Page 231 of Knot What I Expected

Firm.

Enough to remind her who I am. Enough to remind myself too.

Then I lean back and settle her against me, one arm wrapped around her waist, the other hand resting on her thigh.

“Okay.”

She swallows.

“Okay?”

“I’m here. I’m listening. Talk to me, Gabby.”

Her fingers find mine.

For a second, she just plays with them. Then she takes a breath.

“I... I don’t know who my parents are.”

My hand stills.

“They abandoned me when I was an infant. The local Wake took me in.”

“Wake?”

“It’s what you call a group of certain Avian Shifters. In this case, Bearded Vultures.”

I blink.

“Shit. I didn’t even know those existed.”

“They prefer it that way.” She shrugs, but the movement is too stiff to be casual. “They keep to themselves. A lot of supernatural communities don’t know much about them.”

“Okay.”

I keep my voice level. She glances at me like she expected something more.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“Honey Girl, you tell me you were raised by Vulture Shifters, I'm gonna have questions, but they can wait. Keep going.”

Something in her expression softens. Then disappears.

“The thing is, in their society, females are few and far between.”

I don't like where this is going. Monster doesn't either.

“They're treated like prizes. Trophies. And some...”

Her voice catches.

Every muscle in my body locks. Monster too.

And I hate that she’s upset. But I know she has to get through this, so I wait. Gabby tries again.

“Some are used for breeders.”