Chapter 33
Maia climbed into the car, her muscles heavy. All she wanted was a shower and bed, in that order.
The other stuff…
It was challenging to wrap her head around how the family she lived with shifted into animals. Even young Levi. She wrote about fantastical stuff, thought about it, dreamed about it, and yet, this seemed different. Not that the family scared her. She liked every one of them.
Henry…
Heck, if the kids hadn’t been present, things might’ve turned out differently. Amanda might’ve killed her.
The driver’s car door opened and closed, and she swallowed hard. Henry…
“Maia, I’m still the same person who loves you.
Perhaps I should’ve explained earlier, but selfishly, I wanted you to know me better.
Don’t get me wrong. I’ve always known you’re my mate, but the age difference worked against us until now.
You’re a strong woman with goals and aspirations.
It’s taken this stubborn male a bit longer than you to understand that we might have years between us, but we’re equals.
We care for each other, and that is all that matters. ”
Mate?
Maia’s brain seized on that info and refused to go further. She wrote about mates, read about them in other authors’ books. She glanced at Henry and knew that her gaze was probing. But damn it, she wanted details.
More information.
Was this why she felt compelled to get closer each time she spotted Henry? Even as a child?
“Tell me about mates.”
Henry started his vehicle. “In the shifter world, when a couple is perfect for each other, they’re called mates.
One completes the other, and no one else will do.
To cement the bond, they’ll bite each other here.
” He tapped a spot at the base of his neck.
“In our case, because you’re a human, I would do the biting.
The wound will heal, leaving a slight scar and sensitivity to touch.
It lets other shifters know you’re claimed. ”
Maia pondered this. Caveman, much? “Do you howl and need to shift at full moon?”
“We all shift frequently, which means the full moon doesn’t create problems. And yes, sometimes I howl to celebrate life.”
Maia thought of the kids. “Are there lots of shifters in Middlemarch?”
“Yes,” Henry said, glancing at her. “Right now, you need rest, but I’ll answer any further questions tomorrow. You can also talk to London.”
“London?” Maia asked.
“She’s human. Also, Laura and Charlie. They have shifter mates, and you can speak freely to them. They’ve gone through this.”
“What’s that?” Maia asked, her tone sharp. She felt as if someone had pulled the ground from under her feet, and she’d fallen on her arse.
“Learning the person in their bed has dual forms,” Henry said.
And with that, he backed out of the driveway.
Maia leaned back and closed her eyes. Discombobulated. A fantastic word to describe exactly what she felt. It wasn’t disbelief because she’d seen the wolf and black leopard. She’d watched Henry and the kids transform.
“I’m out of sorts because I can’t believe Amanda attacked me,” she blurted into the heavy silence.
“It’s not that you turn into a wolf or that I’m living with animals.
” A giggle burst from her, a hairsbreadth from hysteria.
Maybe she was worried about this discovery.
She shouldn’t be because they’d saved her, but she was shocked.
“Sorry, that sounded insulting. I don’t mean to offend anyone. ”
Henry gently squeezed her knee. “You have a right to your anger.”
“I’ll have to call Rose tonight,” Maia said, cringing inside.
“What are you going to tell her?”
Maia frowned at the tension in Henry, slow to understand. “Oh!” she said when the truth slammed her sluggish brain. “I’ll tell the coach the local police arrested Amanda for attacking and stalking me since my arrival in Middlemarch. Nothing else.”
“Good,” Henry said.
They lapsed into silence. Maia thought about the locals with dual forms, many of them kids. There was no way she’d place them in danger. No way. The kids had saved her. If they hadn’t summoned help, anything might’ve happened.
Finally, Henry pulled up in front of his home. She hadn’t considered demanding that he take her to her house, and that told her everything. She didn’t fear Henry or the others and would never break their confidence. Never.
Henry mightn’t openly display his emotions, but she loved him. With every small action, he showed he cared for her. Apart from the stalking aspect, moving to Middlemarch was an excellent decision she didn’t regret.
Knowing Henry was a wolf shifter shed light on Levi’s perplexing comments, propensity to howl, and other things that had struck her as odd. Yeah, none of this truth changed her everyday life. It was Amanda’s actions that had Maia gritting her teeth. The betrayal.
“If I contact the Black Fern selectors and tell them Amanda attacked me and I’m uncertain if I’ll be fit to take part in the trials, do you think they’ll tell me not to bother?” Her biggest fear. Amanda might’ve scuttled her chances of obtaining her dream.
“My advice is to wait for two days. The worst bruising will appear by then, and the swelling should decrease. You’ll know if you’re capable of a hard training session.”
“Yeah, makes sense.”
“Come on,” Henry said. “A hot shower will help to ease your muscles.”
When he opened the front door, a loud shout sounded.
“They’re home!” It was Levi, and the boy barreled around the corner, almost crashing into Maia. His two white puppies scrambled after him, barking in welcome. Henry scooped up his brother while bracing Maia. A sharp pain darted up her leg, but she bit back her gasp.
“Easy there, Levi. Sit,” Henry said to the puppies. They obediently plonked their butts on the ground.
“What did Doctor Gavin say?” Levi demanded, his brown eyes full of concern.
Maia grinned at his cuteness. “I have stab wounds from the tree and cuts and bruises. Nothing broken.”
“What about your trials?” Levi asked.
A pang of alarm darted her, and suddenly, she wanted to howl. Reaction setting in, probably. She attempted to swallow the knot in her throat before staring mutely at Henry.
“Is everyone home?” he asked.
Levi nodded enthusiastically. “In the kitchen.”
“Give us a minute, and we’ll talk to everyone together.” Henry set down Levi, and his brother scampered away with the puppies chasing after him.
Now that she knew Levi morphed into a wolf, she could see it in his boisterous conduct, yet she’d suspected nothing. The adults had perfected their behavior after years of learning and intermingling with humans. It made her curious about other shifter types.
“Maia,” London said the second they entered the kitchen. “Are you all right?”
“Sore. Bruised. No broken bones, but infection is a concern,” Maia said. “Gavin thinks I’ll be worse tomorrow when the stiffness sets in.” She managed a reply without bawling.
“Your rugby trials?” Jacey asked, commiseration in his expression.
She swiftly glanced at Henry, who read her emotional turmoil and answered for her.
“We’re giving it two days and will assess Maia’s condition before she makes a decision.”
Maia beelined for an empty barstool, scrambling onto it with a pained sigh. Once she’d situated herself, she discovered everyone watching her. “Sorry. I couldn’t stand for a second longer.”
“You should have a hot shower.” Henry crossed to her side.
The adults and Levi continued to observe Maia.
“What?” she demanded finally. “Do I smell as well as look like a wreck?”
Henry rubbed her back in silent commiseration. “They’re worried about your reaction to wolves and leopards roaming the countryside.”
“And a bear,” Levi piped up.
“Shush,” Megan said, a touch of reprimand in her voice.
“It surprised me, but Levi’s chatter makes more sense now,” Maia said. “As long as none of you intend to eat me, I’m good.” She yawned. “I need to sleep.”
Levi chortled. “We don’t eat people. Burgers are much nicer.”
“What he said,” Megan agreed with a twinkle.
“Pleased to hear it. I’m partial to a meat pie, myself,” Maia said.
“Gavin made her take pain pills and others to help ward off infection.” Henry scooped her off the stool and strode toward his suite. “Levi, could you run ahead and open the doors for me?”
Levi sprinted away with his puppy entourage. A crash sounded as the first door whacked against the wall stop. The puppies barked in excitement.
“Without noise,” Megan shouted.
Maia burrowed against Henry’s warm chest. He smelled like home, and that prompted questions. Mates? Was that why she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him over the years? And while she felt comfortable with Henry and his family, would other shifters reject her? So many questions.
In his suite, Henry set her on her feet. “You’re exhausted. I’ll help you shower, and then it’s into bed with you.”
“No back scrubbing?” Maia asked.
“We’ll have plenty of time for shower shenanigans,” he said, “because you’re going to marry me soon, and we’ll live together here or at your place.”
“Here,” she said because she cherished having the others around.
“You’ll marry me?” Henry asked, going still.
“You’ll find out when you ask me properly,” Maia said. “I’m too tired and sore to focus on the future. And I have questions.”
“Noted,” Henry said.
He helped her to disrobe and shower before settling her in bed.
After taking another of Gavin’s pills, she drifted.
Was it safe to take medication prescribed by a vet?
She hadn’t argued, and that told her, on some level, she trusted him.
Gavin, a vet and doctor for those with dual natures, played a crucial role in this community.
He’d helped her without hesitation, even though she might cause trouble for him. Gavin had done that for Henry.
That was her last thought before she slipped into a deep sleep.
When she woke, she tumbled from bed and groaned. Her leg throbbed, and every muscle screamed at her not to move. Impossible when the restroom was her goal.
Unaware of the time, she found herself alone.
It was daylight outside. Maia struggled to the bathroom, tended to her needs, and switched on the shower.
Warmth might help to loosen her whimpering muscles and at least get her moving.
She needed to move without flinching since her coach would direct her to the team doctor for an assessment.
Maia dressed, but every move hurt, and the idea of running the length of a rugby field made her want to whimper. She wondered if Rose had heard about Amanda yet. Probably not. She reached for her phone and, without second-guessing herself, called Rose.
“Hello, Coach. It’s Maia Jacobs.” Maia hesitated over what to say and decided at the beginning.
“Since I arrived in Dunedin, someone has been stalking and harassing me. My house suffered damage. My car. And then came the attack and my concussion. Yesterday, Amanda attacked me while I was on a training run. The kids with me got help, and the police took her into custody.”
The line fell silent while she waited for a reaction.
“Rose, are you there?”
“Amanda attacked you?”
“She did.”
“She phoned me last night and told me you assaulted her,” the coach said, her voice emotionless. “She was upset and highly emotional.”
Maia’s stomach sank, and she clutched her phone more tightly.
“That’s not what happened. I can get the local police to contact you and corroborate my story.
I intend to press charges. She injured me, and I won’t be able to train on Wednesday.
I hope I’ll recover enough to attend training on Friday. ”
“Can you drop by this morning?” Rose asked. “I’ll make a doctor’s appointment for you.”
“What time?” Maia asked.
“How about ten-thirty?”
“I’ll be there,” Maia said and disconnected. What the hell? Amanda had confessed and taken pleasure in telling Maia everything she’d done.
The bedroom door opened, and Henry entered carrying a tray.
“You’re up,” he said, setting the tray on a side table. “How are you feeling?”
“Sore. That’s what woke me, I think. I had another shower, and that helped. Amanda rang the coach last night and told Rose I’d attacked her.”
“She’s still in Middlemarch, locked in a cell. I spoke to Laura ten minutes ago. Laura is waiting for transport to take her to Dunedin.”
“Can she get out with bail?”
“Yes, but conditional on staying away from you.”
“Kind of difficult if we’re playing for the same rugby team,” Maia snapped.
Henry raised his hands in silent surrender, and Maia pressed her lips together.
“Sorry. I’m frustrated and taking it out on you. I have a meeting with Rose at ten-thirty and a doctor’s appointment right after.”
“Can I drive you?” Henry asked.
“Thanks, I’d like that.”
“Eat your breakfast, and do some gentle walking and stretches.”
Yeah, that’s what Gavin had recommended, even if she hurt. He’d told her walking would help to ease her muscles.
“Thank you,” Maia said, softening on seeing the perfect apricot-colored rose on the tray.
“Cup of tea?” Henry asked.
“Please.”
They ate tea and toast together before walking to the kennels so Henry could release his dogs for a morning run. Now that she knew of his wolf heritage, the close dynamics with his dogs made sense. He was pack alpha.
Juno trotted over to Maia and rubbed against her legs. Maia winced but repositioned herself and petted the dog. The other dogs visited Maia, sniffing and brushing against her legs.
Henry stood beside her, smiling at the dogs’ antics as they played together. “Sometimes, I’ll shift and run with them. It’s an excellent way to cement bonds, and I enjoy the rough and tumble exercise.”
Maia smiled. “That must be nice. If we had children together, would they be like you or me?”
“Difficult to say. With the black leopards, the children always take after the shifter parent. With you and I, it could go either way. It depends if you have any shifter blood in your family tree.” Henry slipped an arm around her waist and stared at her intently. “Would that bother you?”
Maia hesitated, thinking. “Are they born as human or shifter?”
“Always human.”
“I guess that’s okay,” Maia said.
“That makes me happy. I might marry you.”
“Still haven’t asked me,” Maia said. “And I still have loads of questions.”
“I have answers whenever you’re ready.” Henry grinned, the boyish look suiting him. “I’ll take you by surprise with a proposal when you least expect it.”
“Deal,” Maia said, cheering considerably at his willingness to address her queries. “You do that.”