“I guess it’s worth a try, but Shawn has never shifted.I honestly don’t even know if he wants too.”
“He may not have a choice.”
When they walked inside Shawn’s house, the smell of fried chicken hit them both.El’s stomach growled loudly.
“I tried to make them wait, but they’re animals, every last one of them,” Shawn’s mother said when El and Ryan entered the kitchen.
“It’s fine, I’m sure you made more than enough,” El laughed.
“I set you some aside, it’s in the oven keeping warm.”
El and Ryan fixed their plates and joined the rest of the gang where they were scattered around the living room eating fried chicken like it was their last meal.Ryan took a seat on the far wall so that he could take in the entire room and also watch the door.He hadn’t scented any panthers while they had been out on their walk, but that didn’t mean they weren’t around.Being away from the Pride made him edgy.
He watched as El made her way to Marcus, sitting on the floor in front of him.She leaned against the couch, in between Marcus’ legs.Ryan envied the relationship she had with Marcus.It had been so easy for them from the start.Of course, everyone felt that way around Marcus.Whether it was his age or just his overall calm demeanors, Ryan wasn’t sure he had ever met anyone that wasn’t at ease around the guy.
Everyone ate chicken until they could barely move.Shawn’s mother wasn’t just the best cook Ryan had ever met, but she was so full of love, not just for Shawn, but for El it was humbling.Ryan wished his mother would welcome El the way Shawn’s mother had.Ryan would give anything to have his whole family as at ease and laughing with ease around his mother the way they all were with Shawn’s.El was completely comfortable around the woman.They were openly affectionate, and their closeness was evident to everyone in the room.Ryan could tell Shawn liked watching them interact, as well.On more than one occasion, Ryan had caught Shawn watching El, and his mother with a smile stretched across his lips.
Ryan couldn’t blame the guy; he’d feel the same way.Ryan did feel the same way in a sense.He was glad they all had a place they could come and be at ease the way they were now.Ryan wished it would last.He wanted their carefree attitudes and laughter to last a million years, but he knew it wasn’t part of their destiny as El had put it.
Chapter 12
El
Two dayslater they pulled out of Shawn’s mother’s home, and El could already feel the heaviness of what they were about to embark on weigh down on her the further they got from their safe haven.
They had spent two days laughing, eating, and relaxing under Shawn’s motherly watch.El was glad that the Triad brothers had felt the same way about Shawn’s mother as she did.Each of them was calling her mom by the time the first day was up.Shawn liked the fact that his mom had been a hit as well, even though he didn’t say as much.Shawn hadn’t said much at all since he had learned about the legend.
El wasn’t ready to address his silence with him.She was still wrapping her mind around it all herself, and she knew Shawn was processing every worst-case scenario imaginable.The man was bred for intensity.
She had decided to ride back with Ryan, and Marcus had gladly jumped over to ride with Shawn.Ryan and Trip weren’t very talkative, but their silence was different.They were better able to keep their emotions at bay.
“Has Shawn mentioned anything to you guys about learning how to get in touch with his panther?”El asked when the thought occurred to her.
“He briefly mentioned something to me about it,” Ryan said, his tone dismissive.
El looked in the back at Trip who was trying his best not to get involved in the conversation either.
“There’s more to this conversation than what you’re saying.Can we just get it out in the open?”El sighed.
“El, we just made amends, I don’t want you upset with me,” Ryan explained.
“So basically, you’ve made a decision I won’t agree with, and now you don’t want to tell me about it?”
“El,” Ryan pleaded.
“What if I said I wouldn’t get upset?Let’s discuss it like adults, and if in the end we have to agree to disagree, I won’t pout.”
“So, you’re admitting that you pout?”Trip joked from the back seat.
“No, but if I would think about pouting after this conversation, I will refrain,” El smiled back to Trip.
Ryan sighed.El knew she had him.
“Shawn is interested in pursuing his panther, but I had asked him to not do so, at least not right now.”
El opened her mouth to say something and then immediately clamped it shut.She had promised to discuss it like adults, so she couldn’t start spouting off the first things that come to her mind.There were two sides to the story, so she needed to see it from both sides as best as she could.Shawn undoubtedly wanted to discover who he was, and in doing so, that would no doubt bring her and him closer.
Ryan already has a lot on his plate as Alpha to the Pride and the fact that he’s mated to a panther that can also shift to a lion.He needs to punish his mother and his mate in front of the pride all the while keep from getting El pregnant and figuring out how to keep her safe from an unknown assailant.El let out a breath.Just thinking about it all stressed her out.
