Once his parents were safely in their car and backing out of the driveway, Nathan closed the door with a sigh of relief. "That went well."
"Your parents are wonderful." Harper's amber eyes sparkled. "Your mom especially seemed excited about Jill."
"Yeah, she's always had a soft spot for unusual animals." Nathan chuckled, remembering the parade of injured birds and squirrels his mother had nursed back to health during his childhood. "You know she really, really, and I mean, really, wanted to see you Change."
Harper smiled softly. "She was being polite, wasn't she? Let her know I will, the next time they visit."
He laughed. "She'll love that, and make it a point to be back in the Valley as soon as she can!"
"Come here," Nathan said softly, reaching for her hand. His fingers threaded through hers as he led her back to the sofa.
Harper curled into his side, breathing in his familiar scent. "Your parents are amazing," she murmured. "I can't believe how excited they were about everything."
"Mom's probably writing down every detail in that notebook of hers right now." Nathan's chest rumbled with quiet laughter. "Did you see her face when you mentioned the Council? I thought she might explode from curiosity."
"She wanted so badly to ask to see my fox form." Harper chuckled, remembering Regina's restraint.
"She was trying so hard to be polite." Nathan's arm tightened around her shoulders. "Dad too - he had that look he gets when he's bursting with questions but doesn't want to overwhelm someone."
"Honestly, I wouldn't have minded, in fact, I was going to offer but then the conversation kept going, and I forgot."
Jill hopped over to them, settling at their feet with a contented wiggle. Harper reached down to stroke her soft ears, marveling at how naturally the little jackalope had fit into their evening.
"Thank you," she said quietly.
"For what?"
"For sharing this with them. For trusting them with Jill, with everything." Harper snuggled closer, feeling the steady beat of his heart against her cheek. "It means a lot."
Nathan pressed a kiss to her temple. "They're going to love having you as part of the family."
His words sent a pleasant warmth through her chest as they sat together in comfortable silence.
Harper nestled deeper into Nathan's embrace, enjoying the peaceful quiet that had settled over them after his parents left. Jill dozed at their feet, her tiny nose twitching occasionally in her sleep. The evening had gone better than she'd dared hope - Nathan's parents' enthusiasm and acceptance warming her heart.
"How long is your lease for?" Nathan's question broke the comfortable silence.
"A year," Harper replied, tilting her head to look up at him. "Why?"
His lips curved into a soft smile, his eyes twinkling with something that made her pulse quicken. "No reason," he said, running his fingers through her hair. "Just something to be thinking about."
Mate planning den,Reyna purred in her mind, radiating approval.
Harper's heart fluttered at the implications of his words, but she forced herself to stay still, savoring the warmth of Nathan's body beside hers and the gentle caress of his fingers through her hair. A wave of contentment washed over her as she imagined a future together, though she dared not voice those thoughts aloud, not wanting to break this perfect moment. Still, she couldn't deny the warmth of anticipation.
Chapter 31
Jill woke up suddenly,nudging Nathan's ankle with her nose. He bent down to scratch behind her ears. "I bet you want some treats, don't you?"
Harper tucked her feet under her as she watched him feed Jill pieces of apple. The little jackalope's nose twitched with each bite, her tiny antlers bobbing as she chewed. Warmth spread through Harper's chest at how gentle Nathan was with his unusual charge.
A flicker of movement caught her eye. Harper's gaze snapped to the patio door, her fox's senses suddenly alert. There, illuminated by the outdoor light, stood another rabbit - but this one was fully grown, with a magnificent rack of antlers sprouting from its head, just like Jill's smaller ones.
Harper's breath caught in her throat. She reached over and gripped Nathan's arm, her fingers digging into his sleeve.
"Nathan," she whispered, not wanting to startle either jackalope. "Look at the patio door. Slowly."
Nathan turned his head, following her gaze. His hand froze mid-air, still holding a piece of strawberry. Jill, sensing the change in atmosphere, stopped munching and lifted her head,her nose working overtime as she caught the scent of the newcomer.
