“Mate,” I whisper, climbing off Hunter. I kneel in front of my fourth mate and place my palms on his chest. I slide them up, scoot closer, and caresses his jaw. As his wild eyes meet mine, I’m shocked at the joy shining in them. “Lawson, I love you.”
“I’m overwhelmed.” He wraps his arms around my hips. “I’ve dreamed of a life like this, but thought I could never have it. Thank you for trusting me.” He kisses me. “For loving me.”
“My wild jaguar,” I say softly, grinning slightly. “You gave me magic.” I lift a shoulder. “We deserve our happiness.” He hugs me, his arms tightening. My body melts against his, my energy dropping drastically.
“You need to sleep,” Bane says.
“I don’t want to,” I sigh. I’m finally mated and ready to explore my gifts and our bond.
“We have time,” Hunter says.
“I wish I had a choice, but my eyes don’t want to open.” Lawson stands, holding me, and I tuck my head into his neck.
“Sleep, baby,” Remy says.
The movement of Lawson’s stride lulls me to sleep.
Safe. Happy. Knowing my jaguars will take care of me.
My body is burning. I struggle to open my eyes, succeeding slightly, I see Hunter sleeping beside me. A breath hits my neck, and I slowly turn my head. Remy is on his side, facing me, his hand wrapped around my arm, as if making sure I don’t disappear. I smile, look toward the window, and notice it’s still dark. I have no idea what time it was or how long I was going through the transition. I hear someone turn over, and swing my gaze toward the door. Lawson is sprawled on a small fold-out bed, and he doesn’t look comfortable. A rustling toward the back of the room alerts me to my fourth mate, and I tip my head back and to the side. Bane’s on the couch, his arm behind his head.
I lie straight and stare at the ceiling. They didn’t want to leave me, and I’m glad they surround me. I can hear the birds outside, the wind through the trees, and the water dripping off a rock by the creek. The clock seems loud, yet it’s downstairs in the living room. I hear a tree branch creek, and a squirrel scurrying over the bark.
I feel and hear the beat of each of my mates' hearts. Their scents wrap around me, each similar, yet slightly different than the other. The world has changed in new and wonderful ways. A visit to see my best friend turned into a lifelong journey. Fatehad a different plan for me, and I will revel in my new life for as long as I live.
I look at each of them again and grin.
“If you aren’t exhausted,” Remy rumbles, and I turn my head. “We have ways to make you that way.” I stare into his eyes and shiver.
“Many ways,” Hunter adds.
“Inventive ways,” Lawson rasps.
“Fucking delicious ways,” Bane growls.
I touch my tongue to the side of my mouth.
“What did you have in mind?” I ask.
My mates are very creative and spend hours showing me how much.
My eyes are wide as I stare at Sally and laugh. She has the best, most hilarious stories. Rylee leans against me, holding her hand over her mouth, tears in her eyes. Roxanne, a rabbit shifter, nudges Sally’s shoulder, disputing the truth of the tale. Allie is a gorgeous vampire, and Luca and Atlas' sister, is nodding her head.
“I believe it,” she sings. Rylee has been spending time with her, and I understand why. She's classy, bold, and funny.
It’s been two weeks of nothing but spending time with my mates. We’ve barely left the house, exploring our bond, andsolidifying our relationship. They have shown me their love in very imaginative ways. We took time to discuss my transition, and they were shocked. They didn’t have to say anything when I told them the message from their parents. I felt their awe. They didn’t question the magic that brought the words from their parents.
The backyard is filled with family. The shifters and vampires who accepted me without question are celebrating our mating. Rylee has fully recovered, and I’m grateful she can sit beside me and be alive to laugh. Food is being consumed before we shift. The sun is setting, and we'll wait until it descends. The first week after the transition was exciting. I had a hard time controlling the shift, but I’m making progress. My animal likes to show off. One night after we ate, I shifted suddenly in the kitchen. I thought Remy would be mad since the food went flying, but I’ve never seen him laugh so hard. My body is adjusting, and I hope my jaguar realizes who's the boss.
Hunter offered to tell me what his plan was for my father, but I assured him that I didn’t need to know. Maybe it’s the wrong choice, yet I trust that my mate knows the best punishment for his crimes. I know he did things that were worse than abusing his daughter, and I’ve made peace with his absence from my life. Brian is miserable enough and hasn’t tried to contact me. Hunter told me he has moved on to another job and is more concerned with making money and maintaining his social status. My brother hasn’t reached out, and I’m not sure how to feel about it. My mates keep tabs on him.
I watch Lawson as he sits with the tigers Kade and Cash. His expression is relaxed, and his eyes are filled with joy instead of pain. Hunter is speaking with Ryker and Bash. Their mates sit beside them, Serenity is staring at her daughter, playing, and Marie holds a small panther cub. Her parents are working to place the shifter children they rescued, so their daughter isstaying with them. She’s adorable in her human form, but seeing her shift was thrilling.
Remy is eating with the lions and Quinn. Their mates sit across from them, complimenting the food my mate made. He promoted Laney to manager, so he’s been able to rest easy and take time with us instead of running to the restaurant.
I’m still struck with awe when I see Heath. Bane stands across from him and Juliana. My serious mate will never show his emotions as some people do, but I don’t need him to. He’s perfect for me, and I think my acceptance has allowed him to just be who he is. Saphira cradles the cheetah’s baby, her mates watching her. I wonder if she notices the hunger in her men’s expressions. Saylor and Elijah share a loaded look, and the mom grins at the dragon. I still find it difficult to look at the vampires too long, especially with my enhanced sight. Micah holds Daisy on his lap, talking quietly with Atlas and Luca.
How did I get so lucky? I gained four mates who love me, and a family who dropped their lives to come to protect us while I was asleep. Bane told me I was unconscious for forty-eight hours. It felt like an hour to me. They didn’t have to express their worry; I felt it through the bond as we spoke of it. All I have to do is think of them, and I feel what they are feeling.
