Page 23 of Bunny Be Mine
“They will. Trust me, okay?” Fen stared into my eyes and I hoped that he saw my love shining through.
“I do.” I caught myself switching my gaze between his hypnotizing eyes and his tempting mouth.
“Come to class with me tomorrow. We can get all the signatures and hand it into the dean after.” Fen placed his hand on my cheek. “I won’t let anything happen to you or to our babies.”
“I know.” I turned my head and kissed his palm.
“Let’s go shift.” Fen ran a finger down my cheek. “The doctor said it’s still safe and that it may calm your anxiety. Wanna give it a try?”
“Yeah.” I pulled away a bit but didn’t end contact with my mate’s body. “As long as you’re with me. My rabbit wants me to shift. I know I will still worry afterward, but I think connecting with nature and my animal may help.”
Heading out onto the campus, Fen led me to the wooded area the students used to shift. Secluded enough not to cause drama with the humans and connected to a private lake, the land here was perfect for all of us to allow our beasts free. Strict pack laws made sure that there was harmony among all types of shifters in the area, so prey shifters like myself need not worry about predators taking advantage of us during weakened moments like mid-shift. Fen had taken me here several times since we arrived, and I still felt a magical welcome when entering the boundaries of the area.
“Ready to change!” Fen placed our backpacks by a tree and started to undress. “We can leave everything here and come back for it after.”
“Let’s do this.” I shrugged out of my shirt and undid my pants, no time like waiting. I could feel my rabbit just below the surface. I needed this more than anything at that moment. “Thank you for bringing me here. I needed this.”
“Anything for you.” I could feel Fen’s sincerity, his determination. Even if I was a bit of a pain at times,thanks hormones, Fen was always there doing anything for me.
Once undressed, I closed my eyes and let the shift take over, losing myself in the sensory assault of the transformation.
Opening my eyes, the world looked different but beautiful, and having my mate nearby eased any lingering fear that I’d be attacked. I was able to just be my animal for a bit and let this part of me heal my soul.
When a wolf’s snout bopped me from behind, I gave in to the invite to play with my mate. Together in these forms, we defied the expectations to be the hunter and the hunted and instead Fen played my protector as I hopped around and felt the grass beneath my furry paws.
After about two hours, hunger made me shift back. “I could have eaten as my rabbit but I really want some street tacos instead.”
“As you wish.” Fen had shifted back as well and now stood handing me my backpack and clothes. “My favorite truck usually parks a few blocks away; let’s satisfy that craving.”
“You are too good to me.” I leaned up and pecked his cheek. “I’m sorry I got so panicked. The shift has helped though. Thanks for suggesting it.”
“Anytime.” Fen took my hand in his and guided us toward the neighborhood that housed the best food trucks in the city. “Let’s feed you and then head home?”
Warmth from my mate’s love flooded me through our mate bond. For the moment, life was perfect. “Yeah. Let’s go.”
Fen
“I can’t believe how good these are.” Arley finished the last bite of his taco and wiped his mouth. I loved how enthusiastically Arley enjoyed food. It gave me warm feelings knowing I was taking care of my mate, my pregnant mate. “Can we get dessert now?”
“Of course we can.” With my hand on his back, I led my mate over to the food truck that served the best frozen treats in the Midwest.
“Look what we have here.” Marcus’ growl set my hair on end and I turned to face the man I once called a friend. Why did he have to pop up like a zit? No matter how many times you popped it, it just kept coming back.
“What are you doing here, Marcus?” I let my wolf out just enough to have his power flash in my eyes. I couldn’t let Marcus think he had dominance over me in either form. I would make him pay for lingering and terrifying my mate. I was just man enough, and alpha enough, to do it the correct way.
“We are here to bring our little bunny here back home. He belongs with us.” Marcus and his friends now surrounded us. Several other students stood nearby but so far were only onlookers. I hoped it stayed that way and no one got hurt.
“Marcus. I thought we talked about this.” I shook my head, fully exasperated with this man. This entire situation was fucked up. “Arley doesn’t belong to you or to the pack. We are together, and we both belong here now. Go home before you start even more trouble than you already have.” How dense was he?
“We aren’t leaving without Arley. What we say is ours, is ours.” Marcus grabbed my mate’s arm and tugged. “Now come home.”
“He’s not going anywhere with you.” Patrick placed his hand on Marcus’ shoulder. Damn man was lucky I had seen Patrick come up behind him. It wouldn’t have done any good to shift in public, but I would have if I had to protect my mate.
Marcus let go of Arley’s arm, and I pulled my mate behind me in protection. “Marcus, just leave.”
Marcus scoffed and looked around at his guys. “There are more of us than the three of you. What are you going to do about it if we refuse to leave?”
“We already warned you once, and you ignored us. This time, it’s not going to go as easily for you all I’m afraid.” Patrick snapped his fingers. Samuel, James, and a few other large shifters from the campus pack approached the group. “It was never just the three of us against you.” At that moment, I was thankful for my friends; they were there for us, through thick and thin, and always had our backs. I hoped to one day repay the favor.
