Page 17 of Cursed (Blood Moon Pack #1)

T hey sit in comfortable silence for the rest of breakfast until Nori picks up an item on the table that looks kind of like a roll, but it’s rolled up like a pinwheel with some sort of frosting on top. She sniffs it; then holds it up to the Prince with a confused look and asks, “What is this?”

“That is a cinnamon roll. I think of them as dessert for breakfast because it’s sweet.”

Bade asks Ryland, “ She’s never seen a cinnamon roll? Where has she been? ”

Nori studies the cinnamon roll, thinking about the best way to eat it. Deciding it’s way too messy to bite into, she uses her fork to cut a piece off. She looks at the Prince one more time. When he nods, she places the piece in her mouth.

Bade proudly says, “ Look at that. She trusts us!”

Ryland is becoming increasingly annoyed with Bade’s comments in his head. “ It’s only a pastry; calm down. It doesn’t mean anything. ”

As soon as the flavors hit her tongue, Nori’s head falls back, and she moans, savoring the small bite.

Looking back at the Prince, she smiles, her eyes wide with surprise.

“Wow! This is fantastic! I should have started with the cinnamon roll because now I’m too full to finish it, but this is tasty! ”

Ryland sighs to Bade. “ I take it back. That moan of hers is going to be the death of me. ”

“I’m glad you like it,” Ryland says to Nori, smiling slightly. He breathes out hard, steeling himself for what he knows he must do. “Now that we’ve finished eating, I believe you owe me some answers. I’ve agreed to your terms. Where are you from, and why are you requesting sanctuary?”

Nori sets her shoulders straight, trying to work up the nerve for what she plans to say next. With as much confidence as she can muster, she looks at the Prince and says, “I’d like to remind you that our agreement was that I would tell you my story, not that I would answer your questions. ”

Growling loudly, Ryland’s calm face disintegrates, replaced by a menacing sneer. Nori winces, watching him closely, ready to jump from the table if he comes after her.

In a feeble attempt to break the tension, she stutters, “I’ve...I’ve n-never actually tasted coffee.”

That does the trick because the Prince sits back in his chair, crosses his arms, and frowns instead of sneers.

Nori hopes his less angry posture means she can continue. She swallows hard, her hands trembling slightly. She hates reliving the awful moments of her life, and most moments have been truly awful. But the Prince needs to know her story, and this is as good of a place to start as any.

Nori looks up and away, remembering the details of one of many horrible days.

“It was a Wednesday, and I was cleaning one of the meeting rooms where the Pack Leaders would gather. That was the day I created Rule #4: Never ever accept anything from a Pack Leader. If offered anything, decline as politely as possible.”

Ryland quickly recalls her politely declining to sleep in his bed last night.

She stares into Ryland’s eyes. “I was almost finished when the Luna entered the room. I immediately knew this was not going to go well for me. The Luna was vicious, and she hated me like I had killed her firstborn child.”

“Why?”

Nori shakes her head, furrowing her brows. “I never understood why. I had only ever done what I was told.” She shrugs. “Mostly.”

She sucks in a shaky breath and continues, “The Luna told me to hurry up because the others were on their way. She turned to pour herself a cup of coffee. Then she held up the coffee pot, much like you did earlier. The pot was one of those heavy silver urns. The Pack Leaders liked to prove their strength by keeping silver items all around. She asked me if I wanted a cup.”

Nori covers her face momentarily, her chest rising and falling quickly.

Then she looks at Ryland, who is leaning forward now, hands clasped together, listening intently.

“I froze as soon as she made the offer. I mean, I knew it had to be some sort of trick, but I just couldn’t figure out what it was.

It couldn’t be poisoned because she was drinking it. ”

Nori shakes her head, regretting her mistake that day. “Eventually, I thought saying ‘no’ would piss her off. So, I went with ‘yes.’”

Looking down, folding her hands together, Nori whispers, “She was so damn fast. I never saw any of her muscles tense. One moment she was at the table, and the next she was by my side, slamming the pot across my head. I fell to the ground, completely dazed. She continued hitting me with the pot, cracking at least one rib. I was so out of it that I didn’t even notice the scalding hot coffee splashing over me. ”

Nori takes a shaky breath, pulling herself out of the dreadful memory. “After about the fourth or fifth blow, thankfully, I passed out. I woke up in my room hours later.”

Her shoulders sag, grateful to be done with the story. “And that is why Aylin practically lost her mind when you asked me if I wanted any coffee. She saw you holding that coffee pot up in the air and had a full-blown panic attack.”

Nori hears Ryland growling low and feels the rage suddenly pouring out of him.

Her head snaps up. Every muscle in his body is trembling with the effort of trying to maintain control over his wolf or his rage; who knows?

His eyes are jet black. Sharp claws extend from his hands. His breathing is deep and labored.

Aylin whispers to Nori, “ Is he…? I mean, could he be angry with us? He’s shaking, he’s so angry. ”

Whispering back, Nori says, “ I don’t think so. But he looks like he’s going to break the damn table; he’s gripping it so hard! ”

Nori looks around the room, trying to figure out how to handle the Prince in his current state. “Ryl...Prince Drakemoor? Are you?...I mean...What do you need?”

When he doesn’t move or respond, Nori slides out of her chair and does the only thing she can think of to calm him down. She walks slowly over to the practically feral hulk of a man.

Her heart pounds as she watches him, every muscle in his body coiled like a spring. She knows she should stay back, but she moves to his side anyway.

Slowly, she places one hand on top of his clawed hand and takes his chin in her other hand, turning his head to face her.

Maintaining eye contact, Nori tries again. “Please.” She breathes, her voice trembling slightly. “Please calm down.”

Ryland desperately tries to control the explosion of rage that takes hold of him upon hearing how the Luna abused his Mate so severely. His claws are punching holes into the table when he feels Nori’s fingers slide over his hand.

It’s shocking to feel her touch his chin, running her thumb along the part of his jaw without the scar.

No female has dared touch his face in so long—not since the curse marred him.

Yet here she is, fearless. So close, her breath brushes against his face.

It’s the ‘please’ that cuts through his rage.

Inhaling her intoxicating scent, Ryland’s eyes change back to their normal warm, chocolate brown.

He swiftly grabs Nori around the waist and pulls her into his lap.

Completely enveloping her in his arms, Ryland runs his nose along her neck, savoring the smell of her.

He’s trembling slightly from the adrenaline coursing through his system as the last of his anger leaves him.

Nori’s pulse jumps, startled by Ryland’s sudden movement, but he hasn’t hurt her. In fact, he’s careful with her, almost tender. She breathes through the moment of panic and gently says, “It’s OK. Relax.”

She’s pretty sure she said those words for him, but they have a calming effect on her, too. Her whole body sighs with contentment, cocooned in his strong arms. Nori has never been held like this before. She feels utterly safe for this one brief moment.

When she tilts her head back, giving him better access to her neck, he growls out, “Nori. You smell like a warm, sunny day.”

With his face buried in the crook of her neck, Ryland draws in slow, controlled breaths, steadying himself. His voice is still raspy when he says, “I’m sorry I scared you. I’m fine. I just need a minute here.”

Ryland revels in the feel of her in his arms, her whole body leaning into him. He can’t remember the last time he held anyone in his arms.

While the smell of her eases his anger, her breasts pressing against his chest sparks his desire for her. He would like nothing more than to hold her close to him all day. Or better yet, carry her to his bed and make her forget that horrible Luna.

Unfortunately, that’s the moment Zayne picks to mind-link with him.

It’s time to interrogate the Rogue Wolf prisoner.

Ryland takes one last deep breath at her neck; then he leans back to memorize her truly beautiful face— her large, amber eyes staring up at him, her perky nose, and those luscious lips.

The urge to kiss that pretty mouth of hers is so powerful that it’s almost painful to deny himself. But, like a bucket of cold water has been tossed on him, he realizes she would never want to kiss a man with a face like his.

Ryland eases out of the chair, gently placing Nori’s feet on the floor in front of him. He looks down at her and lifts a piece of her hair between his fingers. His jaw clenches, grinding his teeth. “You have blood in your hair.”

Nori glances at the hair that causes his discomfort and shrugs, pulling it out of his grasp. “It’s fine. I’ll rinse it out later.”

Ryland’s eyebrows rise, surprised at how easily she shrugs off the offensive stain in her silky blond hair. Taking a deep breath, he frowns down at her. “That was a horrible story, Nori.”

She looks up at him, mirroring his frown. “Every part of my story is pretty horrible.”

“I am being called to interrogate the Rogue we brought in last night. You should stay here and not wander around the castle. You are unknown and not part of the Pack.”

Nori nods. “Of course. You have Alpha duties.” She glances around the room and asks, “Ummm. Is there anything in here you don’t want me to see? Is there anything that I shouldn’t touch? ”

Leaning back, Ryland cocks his head, and the corner of his mouth raises in half a smile. “Plan on snooping around?”

She smiles shyly. “I probably won’t be able to help myself if left alone in here too long.”

“Well, at least you’re honest about it.” He takes a serious look around the room, making sure nothing is lying out or hiding in a drawer that could harm her. “Anything important is locked in my safe. As long as you are mindful of the weapons in the closet, you may snoop away.”

“Great, thanks.”

Ryland takes a risk and pulls her in for a hug, resting his chin on top of her head. Nori drinks in his scent and wraps her arms around his waist, returning the hug.

The hug was a mistake. He can’t remember the last time he hugged anyone, and now he’s afraid that if he lets her go, it will never happen again. With a low growl, he releases her. “I’ll return later. Hopefully for lunch, but definitely for dinner.”

“OK. See you later,” she replies, smiling up at him.

Ryland puffs out a breath; that smile of hers is like an arrow to his heart. He steps back, his hands itching to gather her close again, and forces himself to turn and stride out the door.