“Of course they aren’t. Hunter doesn’t give me enough credit.”
“But why would he want you to think so?”
“So we’d go along with everything he says without meddling. We want to end the hunt as much as he does.”
“Gotcha.”
She crossed her long legs. “Do you know what it took for him to change you?”
“Not really. I only know he has to do something else.”
“It messes the Alpha up. It causes them to lose hold of their human side.”
“Have you seen this before then?” I tried to stay calm, but did that mean Mary Anne was in danger? Was he as much a risk to her as I was?
She nodded. “Yes. Unfortunately.”
“What do you mean?”
“Let’s just say I know a lot about Alphas.”
“Uh…?”
“Drop it. That’s a story for another day.”
“Do I need to worry about Hunter hurting her?”
“No. He won’t. She calms him. The problem is he’s probably in even more of a rush to mate with her. Mating would bring him back to his old self much faster than just waiting.”
“In other words, I need to come up with a plan fast.”
“Exactly.” She moved to standing.
“Wait. But how does Hunter finishing my transformation fit in? Will I really die without it?”
“Most likely.” She wrapped an arm around her waist. “Remember that Hunter may like Mary Anne, but what he wants most is ending the hunt. You deliver that to him and he’ll let her go. He knows how you two feel about each other. I’m half convinced that’s why he’s waited so long. He wants those feelings to fade.”
“Does he actually care that much?”
“He’s not a bad man. He’s just a desperate one.”
“A desperate man is a dangerous one.”
“Don’t forget that.” She walked inside.
I sat outside a few minutes longer. I was in no rush to return inside. I was going to get Mary Anne back. There had to be a way out of this mess. I needed more information about The Society before I could do anything. I also needed to find a way to talk to Mary Anne. How did she feel? I refused to believe she’d resigned herself to a fate that involved Hunter. There was something real between us, and I wasn’t giving up, especially now that there might actually be hope.
Chapter Fifteen
Mary Anne
Hunter closed and locked the door. “Where were we?”
“I was about to take a shower. I really don’t care whether you join me or not.” I pulled off my sweater and headed toward the bathroom. I’d never bothered with my bra, and it was still in my jacket pocket. I knew removing my cami meant going topless, but I found I didn’t care. I didn’t care about anything. Still, I waited until I’d turned on the water in the huge shower, complete with four different shower heads, before pulling it off.
“Mary Anne?” Hunter called my name from behind me.
I slipped off my jeans, socks, and underwear without turning around. I was over caring. I was over fighting. I was on the losing side of a battle, and pretending I had a chance of winning was pointless.
I knew he was watching and waiting. “I’m getting in. Like I said, I don’t care if you join me.” I stepped in and walked right under the stream of one of the higher shower heads.
It was one of those open showers without a door, so I knew he could still see me. I didn’t care. I couldn’t care anymore.
“Mary Anne? Are you all right?”
I kept my eyes closed as the water poured over me. “I’m fine.”
“You are so beautiful.” He whispered the words. “So unbelievably beautiful.”
I tried to ignore it. I tried to ignore that he was watching me. Maybe if I could just numb myself enough the pain and confusion would eventually fade away.
I stepped outside of the spray and opened my eyes, not surprised to find him standing inches away from me in the shower. His eyes were devouring my body, so I allowed my eyes to move over his muscular form. Hunter was hung. Hung like no man I’d ever seen before. And that both terrified and excited me. I didn’t want to feel excited, but I did. Despite everything, I was attracted to the man. I wanted to believe he was causing me to feel that way, but maybe he wasn’t. I’m sure most women would have been attracted to Hunter.
He took a step toward me, and my body froze. Was this it? Had I given him the green light?
He took my face in his hands and gently kissed me. I’d expected him to be demanding, but instead he was sweet. “Thank you, for this.”
“You’re thanking me for taking a shower with you?”