Read Online Shaping Destiny by Hmonroe - Free Book Online

anything else.” He held out his
hand. “This way.”
    We drove up the mountain
road for a while until he pulled off to the side to get out. The
scenery reminding me of home: trees, boulders, birds, and
quiet.
    “This is beautiful,” I
said.
    “Come this
way.”
    A skinny trail waved
between obstacles, going up higher and higher to the sky. I saw a
ledge near the top. It wasn’t the top of the mountain, just the
hill we climbed.
    “Is this the part where
you tell me you’re not my bodyguard but in fact a
murderer?”
    “Very funny. No, this is
the part where I show you a waterfall.”
    I reached for his hand as
he pulled me up the rest of the way. The waterfall was
enormous.
    “Oh wow! I didn’t know
this was here. When you said waterfall I thought narrow and
drizzling, but this . . . Wow!” It stretched about forty feet wide
and dropped a good twenty. The trail went over and followed the
side of the water all the way to the top. The water’s mist sprayed
us slightly as we climbed, but when we reached the top it only made
the scenery even more breathtaking.
    “This is what I wanted to
show you.”
    “I have never seen
anything like this.”
    “Here, sit down.” Max
gestured to a large boulder that looked like two giants had dented
when they sat. “I think we need to talk.”
    I nodded. “Max, you’re
more than just my bodyguard, aren’t you? The day I could smell so
clearly, you smelled Jared when I did. Then last night when you
healed so quickly. Why is all this happening?”
    “Well, the healing thing,
I truly have never seen before. That is new to me.” He paused for a
minute. “But before I tell you about me, I need to know one more
thing about you.”
    I waited for him to
continue.
    “There is no easy way to
ask you . . . Along with smell, hearing, and healing, can you shape
shift?”
    This wasn’t happening. Was
he really asking me the same question as the boss did when he
captured me? Fear ran down my spine. Could they possibly be working
together?
    I stood up. “What kind of
question is that? I told you the night the boss tormented me that
he expected me to be some kind of shape shifter, and here you are
asking me if I truly am one. The boss is insane; you don’t believe
for a minute that he was telling the truth, do you?”
    “Leah, please sit down.
I’m not going to hurt you.”
    “Well, when you start
asking the same questions the boss did, it makes me wonder.” I
crossed my arms against my chest. “Who hired you to protect
me?”
    “You can’t truly believe I
have anything to do with the boss. After all the times I fought
against him. You know I’ve already broken the rules by being with
you. I can’t tell you who hired me. This whole thing was supposed
to be discreet.”
    “I don’t know what to
think anymore. Please take me home.”
    Max ran his fingers
through his hair, feeling desperate. “Leah, I know you can feel the
connection we have with each other.” He stood to walk closer to me.
“I know you react to my touch, and I to yours.”
    My eyes locked with his,
in shock.
    Max slowly reached out
until the tips of his fingers glided along my cheek. “I can see the
goosebumps that form on your skin. I can feel your insides tremble
when our skin meets. I tried with all my might to stay away from
you in the beginning, but I couldn’t. I have never felt this
before. Please don’t run and think I’ll hurt you. Even the thought
of you being hurt enrages me. No one is going to hurt you, I
promise.”
    My body ignited on fire by
his words. “Why?” I put my hand to my chest, feeling so much
emotion for this man.
    “ I don’t know yet.” We got
lost in each other’s eyes, drifting hopelessly closer. As my body
heated through, his desired expression started to fade to
concern.
    “Your eyes.” He put his
hands on either side of my face. “I can hear your heart beating too
fast. You need to calm down, take a deep breath.”
    I tried breathing, but it
only came out