Page 1 of Curses and Casualties (Hunters Hollow #3)

Ryan

“ Y ou know something?” Georgia says, looking around our seedy motel room. “This is kinda romantic when you think about it.”

I quirk an eyebrow as Kane huffs his disagreement from inside my mind.

The lights buzz and flicker, and the stairs on the way up here smelled like urine.

There are odd stains on the carpet, and I’m pretty sure something is growing in the corner by the window.

The faucet handle came off in the bathroom the moment I touched it, and I don’t think we can blame my increased strength for that one.

“Romantic wouldn’t exactly be my choice of words,” I say, leaning back against the chipped headboard. “But I suppose if you’re comparing it to living in a dumpster, it could be seen that way.”

Georgia grins. “That’s disgusting.”

“So is this motel.”

She runs her hands over the threadbare comforter and adjusts her position on the lumpy mattress. “It’s no quaint cabin in the woods, I’ll give you that. But at least no one’s trying to kill us here.”

“That part is true. For now, anyway.”

She shudders on an inhale as she picks up a slice of cardboard-tasting pizza.

“How long do you think it’ll take for them to find us?

” She takes a bite of the crappy meal and uses her free hand to pass me the bottle of even crappier wine.

When we arrived here from Whisper Valley a couple of hours ago, we stocked up at the first gas station on the edge of town.

The cashier, a woman with an oxygen tank and the dry, glazed stare of the undead.

I had to scent her twice to make sure she really was human.

“If we consider that the city is a mishmash of smells and sounds. And that we have the amulet Caspian gave us…” I lift the bottle to my mouth and sip, wincing as the bitter taste burns down my throat.

“Maybe a day or two. Less if the poultice Ethan applied to Scarlett’s mark fails and the Alpha finds a way to tap into her. ”

Georgia’s face falls ever so slightly, but she quickly masks it with another forced grin. “Well, in that case, let’s enjoy the heck out of this romantic evening while we can.”

I laugh, shaking my head at her optimism. Somehow, even with the filth and roaches, being with her in this dingy temporary refuge does feel oddly romantic. “To us, then,” I say, holding up the bottle of wine to her before I take a drink and hand it to her. She almost chokes on it.

“Oh yeah. That’s good stuff,” she forces out, coughing.

“Remind me to take you somewhere nice when all this is over.”

“This really isn’t so bad, Ryan,” she says, passing the bottle back to me. “In fact, I’ve experienced far worse in my travels.”

The muffled sounds of sirens and traffic filter in from outside.

It’s been so long since I’ve been anywhere near a city.

The exhaust fumes burn my sensitive nose even through the closed window, mixing with the acrid smell of hot asphalt and too many humans packed together.

Someone’s cooking curry three doors down, and there’s the sickly sweet stench of garbage from the dumpster in the alley.

When I was a boy, the idea of living here excited me.

But now, all I need is the quiet of the mountains and an open space to run as my wolf. I miss Whisper Valley already.

City stinks, Kane grumbles in my mind. Too many scents. Don’t like it.

I know, buddy. Me neither.

“Worse than this place?” I take another sip of wine, grimacing as I look at the label.

It’s a far cry from the earthy, robust flavors of the wine back home, but it’s enough to dull our senses for a short while.

Shifters can’t stay drunk for long. But if you drink fast enough, you’ll get a buzz.

“I don’t believe there’s anywhere worse than this roach pit. ”

“Oh, the privilege you must have endured,” she teases, taking another bite of the pizza and chewing quietly.

I smile as I watch her, the crude lighting of the room catching in her fiery hair and vibrant eyes. So much has changed since Georgia stumbled into my life, absorbing Luna’s spirit and igniting our Soul Bond. It’s not just our lives that have changed—I’m changing too.

Kane’s thoughts, once a separate voice in my mind, now feel closer to my own. We’re no longer two halves of a whole, but merging into a single entity. Our thoughts and emotions synchronize, yet I can still discern his influence—a constant, affirming whisper of ‘mate’ whenever I look at Georgia.

Just weeks ago, I was a lone wolf, mourning the loss of my mate and resigned to guarding the Soulcave for the rest of my days.

Then Georgia stumbled into my life, quite literally falling into the cave and absorbing Luna’s spirit.

Our instant connection, the prophecy of our Soul Bond, the rush to complete it under the full moon…

It just happened. But somehow it also seems like a lifetime ago.

And yet, the consequences of those frantic days are why we’re here now, hiding in this dingy motel.

The pack’s betrayal, the Alpha’s brutal attack on Scarlett, our desperate escape from the mountain—it all led us here, fugitives on the run from the very people I used to trust. All because they fear the power of our bond.

Reaching out, I take Georgia’s hand in mine and glance down at it, remembering the moment I marked her, sealing our fate.

The enormity of what we must face together weighs heavy on me.

We’re not just fighting for our lives, but for the future of all shifterkind.

It’s a daunting thought, but not one I want to delve into tonight.

No. Tonight is about pause. It’s about my mate. Us.

“I’d like to hear more about these travels of yours,” I say as Georgia finishes her slice of pizza.

“Tell me, love, where have you been that’s worse than this place?

” I search my mind, flitting through the memories we shared when the Soul Bond really took root.

But she’s been to so many places, camping in less than stellar conditions, that I’m not sure. “Was it the Gobi Desert?”

“That’s cheating,” she says as she dusts her fingers off over the open pizza box.

“It’s not cheating when our bond gave us this gift of shared memories. I’m sure there are a lot of questions you could answer about me without a conversation too.”

She considers this, eyes narrowed in playful suspicion.

“OK, fair point. And for the record, the caves in the Gobi were freezing, damp, and full of shrieking bats.” She tries to mimic the sound, waving her hands.

“But there were no roaches the size of baby rats, so I’m afraid this place still wins. ”

She relaxes into the pillows.

“So that means I’m wrong and there’s somewhere worse than the Gobi Desert.”

Georgia grins. “There are many. Geology is a pretty filthy field—lots of mud. And while that cave in Gobi was pretty awful, I think the worst conditions happened on the dig in Vietnam that got me a job with the Geological Survey. That was intense.”

“Vietnam?”

Georgia nods. “It was a dig in a rural area that had been ravaged by floods,” she explains.

“The villagers were so welcoming and generous despite having not much to give. They invited us into their homes, offered us food and shelter even when they barely had enough for themselves. It was humbling.” She pauses for a moment, her eyes reflecting a mixture of admiration and sadness.

“But the mud... it was relentless. And the humidity along with the smell of decomposing vegetation. Gosh, I can smell it again just thinking about it.” She lifts her hand to her nose and shakes her head to push away the memory.

“We all ended up getting sick. But our budget didn’t allow for any delays. So we powered through. Every day we’d work in shifts, digging and documenting all the minerals we found while also battling horrible stomach cramps.” She shudders.

“Sounds like a nightmare.”

“At times, it was. But it was also one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” Georgia says, letting out a wistful sigh.

“We discovered a vein of rare earth elements that could potentially change the technological landscape. It made all the suffering worth it and paved the way for my job offer with the Geological Survey.”

As I set the bottle down, I look back up at her and smile. “It still sounds better than here.”

She laughs. “The food was definitely nicer. Even if it did make us all sick. But the company…” Her voice lowers to a whisper as she leans into me. “It’s way better here.”

I brush a strand of fiery hair back from her face, tucking it behind her ear.

“Once this is over, I’ll take you somewhere warm and sunny.

No mud or decomposing vegetation. No shrieking bats.

No roach-infested motels. Just you, me and forever stretching out in front of us, I promise.

” My voice softens as I look into her eyes, the intensity of our bond making my chest tighten with a different kind of urgency.

“I’d like that.” Georgia smiles up at me, but it quickly fades as she looks away. “It’s just so hard to imagine this ever being over. Our lives are so...complicated now.”

I take her hand, stroking my thumb over her knuckles soothingly. “This is just a rest stop on the journey, my love. Nothing can stop our destiny.”

Georgia’s lips quirk up slightly. “You really believe that?”

“I have to believe it. The alternative is unthinkable.”

At my solemn tone, Georgia shifts closer, curling against my side. Her warmth and soft curves press into me, igniting my desire to be closer to her. But I restrain myself, simply wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

“I’m scared, Ryan,” Georgia admits. “Everything is happening so fast, and there’s still so much we don’t understand about this bond between us. And then there’s Scarlett to worry about. What the Alpha did to her...”

I rub her arm gently, wanting to soothe away all her worries. “Scarlett is tough, she won’t let the Alpha control her.”

Georgia takes a ragged breath. “And what if they’re wrong? What if this bond of ours isn’t some magical cure-all? What if the more we bond, the bigger the target on our backs?”

I pull her closer, seeing distress in her eyes. “Our friends made their choices willingly because they want a better future. Trusting in this bond gives them hope.”

She bites her lip. “Hope won’t heal Scarlett’s mental wounds or remove that mark.”

“No,” I murmur. “Which is why tomorrow we’ll find the witches on Caspian’s list. They have protection spells that can mask the Alpha’s connection, make it harder for him to track her through the mark. Maybe one of them can weaken the bond or remove the mark altogether.”

“But what if their magic isn’t enough?” Georgia whispers, trembling.

I cup her face between my hands, holding her gaze firmly. “Then we keep fighting until the Alpha is nothing more than dust and heartstone. I swear to you, Georgia, Scarlett will be free.”

She searches my eyes, uncertainty still lingering in her gaze while she nods slowly. I can still feel the tension coiled within her, so I lean in and kiss her forehead softly, needing to comfort her, to reassure her that everything will be all right.

As my lips brush against her skin, her breath hitches. Our bond hums. A low, steady vibration that seems to resonate through every cell in my body.

Mate needs us, Kane rumbles, his presence stirring with interest.

For a moment, we’re both still, caught in this delicate balance between comfort and desire. I can hear her heart racing, feel the slight tremor in her hands as they rest against my chest.

Then she tilts her head up, her lips barely grazing the edge of my jaw. It’s a tentative touch, more of a question than a demand. And I remain motionless, letting her set the pace, even as every instinct screams at me to pull her closer.

“Ryan,” she whispers, her warm breath washing over my skin. The sound of my name on her lips sends a shiver down my spine. I can’t help the low growl that rumbles in my chest as I tilt my head, giving her better access to my jaw and neck.

Yes. Mate aches. Let her forget. Let her be held. Then take her. Cherish her. Protect.

Her fingers curl into my shirt as she grows bolder, her mouth moving along my jawline with more purpose.

The softness of her lips fills me with a longing that I can’t ignore.

And while I know I should resist when there are bigger things at play here, my body betrays me.

The need to touch her, to lose myself in her, becomes overwhelming.

My hands move of their own accord, tangling in her hair as I finally give in to the urge to pull her closer.

Our lips meet in a kiss that’s equal parts desperation and tenderness. It’s as if all the fear, all the uncertainty of our situation, is being poured into this one moment of connection.

“I want to forget what we are, Ryan,” Georgia whispers between kisses, her hands sliding over my chest. “Just for a moment… I want to feel like I’m just a woman. And you’re just a man. Not a Soul Bond. Not a prophecy. No curse to break. No fate to fulfill. Just us.”