Page 49 of Midlife Shifter Unexpected

“That is true,” Hilda said. “But our families have been protecting yours for hundreds of years, also in ignorance. The fact that they allowed you to step into this position is another problem. You weren’t given all the information. If you'd been given the information from them, then maybe you would be able to put the pieces together but we are half blind and you’re half blind. Together we do not make a completely sighted person. We make two half blind people with monsters, vampires, and zombies sure to come if we don’t get this sorted.”

“It would be kind of cool to know why the cemetery is so important,” Trina said. Anita just stood quietly by, not saying a word. I was sure she was just curious as the rest of us. It was quite amazing to me how long they’d gone, never knowing for generations the purpose of the very thing they were guarding.

Mae had her arms folded across her chest and was shaking her head.

“I’ve got to think about it, you guys. I understand what you’re saying. I hurt you and it’s important to me that you understand that I hurt you. If I tell you the truth of the cemetery, I will be breaking a rule of trust. I’m so new to this world, I don’t even know what that means.”

“Could put you in jail.” Matheus said gruffly.

“We’ll give you your space,” Hilda said, motioning the kids to the door. “Just make sure the guys stay here to protect you .”

“Like you have to tell me to stay here?” Branson said. “I’m not a dog.”

Pain arched through my body as I shifted slightly.

“She moved,” Jane said.

“The poison’s wearing off,” Matheus said. “That’s earlier than I expected. It must be because she’s a werewolf. She is still very stiff.”

“Keep using the salves and when she’s able to actually move, I’ve created a tonic. It’s on my table over there. Warm it up. You could even throw in a little nip of whiskey if you want. It’ll warm her up and get her insides working again,” Trina said as she ushered her children out the door.

“Thank you, Trina,” Mae said. “I know we don’t always see eye to eye, but I appreciate you.”

“No, I don't suppose we will ever see eye to eye,” Trina said. “But we have bigger things to worry about than your opinion versus my opinion.”

“I’m going to go check the perimeter,” Branson said, giving Mae a quick kiss before he left the door. I really admired their relationship. They seemed to be making it work. Branson had eyes only for Mae and he took such great care of her, always protecting her and making sure she was safe. I knew it was his job as part of The Estate, but still, he did it with so much care and concern, the same way Matheus was taking care of me right now.

I slightly tilted my head and gazed at Matheus. His bright green eyes and brown curly hair fell forward as he smiled down at me.

“We’ll have you better in no time,” he said, leaning down and giving me a kiss on my long wolf nose. He stroked his thumb over my forehead and it felt so good. I closed my eyes and felt myself drift into a calming sleep.

Chapter 36

My eyes opened wide in the pitch-black night. I had fallen asleep in front of the fire, but now the fire was out. I sat up. I was no longer in wolf form. My body ached.

I sniffed the air. There was something rotten. It wasn’t the smell of dead bodies. It was the scent of long-term decay wafting on the high winds that tore through Cougar Creek. The howling of the wind had woken me.

I was covered in a blanket but naked underneath. Someone had thought to set clothes out on the couch for me to put on if I happened to shift while everybody was asleep. Matheus was still curled up on the couch. But I didn’t want to wake him.

I slipped into the kitchen, thinking that maybe a cup of hot tea would be good.

Mae was sitting there by the fire, wide awake. She had her arms folded around her stomach.

“Is everything okay?” I asked quietly.

“ It’s all too much,” she said, looking at me, her eyes wide and concerned. “I think you’re the only one I can talk to about this kind of stuff because I feel so overwhelmed. I came up here to sort my life out after leaving my husband and, you know, now I’m dealing with vampires and monsters and satyrs and shapeshifters. I think we even have zombies now, and I don’t know how to stop them. I have no clue as to what I’m actually doing and I always thought that at this stage of my life, at this age... I mean, I’m forty-nine. My birthday is in a few months and then I’ll be the big five-oh. I thought at this stage I would actually know a few things, that I’d have some of the answers and…Holy fuck, I don’t.”

I sat down next to her and a cup of tea floated from the kitchen counter to the table in front of me by the fire.

“You are not alone,” I said, reaching out and clasping her hand. “I’m just as confused and lost as you are.”

“That’s supposed to be helpful?” she asked.

“I don’t know, maybe. Maybe middle-age is kind of like being a teenager again. You know how when you were a teenager, you were creating dreams and visions for the rest of your life and you were hanging out with like-minded people, mostly other girls, and having a good time. You know that? Maybe we can do that again.”

“I’ve got a boyfriend now,” Mae said.

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