"Why wouldn't they? Predators eat prey. The strong eat the weak. That's the way the world works."
The confusion on Cloud's face melted into sympathy.
"Okay, um, this is awkward," Cloud mumbled, scratching his hair with his talons. "Shifters... don't eat each other. It's our biggest cultural taboo."
It felt like he was speaking a different language. And who was he to lecture me on shifter culture? I was just as much a shifter as he was.
"I don't believe you," I said.
"What?" Cloud squawked.
I narrowed my eyes. "That sounds exactly like what a harpy would say to a mouse to lull him into a false sense of security."
Cloud uttered a baffled sound. "I'm not trying to do that at all! Meeko, how many other shifters have you met?"
"What does that have to do with anything?"
Cloud took a moment to reply. "Because it might affect how you see the world."
My fur spiked in defiance. What a stupid thing to suggest. My worldview was just fine. It had kept me alive up until now, hadn’t it? There was no need to change my mind because this alpha was trying to convince me otherwise.
His weird big familydidsound like some kind of shifter paradise, but it wasn't realistic. I didn't believe for a second that the prey shifters lived in peace with their potential predators.
Cloud flapped his wings to bring us back up since his jarring halt put a stop to our flight. "Look, Meeko, I know how it must sound if you've never experienced otherwise, but I promise it's true. Did you know my omega father—the osprey—was actually trying to hunt my alpha father? That's how they met, and then later fell in love."
"You just proved my point. Shiftersdohunt each other."
Cloud shook his head. "No, that's the thing. When he realized my koi father was a shifter, he stopped immediately."
I let out a snort of disbelief. "Sure."
The ground beneath my feet shot up as Cloud lifted me to eye-level.
"Listen," he said seriously. "I know you're in a bad mood, and I can tolerate a lot of crap. But don't ever talk badly about my dad. He's one of the best men in the world."
Embarrassment prickled like hot needles under my fur. My ears flicked back. I couldn't meet Cloud's stern gaze. It reminded me too much of myself. If anyone spoke about my Da and Pa the way I was speaking of Cloud's father, I would've raked their eyes out already. He had way more self-control than I did.
An alpha predator shifter with self-control... Who would've thought it could happen?
"You're right," I murmured. "I am in a bad mood, and yes, I have a differing opinion on the world. But that doesn't mean I should speak badly of your family. I would hate it if anyone slandered my dads, so... I'm sorry."
Once again, I watched the stern expression on Cloud's face dissipate like mist, and his smile broke through like the sun. How he could bounce between moods so quickly, I had no clue. Once I was in a certain mood, I stuck there like glue. But Cloud was as fluid as the water spirit he claimed to be descended from.
In a way, I was a little jealous of him.
"It's okay," Cloud said, peppy as usual. "You should actually meet my family someday. If anyone can change your mind, it's them."
My first instinct was to refuse, but I couldn't ignore the tiny flutter of hope caught between my ribs. Was it really possible for so many shifters to live together in peace? To love and protect each other?
I didn't know. But deep down, I wanted to believe it.
6
Cloud
Since the sunwas still in the sky, we flew on. Mistral was nowhere in sight.
My mind was still reeling from what Meeko told me. It explained so much of his personality. Why he was so sharp and wary, why he was so quick to be on the offensive. He went through life thinking everyone—true animals and shifters alike—were trying to kill him. That was enough to drive anyone a little mad.
