As the tour started with the elephant paddock, Mercer said, “A few soulmates have come from the tours, but not as many as the alphas had hoped.It’s still a good business decision, but we have plenty of shifters who are still waiting for their forever-person.”
“How many have come from the tour?”Darcy asked.
“Let’s see,” Rhomi said, thoughtfully.“It started with Adriana, who’s mated to gorilla Zane, then Celeste, who’s mated to Jupiter, a lion.Then Rhapsody—who is actually a panther shifter—bought a ticket online and found her soulmate in Kelley, an elephant.”As they talked about the humans and shifters who’ve come on the tours and found their happily ever afters, Ford was really amazed.
“I’m sure the alphas hoped for more, but it seems pretty impressive that so many have found their soulmates,” Ford said.“Stallions don’t have that kind of luxury, we just have to hope we run into our soulmates out in the wild, so to speak.”
He turned in the seat and smiled at Darcy.She grinned at him.
“It was definitelywildmeeting you and learning the truth.”
They got out of the Jeep and walked to the big iron gate that allowed tour guests to see into the paddock, and the females talked about wolf shifters and how awesome they were.
He and Mercer both made disgruntled noises.
“I think lions are pretty awesome,” Rhomi said.
“And stallions too,” Darcy said.
“That’s more like it,” Ford said.
They continued on the tour, stopping at the lion, bear, and gorilla paddocks, ending with the norms.
“Tank is so cool,” Darcy said.
Ford put his arm over her shoulder and drew her close.“I think so too.”
“Are there non-bitey shifters?”She peered up at him.
“Non-bitey?”he asked.
“You know, not predators.”
“I’m not sure, actually.I don’t know if people would consider stallions to be predators, so I guess it depends on your definition.”
“Imagine a bunny shifter—how would someone even get that small?”Rhomi asked.
“Babe, I don’t think there are bunny shifters,” Mercer said.
“You don’t know.There could be a whole warren of them somewhere, and they’re just making fools of everyone and stealing carrots.”
“Sure, whatever you say,” Mercer said, smiling indulgently.
“I think maybe not bunnies, but I guess since I didn’t know there were shifters to begin with until a few weeks ago,” Darcy said, “that maybe I think anything is possible.”
“We found each other in a crazy, once in a lifetime way,” Ford said.“I’d agree with that one hundred percent.”
As they finished up the tour and headed back to the entrance with the Jeep so the staff could open the tours when the park opened, Ford thought how lucky he truly was.
If he hadn’t come to the park that day—if Darcy hadn’t been hosting Rhomi’s shower at that exact moment—they may never have met.How else could it be described except as luck?
Maybe fate or destiny.
But whatever it was called, he was damn thankful for it.
* * *
“I thought Reagan was going to join us for lunch?”Darcy asked as they grabbed lunch in the employee cafeteria.There were hot and cold sandwiches, prepared salads, and covered plates under a warmer.
