Page 34 of Fighting Her Wolves

I see another side to Kerian. He loves his friend.

“Okay.” I kiss him gently.

River is sleeping in my roommate's old bedroom upstairs. She was a bitch. When I decided on this house, I needed help with the rent. Instead of carefully selecting someone, I picked the first woman to call. We weren’t friends. I worked during the day, and she worked nights. We barely saw each other. She paid her bills on time and stayed out of my way.

Unfortunately, she was murdered. When Serenity found her mate, she was caught up with a psycho who forced humans to be turned into shifters. Beth, my ex-roommate, was taken, forced to turn, and eventually killed because the shift didn’t take. I felt terrible, but she was a mean woman.

I press my ear to the bedroom door. He’s probably sleeping. I stand undecided for a moment; as I do, a picture of his face flashed in my head when he was sharing his story. The least I can do is offer comfort.

I slowly ease the door open. I see his dark shape on the bed. I close the door quietly and cautiously go to the bed. His eyes are closed.

I nibble on my fingernail, shifting from one foot to the other. He looks peaceful. I need to go back to my room. This was a bad idea. If my goal is to stay away from them, this is the definition of the opposite. I glance at the door, ready to bolt.

I let out a little scream as an arm from the dark bed reaches me, wrapping around my waist, and throws me to the bed. He rolls us so his hard, naked body presses mine to the bed.

“Cupcake, change your mind?” He pushes my hands beside my head.

“I wanted to check on you.” I wiggle, causing River to slide between my legs.

“Is that all? It looked like you were second-guessing your decision.” He dips his head into my neck.

“No. Maybe. It looked like you were sleeping. I didn’t want to disturb you.” I shiver as his breath tickles my throat.

“Not sleeping. What was the plan? Did you want something dirty?”

I lick my lips. “I was going to keep you company, just sleeping. Talk if you want.”

“Shame,” he grumbles.

“Hey.” I struggle to get my wrists loose. “I couldn’t sleep. I was trying to be nice.”

“Sorry, cupcake, not many people are just nice.” He releases my wrists, instead pulling up on his elbows, sliding his hands underneath my head, his thumbs teasing my ear.

“That’s sad but true,” I say as our gazes tangle.

“Thank you.”

“Welcome,” I whisper.

“Kerian encourage you to come up here?” he asks.

“He did.”

He shakes his head. “Selfless Kerian.”

“He was worried,” I tell him. I rest my hands on his chest.

“I know. How freaked out are you?” he asks timidly.

“I am not freaked. I’m upset that your uncle did that to you and so many others. I’m upset because it became your private shame when it should be a badge of honor.” I tap his chest.

“A badge of honor that I was forced to live in a cage?” he asks in disbelief.

“Yes, you endured and survived. You did what you had to.”

He hums. “Perhaps. I will never be normal. I will always have my quirks. I’m violent and aggressive.”

“Would you ever hurt me?”

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