Chapter Ten
Allen
After River made sure his niece was taken care of, he led us outside to a beautiful patio area.
I was still reeling, and so was my beast. It all felt like a dream. Were River and Matthew truly my fated mates? Instinct uncurled deep inside me, a deep knowledge that the truth stood before me solid and unwavering. The three of us were meant to be. I still had so much to learn about both of them, yet I was infused with the feeling that I’d known them all my life.
Shift with mates. Now.
I didn’t blame my beast for his demand, but the idea of it was so alien to me my body shook.
Beautiful River, the tiger shifter, came up close to me and said, “Are you all right, Allen?”
The lovely shy house cat, Matthew, gave me an empathetic look. As a house cat shifter he suffered from some of the same issues I did.
“I’ve never shifted outside my pack before,” I said.
“I don’t know why you’re keeping your beast a secret from us. His scent is beautiful, but I can’t quite place it.” Matthew put a gentle hand on my shoulder. “We promise you’re safe here with us.”
“I’m not trying to keep it a secret from you. It’s a secret from the whole world.”
“What is it?” Matthew asked. “I’m dying to see.”
“Is the secrecy a cultural thing?” River asked.
I nodded. “Instilled in us from birth. When we turn thirteen, we are indoctrinated into the laws about our culture and our beast forms. They can be revealed only to our fated mates, and no one in my culture has had a fated mate for a long time. Generations. Or, if they do, it’s been kept from us. The concept is more myth at this point, although my beast has always believed.”
“Other people shift here,” River pointed out. “Is that a problem for you?”
“No one’s around right now. If we go into the woods, it should be fine.”
“Now I’m curiouser than ever,” Matthew said.
I gulped. “I’m not trying to be spooky or overwhelm you. I’m sorry. It’s me who’s overwhelmed.”
At that moment, my mates came and put their arms around me. “Take your time, Allen.”
“Thank you.” To be wrapped in their arms was the most incredible thing. To know that fate had sent me two mates who were meant for me, who were like my other halves—or thirds—-who would be there for me, always have my back, that was the best feeling ever.
My body started to shake even more.
“We got you,” River said.
I lifted my arms and embraced them both. Their love and acceptance soaked into my bones, into my heart. Amazing.
Finally, I pulled back. Both of them were smiling at me, their eyes shining.
“I’m ready now. Let’s go.”
“Shouldn’t we undress first?” Matthew asked.
We all nodded and disrobed. I took off my necklace and rings and shoved them deep into my blazer pocket.
When I turned to see my mates, now naked and waiting for me, my breath caught in my throat at their human beauty. A soft wind whispered through the tops of the trees. There truly was magic here. The comments I’d read online about Animals didn’t lie.
We linked hands with me in the middle and walked into the forest.
River stopped in a beautiful glade and said, “Is this okay?”
I looked up and then around.
“Are you big?” Matthew grinned at me. “Do you need more room to shift?”
He was a gorgeous omega with lean hips and a bit of a sassiness to his walk. My heart turned over to look at him.
“This is fine.”
“You go first,” River suggested. “You don’t have to tell us what you are. We just want to see you. And then we’ll guess.” He let out a short laugh.
“That’s fine.” I tried to sound brave, but I was still nervous.
My beast wanted out now. He didn’t care where he was or who was watching, although he was very aware of our mates standing right beside us. That made him even more restless.
I walked forward a few steps and let my animal take me. It was the oddest feeling this time, knowing I was being watched by species other than my own. Knowing that I was so rare and different.
The transformation was slower than normal. Almost like moving through some sort of thick gel.
First came the talons of my front paws, then the claws on my back legs. Then the tail, the wings unfurling, the head and the beak, and finally, my furry pointed ears.
When it was done, I looked down upon my mates who both seemed to be outlined by a soft blue light. A beckoning light. My griffin saw them as the magical beings they were. Not just flesh and blood, but spirit.
I watched as their mouths opened in awe. I stood at least twelve feet tall. With my wings out, brushing the lower tree branches, I was massive and imposing.
“A griffin,” Matthew said.
“How beautiful,” River said. “Your secret is safe with us.”
I furled my wings on my lion’s back and lowered my head until my beak was just above them. River reached up and petted me right over my nostrils. He smelled divine.
Soon, Matthew’s cat form appeared at my feet. River’s tiger transformed alongside him.
Together, the three of us walked into the woods. I had to duck many times, but the woodland accommodated my size quite well. The more we walked, the more comfortable I felt.
The tiger ran ahead. The cat followed, tail standing high in the air.
Our animals became playful. I sat on my haunches and let them sniff me all over. Matthew jumped onto my shoulders and began to nuzzle and purr.
River curled his tiger form up against my forelegs and looked like he was going to take a nap.
Our animals bonded quickly. The sensation was electric. In less than an hour, they had made themselves into a family. Their own fated mate pack. Their minds locked with my human mind and I felt the presence of all of us. Six beings in six bodies. All forming one gestalt of truth and love and forever.
We had only just met but I felt like we were already married.
When we got back to the benches and our clothes, there were other people out for shifter exercise. None of them saw my griffin form, which was a relief. They all had their own friends and agendas and paid no attention to us.
“That was so awesome.” River sat and started putting on his pants.
I shimmied into my own pants, zipping up. “Thank you for being so patient with me.”
“You’re magnificent.” Matthew shrugged into his pullover.
“So are you.” I reached out and touched his face with the back of my hand.
He grinned and leaned into the touch.
“So now that you both have seen me,” I said, “you will go peacefully to your deaths, right?”
“What?” They both looked up.
I grinned. “Just kidding. It’s me who would be killed for revealing my true form to another outside the pack. But as I said before, the exception is for fated mates.”
“Right.” River pretended to wipe sweat from his brow.
“Yeah. We only just met you, and I haven’t even gotten to do everything I want to you,” Matthew said.
“Well,” I replied. “I do want everything.”