Page 34 of Enter the Lair

“Why?It wasn’t their fault.It was an accident.”

“He didn’t fire them because he blamed them.He fired them so there would be no one to care for Henry,” she whispered,

“He blamed the horse?”

She felt Devon’s apprehension.“Yes, he did.”

“What happened to Henry?”

“I did my best to take care of Henry, but he went lame six months after the accident.I don’t know if it was neurological, physical or the abrupt change in his diet...”

“Your father stopped feeding him, didn’t he?”He couldn’t hide his contempt.

“Yes.I fed Henry apples, carrots, and other things from the house.We had a decent pasture so I don’t think it was the removal of his hay, but he started to waste away.Eventually, there was no way to save him.On a rare visit to the ranch when Henry was only days from death and suffering horribly, my mother begged Brian to end Henry’s pain.”

“Did he?”

“No.My father got off on killing animals, but the one time that skill could be of use, he refused.He said Henry ruined her life.That he could rot where he lay.He left the house and didn’t return for months.”

“He let Henry rot away and die in pain?”Devon’s disgust was evident.

“He did, but my mother didn’t.The staff left at night.Looking back, that was probably during my father’s financial difficulties.When they were gone, my mother asked me to wheel her out to the yard where Henry was confined.He wasn’t allowed in the stable anymore.We pulled her through the fence and over to where Henry stood.When she touched him, he lay down and put his head in her lap.He was so unstable there was no way he would be able to get up again.”

“He died?”

“He was struggling to breathe.She whispered that she loved him, told him it was time to let go.And he did.I think he was waiting for her.”

“Your mother was a strong compassionate woman.And you’re just like her.”

“My mother wasn’t a killer like me.”

“You killed to protect yourself not because you enjoy it...is there more to the story?”

“My mother never looked at my father the same way.When he visited, it was to train me.To make sure I was strong, or so he said.When he left things were good.Until my mother’s health took a turn for the worse.Then he returned full-time.My mother’s last words to me were, I’m sorry.”

“It was an accident.”

“She wasn’t sorry about that.She was sorry for leaving me alone with my father and brother.”

Devon kissed her forehead.“Damn, Sarah.”

“It’s...”she felt blood rush through her body like a tidal wave under her skin.She rolled onto her back raising both arms in the air.They rippled like water just before they broke.

* * *

Sarah was crying.Heart-wrenching sobs that ripped Devon’s soul apart and left it bleeding on the ground.His father had said that his mother’s transformation was one of the hardest things he had ever endured.As he was a teenager at the time, he’d assumed Galen had exaggerated.He hadn’t.

He rubbed Sarah’s back softly, praying that the worst was over, but knowing it was only the beginning.He’d do anything to make her pain go away.

Sarah choked back another sob.Her breathing became more even with only the occasional gulp of air.“What’s happening to me?”

Devon was done with misconceptions and lies in his life.He wouldn’t start his new life with his mate with one either.“Your body is reshaping.Your arms have reformed.Next will be your legs.Followed by your back.At that point, you will shift and my cougar will take yours.”He said it bluntly, wishing he had his brother Luca’s finesse.

“How long can I stay in animal form?”She looked away.“Can it be permanent?”

It was the last thing he expected her to say.He thought his cougar would be thrilled with the idea, but his beast was as alarmed as he was.“No.We’re born human and while the strongest of us can hold our animal form for days, eventually we revert.”

Sarah was still in pain, but it was easing.He felt her curiosity and her apprehension.“What about the feeling thing,” she said.