Epilogue
EPILOGUE
Evan hooked his thumbs into the straps of his backpack and stared over the valley. They’d spent all day hiking to this point, and it was worth it. He’d grown up thinking the only way to get through the bush was on four feet, to watch the ground and sniff for scents…and he was doing all of that as he did not want to step on a copperhead snake. But there was so much more to see and do and enjoy on two feet.
Not that the wolf part of him wasn’t also loving the trip. And he didn’t need to pretend to be human because it was just George and him and the guide, who was a bear shifter. He took groups hiking through the Tasmanian midlands, but when George had asked for a shifter-only weekend for the two of them, he’d been happy to oblige. There had been no trouble with the pack, in part because running wild tourism was part of what these shifters did. They were hiding in plain sight.
“This has been the best day.” He smiled at George. George had included him in the arrangements so he could learn how to arrange to travel into another pack’s territory. Once George had secured the dates with their guide, Evan had booked the flights to Tassie. Getting through security at the airport had been stressful; he could keep someone alive through a twelve-hour emergency surgery but getting on a plane had made his skin prickle. What if he accidentally stress shifted?
George hadn’t snapped or rolled his eyes. He’d just put his hand on Evan’s lower back and whispered how well he was doing. Which was both calming and arousing.
“I don’t think I have ever felt like this.” He wasn’t fighting himself, and while this wasn’t a shifted activity, it was something he wanted to do again. He drew in a breath, breathing in the scent of eucalyptus. Fuck, he almost wanted to shift just to see what it would be like to do it while he was calm, but he also didn’t want to ruin the moment by shifting.
He glanced at George, but George wasn’t admiring the view. He was watching Evan.
“What?”
“I’m enjoying your enjoyment. You were either going to love bushwalking on two legs or hate it.”
“It is the perfect first trip.” When George had suggested that they go somewhere, Evan had agreed and then taken all his anxiety to Bethany’s office. She’d said the trip was a very good idea because he needed the holiday to decompress and that George wouldn’t let anything happen to him. Which Evan knew, but he wasn’t only outside pack territory, he was in another state. Something he’d only ever dreamed about.
He was having an adventure.
He put his arms around George. “Thank you.”
With George and Bethany holding his hands, he had reached a place where he wasn’t putting off shifting until he had to, and he approached the list of things to try with curiosity, not fear.
George grinned. “It gets better. There’s a hot tub at the cabin with the same view.”
“And how much further is that?” Because as great as this had been, he was not used to walking all day, and he hadn’t broken his boots in nearly enough. He was sure he had at least one blister.
“Not far.” George’s hand slipped behind his head, and he kissed him slowly as though nothing else mattered. Evan’s lips parted as heat rose in his blood, and he let himself enjoy the rush instead of fearing what it led to. “Are you keen to get naked and jump in the tub?”
“I am…but I also have blisters. I might need to shift first since we have more walking tomorrow.” He put his hand on George’s hip to steady himself.
“Shall I brush you?” George’s lips brushed over his. “Do you want to show me what a good boy you can be?”
Evan’s heartbeat sped up. While their guide would smell the desire on his skin, he was aware they were a couple.
“Yes.” The brushing was something they both enjoyed and often led to more after he’d returned to human with George touching and caressing and murmuring his praise. “On four and two.”
Heat flared in George’s eyes. “You are the best boyfriend.”
It was tempting to argue because George had changed his life for the better, had shown him there was more to life than surviving. They fitted together perfectly now, but five years ago, he’d been in denial, and George had needed to travel. Now he was ready to explore, and George was ready to slow down and hold his hand. They were taking the next steps in this adventure together, making plans for a future he couldn’t have imagined, and nothing had ever felt so right. He felt alright.
Evan growled and tugged George closer. “Say that again, and we may not make it to the cabin.”