Chapter 14
Indio wished he could talk in his shifted form, which was why he’d wanted his parents with them when he shifted for Reagan. He didn’t want her navigating the next few hours alone with him, and his parents were just the right ones to answer her questions.
And he was certain she had a lot of them.
He couldn’t imagine how strange it was to learn something so shocking.
She was a slight weight against his huge form as she hugged his leg. Then she turned around and held onto his trunk and asked his parents what other types of shifters there were. Which was a really great first question to ask.
“Well,” Amara said, “the safari park is the biggest group of different shifters we’ve ever known. Along with the elephants, there are also wolves and bears like here, but there are also lions and gorillas.”
“Holy crap, gorillas?”
Rohan chuckled. “Yes. And there are a few soulmates who are different shifters too. Indio could tell you all of them, but we know that our nephew Cael’s soulmate Rhapsody is a black panther, and we heard there’s an owl shifter mated to a wolf, and a red fox mated to a bear.”
“Wow,” she said. “Do you like being elephants?”
“It’s wonderful,” Amara said, smiling.
“Does it hurt when you shift?”
“No,” Rohan said. “It can be stressful and a little scary when our people shift for the first time, usually as teenagers, but we quickly get used to it because it’s natural for us.”
“Will our baby be able to shift?”
Indio felt her slip her hand under his trunk and he let out a low murmur of support.
“Maybe,” Amara said. “It just depends on whether he or she takes more after Indio or you. But either way, you and your child are a part of our family and always welcome here.”
“Thank you,” Reagan said. “Thank you for being so kind to me and welcoming. I really do feel like I’m part of the family.”
They walked around the ring many times, Reagan holding onto his trunk as she asked his parents questions about being shifters and their traditions. He loved her curiosity, so glad that she wasn’t afraid of him or angry at the secret he’d had to keep.
“I have an idea,” Rohan said. “Would you like to ride him?”
“Really? Could I?”
“That’s a great idea,” Amara said.
Indio let out a low trumpet of agreement.
“I’d love to,” Reagan said.
They brought over a ladder that the riders used during the shows and a harness. Indio lowered himself to the ground and his dad set up the ladder while his mom hooked up the harness. Then they helped Reagan settle on his back behind his head, holding onto the harness.
His dad removed the ladder to the side of the ring.
“Hold on, honey,” Amara said.
Indio rose to his feet as carefully as he could so he didn’t rock Reagan too much. She squeezed her knees against him and let out a squeal, then patted his head and laughed. “Holy crap, this is high!”
“You’re very safe up there, just hold on,” Amara said.
“I will,” Reagan called. “And I know I’m safe. I’m with my soulmate.”
“Yeah you are,” Rohan said. “Have fun. Holler when you want to get down.”
They moved away, going to the stands to sit, and Indio meandered around the ring. He walked for a long time and she didn’t say anything at all. But he liked the silence because he knew it meant she was thinking, processing all she’d learned.
Even though they weren’t alone in the tent, it felt like they were.
No secrets. Just love.
When she was ready to get off his back, he lowered himself to the ground and his parents helped her off and removed the harness.
“We’ll leave you two for the night, it’s pretty late,” Rohan said. “We’ll see you for breakfast?”
“Yes, thank you again,” Reagan said.
“Good night, honey,” Amara said, then smiled as she patted Indio’s ear.
“Good night,” Reagan said.
The silence that followed was broken only by the faint hum of generators outside the tent. And then Reagan turned to him and sighed. “I don’t know what to say.”
He tilted his head, remaining on the ground so he was closer to her, and waited for her to continue.
“I kind of feel like I should be absolutely scared out of my mind, but I’m not.
When I heard the truth, when I saw you shift, I thought I’d feel lied to, betrayed.
But I don’t, not even a little bit. I understand how serious the secret of shifters is, and how important it is that each shifter trusts their soulmate before they share it.
Because it’s not just about you and me, it’s about your family and your friends.
You needed to know I wouldn’t run away, wouldn’t tell anyone, before you could share the truth with me.
” Her voice went thick as her eyes filled with tears.
“Now that I know, I feel free. I know my mom filled my head all these years with men lie and all men leave and men can’t be trusted , but she never understood that trust goes both ways.
Yeah, some men are crappy human beings, but not all of them. ”
She sank down next to him with a deep sigh and leaned against his shoulder.
“I know you’re my forever guy, and I know that you’re not going anywhere.
Not because of the baby, but because you love me and you want to be with me.
Because I’m the other half of your heart, like you are mine.
A piece of me was missing all along and I never knew it until I found you in the shed a month ago.
I’m done letting my mom live rent-free in my head.
Her words don’t have power over me anymore.
I trust you, and I love you. I love you so much. ”
He curled his trunk around her and murmured his understanding as she sniffled.
They stayed like that for a long while, as she talked about her childhood, of the bright spot of her grandmother who taught her about love and hope, and the shattering of her world two times over when her dad left and her grandmother passed away.
He was thankful for her elderly neighbor, always ready with tea and advice, and her friends Darcy and Rhomi, who were family to her, and now to him too.
She yawned a few times, and he knew the night was nearly done, so he nudged her gently and she moved away so he could shift.
The change came quickly over him, his body morphing back to human.
Then she was in his arms, hugging and kissing him, the tears spilling over her cheeks ones born of happiness, not sadness.
He dressed and they walked out of the tent, making their way to the trailer. The stars were already starting to fade as the night waned, but instead of falling asleep, they held each other in bed and talked.
He told her about the shifters in the park. About Rhomi’s mate, Mercer the lion, and Darcy’s mate, Ford the stallion.
“I can’t believe all three of us have shifter soulmates,” she said. “Fate sure is funny.”
“Definitely,” he said. “So I have to live at the park. It’s a rule the alphas have. And I want you to move in with me whenever you’re ready. My home is yours, and I want to make a life with you.”
“I’m ready.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. I don’t want to spend any nights away from you. I want to make a life with you and our baby.”
He pressed his hand to her belly and smiled, giving her a kiss.
“I’d like to make things permanent,” he said. “I want to make you my wife so you have my last name, and our baby does too.”
“I’d love that.”
“I promise I’ll ask you properly.”
“Properly? Like with a triple chip walking taco?” she asked, her brows high and a grin making a dimple form in her cheek.
“And a ring.”
“I love you, Indio.”
“I love you too, Reagan. Sweet soulmate. Holder of my heart and my secrets.”