Chapter 12
When Ford was be able to shift back a while later, he trotted into the barn with Darcy on his back. She slid off him with Grey’s help, and then Grey and Tatum left to return to the farmhouse.
Alone in the barn with his soulmate, a human who learned just hours ago that humans weren’t the only ones on the planet, Ford shifted.
Darcy jumped into his arms, hugging him tightly. He held her close, reveling in her acceptance.
“So you’re a horse,” she said when he set her back on her feet.
“Stallion.”
“And I’m a stallion’s mate.”
“Most definitely.”
“It’s the craziest thing I’ve ever seen in my life, but it also makes so much sense. I couldn’t figure out why I felt so drawn to you, why I fell for you so fast and hard. You’re human but not human. Our attraction is supernatural.”
He nodded and kissed her. “I’m so glad I got to share my shift with you. I’m sorry that I couldn’t tell you about it right away. I hated not being able to share my whole life with you.”
“I understand. Every shifter must feel so burdened if they have a human soulmate on when to share the truth and to keep their people protected.”
He grabbed his jeans and tugged them on. After he finished dressing, they walked out into the pasture and leaned against the fence.
It was quiet outside save for the rustle of leaves in the trees.
Two park shifters were out on patrol, males from the lion pride.
The park had agreed to help the herd with overnight patrols.
Since the park had so many shifters living and working there, and was also basically a walled fortress with underground living quarters, they could spare a couple of guys each night and ease some of the patrol burden.
Sometimes only one male came, but usually it was two.
Right then, Ford was thankful two lions were watching things so he could concentrate on his mate.
“I wanted to ask you a question,” he said.
“Sure.” She turned to face him, leaning against the spilt-rail fence.
“You’re so freaking beautiful.”
She giggled. “That’s not a question.”
“No, but it’s worth saying because you are.”
“You’re hot stuff yourself.”
He hummed and then chuckled. “I want you to move into the farmhouse with me. Not just because I’m worried about your safety with Colton, because part of me is. But because I want you with me. My favorite thing is going to bed with you in my arms and waking up with you next to me.”
She tilted her head but didn’t say anything for a few moments.
Then she reached for his hand and linked their fingers.
“I love you and I want to be with you, but I don’t want to fully move in here yet.
I’m okay with staying tonight, obviously, and maybe we can go to my apartment later today and I can pack a bag for a couple nights.
But things are dicey with Cruz. He’s already being pushy about me spending so much time with you, and suddenly moving out might send him over the edge. ”
“I don’t want you to lose your relationship with him,” Ford said. “And I don’t want you to move in here until you’re ready.”
“I just need a little time. To make peace with Cruz mainly, but also give me a little more time to get to know you. Plus, I haven’t met everyone in your herd.”
He frowned. He hadn’t even thought about how she might not feel right moving into a home with strangers. That was definitely a miscalculation on his part.
“How about you come for dinner tonight with the herd?”
She smiled. “I’d like that.”
He pulled her close and gazed down at her. The moment was intense, and he was going to kiss her, when she yawned, turning her head and covering her mouth.
Which made him yawn.
She pulled her phone from her pocket and said, “Holy crap, it’s late. Oh man, and Cruz has been texting me. I had my ringer off so I didn’t realize it.”
She made a face as she scrolled.
“He’s such an ass. He’s acting like I’m a preteen with my first crush or something.” She showed him the texts that he’d been sending since midnight.
Not coming home? Again?
We really need to talk about this. You’re not answering me and I hate that this guy is coming between us. We’re family. I never thought you’d put me last.
Darcy?
I’m at work. I hope I see you in the morning because we really need to talk.
She snorted and put the phone away. “You know what’s weird? When he first started dating his ex, he went all in with her right away. They got a place together after a couple of weeks, were engaged pretty soon after that, and were so lovey-dovey all the time it was hard to be around them.”
“But his relationship ended because she cheated?”
“Yeah. He must think because they moved fast and she wasn’t faithful that every situation that’s similar will end the same way.”
“I’d never cheat on you,” Ford said, his stallion surging inside him.
“I know,” she said, beaming at him. “I can feel how close we are, like you’re already part of me.”
“Let’s get to bed,” he said, putting his arm around her as they headed toward the farmhouse. “We’ll run to your place when we get up.”
“Sounds good to me. I can’t wait to fall asleep in your arms and wake up in them too. It’s definitely one of my favorite things.”
“One of them?” he asked.
“I also really like it when you go down on me.”
He growled playfully. “I like that too.”
* * *
After a quickie that started with him just wanting to give her one of her favorite things, they fell asleep tangled together and woke up around lunchtime.
The only people in the kitchen when they wandered down to the first floor were Dexter and Nancy, who were fixing sandwiches and talking quietly.
Ford introduced Darcy to them and they fixed sandwiches too, sitting at the table with the older couple and talking about the farm and herd life.
By the time they got to Darcy’s apartment, Ford was dreading a confrontation with Cruz, but it turned out he was at the gym, so the place was empty.
She changed and packed a bag with toiletries and clothes for the weekend. He was glad she didn’t have to work so they could spend time together, although he was on schedule for patrol that night. And he would freaking hate not sleeping next to her.
But he’d do anything to keep her and the herd safe.
The afternoon sped by as they hung out together in the barn while he worked on the tractor.
And then they joined everyone in the farmhouse kitchen for dinner.
The females all pulled Darcy into their group, talking quietly around the island as they got dinner together, while the males all set the table and got drinks for everyone.
Avi clapped Ford on the shoulder. “I’m so happy for you, man. Our herd is finally complete.”
“Thanks,” Ford said, smiling at the way Darcy’s eyes danced when she laughed at something Zara said. “Trust me, I’m the happiest guy on the planet right now.”
When the food was ready—a huge chicken and rice casserole with sweet corn that had been frozen from the summer’s harvest—Crew tapped his fork against his glass and everyone went quiet.
“I’d like to welcome Darcy to the herd. Congratulations on your mating, and we look forward to you joining with us officially.”
“Thank you,” Darcy said.
The herd clapped and cheered, and Ford gave her a quick kiss.
“What’s an official joining?” she asked him.
Ford told her about the herd’s mating ceremony, which joined a couple together officially in the eyes of the herd and made the soulmate a member of the herd.
“You’re already officially mated,” Nancy said. “But the joining ceremony is really more of a celebration that the herd throws for new members with a big dinner.”
“We’ll make all your favorites,” Zara said.
“That sounds really neat,” Darcy said. “When does that happen?”
“Whenever you want,” Tris said.
Darcy looked at Ford, and he said, “We don’t have to do anything right now, we can wait a while.”
“Can Rhomi come? I know Reagan can’t, or Cruz. Is it only for stallions and their soulmates?”
“We’d love to have Rhomi and Mercer come,” Crew said.
“We can talk about it later?” she asked Ford.
“You bet, sweetheart. No rush at all.”
She beamed at him.
Conversation switched to talking about Colton’s recent attack, and after the meal was over and the table cleared, everyone sat around discussing how to keep their people safe.
Ford was even more determined that the farm would be the pinnacle of a safe haven for their people. Because someday, he and Darcy would be bringing kids of their own into the world and he wanted the farm to be the safest place on earth.