Oh. Well. Now, I feel like an asshole.
“Um, I didn’t know. I’m sorry,” I whisper meekly, properly chastised but still irritatingly turned on. “And Chuck, if you want to tell me what your... animal is, I would like to know.”
Silence stretches awkwardly but finally Chuck speaks up. “Guiana Dolphin. My previous pod was decimated by Orcas. I was the only one who escaped and washed up on the shore here. The Club rescued me.”
I am literally the biggest asshole on the planet.
“I’m really sorry for your loss, Chuck. That’s so tragic. I’m glad you’re here.” I mean it sincerely and it takes the tension out of the room significantly.
Bryan smiles patiently. Where Darren is my Silver Kit, Bryan is full fledged Silver Fox. He’s tall and strong without being bulky. The way he explains things makes me wonder if he was a teacher at some point. The idea of Bryan as a teacher makes my brain misfire again as I get lost in a student/teacher fantasy. What is wrong with my brain? I am thirty-eight years old. Why am I this horny over strangers?
“As I was saying, we’re shifters. Most of the community here in Misty Cove are shifters of some sort. Most shifters here are mammals, but we do get the occasional reptile. Misty Cove was created in the 50s and warded by a local coven of witches to provide a safe haven for supernatural citizens. The Club was given the task of handling security.”
“Wait, you said supernatural citizens? Can everyone turn into animals or are there other types here? OH MY GOD, ARE YOU LIKE WEREWOLVES? WERE-SEA LIONS?” I screech, looking around at them frantically. They don’t look like a horror movie come to life. Mostly they just look tired.
I have never needed a drink more in my entire life. I will drink anything. Just give me enough booze to make this better.
“This isn’t like werewolves. We can’t turn you into a shifter. In answer to your other questions, yes, there’s a coven of vampires in the old house next to the woods. There’s also a herd of elk that live on the outskirts. We do have a good mix of predator and prey species.”
I have so many questions.
I remember the gray dog I saw running alongside us when I was riding with Darren.
“And wolves? You have them?”
All the men tense again. “Yes.” Earl replies finally, his voice is gravely and clipped and puts me on edge instantly.
“The Coastal Wolf Pack is based here. They are...not very sociable,” Darren starts.
“They’re fucking dangerous. Tell her. She needs to know!” Earl bursts out.
“Tell me what?” I demand. My eyes dance to each of the men but none of them are meeting my eyes anymore. “I swear to you right now, I will walk out this door and steal one of your bikes and ride off into the fucking sunset and say sayonara to all this bullshit unless someone tells me what is going on and does it now. You don’t think I can leave in a huff? Ask my ex, I left him easily enough.”
There is an awkward pause, and then the Aussie steps forward. “The Matestone is like a beacon to supernaturals. It calls to us. It doesn’t just have mystical powers. When I say it’s keyed to you, you have to understand that it wouldn’t work on anyone else. It means you have been chosen, by Fate herself.” Trevor starts, looking at his brothers before continuing, “Shifters are dying out—and female shifters are extremely rare.”
“I can assure you, I am not a shifter, nor do I have any desire to ‘continue the shifter line’ or whatever,” I interrupt hotly.
“No. You’re not. We know that. Nor are we looking for a breeder or anything like that. A Matestone is much more than that, it’s...” He sighs heavily, and looks to his podmates for reassurance.
Bryan jumps in, “So, pods like ours formed decades ago because there just weren’t enough mates for everyone. In the wild, sea lions have one male and many females. But for shifter sea lions it’s the opposite. There are significantly more males to females. So much so that our society has formed in such a way that groups of males form pods and most live in a matriarchal society. They wait until Fate brings them a mate that they then share. It worked so well for our kind that it was eventually adopted by the rest of the shifter community and most of our community operates this way.”
I try to follow, but my mind is racing, “OK, well that’s all great for you. I hope you find your... mate... But no one asked me if I wanted to be part of some sort of supernatural polyamorous sex cult with a group of men who also sometimes turn into marine mammals on the weekends because y’all like my jewelry. Like, no. That’s not how this works. That’s not how any of this is supposed to work. I’m a HUMAN.”
Earl looks dejected. I don't like it when Earl looks dejected. A part of me just wants to hug him. Or... other things. Maybe I should bite him again. Why do I care so much? This is stupid. Maybe he bewitched me with his dick. He’s still naked. That must be it. Gah. Focus, Ronnie. Focus.
“You are mostly human, yes," Bryan continues, drawing my attention away from the score of inappropriate thoughts in my head. "But you must have something supernatural somewhere in your bloodline, Ronnie. The Matestone doesn’t activate if you don’t. But that’s beside the point. Let me explain the rest of it. Do you want a drink? Chuck, go get her a drink."
You bet your fine ass and flippers I want a drink! Shit just got so weird.
I don't say a word. I don't
