Page 31 of His to Hunt

“Taryn!” Frank yells. “If you don’t get up soon, we’re going to be late!”

Taryn groans, sits up in bed, and wipes her eyes. As soon as she sees me, she scurries away, pulling her knees up to her chest defensively, but after a moment, she relaxes.

“You’re still here,” she whispers.

“Because you are,” I whisper.

“I have to go to work,” she groans, scooting to the edge of the bed.

“No,” I bark, putting a hand on her knee. “You’re done with that place.”

“Frank needs me,” she sighs. “And Joe is gone now, so it won’t be that bad.”

“It’s not a debate, Taryn. You’re Shana’s best friend, right?” I ask, squeezing her knee enough to get her attention. “Look at me, my girl.”

She blinks a few more times, her eyes finally opening fully, bathing me in a stormy sea of gray I could get lost in. Now that I’m not fighting the mating bond, I have no problem letting them captivate me. Watching the understanding dawn in them until her heart is pounding loud enough for me to hear it.

I’m attuned to every part of her, even her heartbeat. I felt that same rhythm around my cock last night. Now it’s burned into me, another tug of the mating bond pulling us closer.

“Yes, Shana’s my best friend. She convinced her parents to let me live here after my grandmother died,” she explains. Her lip trembles. “Well, there were a couple of bad years with my uncle… this basement is so much better than my uncle’s house.”

“What did he do to you?” I bark, my claws trying to push through my skin.

“He just…” She wipes her eyes and shakes her head. “I never let him… He tried… Several times…but I would wake up and scream the house down.”

“Where is he now?” I snarl, anger igniting inside me.

“No, you can’t… he’s… he’s dead now,” she assures me. Then her eyes twitch. “I didn’t kill him! He had a bad heart.”

“You should have cut his balls off with a dull knife the first time he got close enough to make you uncomfortable,” I rage, leaning closer. “But if he’s a corpse, then we’ll just let them rot off, hmm?”

She looks at me with a confused look, then a gentle laugh escapes. A smile tries to tug at the edge of her lips, but she fights it off.

“So, that’s what it takes to make my mate smile and laugh,” I chuckle. “Rotting balls.”

“No, oh, ugh! Gross! Nooo,” she groans, then she lets out a long sigh. “I owe Melinda and Frank a lot. If it weren’t for them, I would have ended up in foster care. Melinda helped me get emancipated. Frank gave me a job.”

I look into her eyes, trying to read what she really believes. I still despise the people upstairs, but maybe I’ve misread part of the situation. It still doesn’t excuse this squalor.

“Taryn! Let’s go!” Frank yells.

“Oh my god, I haven’t even showered,” she groans, trying to stand up.

“You’re not working in the diner today,” I say firmly. “Take your shower. I’ll talk to Frank.”

“What!? No!” she squeals, shaking her head. “You can’t! I don’t think… I don’t think I’m allowed to have anyone down here unless they know!”

“Relax, take a shower. Let me handle this for you,” I soothe, letting go of her leg and patting it. “I promise I will not harm Frank or Melinda. It will be a conversation and nothing more. You can trust me, sweet girl. I’m always going to do what is best for you.”

Her eyes flash with concern, but then she nods. It’s not much submission, but it’s what she needs to give me right now. This is bigger than her. Bigger than she understands. I need her with me, because if her family was cursed, I need to know who or what did it. A curse with that much power isn’t shattered quietly. It’s more like magic screaming into the void and there’s plenty that will answer back.

Once she’s in the shower, I tear my eyes off her gorgeous body and stomp up the stairs. I take a deep breath before I open the door. I’m definitely not who Frank is expecting. He nearly jumps out of his shoes, then stumbles back and grabs the wall.

“Frank, my name is Victor,” I say calmly, extending my hand. “I’m a friend of Taryn’s. It’s very nice to meet you.”

I’m a massive brute, so I’m used to this reaction, but I try to appear as non-threatening as possible. Just a man with his hand extended, making an introduction.

“Uh, hello,” Frank says nervously. He stares at me for almost a full minute before his brain seems to click into gear. He steps over and shakes my hand, still looking concerned. “A friend of Taryn’s, you say? I don’t believe she’s mentioned you.”