“We won’t,” Miles said. “We won’t unless she tells us she doesn’t want us.”
Chapter Seventeen
Harper
We had not run together yet. Usually, that would be the first thing a bunch of shifters would do, but we had so much else going on that somehow it had not happened. But my wolf was desperate to meet theirs, and so, one evening when we were all at home and free, I brought up the subject.
“If everyone is free, I have an idea.” How lame did that sound? But I went on anyway when they all looked up from what they were doing. Miles reading an article in an academic journal, Rowan reading a healer’s journal, and Lev eating ice cream.
“What is it?” Lev asked, scraping the bowl with his spoon. “If it’s about going out for more ice cream, I’m in.”
Miles grinned and set the magazine down. Most people read those things online, I thought, but not my guys. “Seriously, whatever you want to do. This article is putting me to sleep.”
Rowan winked. “I’m intrigued. So…what is the plan?”
“Can we take the beasts out for a run?”
They were all on their feet in an instant and headed for the door. As it closed behind them, I waited, still standing in the middle of the room. “Three, two, one.”
The door opened again to reveal the three of them standing together, cheeks reddened. “You coming, omega?” Miles asked.
“Oh, am I invited?” I swept past them, down to the yard and out the front gate. “Where can we do this?”
Turned out, there was a wooded area at the end of the block, so we didn’t even have to drive to get there. Even though they lived in an ordinary suburban area, once we stepped past the tree line, it was as if we were in the wilderness. They led me fifty yards in or so until we came to a fallen log where we could undress. I never would get tired of seeing them with orwithout clothes, and I was so excited to finally see their wolves. Holding back my own shift, I watched. Miles’ wolf emerged first. Magnificent, with thick, black gorgeous fur, and I reached for him, stroking him from shoulder to hip, letting him know how much I appreciated his creature. Rowan followed in shades of gray, and I had the opportunity to touch him as well. Both were larger than any wolf I’d seen, and I turned to Lev, waiting for his wolf. He would no doubt be even bigger, if his human frame offered a clue.
Then, his shift started, and I watched, heart in my throat, to see what kind of wolf he’d be. What color. His body rippled, hair sprouting, legs bending, head growing larger. His fur was brown, thick, and coarse, his eyes small and golden, his claws…
“Oh my goddess,” I gasped. “Lev. You’re a bear.”
All three animals fixed a stare on me, and I stared back. Not only was he a bear, but he was huge. That said…he was a bear! “Have you always been a bear?”
Feeling like an idiot, I quickly undressed and let my wolf take ascendance. She nuzzled all three animals and took off, racing through the trees, although I tried to warn that they knew where to go and we didn’t.
You thought he was a wolf?Apparently even my animal had known different.
Why didn’t you tell me?
How did you not know?
Darting to the side, we continued to run, leaping over branches and splashing through a creek. How did I not know one of my alphas was a bear? Was it because the scents were muddled from being a pack? Nobody ever told me he was a wolf. I had just assumed. Ducking under a bush, I watched the three of them go by, each magnificent on his own, but together? They could protect me from anything and would be glad to do it. They were kind and caring and had extraordinary beast sides.
I followed them, letting them lead whether they realized it or not and loving every moment of it. My wolf was madly in love, and I suspected I was getting there, too, but it was too early to tell them that. Wasn’t it?
When we got back to the tree line and shifted, I had something else I needed to tell them. And I hoped they’d laugh that I didn’t know Lev was a bear.
Chapter Eighteen
Rowan
Harper had been living with us for a few months. Her hormones had leveled out along with her scent and moods. All perfectly normal for an omega who switched medications, but it was taking its toll on her. She slept a lot more. Ate more.
She’d gained some weight which I was glad of. We made most of her meals here, at our home, so it was all nutritious food.
But there had been no more steps toward being mated since that night of her mini-heat. At least we hadn’t bitten her. Hadn’t been asked to bite her.
Matings between alpha packs and their omegas usually moved faster, but Harper had trust issues that we needed to be patient with.
I was unloading the groceries since it was my night to cook when I heard her stir in her room. She usually came out and nibbled on things while one of us was cooking. We’d all started making her a small snack plate as a standard practice.
