Melody Snow Monroe Read Online Free PDF Page B

lion.” The voice came from behind her. She whipped around, only now realizing that Taryn hadn’t joined them on their journey up to the house.
    “Taryn!” She stepped toward him but halted as soon as his condition registered. He, too, was covered in blood. His arm was lacerated and he had scratches all over his body. “You were attacked, too.” Her stomach turned over at his horrific injuries. If only she’d studied medicine, she could help him.
    “Yes.” He looked over at Kellum. Their gazes locked. Kellum nodded and jogged out of sight.
    Why was Kellum leaving? Someone had to call for help. “Do you have secret hand signals or something to communicate?” Why was nothing making any sense to her?
    “Or something. I need to wash up, as do you. When we’ve cleaned up, we’ll eat and I’ll explain some things to you.”
    She liked the part about the explanation, but the men’s health had to come first. “Your brother is stubborn. He and you both need medical care.”
    He faced her and cocked a brow. “You’re willing to help take care of me?”
    “If I could I certainly would, but you need stitches, and I can’t do that.” The words Taryn had spoken about transforming into a lion finally registered. “Wait a minute. Not that I believe people can shift into animals, but why did you say that Kellum transformed into a lion?”
    “Because he did.”
    Blood from her arm dripped onto the floor. “I’m sorry. I need something to clean up my mess.” Her comment was probably an excuse to avoid what might actually be the truth. These men had been bitten, but she wasn’t ready to address the possibility of shape-shifters existing. Those creatures were myths, yet she’d seen the wolves, and she’d seen two lions come from nowhere and save her. Before she could form a coherent explanation, Taryn clasped her arm.
    “Come with me. You should take a shower, too. You’ve got blood all over you.”
    She wasn’t willing to do anything until he explained himself. “That drug Kellum gave me. Was it a hallucinogen?” That seemed to be the only logical explanation for what she’d witnessed.
    “No.” He held out his hand. “Please. I need to clean up before an infection sets in.”
    She shook her head. “I don’t want to impose. If you could get me a paper towel, I’ll be good to go. I need to get out of your hair so you can tend to your wounds.” She took a step backward then stopped.
    How selfish could she get? Regardless of what actually happened, these men had saved her life somehow. She couldn’t abandon them in their time of need. The least she could do was help patch them up and then go.
    She reached behind her for her pack so she could call 911. “My pack! It’s gone.”
    His cheeks sagged. “Where did you leave it?”
    She searched her mind. “I set down my bag to get out my water bottle when Kellum gave me those flowers.”
    He squared his shoulders. “Perhaps later, I’ll retrieve it for you.”
    There was no way she could ask him to go back to wolf territory. Nothing was as important as a life. “Forget it. I don’t need it.”
    “Then come with me.”
    The stubborn man seemed determined. “Okay, but shouldn’t you call someone?”
    “No.”
    It was his body. As she walked across the living room toward a hallway, she looked around the home. It was set up much like a typical luxurious home in Denver with an open floor plan. The two walls that overlooked the forest were all glass from floor to ceiling. This place was enchanting and alluring.
    Instead of following Taryn, she was drawn to the breathtaking beauty of the trees. She wanted to investigate how high up they were, and she glanced down. Given the distance to the ground, this was probably the penthouse, all nestled in the trees. “Beautiful,” she mumbled to herself.
    “I’m glad you find it appealing.”
    She jerked at the intrusion. She thought he’d be in the bathroom by now. She turned around. “Sorry.”
    He held out his