Shifted Illusions by C E Black

Author:C E Black [Black, C E]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-10-31T16:00:00+00:00

14

Leo

While Beth shared the details of her horrific past with a strength I admired, I spent most of the time fighting the urge to run from the room screaming. It was a toss-up between that or dragging her into my arms and daring anyone to come after her now. They’d have to get through me first.

By the end, I was so on edge, so close to going full lion, my hands were no longer human. My claws were digging into my thighs as I used every ounce of control to keep them there and not shatter the fucking table.

From the way Hawk shook next to me, I had a sneaking suspicion his animal was as near to the surface as mine.

Listening to what Beth had been through… It was the hardest thing I’d ever experienced, not excluding the explosion that fucking ruined my life. And to think, she’d actually lived this shit.

“How did your parents die?” Teij asked Beth.

“I don’t know. I was very young, three or four. I only know they were in an accident. I learned over the years that asking was a waste of time. No one would talk to me. And when my uncle James found out I’d been looking into their deaths, he… Well, let’s just say I didn’t see sunlight for two weeks.”

“And you believe the abuse you received over the years was because of your half-breed status?”

“James flat out told me so. And even if that weren’t the case, why else? They may not have locked me in a dingy cell my entire life—though they certainly did so many times—but I was a prisoner all the same. They starved me, gave me countless treatments, injections, and beatings… All in the hopes of triggering my animal.”

“And when that didn’t work?”

“Then he threatened to sell me to the highest bidder.”

The only person who didn’t flinch was Beth.

The thirst for her uncle’s blood caused a red haze to cloud my vision. I would hunt down the bastard, and when I caught him, I would rip. Him. To. Shreds.

A hand closed over one of my fists, and I jerked in surprise. Hawk didn’t smile—there was nothing to smile about right now—but he was there. He always had been.

I let Hawk pry my fingers open and clasped his hand tightly back. His skin was hot and surprisingly soft. It took a couple of deep breaths for me to control myself enough not slide my thumb across the smooth surface. His quickening pulse gradually steadied, and the rhythm helped bring me back from the brink of transformation.

“My genes are good enough to reproduce,” Beth explained. “If I were to mate with a full-blooded mountain lion, my offspring would more than likely shift into their animal with no problems.”

“That’s fucked up.”

“Foxy—”

“She’s only saying what we’re all thinking, Teij,” Liz piped up. “Why do you presume they’re after you now? If they thought you were…” Her face scrunched up.

“Useless?” Beth gave her a small smile. “Because a deal is a deal. Papers were more than likely signed, promises made, money exchanged.

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