Page 9 of The Bunny Blues

I deserved more.

After hours spent hiking through the woods, it was a relief when I finally reached a tiny pub. Heading inside, I found a dark booth at the back and slouched down in my seat. I’d tucked my vibrant blue hair up in a baseball cap in an effort to keep from drawing attention to myself.

The sweet waitress sat overflowing baskets of onion rings, cheese curds, and fries in front of me. “Your burger will be out soon, honey.”

“Thank you,” I murmured, waiting until she’d headed back to the kitchen to start cramming the deep-fried goodness into my mouth.

I hadn’t made the healthiest selections off the menu, but I’d more than earned the carb overload thanks to my hike that morning. When the waitress returned with my burger, I’d already emptied the basket of cheese curds.

“Here we go.” She placed the burger in front of me and then, to my shock, sat down across from me. “I want to show you something, dear.”

Ignoring my slack jaw and wide eyes, she pulled her cell phone from her apron pocket and tapped at the screen. Turning it toward me, I stared at the video filling the screen.

It showed a female rabbit shifter.

My throat tightened, and my heart pounded.

“How did you know?” I managed to squeak.

“Because I’m a rabbit shifter too. I’m Bernice. It’s lovely to meet you.” At my stunned expression, Bernice chuckled. “Honey, with age comes experience. I can tell if someone is a shifter the moment they walk through the door. But I’ll admit, this is the first time I’ve seen a mated female rabbit alone and clearly trying to hide from the world.”

Every drop of blood in my body rushed to my feet, leaving me pale and shaking.

She knows.

“Have you looked in a mirror, sugar? You’re covered in twigs and mud, and you ate that food like you might not eat again for a while.” Reaching out, she laid her hand on my arm and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “I can see the pain in your eyes. You’re running like a scared rabbit.”

She wasn’t wrong about that.

Raw panic clawed at my chest. What if they came looking for me, and she told them I’d been here? What if she reported me to her elders?

“Stop worrying, or you’ll have more wrinkles than me by the time you reach my age.” Bernice tapped her phone and pulled up another video. “I have to go take another order, but I want you to watch these videos. This Monroe girl might be able to help you with whatever you’re going through.”

Placing the phone in front of me, she gave my arm a last gentle pat before standing and moving toward a table of men who’d just sat down.

My burger was forgotten as I watched clips of the woman named Monroe facing down her elders with a pack of wolves at her back. The videos had all been posted on Burrowbook, a social media platform for rabbit shifters.

I’d never bothered with social media, so I wasn’t surprised I’d missed hearing about Monroe. As I scrolled, I saw hundreds of comments from females saying they wished they’d been able to leave their burrows before they were forced into a match.

There were a few who were disgusted by Monroe’s blatant disrespect toward her elders, but those haters were far outnumbered by the women wishing they had Monroe’s strength.

I watched the videos over and over, and the thing that drew me the most was the pure love in Monroe’s wolf mates’ eyes as they watched her. She was their entire world.

My shifter side had already claimed my matched as mates, so that was something I would never experience. But maybe she could help keep me away from my fluffle, my elders, and my parents until my next heat.

Then I would be free from their control… permanently.

When Bernice returned to retrieve her phone, I’d made a decision.

I knew exactly where I was going.

Too excited to eat another bite, I placed enough money on the table to cover my bill and give Bernice a hefty tip. I couldn’t help but throw my arms around Bernice’s neck.

She wrapped her arms around me, and for the first time in my life, I knew what a motherly hug felt like. I committed the precious moment to memory, doubting I’d ever experience it again.

When I pulled away, Bernice patted my cheek. “Take care of yourself, dear. And remember to stop by if you’re ever in these parts again. I’d love to know you’re all right.”

With a last smile, I stepped outside. The edge of the forest beckoned me, and I could barely keep myself from running into the welcoming woods.

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