Chapter 18
By the time they crossed the border into New Jersey, the sun was setting and turning the sky warm orange and deep gold, and Indio was thankful to be nearly home with his mate. The long drive had been quiet, with Reagan sleeping with her head on his lap for a good portion of the trip.
He turned onto her street and she straightened in the seat. “My grandma used to quote an old nursery rhyme whenever she came home. She’d say, ‘Home again, home again, jiggety jig,’ so that’s always in my mind when I come home.”
“I’ve never heard that one before, but it’s cute.”
“Something about a pig,” she said.
“I only know the one about the sleepy kids? Wynken and his brothers?”
“Oh, I love that one. We should find a nursery rhyme book for the baby.”
He parked and smiled at her. “We can definitely do that.”
They’d decided to go to her house and pack, waiting until the park was closed to arrive so they could carry in her things with help from his memory without attracting attention to themselves from the human patrons.
When they were inside the quaint house, she set him to the task of filling a suitcase with the clothes from her dresser, and he teased her about not needing panties anymore, and feeling free to wear nothing at all when they were in the house.
They spent the next few hours packing, with him carrying bags and suitcases to the SUV. When she’d gathered all she wanted for the time being, she locked the front door and said, “I want to check in on Darla before we go. She’ll worry if I don’t stop by.”
Indio walked with her across the yards. The front porch light turned on before they reached the steps, and a small female with a thick shawl around her shoulders greeted them warmly when she opened the door.
“You’re a sight for sore eyes, dear. I thought you might have actually joined the circus!”
“I liked it so much, it was tempting!” she said, giving her a hug. “Darla, this is Indio. He’s my soulmate.”
“The mystery man! Well, it’s nice to finally meet you. You two are packing? Where are you going to live? Not too far, I hope?”
“I live and work at the safari park, and I’m bringing Reagan with me, so we’re not far at all,” he said after accepting her hug.
“I brought you something from the circus,” Reagan said, handing a gift bag to her. Inside was an ornament of a sparkly elephant reared on its hind legs, trunk lifted high.
“Oh, that’s just charming, I love it, thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome.”
“You’ll visit me again sometime? And send me pictures of the baby when the time comes?”
“Of course,” Reagan said. “You’re very special to me.”
“You’re special to me, sweet girl. Take care of each other.”
“We will, take care,” Indio said.
Reagan said goodbye to her neighbor, and they walked to the SUV and began the trek to the park. “She’s like a grandma to me. I want to visit her.”
“Anytime you want, sweetheart.”
They reached the park after it was closed to the public, finding a spot in the employee lot.
The park was decorated for Christmas, with big red bows, tons of twinkle lights, and Christmas music softly playing over the loudspeakers during the day.
At night, it looked magical, but maybe Indio was just feeling more in tune with the happiness of the holiday after finding his soulmate.
Kelley and Alistair were waiting for them. “Welcome back,” Kelley said.
Alistair gave her a bear-sized hug. “Welcome home, Reagan. You’ve been through a lot recently, but you’re home now.”
“Oh, you’re going to make me cry,” she said with a chuckle, fanning her face.
“Sorry,” Alistair said. “We’re just happy to see you both back safely.”
“And the girls can’t wait to get to welcome the newest family member,” Kelley said. “And us too. We’re so happy for you both.”
“You’re the only one pregnant in the memory right now, so don’t be surprised if everyone tries to feed you,” Alistair said. “But not until you’ve rested from the trip. Let’s get you unpacked. We’ve got a cart to help get things to the cafeteria.”
They unloaded the SUV onto the cart and took everything down under the park with the service elevator, located inside the employee cafeteria.
Indio held Reagan’s hand and led her into the private living area that was decorated to look like the savannah, with small homes around the inviting, open space.
“This is really cool,” Reagan said.
“I’m glad you like it,” Indio said.
After Alistair and Kelley helped him carry everything inside, Alistair said, “Maggie and I stocked your fridge and pantry, so you wouldn’t have to leave if you didn’t want to tonight.”
“Thanks,” Indio said.
When they were alone, he shut the front door and smiled at his mate. “Did I say welcome home yet?”
“No.”
“Welcome to our home, sweetheart.” He pulled her close and kissed her.
After the grand tour, they raided the kitchen to see what had been stocked, and the only thing she asked was if there was orange soda.
“I’ll run to the market,” he said.
“I don’t want you to leave the park,” she said.
“No, there’s a market down here. I can grab you some sodas.”
“Gummy worms, maybe?”
“I’m sure,” he said with a chuckle.
“I’m going to video chat with Darcy and Reagan,” she said.
“I’ll leave you to it, then. I won’t be long.”
“Oh, and maybe something with caramel in it? My cravings are a little all over the place right now.”
“Send me a text if you think of anything else.”
She beamed at him.
He stepped out into the front room and heard her friends exclaim through the phone’s speaker how happy they were for her, wanting to know the details of the trip to the circus. He was happy to give her some privacy to chat with them while he foraged for snacks and drinks in the market.
By the time he got back, she was finishing telling them about the daring rescue, and how she just knew he was going to find her in the storm. “That’s what soulmates do,” Rhomi said. “They come to us when we need them the most.”
“Definitely,” Darcy said.
He peeked in the bedroom and she smiled. “He’s back with my snacks, so I should go. I’m starving. Again.”
“Let’s get together soon,” Darcy said. “Now that we all know the truth, we can talk more freely with each other. I’m so glad we all have shifter soulmates.”
“Me too,” Reagan said. “And I’d love to get together.”
“Me three,” Rhomi said.
They said goodbye and Reagan put her phone on the charger on the nightstand.
“You made me sound like a superhero,” he said with a laugh when she joined him to see what he’d picked up from the market.
“You kind of are! Not just that you can turn into an elephant, but that you were strong enough to get us both free from the trees, and you found me in the storm when no one could hear me calling for help. I’d say that’s hero material.”
“I’ll come save you anytime, Reagan, but let’s try to stay out of storms.”
“Oh yeah, I’m definitely going to stay inside in a real building next time a storm comes our way.”
They sat on the couch in the front room and watched a sitcom while she had orange soda, caramel cream candy, and gummy worms. A strange and sugary combination that she seemed to adore.
When she fell asleep in his arms a while later, he carried her to bed and curled up with her, thankful to be back with her in the park.
“Welcome home, sweetheart.”
The next morning, Indio took Reagan on a walk through the park before it was open to the public so they could see the decorations and grab hot breakfast sandwiches from the employee cafeteria.
Afterward, she helped him feed the non-shifting animals—what he called the norms —including Tank the moose.
When they passed by the shed where they’d first met, he wiggled his brows at her suggestively and she’d blushed so hard she almost had a hot flash.
After their walking breakfast, Indio had deliveries to get to, so he took Reagan back underground and promised to see her in a little while.
She considered taking a nap or unpacking some more, but instead, she decided to check out the cafeteria underground and followed the hall to it.
She met a wolf shifter couple who ran a small market and offered to get her anything she needed, and then she followed the scent of bacon and maple syrup to a long counter in the cafeteria.
A dark-haired woman smiled at her and said, “Hi there. You’re new! You must be Reagan, Indio’s mate? I’m Sera, Caesar’s mate. He’s a lion.”
Reagan shook her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Sera. It smells amazing here. I’m craving something salty and sweet.”
“I heard about the baby, congrats. Caesar told me elephant pregnancies had crazy cravings. I have an idea if you want something salty and sweet?”
“Yes, whatever you have I’m sure I’ll love. And a flavored water, maybe strawberry or lemon.”
“I’ll bring it right over.”
A few minutes later, Reagan was happily digging into a cinnamon roll topped with maple-bacon and sipping on a glass of fresh-made sparkling strawberry flavored water, when another woman wearing a park sweatshirt dropped into the seat across from her.
“I’m Heidi, one of the wolves. Mind if I join you? Sera said you’re Indio’s mate and new to the park,” she said, tucking a lock of blonde hair behind her ear.
“Sure, I’d love the company.”
They chatted easily. Heidi was sweet and funny, and had all the park news—upcoming events, new exhibits, and the busy mornings at the cafeteria since Sera had started creating specialty coffees and flavored waters.
Reagan mentioned that she planned on quitting her job at the gardens and wanted to find something to do around the park, at least until the baby came, and Heidi said, “Pretty sure the gift shop is always looking for help.”
“Really?”
“Yep. Alpha Joss is in charge of that kind of thing, so ask Indio to set up a meeting for you. If not the gift shop, they’ll find something for you. The mates are always welcome to help out.”
“I’d love that,” Reagan said. “It’s right up my alley. Thank you so much.”
Heidi stood with a smile. “No worries, that’s what we do for park family.”
A little while later, when she was resting in the bedroom and scrolling on social media, Indio joined her on the bed and gave her a kiss. “How was your afternoon?”
“I met Sera and Heidi, and I think I want to quit my job at the gardens and find something here.” She told him about Heidi’s suggestion to talk to Alpha Joss, and Indio nodded.
“I can definitely reach out to him and set up a meeting. You could always help me with the animals too.”
“I would like to do that, but I want something easy like the gift shop, and inside during the winter. No offense.” Her toes had frozen while they’d been feeding the animals.
“I totally get it,” he said. “You can do whatever you’d like.”
“Right now,” she said, feeling warm all over, “I’d like to show you how much I missed you while you were working.”
“I missed you too.”
He kissed her and the whole world fell away, just like it always did when his lips met hers. Just them, finally home .