Shifters: A Samantha Reece Mystery Book 1 Jaime Johnesee (best reads of all time txt) 📖

not that I didn't want to come back. I planned to come right back and go to the hospital with you. But when I got that call I just blanked; I went to a different hospital so I could be there for my mom and little sister. I never would have left otherwise."

So not what I was expecting. My stomach dropped.

I still had some questions for him. "You stayed away until now, though. Why?"

"I didn't. I went to the coffee cart a few weeks after my dad's funeral and saw you. I could see the change in you. You were happy and—after doing a quick bit of digging, in the form of asking Larry the coffee guy a couple questions—I saw that you'd created a whole new life for yourself. I didn't want to screw with that. Also, you were with a wolf at the time. I figured you were learning about shifting from him. I didn't want to interfere."

"Yes, because how awful of you to fucking interfere in my life," I hissed.

Yeah, it was probably petty, but it felt good. I'd needed this confrontation for years.

"Sam, I really didn't mean to cause any harm. I just saw a beautiful woman in pain and full of self-doubt. I knew being a shifter would erase that doubt and help heal that pain. I wasn't going to bite you right then. I only wanted to talk to you; I'd planned on saying something, on asking you, but you reached out to me and I got caught up in the moment. As you held out your hand to touch me I realized I couldn't handle it if you loathed me for being different. I wanted to make the change painless for you. I wanted to be there to help you transition. I failed you. Then I came back and saw you looking so happy and I knew I couldn't stand to fail you again. I knew that I would, too, it was only a matter of time. Because that's what I was, a failure." A tear slicked down his cheek. "I loved you, Sam. I didn't know you, true, but I loved you for the person I did see. The person you were when you thought nobody was looking."

"That would almost be sweet if it weren't for the extreme creepiness factor. You stalked me every day for two years and said nothing? Why?"

"Because I couldn't."

"Oh, is now where you say you didn't think you were good enough for me?"

"No, now is where I tell you that I know I wasn't good enough. I've done some things I'm not proud of. Obviously, biting you is one of those. At the time I'd been gambling a lot and I owed a fair bit of money to people that weren't exactly kind souls."

"Loansharks, gambling, stalking, biting. Wow, you had it right. You aren't good enough for me." I stood to leave and the sheer calm and understanding on his face gave me pause.

He was not proud of the man he had been and he seemed to have made strides to change his life. He came to The Diner to find me and ask forgiveness. Could I grant him that? I had a problem forgiving people. Mostly because I've learned along the way that the more you allow a person to hurt you the more they will, just to prove that they can.

The bite he'd given me had been gentle. I think it was fair to say he understood the ramifications of what he'd done and seemed genuinely sorry for them. I didn’t think I could forgive him, but I still had questions, ones I needed answers to. I stood and wrote down my phone number on a pad of paper by the phone. I set the pen down next to it and turned around to say goodbye. He stood awkwardly to the side.

"Look, I have some questions about us jaguars, but now isn't really the time to ask ’em. The FBI has you down as a witness to a murder. An agent will be here shortly and I'll be leaving when they get here. I wrote my number down for you. I'd like to talk more about the murder you witnessed and about being a cat." I stepped forward to give him a handshake.

I wasn't trusting him or anything, but I did need to know some things about both my panther self, and Grisly, that only he could answer. As much as it made me uncomfortable to admit, I understood a tiny bit better where his mind was when he sired me. Don’t mistake me, I understood, but I didn’t forgive him for it. That would need to be earned.

"I called the police about that. Why is the FBI picking the case up and why will an agent be coming here, Sam?"

"Well, the murderer you saw has killed a few people already and has threatened to kill more if we can't stop him."

"So why can't you stay?"

"Personal reasons. I've already notified my boss. They'll make sure a neutral party speaks with you to avoid the appearance of impropriety."

"Sam, before you go, thank you. Also, I can't apologize enough for what I've done. I never meant to hurt you; I really only ever wanted you to be happy. I never thought of it from your perspective. I always just assumed I was helping you make a better life for yourself. I just...." He bit his lower lip as his eyes glazed over with tears. "I didn't like seeing you so broken. Fuck."

He ran a hand across his jaw and broke our eye contact.

I was glad to see it affect him this way, it meant he wasn't as much of a psycho as I'd originally thought, or he was a damned good actor. I gave him a weak smile and walked to the door.

"Have a good night, Ben. I'll talk to you soon."

"I just ... well, thank you."

The look on his face stuck with me as I