“Where did you read this stuff?”
He felt his skin flush and just knew he was blushing. He’d had a lot of time in the last few days to surf the Internet. “Wikipedia.”
She giggled. “Well, stop. The only way to change someone is to bite them. We release a special enzyme that mutates the DNA of the bitee.”
“Sounds painful.”
“I understand it can be, under the wrong circumstances. Most people are changed with the mating bite, and I understand that’s…” She smiled, the expression sultry. “Fun.”
He cleared his throat again. He didn’t want to think of her and
She lifted her brows and the lid on the one plate she hadn’t stuck in the microwave. Instead of the salad he half expected, there was a rich, decadent-looking Black Forest cherry cake. “Human, remember? We’re people who shift into animals, not animals who shift into humans.”
“Are
She set the warmed-up plates on the kitchen table, the smell of the meat and potatoes filling the small cabin. “We see well in the dark, better than a human does, but only when we shift our eyes to our wolf’s.”
He took a step closer, drawn by the easy way she spoke and the hunger that gnawed at his belly. Since he’d holed up in the cabin, he’d been living off granola bars and bottled water. “What about the whole man-wolf thing? Is that real?”
She shook her head. “Nope. Tigers do that.”
“T-tigers?” There were more of them?
Graciela didn’t seem to notice his unease. “Yup. The rest of us just turn into animals.” She finished getting all the food prepared while she spoke. “There are Wolves, and Pumas and Tigers, and lots of other shifters out there, each with a unique gift. And the one who rules over us all is the Leo.”
“Who?”
“The Leo.” She took a seat, her hands on the table where he could clearly see them. It was obvious she was doing her best to make sure he was as comfortable as possible with her presence. “He rules over all shifter kind. He’s always a Lion, and he runs the Senate, the ruling body of shifters. He’s the only white Lion shifter, and he has the ability to order even an Alpha like Rick around. So when that white Lion is born, they park his ass on the throne and pray he’s not a complete
He gulped and sat down at the table with less grace than he’d planned. “I thought I heard a mountain lion the other night.”
She nodded. “Remember Belle? She’s a Puma. There’s a town a few hours away that’s run by Pumas, and it has a college campus nearby. Several different types of shifters go there, as it’s one of the few campuses in an area that’s shifter-run in the United States.”
“How many of you are there?”
She shrugged. “I’m not sure. That’s not one of my jobs, you know? But probably more than you’d believe, less than you fear. We’re just people, Steve, trying to live our lives like everyone else.”
“No, I meant how many different kinds? Wererabbits? Weresharks?” He shivered. “Weredinosaurs?”
She picked up her knife and fork, gesturing for him to do the same. He did, trying to ignore how badly his hands were shaking again. At least he didn’t think he was in danger of passing out this time. “Well, there are Wolves and Pumas, Foxes, Bears—”
“Bears? Like, grizzlies?”
“And black, and kodiak, and Kermode. Yup.”
He wasn’t certain he wanted to hear any more, but he got the feeling he’d need to. Now that he knew about Ben and the rest of them, he had to know. “And?”
“Lions, Tigers—” He felt himself sway a bit in his seat, “—Cheetahs, Coyotes. There are a lot of us, but we all seem to be predators of one kind or another, and always mammals.”
“So no werebunnies.”
“Nope.” She tilted her head and smiled. “Unless they’re Bear bunnies.”
“Do I want to know?”
She took a bite of steak and moaned. “One of the Pack members living in Halle is mated to a Bear whose nickname is Bunny.” She shrugged. “So. Werebunny.”
He actually laughed a bit at that, but he was feeling overwhelmed. He took a bite of steak, hoping to distract himself.
It worked. He moaned at the flavor that burst across his tongue. “Oh my God. I think I’m in love.”
She growled, the sound inhuman. Wolfish.
He carefully put the knife and fork down. “Or maybe not.”
She winced. “Sorry, sorry. It’s just… You’re my mate, and I don’t like hearing you say you love someone else.” She shrugged, blushing darkly. “Or something.”
He blinked. “Mate.” He’d heard that term before, and been way too wigged out to think about it much. And he’d had enough girlfriends to understand what that term meant.
She bit her lip and nodded. “Mate.”
The next thing he knew, his head was between his knees and Graciela was begging him to breathe.
Chapter Five
Okay. So maybe this wasn’t going quite the way she’d hoped it would. She’d planned on answering all his questions, yes, but she had hoped she wouldn’t terrify him.
Again.
Damn it.
Why had he followed them the other night? The man should have stayed inside and sipped hot cocoa laced with Tia Maria or something;
Gah. What a mess.
“Steve?”
He looked up at her, his face pale, his eyes wild. “Mate?”
She nodded. “We know the moment we hear your voice, get a whiff of your scent. It’s…” She breathed deep, his musky scent wrapping around her like a warm cloak. “It’s delicious.”
He shuddered, the ever-present hint of fear spiking again. “I’m gamey. And stringy. And have I mentioned I taste like ass?”
She bit her lip, trying to hold back her laugh. “Tasted a lot of asses, have you?”
The color came flooding back into his face, embarrassment pouring off him in waves that nearly made her dizzy. “That’s more Ben’s kink.”
Her laugh broke free, and she could feel his delight, his happiness. He liked making her laugh, and the knowledge gave her hope. “If it makes you feel any better, Ben and Dave are mates.”
That quickly his pleasure disappeared. “I feel like I’m in a dream, and I can’t decide if it’s a nightmare or a comedy.”
She schooled her features as best she could. “Definitely comedy. Think Keystone Cops.”
The small smile she received wasn’t what she’d hoped for, but she’d take it. “I could see Dave wearing one of those stupid-looking domed hats.”
“And Ben falling all over himself and everyone else.”
“And Rick yelling at all of them?”
She nodded and helped him up. That little dose of silliness had gotten him over at least some of the fear, and he no longer looked ready to pass out at any second. “The food’s getting cold.” Above all else, the urge to take care of her mate was strong.
“Yeah.” He picked up the knife and fork and eyed her warily. “Are you going to get pissed if I moan?”
She shook her head, trying to appear small and unthreatening. She even hunched in her seat a little.
