“A Coke would be nice, please.”
Griffith looked at the wolf, who stuck out his tongue and gave a quick pant.
“Water for you, Kyle,” he said softly. “Okay?”
The wolf grunted.
Griffith brought out a large bowl with fresh, cool water and two Cokes. We both sat on the couch as the wolf lapped at the bowl, drinking half the water in one gulp.
“Nice place,” I said.
“Thanks. It belonged to my grandfather. My parents own it now. I pay them rent, but it’s very low.”
As we talked, the house took on a comfy, warm atmosphere. Everything about Griffith, and now Kyle, made me feel like this was right. True. Like a special lightning strike that hit only once a lifetime, if that.
At last, the wolf, settled. He laid his head on his front paws between our feet. After a minute, we heard soft, slightly wheezing breaths.
“Is he asleep?” Griffith asked.
“I think so.”
“He’s so wonderful. Do you think he accepts us?”
“If not, he’s well on his way,” I replied, hoping on all the stars above I was right.
Chapter Seven
Kyle
I woke before my alarm, warm and snug in bed, feeling more refreshed than I had in a long time. I’d had the weirdest dream. I’d had my beast force a shift, a dragon circled me like prey, a bear stalked me, and I was told I was their mate. Except that I wasn’t home, and it hadn’t been a dream.
I was…shit.
I opened my eyes. It was real. All of it actually happened. I was with the two alphas, and not just in their home by myself, no. They were there, one on each side of me, watching me as if I was precious or fragile. Possibly both.
“How are you feeling?” the bear, whose name I recalled was Griffith, asked.
“Okay?” It came out as a question.
Falkan, the dragon, just watched as the bear continued. “Do you remember where you are?”
“Yeah.” It would almost be easier if I hadn’t because now all I wanted to do was hide. So, I did. I pulled the covers up and over my head. “I remember everything.”
How freaking embarrassing. I shifted uncontrollably, got stuck, and they had to take me back in my fur. At least I wasn’t in a human space when it happened. Thank the goddess for the small things.
“You don’t need to be scared, little one.” This time, it was the dragon who spoke. It didn’t feel like they were teaming up on me as much as helping each other.
I tried to remember if they’d said anything about their relationship. They had said I was their mate, but were they each other’s? Why were there pockets of missing memory? Had mymaned wolf taken that much control over me? He must have; otherwise, I’d never have shifted in the first place.
Little one.The words echoed in my head. They were making fun of me. Only, it didn’t feel like mocking at all. If anything, it felt like a term of endearment. Why was this so confusing? Maybe because it smelled so incredible in here.
Someone tugged down on my blanket, and I lessened my grip to allow it to be pulled until my face was revealed.
“You don’t need to be embarrassed. Your beast recognized us and got a tad possessive.” Griffith smiled as if it were the best thing ever. “He recognized we are your mates.”
I ignored the mate comment. There was enough happening without that.
“Do you even know what I am?” I asked, acknowledging the elephant in the room that was my furry self.
