Read Online Resist Me (Change Me Book One - standalone): McCoy Raven Boys by A.O. Peart - Free Book Online Page A

one day I will see you again?”  
    The kitty meowed. Pasha looked at me with sad eyes. Her mouth was closed, unsmiling. I touched the side of her head.  
    “Don’t worry about me. Go play,” I said, looking into those gentle, brown eyes. They were fixed on me, making me warm inside. I squatted down and put my hand out for the cat to sniff. Helet me rub his head and then scratch behind the ears. He purred softly, half-closing his eyes.  
    “Happy home, happy residents.” I sighed, stood up, and pushed the gate open. I made sure it was firmly closed behind me. Resting my hands on the metal spikes, I looked at my furry companions one more time. And then I turned around and raced through the woods.  
    The canopy of trees was thick. It blocked the sun, providing a much-needed shade. The woods seemed to emanate some special force. It made me happy, careless almost. I grinned to myself while running on the skinny path, the ferns brushing the bottoms of my pants.  
    The path meandered, turning right, and then left, and right again. I spread my arms out, smiling and ran, feeling as upbeat and care-free as I haven’t felt since my friend’s horrific death. Nothing negative existed at this moment; nothing could make me sad or scared. I felt free and connected to whatever strong energy ruled over this place.  
    I stopped at the large boulder with two handprints in gold paint. I put my palms on the cold surface of the boulder, fitting them over the markings. The stone felt smooth to the touch. Reluctantly, I pulled away from it and went around it, toward the road where Ethan’s truck was already idling.    
    The passenger window was rolled down, so I could see him. He was watching me, one hand on the steering wheel, the other arm draped on the back of the passenger seat.  
    “Hey,” he said when I got close. “No bite marks?”
    He meant Pasha. I rolled my eyes. “That dog is really sweet, but she scared the living crap out of me at first.” I got into the truck.  
    One corner of Ethan’s mouth lifted up. He found the whole situation with Pasha humorous! I wanted to punch him. He put the truck in drive, and we took off.
    “Chris just texted me. Everything is going as planned, so far,” he said.  
    “She’s safe. Thank God.” I exhaled with relief. “Did she say anything else? Where is she now?”
    “No, but she will contact me soon. I’ll let you know.”
    I pondered upon that for a minute or two. I wanted to know more details, but getting anything out of Ethan was like pulling teeth. So I decided to wait.
    “Why didn’t Chris warn me about the dog? If I was prepared, I wouldn’t have gotten so scared,” I said.  
    Ethan glanced at me. “Maybe Pasha was supposed to be at the neighbors’ as she often is when Chris and Juno are away at work. Chris was doing the night rotation shift. I’m not sure about Juno, but maybe she was away too. It happens often.”
    “So why Pasha was in their yard and not at the neighbors?” I was more curious than mad. Remembering the dog’s cute face with her tongue lolling, and the kitty’s affection, I couldn’t help but smile.  
    “Beats me.” He shrugged. “They have a small gate between their and the neighbors’ property, and maybe it was left open.”
    “Wow, they must be good friends with the neighbors to have a gate for such an easy access,” I mused.  
    “It’s Juno’s sister and brother-in-law. They are all very close.”
    Sister —that beautiful word didn’t exist in my life. But I pushed that thought away. The positive energy from Chris and Juno’s place still kept me upbeat, and I sure as hell wanted to hold on to that feeling for as long as I could.  

Chapter Nine

    GLORIA/LISBETH  

    Ethan said it will take us about two hours to get to Lincoln City where his cabin was. Once he referred to it as his family’s cabin.
    I longingly thought about how wonderful it would actually be to have a family, not even as large as Ethan’s, but any,