"I'd love to meet them," she said, meaning it despite the anxiety bubbling up inside her.
Nathan's face brightened, but concern flickered in his eyes. "You sure? I can tell you're nervous."
Harper leaned into his touch, drawing comfort from the warmth of his hand on her shoulder. "I am nervous," she admitted. "But they're important to you, and I want to know them."
Good mate's parents,Reyna chimed in her mind.Show them strong fox.
Harper almost laughed at her fox's simple confidence. If only it were that easy. Her hands fidgeted with the hem of her shirt as questions tumbled through her mind. Would they accept that their son was dating a shapeshifter? What if they blamed her for dragging Nathan into this complicated supernatural world?
"Hey," Nathan's gentle voice cut through her spiraling thoughts. His fingers caught her restless hands, stilling them. "They're going to love you. Mom's already excited just hearing about you."
"You told them about me?" Harper's voice came out higher than intended.
"Just that I'm seeing someone special." Nathan's thumb traced circles on her palm. "I figured we should tell them about the shapeshifter part together, if you're comfortable with that."
The knot in Harper's chest loosened slightly. Of course Nathan would think of that - would give her control over how and when to share that part of herself.
Mate understands,Reyna purred approvingly.Takes care of us.
"Thank you," Harper whispered, squeezing his hands. "For thinking of that. For everything."
Nathan shifted his weight, clearing his throat. "There's something else you should know." His fingers tightened slightly around hers. "Ever since the shifter reveal, my parents have been absolutely fascinated. Mom's been reading every article she can find, and Dad's been watching all the news coverage."
Harper's eyebrows rose in surprise.
"They're going to be over the moon when they find out they're actually meeting a shifter." Nathan's expression turned sheepish. "Mom might have a million questions. I should probably warn you - she's already got a notebook full of them from watching Katerina's interview."
A laugh bubbled up from Harper's chest, unexpected but genuine. The image of Nathan's mother sitting in front of the TV with a notebook, scribbling down questions about shapeshifters, dissolved some of her anxiety.
"That actually makes me feel better," Harper said, still smiling. "I'd rather deal with excited curiosity than fear or judgment."
Good den-mother,Reyna approved in her mind.Wants to know cubs.
"Really?" Nathan's shoulders relaxed. "I was worried it might make you more nervous, knowing they're so interested."
Harper shook her head, her smile warming. "After everything that's happened lately, genuine enthusiasm sounds wonderful. It's nice to know there are people who see this as something amazing rather than scary."
Chapter 30
Harper tuckedher hand into Nathan's as they sat on the sofa.
"You know," she confided, "six months ago, this would have been torture. Sitting here waiting to meet your parents. I used to be shy... like, really shy. I always have been. But ever since I got here, and got embraced by everyone into the community, it's simply fallen away."
He chuckled. "They never let you have a chance to be shy."
Harper grinned at him. "No, they didn't right from the beginning. And it's like a flip was switched in my brain. Not that I'll ever be an extrovert, but that social anxiety has disappeared."
There was a moment of silence, and she saw that Nathan's brow was furrowed.
"Do you think," he said slowly, clearly pondering his words, "that maybe it's because this is where you're supposed to be? I mean... San Francisco is no place for a fox, and you didn't have any family there, and from what you've told me, you didn't have many friends, and amongst those, the only one who was a shifter, was Jake. But here, you're surrounded with shifters, you have a support system, and woods all around to change into your fox any time you want."
She considered what he said, and her fox peeked out.Den, she agreed.
Yes, I think so, she told her fox, and nodded at Nathan.
"That's it exactly. I feel like, finally, I'm home," she said. "My fox agrees, too."
"Nice fox," he teased, and patted her head.
