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8
“You need some rest,” Kyle said as he started walking. “First shift takes a lot out of you. I’ll show you where they set us up.”
“Technically, it won’t be my first shift,” I admitted.
Kyle’s brow furrowed. “Alec mentioned that the curse wasn’t an issue anymore but I didn’t know you’d shifted.”
“Well, since I’ve decided to trust you and all, I guess you should know.” I matched his pace and walked alongside him, hoping his sense of direction was better than mine. “After you and your friends threw me in that cave to die, I fell through a hole and thought I did die.”
“Not my friends,” he cut in.
“Fine. Your former alpha.” It sounded both strange and comforting to say those words. The unsaid was that I was his current alpha. It was a bizarre feeling. Especially since our pack was currently at two members.
“What happened?” he pressed.
“I honestly don’t remember, but my wolf forced the shift and got me out of there. Alec found me and brought me here.” I winced when I said that part. Another reminder of the fact that Alec had saved my life.
“I had no idea that was how you got out. Or how you met Alec.” Kyle was quiet for a moment as he continued forward, toward the woods and the lake. I wasn’t sure we were going the right direction, but there was a little part of me hoping he would get lost. Then it wouldn’t just me be who sucked at keeping my bearings here.
“He said I was in my wolf form when he found me,” I added. “I do owe him for that.”
“At least you know youcanshift,” he said.
“I haven’t since but it’s good to know the curse was a sham. For a while, I wasn’t sure I could repeat it. Now, I think I’m finally ready,” I said.
“So you were never cursed?” he asked.
“Nope. Neither was my mom if you can believe it,” I said.
“That makes sense,” he said.
I stopped walking. “What do you mean?”
He stood next to me. “My mom used to talk about your mom from time to time. They were friends when they were younger. I thought maybe she was mixing people up, but I know I heard her talking about your mom shifting.”
“Maybe it was before my grandfather was cursed?” I offered.
“Maybe,” he said. “I don’t know the timeline. But why would a shifter who knew how to shift and had been shifting suddenly stop unless they were forced?”
“I don’t know. Why would she return to Wolf Creek and keep me from my dad?” I asked. “Why did she quit parenting me and decide to earn her money on her back?” I shook my head. “I had to stop asking so many questions about my mom.”
“Do you want to know who he is?” Kyle asked.
“I can’t believe Alec told you. Or that he’s known pretty much since he met me and didn’t bother to say a word.” I shook my head. “He just keeps showing me how much worse he can get, doesn’t he?”
“I don’t think he meant to hurt you,” Kyle said.
“Are you kidding me? I told him everything. He knew how bad my life was and he still handed me over to them,” I said.
“You know how silver-tongued Ace can be,” Kyle said.
“You’re seriously defending him?” My jaw dropped open. “You know, if you’re going to be on my team, it’s not going to work well if you’re taking the side of the man I can’t stand.”
“And you and I aren’t going to work well if you don’t take my advice seriously. You don’t have to accept it, but my job is to protect you. If you can’t trust my judgement enough to consider my suggestions, I can’t keep you safe. We have to listen to each other. For now, it’s just the two of us. We’re going to have to do our best to navigate the limited resources we have. And Alec is a resource.”
I scowled. “Fine. I will take your comments into consideration.”
“That’s all I’m asking,” he said.
