Page 106 of Cursed: Ride or Die

His lover. His man.

About five miles out of town, he spotted a lone figure on the side of the road. As he grew closer, he made out the shape of a gray wolf with matted, wet fur.

It couldn’t be, but yet, even if his eyes deceived him, his soul knew.

Heart hammering, he pulled off the road. For the longest time, he didn’t speak, staring into beautiful blue eyes he’d despaired of ever seeing again.

No traffic. Twilight gave way to darkness. The figure blurred, coming into sharp clarity in the shape of a naked man.

Slade ran, wrapping his arms around Noah, holding him close. Noah tentatively brushed their lips together.

Nope, not good enough. Slade poured all of his fears, his longing, his regrets into the kiss, losing himself in the sweetness of tongue against tongue. Love and relief swept him away. All he could do was hold on.

Noah shivered, breath fogging before his face. Slade pulled away, rummaging in the saddlebags for his rain suit, the best he had right now, and helped Noah dress. “My motel isn’t far. Let’s get you there. We need to warm you up.” He gave a hard swallow. “Why did you leave the enclave?”

“I want to be with you. If you’ll have me,” Noah mumbled, nearly too low to hear.

What? Really? Noah chose Slade over the pack? Relief crashed through Slade. “Have you? Where do you think I was going?”

“You were coming back for me? Even though it might hurt you?”

“Yes. Noah, I don’t want to live without you. I’ve always been alone, never met anyone I wanted to spend more than a few nights with. Now I have.” Slade took a deep breath. “I love you enough to want you happy, even if that meant you stayed with the pack.”

“Mac helped me see that youaremy pack.”

Slade cupped Noah’s face in his hands, lifting until their eyes met. “Are you sure?”

Noah nodded. “Surer than I’ve ever been about anything.”

“Even rabbits?”

Noah snickered, easing the tension. “Even rabbits. I don’t love them. I… I love you.”

Slade broke into a grin, strapping a spare helmet to Noah’s head, heart full to bursting. Noah loved him.

Then Slade climbed back on the Harley, holding the bike for Noah to scramble onto the seat behind him. He left the shoulder for the road, Noah curled against his back. Slade might be condemning himself to a cursed lifetime. Worth the cost.

Noah, his love, with him. Everything else was details.

Hands on the handlebars, Slade accelerated.

The back of his hand showed unmarked skin.

Unmarked skin? Slade’s heart hammered. Had the curse finally broken? Part of him wanted to pull over, ask Noah if he still saw the mark, or turn around, race for the compound, test whether or not he was truly free.

Noah wrapped his arms tightly around Slade, where they belonged.

Later. Later there would be time to confirm, reassure himself the damned mark was indeed gone. But, deep in his heart, Slade knew. He was free, with Noah at his back. No telling what the future might hold, but Slade had all he needed.

He leaned back between Noah’s spread legs. Maybe the sorcerer wasn’t purely a hateful old thing after all because, no matter how accidentally, he’d led Slade to this moment. This perfect moment. He could go anywhere, do anything. Even go see his brother.

With Noah.

He might not be a wolf. Even so, Slade howled his triumph to the night sky.

The End