Page 28 of Shifter's Dream

“Reed Ann, it’s been nine days since we last spoke.”

“I know, Mom, sorry. Hey, I’m glad you called me. I wanted to talk to you about something.”

“What dear?”

“Remember when I was four, and uh, I got… lost in the forest?

Her mom’s voice went careful. “Yes.”

“You told me it was my father who chased me in there.”

Her mom’s tone was icy. “I did.”

“Mom, did you tell me the truth?”

Her mother stammered, then sighed, then did something she’d never done to Reed before. The line went dead. Her mom had hung up on her.

Reed continued to hold the phone up to her ear, her stomach in knots, trying to figure out what that meant. She’d never seen a picture of her father, never met him except for that one time he chased her in the forest. She’d been missing until after dark, half the day, before her mother had called the police. She didn’t know any of the rest of the details, her mother had never been willing to talk about them, and she’d never remembered them. But she couldn’t trust the dream, it could not be what actually happened. Men did not turn into wolves. Trees did not move.

Reed left the coffee shop and headed home, her thoughts on overdrive, to the point that they blinded her to her turn and she missed it. She cursed lightly, deciding to turn around at the next chance and double back. The road took her past the piece of the forest that separated her subdivision with the next subdivision, the forest that wouldcatch her eyeif she made the mistake of looking at it too long. She turned left at the next street, marking the mix of businesses and residences on the street, pulling into a driveway to turn around. She did a K turn, then stopped and stared at the white-paneled, two-story house for a long time. There were cats everywhere, lounging on the porch steps, under the porch, in the bushes, even looking out the upstairs windows.

It made her think of Wiz, and wonder for a moment if he wasn’t a stray at all. Her house was only a mile that way, through the forest, which was nothing for a cat. Thinking of him put a smile on her face, and muted the craziness of her life a little. Sometimes she thought that cat was the only thing keeping her sane.

She searched the faces of the cats for that one male calico that had singled her out, but didn’t see him. She ignored the ache in her gut and put the car in gear to head for home, her mind still trying to puzzle over everything that had happened to her.

Reed pulled into her own parking stall, glad to be home, planning to go lick her wounds until her new job started the next day. On her way to the private entrance to her apartment, the male calico cat she’d been searching for came around the back of the house, meowing pathetically.

“Shh,” she shushed the cat, so glad to see him, but eyeing the curtains of her landlord’s apartment. “Go around the back,” she whispered, pushing it away from the door with her foot.

When she got inside, the note waiting for her from her landlord made her regret ever feeding the cat.

It said,One more blatant violation of the rental contract and you’re out! This is your last warning.

Was she still going to feed the cat?

Maybe.

18 – Forlorn

Troy plodded along the trail behind the house at VF, Chelsea pacing him in the fiercely delicate way of the pampered American housecat. His head was down, his tail would have been between his legs. He had no idea what to do about finding his mate. He’d said it was his move to make, and everyone was waiting for him to make that move, but his wolf wasn’t talking, and Troy could not decide what that move should be.

Someone moved behind him. Troy scented deeply. Trevor, with Treena in his arms. Troy slowed so they could catch up.

Trevor fell into step next to him.

After a few moments of silence, Troy spoke to his brother inruhi.Why did I do exactly the wrong thing? Why can’t I figure out what to do now?

Trevor only thought for a moment. “Love doesn't come naturally sometimes. Sure, you have a fated mate but that doesn't mean that you won't have to work on figuring out what happily ever after means to you. Your wolf is just your GPS, Troy. You still have to drive the car. You have to find her and apologize, that’s all. You have to make it right.”

Troy almost understood, but he had to be perfectly clear.Apologize for claiming my mate? For listening to my wolf?

“Apologize for claiming her without her permission.”

Troy shook his head. That did not help. “Her scent gave permission,” he said.

Trevor didn’t miss a beat. “Her body may have given you permission but her brain never gave you her consent.”

Troy’s head got it, but his heart and his wolf did not.

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