Page 17 of The Suspicious Mate

"This mission is to eliminate, not just teach them, the error of their ways?" Noa asked just so he was clear. He wanted the threat to his mate eradicated.

“We eliminate them all. There is no place here for shifter scum like this bunch. We take them out now before they have time to get a foothold in this town. Based on the information Zeke has provided, it has become clear that if we don't deal with the threat now, we will pay in the long run, and so may our mates." Cross made his position crystal clear. "Speaking of mates, how is it going with Kallan?"

"He saw my bear edging to the surface, so I thought it would be a good time to talk about shifters and the paranormal world. Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure he thinks that I'm bonkers."

"Show him your bear and take it from there," Cross advised. "It will work out, I promise."

"I plan to; I only hope he takes it well."

"Autry endured trial by fire, and he handled it okay, so your Kallan will be fine." Cross assured. They made arrangements for the morning, and Noa closed the call and returned to the bedroom. When he walked in, he saw the bathroom door closed and heard the shower running. He slipped on his underwear but didn't get dressed in anticipation of shifting.

After about fifteen minutes, he approached the door and tested the handle, and it was locked. He called Kallan's name, but there was no answer. He waited a couple more minutes before breaking the lock with his grip and opening the door.

Kallan ran from the yard keeping to the bushes and out onto the road, where he kept running until he made it about a block away. He then called for a cab to pick him up and take him to Mac's place. He called him from the cab and told him he was on his way and would explain when he got there.

Kallan wanted to cry because leaving Noa was devastating. He ran away without a word, and that's not his usual behavior. He should have spoken to Noa and tried to help him. Running was making him feel as if he let the man down in some way. The further he got from Noa, the more acute he felt the loss and the pain as it continued to grow in his midsection and then fanned out throughout his body.

He couldn't comprehend the strange and intense feelings of loss and need that were overtaking his body, mind, and soul. He even thought he could feel the shock and disappointment that Noa was experiencing on finding him gone. He felt like a complete bastard for running out. When the cab pulled into Mac's drive, he almost asked him to turn around and take him back to Noa, but he resisted. He paid the driver and walked up to Mac's door, where he was waiting.

"Come in, tell me what's going on." He ushered Kallan inside and to the kitchen, where he sat him at the table and handed him a cup of coffee. He apparently wanted Kallan awake and alert since coffee was not usual for this hour. It was hot and comforting, so Kallan didn't care. He took a long sip and then sat there staring at Mac for a few minutes.

“What happened?” Mac prompted as he sat down next to him.

"I was at Noa's place. We ended up there after sightseeing, shopping, and dinner." Kallan began hesitantly, really not sure how to describe what had happened.

“Did he insult you again?” Mac looked pained when he said it.

Kallan shook his head. "No, he didn't insult me. He was amazing; actually, I couldn’t have asked for a better companion. I had a wonderful time.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“Noa told me some things that I found to be outrageous, and the sad part is he really believes the outrageous things he told me. I don't know how to process it all because I'm drawn to him. Even though I tried not to like him, it was impossible. I want to know him, but I think he might be crazy, delusional, prone to fantastical imaginings." Kallan said everything he was thinking and feeling, and Mac just sat there and didn't look at all surprised.

“He told you?”

“What?” Kallan’s response was sharp.

"He told you what he is?" Kallan assumed he was referring to being a bear, so he nodded slowly, and then Mac continued with an excited smile and leaned forward onto the table. "Did he shift for you? Because that shit is awesome."

“He told me that he's a shifter, a paranormal being. He said that he could physically turn into a bear at will. He was dead serious." Kallan spoke with loud clarity just in case there was a misunderstanding occurring.

"Noa is a bear shifter, Cross is a wolf, a huge wolf. I saw him once, and it was unnatural the size of that beast." Mac continued, matter of fact. "Lowell is a vampire, which is unusual since vampires and shifters don't, as a rule, get along that well. Cade's a cougar, and so is his brother Hofer, of course. I don't see as much of Cade since he mated that wolf shifter from up north." Kallan couldn't hear anymore. He covered his ears and closed his eyes.

“Are you saying this crap is real?”

"It is real," Mac stated.

"I can't believe it; I just can't accept it. He said there are fairies and magics as well in this fantasy land, and it is just too outside what I can believe.” Kallan slapped the table in his frustration.

“He didn’t shift for you.” Mac surmised.

“He had to take a call from Cross Mercer and stepped out of the room. I grabbed my clothes and headed to the bathroom. I left through the window before he got back.” The fact that he had to grab his clothes caught Mac’s attention.

“You got naked, did you?” He smiled and then chuckled. “I guess you were getting along pretty well.” He laughed again.

“Yeah, we were getting along great until he started talking crazy.” Kallan’s voice began to rise, and Mac raised his hand in an effort to have him take it easy and calm down.

"Okay, so you don't believe him," Mac said, and Kallan nodded. "Do you believe me?" That caught Kallan up short, and he didn't know how to respond. "I saw Noa shift, and it blew my mind at the time. I happened over to his place and heard something in the backyard and just rounded the house to see what it was, and that was what I saw." Mac was serious and also a little irritated.

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