"We are," Kamari confirmed. He helped me up, trying to stifle a laugh. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," I said. "See what I meant about my family?"
Everyone else piled out to see what the commotion was all about. Starry, Ashe and Quinn all perked up when they saw Kamari. As they all clamored to ask who he was and where I'd gone and what happened, I shut everyone up with a wave of my hand.
"Okay, who's the fastest runner?" I asked.
"Me," Lupa and Leveret said at the same time, one in an upbeat tone and one in a deadpan one.
"Fine. Both of you go get my parents," I said. "I've got something to tell everybody and I'd rather do it all at once."
Lupa and Leveret shifted into their respective wolf and hare forms, then dashed off. Their sibling rivalry activated as they both tried to outdo the other and they disappeared into the trees. When they were gone, I introduced all my cousins to Kamari one by one. They were all happy to meet him, which warmed my heart.
"What kind of shifter are you?" Starry asked, tilting her head and signing the question.
I opened my mouth to translate but to my surprise, Kamari signed back, "O-R-C-A. Whale."
Starry beamed, bouncing up and down. "That's so cool!"
I gawked at my mate. "I didn't know you knew sign language, Kamari!"
"Only a little," Kamari replied sheepishly, trying to sign as he spoke. "One of the omegas at the haven taught me back when he was only nonverbal."
Starry smiled. "Just like me. I can understand your voice, by the way. You don't have to sign."
Kamari chuckled and signed back, "I'm rusty. Need to learn."
"So what's this big announcement you're planning, Zak?" Quinn asked coyly, shooting me a fox-like grin. "I can only imagine it's one of a few things."
"Keep your pants on and you'll find out soon," I said.
It wasn't long before a wolf and a hare zoomed back into the clearing, followed by a black wolf and a man. Pops was gasping for breath.
"Man, sometimes I amreallyjealous of you land shifters," Pops muttered. "I should ask Nautilus for some more waterways or something..."
Dad gasped when he saw me. He shifted and ran towards me, hugging me hard. "Zak! Oh gods, I was so worried. Don't you ever run off without telling me again!" He squeezed harder, almost making me choke.
Relief washed over me. We'd both had time to cool off since our last conversation. The disappointment and frustration in his voice was gone. I hugged him back fiercely.
"Sorry, Dad," I said softly. "For running off. And... for what I said before."
Dad just nodded, too overcome with emotion to speak. He didn't have to say anything. I knew we were cool again.
Pops put his hands on his hips as he examined Kamari. "Now, who’s this handsome fellow? I'm assuming he has something to do with the reason we ran all the way over here?"
"Right." My heart began to race as I went to Kamari's side. I wasn't anxious, just excited, but I was still restless. "Dad, Pops, this is Kamari. He's an orca shifter. And my fated mate."
Dad's hands flew to his mouth in shock. Pops stared, slack-jawed.
Kamari's cheeks flushed. "Hello. It's an honor to meet you both. I hope you'll accept me into your family."
I snorted. "You don't have to be that formal."
That made Kamari flush deeper. "I'm just being polite--"
He was cut off as Pops grabbed his hand and shook it. "Wow, an orca! That's awesome! Now I won't be the only aquatic shifter around here!" He paused. "You twoarestaying here, right? Or at least nearby?"
I shot Kamari anI-told-you-solook. "About that, Pops... We're not just fated mates. Kamari's pregnant."
