Page 55 of His Curse

"Kentworth is convinced it's a disease, that being a shifter or anything else that isn't quite human is a deformity, an abnormality in the genes and he's dedicated the last fifty or so years to trying to find a cure."

"Fucking sick,” Ronny spits. "Sick motherfucker."

"Yeah, he really is,” I sigh. "And not just because he's trying tocure usof our perceived defects, but he's also trying to use certain traits to make a kind ofsuper soldier, like a steroid that gives humans specific traits that he finds suitable to pass on. Strength, speed, healing factor."

"He wants to make fucking X-Men or some shit?" Ronny grunts.

And since I don't really know what he's talking about, I just shrug. "Eventually Kentworth wants to create a drug that he can sell to the government, one he can get them to use for the military with promises to make soldiers borderline unstoppable."

Zan pushes a hand through his blonde and pink mohawk, and aset of fucking hornsI didn’t seem to notice before appear, but I don’t get the time to ask where the hell they came from as he asks, "Something that is impossible to do and has most likely been killing humans along with creatures like us, yes?"

“Absolutely. The doc doesn't discriminate in his research, and even has a deal with a few surrounding prisons and homes for the criminally insane in order to get human specimens, as well as guards."

"Oh my god.” Frankie leans closer. "He has convicts working for him?"

"The worst kind, too."

We sit in silence while that shit sinks in, and just when I'm convinced they're going to start asking questions about what I went through directly, or the kind of shit that takes place on the daily, the front door opens and my entire body lights up like a fucking Christmas tree. "Sorry I'm late."

Oh, sweet gods in The After.

That voice.

That voice full of gravel and velvet, the voice I hear on repeat every time I close my eyes, and they’re immediately drawn to the source before I can think better of it.

Colton.

My Colton—my mate—is standing by the door.

He closes it quietly before he sets down a few bags, kicks off his boots, and turns to face us.

My breath catches in my throat, my heart skips about thirty beats before it stops completely, and my wolf begins to pace, the mere presence of our mate jolting her from sleep.

Gods, he isbeautiful.

So fucking beautiful and still as sexy as I remember, maybe even more so with his much shorter hair and thick stubble on his cheeks.

His whiskey eyes connect with mine and for a second the world stands still, stops rotating, ceases to spin, and I can feel our bond stronger than I did the first time we met. Then I feel about a hundred different emotions run through that bond before Colton drops his gaze and clears his throat.

"I had a few errands to run and..." He rubs the back of his neck the same way Ronny did and if I wasn't two seconds away from my heart breaking all over again, I'd laugh at how cute their similarities are. "I just got caught up."

"You're here now, wolf. That's all that matters,” Zan says as he leans around me to look at him. "Come, sit. We have many burgers and chocolate shakes.” Then the demon grins. "Shit was just starting to get good."

Colton's eyes flick to mine before averting again, then he shakes his head. “Not hungry.” He takes a few steps and leans against the refrigerator—as far away from me as he can get without leaving the room.

Yep, there goes my heart, breaking into a million pieces for the second time in my life as my fears are confirmed.

Colton… my mate doesn't want me, can't even stomach the sight of me and I'm going to have to live with it. Which means as soon as these kind people help me save my friends, I will definitely be moving on from Ashland, Oregon.

Maybe Bella or Chumani will put up with me a little longer once they're out.

Or maybe they'll be so thrilled they don't have to deal with me anymore, they'll leave me too.

Oh well. I never minded the idea of going Rogue before, so I might as well get used to it.

Being alone never bothered me and I won't let it start now.

"You're seriously just going to stand there?" Cora all but growls. "Are you fucking kidding me right now? After everything—”

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