Page 44 of Chasing Stripes

While Bartek was momentarily distracted helping Hudson with something in the study, Gloria pulled Artemis aside into a small library room.

“I want to show you something,” Gloria said, removing an old leather-bound book from a locked cabinet. “The pride’s recipe book—part cookbook, part historical record. This is a significant gesture,” Gloria explained, watching Artemis carefully. “Only family members have access to these pages.”

As Artemis carefully turned the ancient pages, she saw recipes interwoven with shifter history—notes on ingredients that enhance shifting abilities, remedies for controlling transformations during emotional upheaval, even records of tiger bloodlines.

“We’ve been waiting for someone who could tame both sides of my son,” Gloria said softly. “His human nature and his tiger. I believe you might be that person, Artemis.”

The weight of those words settled around Artemis’s shoulders—not a burden, but a mantle of trust. This family with its centuries of tradition and pride was cautiously opening its doors to her.

“I don’t know what to say,” she admitted.

“You don’t need to say anything,” Gloria patted her hand. “Just be patient with him. Alphas are stubborn creatures especially when they’re fighting their own hearts.”

When it came time to leave, everyone gathered to say good-bye—the twins extracting promises of magical cookies, Mimi insisting Artemis come back soon, and Hudson offering a surprisingly warm embrace.

“Thank you for coming,” Bartek said as they stepped onto the porch, the night air cool and fragrant with pine. Moonlight bathed the yard in silver, the forest beyond the house rustling with nocturnal activity.

“Thank you for inviting me,” Artemis replied. “They’re wonderful.”

“They adore you.” His voice roughened. “They’re not the only ones.”

Artemis’s heart skipped. “Who else?” she asked boldly.

Bartek stepped closer, the space between them charged with electricity. His eyes shifted fully amber, his control visibly slipping as his gaze dropped to her lips.

“I think I’m losing the battle I’ve been fighting since we met,” he admitted, voice dropping to a rumble that sent shivers down her spine.

Artemis tilted her face up. “Then surrender,” she whispered.

The moment hung between them for one heartbeat, two—then Bartek’s restraint finally broke. He leaned down, one hand gently cupping her cheek as his lips met hers in a kiss that started impossibly soft and sweet.

The handprints on her waist flared with golden light visible through her dress. A wave of magic rippled outward from where they touched, causing the porch lights to brighten dramatically, nearby plants to suddenly bloom, and a soft humming energy to vibrate in the air around them.

The kiss deepened slightly, both of them surrendering to what they’d been fighting, until?—

“Bartek! Did you show Artemis your tree fort?” Mimi shouted from inside, the front door starting to open.

They reluctantly broke apart, breathless and stunned by the intensity of even that brief connection. Bartek’s eyes glowed fully amber now, his control clearly tenuous.

“To be continued,” Artemis whispered with a smile, touching his face gently.

“Count on it, my fairy princess,” he murmured, the endearment slipping out naturally.

Artemis’s heart fluttered at the nickname. “Careful there, tiger hunk,” she teased softly, enjoying the surprised delight that flickered across his face. “I might start thinking you like me.”

“Tiger hunk?” He raised an eyebrow, though his lips quirked upward.

“Just calling it like I see it,” she replied with a grin, not backing down. “Those photos might be cute, but you’ve definitely... grown into your stripes.”

His low chuckle sent warmth spreading through her chest. “Only you could get away with that,” he said, reluctantly stepping back as Mimi’s footsteps approached.

THIRTY-EIGHT

The Moonlit Cauldron hummed with Friday night activity when Artemis pushed through the oak door three nights later. Kalyna had insisted on a girls’ night out, claiming Artemis needed “proper female counsel” after spending the week working closely with Bartek on festival preparations.

The truth was Artemis welcomed the distraction. Ever since that kiss on his family’s porch—and the second, more heated one outside her bakery the following night—she’d struggled to focus on anything but Bartek. Their magic seemed to surge stronger with each meeting, culminating in yesterday’s mishap when their hands brushed over a recipe card and every pot in the bakery had levitated for a full minute.

The fox shifter’s copper hair caught the light from floating candles as she waved from a circular booth tucked into the corner. Beside her sat a woman with an elegant dark braid and intense amber eyes—compact but commanding with a predator’s confidence. On the other side lounged a blonde woman with a warm smile.

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