Page 57 of Shifters' Fated Summer
Elowen shouted encouragement and I kept going. Clinging to the rope was the easy part, and I was able to grab the platform on the other side and start climbing down.
My feet hit the ground, and I turned around, triumphant.
“Not bad,” Arched said, his arms crossed over his broad chest. “Now do it four more times.” My eyes widened. Four? He had to be kidding.
It turned out, Archer was not kidding.
The second attempt went well, but by the third I was struggling. Sweat dripped down my neck and soaked my shirt as I fought to climb the ladder again.
The sound of engines interrupted my struggle, and I paused, cocking my head. “What’s going on?”
Archer grunted. “Alpha’s home pack sent some backup. Since we are down a few people.”
“Backup?”
“Keep climbing,” Archer growled, and I surged forward, reaching for the next rung. The edge of the wood dug into my palm. “Use your legs so your arms don’t get so tired,” he instructed.
Pushing up with my legs, I was able to relax my grip and the sting in my palm lessened. The next step burned, and my leg muscles felt like jelly.
The sounds of car doors slamming distracted me, and I wobbled on the ladder. Distant voices carried on the wind, but I couldn’t make out words.
“Your focus is shit. You’d better get down before you fall.”
He didn’t have to tell me twice. With shaking hands, I backed down the ladder and hopped onto the ground. My knees gave a dangerous wobble, and I took a step forward to loosen them.
Elowen crossed the clearing, peering around the edge of the house. Unable to help myself, I followed, my hand resting on her shoulder as I leaned out.
A shiny white SUV was parked along the dirt road.Voices reached us, but we couldn’t see any people.
“Alright, we’re done for today. Get your asses inside,” Archer called. He stomped past us and waited at the base of the short set of stairs that led onto the deck.
Elowen shook her head, her white-blonde hair fluttering. “I don’t know who it is. I wasn’t there when it was discussed.” Shrugging, she squeezed my hand and walked to her mate.
With a huff, I turned and padded across the clearing, scaling the stairs after Archer and Elowen, and stepping through the sliding door after them.
The living space was occupied, and I came to an abrupt halt. Cade stood at the edge of the kitchen, Luca at his side, as three strangers spoke to them.
The man in the center was tall and lean like Luca, with the same black hair, but his was slicked back. Beside him, a fierce woman with darker blonde hair pulled back into a tight bun was scowling. It was hard to tell if that was her default expression, but from the severity of her styling, I suspected so.
But it was the third figure, the other blonde, that caught my attention. She was identical to the first. They must have been twins, but she was curvy and soft, with golden waves down to her breasts, and a tight, low cut shirt that highlighted her figure.
She tilted her head as she looked up at Cade and smiled sweetly.
Anger sparked in my chest, burstinginto a burning inferno in seconds. I stood stiffly, not trusting myself to move.
Cade glanced up, frowning at me. I fought to keep my expression neutral and calm.
Shit! He coulddefinitelyfeel my emotions.
Leaning over, he muttered to Luca, whose attention shot to me. While Cade talked with the newcomers, Luca crossed the room to me, that insufferable smirk in place as he studied me.
I was suddenly aware of how disheveled and sweaty I was. Some of my hair was too short for my ponytail, and now those pieces stuck up at odd angles or were plastered to my jawline.
“Hey,” Luca said, brushing a strand of sweaty hair back from my face. He didn’t seem bothered by it, but I cringed.
“Who are they?” I asked quietly.
Luca glanced back, and the curvy blonde turned, surveying us. One elegant eyebrow arched, like she found me questionable.
