Chapter Twenty-Three
Zephyr
Two weeks later
“Mate, we’re home.”
I heard the voices, both of them taking turns saying cute things about being in the same house as our home, and when they left to pick up the last of Birch’s things, I’d been very excited and planning a special dinner to celebrate.
But halfway through mixing the batter for a dark-chocolate peanut-butter cake, I’d felt funny and had to hold onto the counter to stay upright.
It was nothing I could describe in terms I’d heard before.
Dizzy, maybe? Nauseated for sure. And a deep pain in my body that knocked me to the floor.
Muscle cramps in my arms and legs. And why would my face hurt? My fingertips?
Did I have some deadly disease that would kill me at the happiest time of my life?
Could Fate be that unkind? I had never thought much about the version of Fate that shifters swore by, but with two mates who did, I’d begun to think about it a lot more.
In between making love with one or both of them, spending time together in general, and trying to fit in enough work time that my business kept its doors open.
One thing we didn’t have often was dinner together unless we went to the restaurant and joined the staff for their pre-service dinner.
We had several times, and I had a private theory that the concoctions they ate were at least as good as what they served their customers.
I had been concerned that we were out of place, but there were always a few other spouses or mates or others at the big table, so I got over that feeling quickly.
But tonight, our first night with Birch officially out of his place and under the roof we were all sharing going forward, I had wanted to have just the three of us sitting together at our kitchen table.
A special meal, but not a fancy one. Maybe the cake was fancy.
Unfortunately, none of it was going to get done unless I pushed through whatever was tormenting me. If it was a flu, it was a doozy.
“Mate? Where are you?” Cypress was no longer teasing. “What’s burning?”
No! Not the baked spaghetti. I’d never be able to top the beautiful food Birch could make, but I had some casseroles and soups and things that were pretty good, so I’d gone with this one that Cypress said they’d both loved a version of back in the day.
I tried to crawl to the oven and rescue it, but as soon as I moved, the cramps intensified, and I lost all control, jerking around and gasping. I must be having a seizure.
“Zephyr! Where— Cypress, she’s in here!” Birch called and then he was at my side, cradling me, cushioning me with his body from the floor that I’d slammed into multiple times. “What’s wrong? Cypress!”
“I’m here.” He dropped to his knees beside us and grabbed my legs. “Can you talk, mate?”
I tried, but no words came out. Just a howl?
“I thought you said she was 100 percent human,” Birch demanded. “Has she shifted before?”
“She is all human. And no, she’s never…what do you mean ‘shifted’? Goddess, she’s sprouting fangs.”
“And fur and claws and a snout.” Birch eased back and laid me gently down. “All the usual things.”
“But she’s not a shifter. She’s never shown the least signs or mentioned having any shifters in her ancestry. No way. Zephyr, you are becoming a wolf.”
No no no no no.
Yes. And it took you long enough. Another voice in my head. Not mine. I was going crazy. No, you’re finally letting me out. And it’s about time.
Who are you?
I’m you. I’m your wolf. And you are me.
“We need to get her outside,” Cypress said. “Grab any part you can hold onto.”
“I guess undressing her is not happening.”
“Too late for her clothes.” Birch chuckled. “We’ve all been there and done that. She’ll be more prepared next time.”
They were carrying me outside. Why? There was all too much coming at me from inside and outside my head and my body, but once in the yard, they laid me in a patch of grass and stepped back. Leaving me like this? Was I dangerous. What if I bit someone?
We don’t bite. Oh, the occasional squirrel or other tasty bit, but not our mates. Did no one teach you any of this?
“Listen,” Birch said. “I hear her wolf.”
“The bond is complete. It must have brought her wolf. Wait until she’s finished and we know she’s made it through before we join her.”
“I’m stripping now.” Birch pulled his shirt over his head. “To save time and fabric.”
And then I was standing on all four feet, and everything smelled stronger, and looked brighter and… I’m a wolf.
Yes. A chorus of replies from my wolf, my mates, and maybe their wolves as well.
Then can we run?
No one answered. No one had to. My wolf was off and running and leading the way through the forest that lay behind our home. And unlike last time these males ran, I didn’t have to stay behind and wish.
When we came back to the house, I was afraid it might be hard to shift back, but it was a lot like wishing or maybe having the intent.
Elated, I danced around the yard, thrilled to be one of them.
Even if I didn’t know how. They told me later that somewhere in my background, there had to be a wolf, and I had inherited the genes.
But they had lain dormant until now. Probably the cementing of the bond between the three of us had pulled me out of latency.
I didn’t understand much about it, just was very happy to able to run with my mates.
And while they assured me that they loved me no matter what, I could tell they liked the idea as well.
One more thing we could do together. If only my new sweater with the pretty leaves didn’t lay in tatters.
Hopefully in the future, I’d be the one deciding when to shift and would be able to undress in plenty of time.
This also meant that when we went to visit Cypress and Birch’s old pack, I could run with them as well. And it would be soon. My mates had been away for too long. I hoped we’d be able to talk Cypress’ mom and dad into coming, but they weren’t ready.
All things in good time.