Steal Her Heart (Kaid Ranch Shifters #1)(39)

She slipped her hand into his. Handsome man with his dark cowboy hat pulled low over those glowing gold eyes. That smile, that beard, the tattoos down his neck that hid the scars from the night he was Turned. A soft growl emanated from him, and something inside of her answered back. She should be scared of that sound, but he was touching her, and this man…this man was safety.

Over his shoulder, there was a window that took up the entire wall. And outside, the grizzly paced, back and forth, back and forth.

“Are you ready to see her?” the man asked.

“See who?”

“See you.”

She didn’t understand. Maris looked down at herself, but she looked the same.

“Come on, Duck,” Bryson murmured. He pulled her toward the door where a man held it open for them.

She knew him. Hunter. Hunter Kaid. Only he looked pale and drawn and wouldn’t meet her gaze. His neck was bleeding. Drip. Drip. Drip. There were red spots on the wood floor.

“Hurry,” he murmured as she passed.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

Hunter put his hand up next to his maimed neck, but the blood kept pouring through his fingers. Desperation tainting his voice, he whispered, “Hurry.”

Bryson’s hand was on the small of her back, and he guided her out onto the concrete sidewalk. But when her shoe hit the ground, it made a crunching sound. Snow. It fell all around her, and when she turned around, Hunter was gone and so was Tap’s. The wind whipped through the pine trees that surrounded her and Bryson. And on the other side of the clearing was the white-framed mirror from her childhood room. How many times had she played dress up in front of it?

You are the glue.

The words whispered through the woods, and a murder of crows lifted from the branches into the air.

Hurry.

Do you want to see her?

This won’t do. The howling.

Owoooooooooooo. She could hear it now—the howling.

Maris looked down at her shoes, but they’d changed. They were snow boots, and in front of her was a trail of footprints. They were paws, like a dog, and they led straight to the mirror.

Do you want to see her?

Who?

You.

Maris made her way through the snow, but it wasn’t herself she saw walking up to that mirror. It was a wolf with dark gray fur with white tips and wide, shocked green eyes.

And when she blew out a breath, steam came from the wolf’s muzzle.

Hurry.

She looked around, but Bryson wasn’t there anymore, and that feeling of safety was gone. Through the trees, she could see it. The bear. Pacing, ever pacing, his glowing eyes on hers. And suddenly, he stood and let off an ear-shattering roar.

Agony and worry and pain and loneliness…such deep loneliness…tainted that sound.

And she’d understood loneliness before.

So she answered him back.





Chapter Nineteen


Maris’s eyes fluttered open. Something inside of her growled to move, but she stayed still on purpose. Why? Because Bryson was here, and she wanted a few moments to watch him before he knew she was awake.

She didn’t know where she was. Didn’t recognize this place. There were herbs and empty bowls littered all over the floor. The nightstand had a dozen different pill bottles. The room was small and didn’t have any furniture other than the bed she lay on and the nightstand. Looked like a tornado had hit this place. Claw marks decorated the walls, and by the door, on the ground, Bryson sat. His knees were bent up, his arms resting there, his hands clenched. His head hung low so she could only see the top of his dark hair. His hat sat next to him. He wore nothing but a white T-shirt and wranglers, and his skin was all clawed up and crisscrossed with scars that, knowing his healing, would be nothing but a memory in a week.

Still…he’d been hurt.

There was something inside of her, something watching him right along with her. Something that made her feel strange and as if she didn’t have complete control in sitting up.

“I’m different now, aren’t I?” she murmured.

Bryson looked up fast, his eyes bleary as though he hadn’t slept in a while. “Yes.” He stood and made his way through the mess to the bed, and without a word, he climbed in behind her and pulled her against his strong chest, inhaled deeply. “You smell different. And you sound different. You’ll have different instincts, and sometimes you’ll get angry for no reason. You’ll have to give your body to the animal sometimes.”

“Will you look at me differently?” she whispered, staring at the log cabin wall in front of her.

“Yes.”

She drew her knees up to her chest and hugged the pillow closer. She wanted to cry. They’d been on such a good path before everything went to shit.

“I’ll like you more and more,” he murmured against her ear. “Do you know how few people can survive what you did? Strong woman. You’ll match me even better.”

“Even if I’m not a bear?” she squeaked out.

His chuckle settled her. “Woman, I don’t care if you’re a fuckin’ fruit bat so long as you’re still here.”

An unexpected laugh wracked her body. Then he was laughing a little louder until they were both wiping tears from their eyes from a fit of giggles.

“There is nothing funny about any of this,” she said.