His fur is much softer than I expected.I relax a bit as I press my fingers more firmly against him.I pet him a few times, marveling at his size and strength.
When I pull my hand away, he retreats until he’s by his clothes.As fast as he shifted into a wolf, he returns to his human form.
I look away as he dresses and sits beside my bed again.I’m freaking out inside, trying to process everything.
“Do you believe me now?”he asks softly.
I nod wordlessly, licking my dry lips.
His eyes track the movement hungrily.“You must have questions.”
“About a million of them.”
He leans back in the chair.“Ask away.”
“How did you know you were a shifter?Do other people here know about you?Is it hereditary?Does it hurt to shift?Howdo you shift?Do you spend half your time as a wolf and the other half as a human?”Each question comes faster than the last.
“It’s hereditary.My parents were also shifters, and they told me when I was a kid.The other shifters here know about me.We’re all part of a pack.A few humans know, too, but they’re all mated to shifters.”
He pauses to let me absorb his words.“It can be uncomfortable to shift, but I wouldn’t say painful.I’m not sure how it all happens, not technically.I allow my wolf to push forward, and I shift.I spend most of my time as a human, but I let my wolf out to run and blow off some steam as often as I can.”
“Can you talk to your wolf?”
“Yeah.He’s in my head all the time.I can block him out, like when I’m operating or if he’s being particularly annoying, but the rest of the time, he’s there.”
“What’s he saying now?”
Christian gives me a half-smile.“He wants me to stop answering these questions and tell you about fated mates.”
“What about fated mates?”
“Well, we’re fated mates.We’re meant to be together, literally fated to each other.We’re a perfect match.No one will ever love you more than I do.No one will ever have this need to make sure that you’re safe and cared for as I do.”
I study him, looking for any sign of deceit and finding none.
“Shifters don’t date.We don’t have casual sex.We search for our fated mate, and we’re with them for life.”
“I don’t… I’ve never dated either or… you know,” I admit quietly, my cheeks heating.
“Good.We’ll be each other’s first and only.”
I frown.“You’re so confident, so sure.”
“I’ve known all my life that this is how it would work,” he explains.“And I know you probably need time.I’ll give you as much as you want.I just… I need to be around you.”
I gesture around me with a sardonic smile.“I’m not going anywhere.”
He smiles slightly and takes a deep breath.“There’s something else you should know.”
“Okay.”I brace for him to say something crazy.
“Shifters have this thing called the mating moon or mating heat.Every month, on the night of the full moon, we experience intense lust, an intense urge to be with each other.”
“Oh…”
“It’s coming up.We can fight it.I won’t pressure you to do anything you don’t want and never will.But I… wanted to prepare you.”
“Okay,” I whisper.
