts letting her know she was trapped with a predator.

Tor nodded at the open door. "You want to run from us? From me? Do you know what will happen when I catch you? The same thing as last time you tried to push my patience. Do it. Run. I fuckingdareyou."

Ciara's breath caught, her heart pounding too hard in her chest. Her body tensed, and the strength he'd given her through the bond coiled hot inside her. She loosed her breath and bolted.

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