Moon Shifter 02 - Primal Possession

time.” He didn’t look at her as he slammed the end of the shovel into the hard earth.
    “What the hell is wrong with you? You’re acting like we’re strangers. Like you can barely stand to touch me. Or even look at me.” She hated that her voice cracked on the last word.
    After everything she’d been through the past couple days, she needed him now more than ever and she wasn’t afraid to admit it. The fact that he kept pulling back burned a giant hole in her chest. He’d been concerned when he’d entered the barn, but he hadn’t made a move to hold her, console her. It ripped her heart out.
    He held the shovel still and looked at her with those dark, penetrating eyes, but he wouldn’t respond. When he turned away from her again, she gritted her teeth and hurried after the others. Now wasn’t the time to push him, but she sure as hell wasn’t going to let things go on like this.

Chapter 19
    “A re you sure you’re up for this?” December held Kat’s hand as they sat on the couch in the living room of the ranch’s main house.
    Kat’s normally bright blue eyes were dull as she nodded. “I just want to get this over with. Whatever cover story they’ve come up with, it’s better than what really happened to me.”
    It was the most Kat had said since they’d returned to the ranch. They’d been back a few hours, but she hadn’t slept or wanted to take a shower or anything. She’d just changed into some of December’s clothes even though they didn’t fit well, then curled up in a ball on the bed December had been sleeping on. And December hadn’t left her side.
    Having long since returned from the hospital, Ana had been their communication link with the others still not back yet. Once she received word from Connor that the males and Erin were on their way back from disposing of those bodies, she’d come to get December and Kat to let them know that if Kat was up to it, Connor and Liam wanted to talk to her.
    “Kat, I’m so sorry—”
    “Please don’t say anything. It’ll just make it worse.” Kat’s voice was so low December almost didn’t hear her.
    Tears pricked her eyes but she fought them back. She hated this feeling of helplessness and could only imagine what Kat had gone through. And she wouldn’t make it worse by crying when her friend was being so strong. If Kat wanted to talk about it, she’d listen, but December would never push. Instead of trying to say anything else, she squeezed Kat’s hand tighter. Even though her friend was taller and leaner—and now a lot physically stronger—her hand felt delicate and almost fragile. As if she might break at any moment.
    Kat scooted closer to December as Connor and Liam entered the room. For a moment, December felt her stiffen—probably because she was waiting for Jayce to enter—but when it was just the two of them, some of the tension ebbed from Kat’s shoulders.
    Connor and Liam sat on the longer couch across from them. Connor spoke first. “Kat, I can’t tell you how sorry we all are—”
    Kat shook her head sharply. “Just get to the point,
please
.”
    Liam and Connor exchanged a quick look; then Connor nodded sharply. “Okay. Normally humans aren’t turned into shifters without fully understanding the ramifications of their decision. In this case, however, I understand there was no other decision. I’m sure you have a lot of questions and I’ll answer anything you want, but right now we have to act quickly. We’ve disposed of the six men from the property where we found you and destroyed all your blood evidence there. As far as we know, Adler was the local leader of this group and he was among the bodies.”
    Kat’s face paled as she nodded. She squeezed December’s hand tighter. “I know. I saw him die.”
    Connor’s jaw flexed. “We combed the house for records or anything we can use against the APL, but at this point we don’t know who Adler answered to or how much they know about your kidnapping. If you want to tell the police you were taken by the APL, then—”
    “No!” Kat’s answer was sharp and clear.
    For a moment, her nails protracted and slightly dug into December’s palm.
    December bit back a startled cry at the same moment Kat dropped her hand and stared at her, horrified.
    “I’m sorry,” Kat whispered.
    December shook her head and reached for her hand again. A ghost of a grateful smile played across Kat’s lips before she focused on Connor again.
    “It sounds like we’re on