Chapter Twelve
Darsh
I’d never shifted with a tiger, but the idea was very exciting.
And my wolf was beyond thrilled to have the opportunity to meet the beast. When I’d had my previous job, I’d had a difficult time finding energy or hours for anything that gave me pleasure like Cuffed or taking my fur.
It wasn’t until I walked away from that life that I realized how much pain I’d cost not only my human side but my wolf.
If I hadn’t left that company and bought into Cuffed, would I have even met my mate?
We had not yet declared it to one another, but my wolf was sure, and I couldn’t imagine feeling this wonderful with anyone if they weren’t my mate.
When he spoke, I didn’t want to miss a word, and a simple brush of our hands while walking went right to my head… both heads.
I’d sent him a text asking if he’d like to shift together, and he’d replied, Yes!!!
Then I called because I wanted to hear his voice. “When would you like to go?’ he asked.
“What nights are you off? Or would you rather go early in the day?”
We agreed on an early morning after his next night off so we could see the sunrise, and I was so eager to see him again, away from work, that I had a hard time sleeping and no trouble being up an hour before dawn to drive over and pick up the omega.
In the wolf world, alphas were considerably larger than omegas, but I didn’t know if that would be the case with a tiger. Although he was half wolf, he’d been clear that his tiger side held dominance and was the animal he carried.
“You’re right on time.” Blaze opened the car door as soon as I pulled up in front of his apartment building.
“I can’t wait to see where we’re going. I’ve only been shifting in the little wilderness park near my home after they put the chain up across the parking lot, ensuring humans will not be there. ”
“Couldn’t they duck under the chain like you probably do?” I asked, rejoining the flow of traffic. It seemed like a no-brainer.
“I suppose, but they don’t.”
“Silly humans.”
We continued along for about twenty minutes before we came to our destination. “We’re here.” I unhooked my seatbelt and glanced over to see Blaze’s reaction. “What do you think?”
“I think we’re in front of a row of tall buildings. What are we going to do, run up and down the escalators?”
I chuckled. “We’d have to come back in a few hours to do that. The buildings are closed now. Come with me.” I led him between two of the towers. “I think you’ll be surprised.”
“I doubt…whoa!”
“Yep.” As we emerged from between the buildings, we faced a forest right in the middle of the city. “Nice, huh?”
“It is. But the trees look like old growth forest. How did they get them to grow so fast? The structures can’t be more than a few years old.”
“You’re about right on the construction being new, but the trees didn’t grow fast. They are old growth.
The people behind this development, one of whom is a business partner of mine, specifically planned to protect this forest. Fraser says that it was the one project, while he was still working with developers, he is truly proud of.
“I see why.” Blaze pulled his T-shirt over his head. “My tiger is losing his mind.”
“Then let’s get to it.” I stripped my clothes away and tucked them under a bench just short of the tree line.
“We have got a couple of hours before we are in danger of discovery.” Some humans knew about us and others did not or preferred to pretend we weren’t real.
In any case, we were not here to have someone calling animal control or wildlife.
I didn’t stare at him before he took his fur, although I wanted to, but once the tiger emerged I was struck dumb with awe. “You’re magnificent,” I murmured. “May I touch you?”
If alphas were larger among tiger shifters, they would be immense.
When the regal beast lowered his head, I reached out and buried my hands in his thick, coarse hair.
A second layer underneath was much softer, and the tiger stood patiently allowing me to appreciate his form for a few minutes before twitching less patiently.
I took my fur and joined him in exploring the forest that had stood there far longer than people or maybe even shifters had been in the area.
Although Fraser had brought me here once, it had been a quick run with a couple of other owners of Cuffed before I bought in.
This time I was with Blaze, and those two hours went so fast it felt like minutes.
Another breakfast together and then I dropped him off at home, but not until he agreed to a dinner date.
Progress.