Chapter Four
Allen
So many things on my agenda:
Spend more time with Dad.
Get my work done on time and in a timely manner.
Take a vacation.
Find a mate and give my poor suffering dad the grandkids he so longs for.
Nothing difficult, right? Just the everyday stuff a griffin shifter has to deal with. Or anyone, for that matter.
But the last item on my list, find a mate, was made more difficult for me because of the secrecy of my heritage and the fact that even if I dreamed of a fated mate, the prospect of that happening was not good.
I assured Dad I would seriously consider the mate thing, get out and meet more people, and let it be known I was available. If nothing happened, well, Christopher would still be around. I felt sad having that thought. Christopher deserved more. Not just an alpha who was settling.
I also told Dad that none of this would happen until after my vacation. I wanted to go away first and get my mind together. I didn’t want to have to think about all that stuff right now. I deserved some time off to relax and have some fun. Dad agreed.
Now, I needed to figure out where I wanted to go and book my trip.
I settled before a warm fire and scrolled on the shifter web for the best vacation places in the US.
Up popped the usual expensive all-shifter resorts and lodges. Some were so pricey, they would have taken my entire salary for six months. While I was sure Dad would have helped me pay for the trip, I didn’t want to ask him. I wanted to do this myself on my own salary.
As I scrolled, I kept seeing links to private comments on various boards on the theme of the best, safest places to go for shifters. Over and over again I kept seeing references to a place called Animals. At first I scrolled past that stuff. But when the word Animals kept popping up, I decided to check it out. If it was so popular, there had to be something good there.
The comments I found appeared to be reviews for a simple nightclub. But as I read on, I realized it was more than that. People said it was a place where they met like-minded souls. Some even said they’d met their fated mates there.
One comment said: This place has a sort of magical feel about it. I can’t quite describe it. I can’t wait to go back.
Another said: Best place in the world to work. They take care of their people. They have on-site apartment lodging for employees. Always treated with respect.
Yet another said: All my friends have said, and I agree, if you go to Animals with an open heart and mind you may find whatev e r it is you’re looking for. I don’t want to jinx it, but let me just say that wishes can come true.
I took a sip of my cold orange juice and stared at the screen.
“Well, Fate, that sounds promising, doesn’t it? Now’s your chance to let me know. Because after this vacation, I’m back in the shadows again. Out of the loop. Left with no possibilities but the omegas in my pack all of whom, as you well know, are not my true mates.”
I lifted my finger to click on the link to Animals itself to see what their web page had to offer.
As I did so, a shiver went down my spine. I got a strange flash in my mind that I had dreamed doing this at some point in my life, or maybe I’d done it before. Like déj? vu.
But this was the first time I’d ever heard of Animals, let alone clicked on their web page.
The feeling passed, leaving me with even more determination that this was the right path. I was going to go on vacation and find one of these Animals nightclubs and feel the magic for myself.
I focused on beautiful photographs of locations, two had beauty that called to me. One in Arizona. And one in California. There were photographs, descriptions, menus. Already, I felt at home. I mean, I knew it was just a nightclub, but for some reason I could see beyond that and feel that it was more. Especially concerning the one in San Diego.
In San Diego, the nightclub sat between the edge of a forest, which they owned, and an overlook that showed the entire beautiful San Diego skyline and the ocean in the distance. The forest was private, and a place where anyone could shift and not be bothered.
Envy prickled my skin. I wanted to be like other shifters who felt free to shift while others they did not know were around. Well, I wouldn’t be doing any shifting on my vacation. That was out of the question. But I could go there and watch the others and absorb their freedom. Yes, that would be fun. I might not shift, but that didn’t preclude me from having a good time.
That decided it. San Diego would be my destination.
I went to a non-shifter site to scope out hotels and flight information. Even though I flew in beast form, I never liked flying on planes. But for this trip, I’d make sure I added a little vodka to my orange juice and then I’d be good to go.
When I had my trip fully booked, I leaned back on my favorite fluffy rug and stared upward into the room.
“All right, Fate. It’s done. I’ve booked the trip. It’s in your hands now. Last chance. Hint: the place is called Animals. People say Magic hangs out there. Aren’t you friends with him/ her? With Magic? Didn’t you guys have a thing one or two times?”
I turned my head and looked directly into the copper flames in the fireplace. “Okay, here it is. Straight and to the point. It’s official. I’m available. And I’m looking for my fated mate.”
I had made my wish. Only Fate knew if it was the simplest request or the most complicated.
I felt like I wasn’t finished, that I needed to say more. “I like being alone. I’m okay with that. But there’s a difference between being alone and being lonely. I’m lonely. I have a big heart and a lot of love inside me to give to the right person. My father taught me never to beg. ‘Go out and earn it yourself,’ he always says. But this? This is hard. I’ll be going to Animals in just a few days to see for myself what it’s all about. If you can help me out, Fate, I’d be forever grateful.”
For a moment, I felt kind of foolish talking to invisible powers that be. But then I told myself it felt just right. Like all of this needed to be said if not for the universe, then for my own mental well-being.
Dad drove me to the airport, chattering away about what a good time I would have. He’d never been to San Diego himself, but he’d heard all good things. He was happy for me, glad I was going for my well-deserved rest.
“Are you okay for the flight?” he asked.
“Yep.”
“I know you hate planes.”
“I had some vodka. And I’ll order at least one more before my flight leaves.”
“That ought to help you out just right.”
We both laughed.
“You call me if you need anything. Or even just to talk. I know you wanted to take this trip alone, but you’re also leaving your lonely old dad home alone. You know that, right?”
“Dad, stop with the guilt trips. And yes, I will call you.”
“Just saying. I’m here for you.”
“Yes, Dad. I’ll call you every night and give you every detail of my day.”
“That a boy. I sure raised you right.”
At the curb, Dad got out and helped me unload my one suitcase and carry-on. He really was the best parent a guy could have. He gave me a great big hug. As he did so, I felt him stuff something into my pocket.
He kissed me on the cheek, said goodbye again then got into his car and slowly drove away.
I checked my suitcase with the baggage attendant then entered the terminal. As I walked, I stuck my hand into my pocket and felt the thick roll of bills. They were rubber banded, as Dad always did with his cash.
I didn’t take the money out, but I knew my dad well. I didn’t have to look to see the roll of cash would be all hundreds.
My eyes watered.
Dad.
‘He wanted me to splurge on this trip. And so I would.