“Bye,” I whisper, and he leaves. I stare at the door a moment before turning to watch Lawson finish cleaning.
“Come here.” Hunter stares at me. He said it softly, yet I knew it was a demand. As I move, he walks around the counter and meets me on the other side of it. I let out a breath as he lifts me onto the stool. “How are you doing?”
“Can you be more specific?” My emotions are chaotic and vast.
“Do you have doubts about the mating bond?” he asks.
“I believe that I am your mate. It’s hard to wrap my head around what will happen.” I stare into his gorgeous eyes and know he will be the one to make everything clear.
“They didn’t explain well.” He looks at Lawson, who shrugs.
“We weren’t very thorough.” Lawson leans against the cupboard.
“I like information,” I say.
“So you can make an informed decision,” Hunter says, grinning.
“Yes. You live in a world that I didn’t know existed. I want to know the rules.” I rub my palms on my thighs. Hunter makes mefeel comfortable and safe, but he’s smoking hot. He hasn’t been this close to me yet, and my body is reacting.
“Shifters can mate with a human or another shifter of the same species. It’s rare, but there have been successful matings between different species. Our one rule is never to reveal our world to anyone except our mate if they are human.” I open my mouth. “Rylee told you because you're close, and she knew you needed to know. It happens sometimes, and usually it’s not a big deal since whoever it is, they trust. Humans would panic if they knew of our existence, and in some cases, we would be hunted and studied. Our animals know when we meet the one meant for us. We trust the universe and its plan. Mates are sacred. Many shifters never find their partner and live their very long lives alone. It’s sad, and in some cases, they lose their humanity. We like being around others like us and living in groups. We will be yours, just as you are ours.”
“You said you wouldn’t get jealous,” I say softly.
“No. We respect each other and the bond. Each of us will have a separate relationship with you, just like any human pairing. You will connect with us in different ways. We hope love will grow as well as the life we build together. Our need for you is already present.” He smiles gently. “When you're ready and have accepted the bond, we'll complete it. The four of us will bite you and turn you into a shifter. Turning into a jaguar won’t be painless. Your body will change from the inside out. We'll never leave you as you transition. It’s necessary. We live a very long time, and we couldn’t go on if you died as a human.”
“I know your senses are enhanced. Will I have the same power?” I’m not ready to think about the pain of the change yet.
“Yes. Your sense of smell, hearing, sight, and strength will be powerful. Healing will happen automatically. You won’t be human anymore.”
“Will I still be me?”
“Of course. Sometimes your personality is more, but you will still be the same person.” He tilts his head. “What are your thoughts about being a jaguar?”
“It’s hard to imagine,” I hum, frowning. “Do you like it?”
“There have been times in my life that I wished to be normal,” he says softly, and glances at Lawson. “All of us hoped that.”
“Every day for many years,” Lawson says.
“But, I can’t imagine a life without my animal. He is inside me, a reassuring presence. I rely on him every day. I’m strong and resilient. If I were human, I would think something was missing.”
“Do you want a family?” I ask.
“That’s all I’ve wanted my whole life,” he says softly. “Do you?”
“I’ve dreamed of having children. I wanted to have a family, a real family. My father wasn’t good to me. Having my own to love and protect would make me happy.” I look at Lawson. “What about you?”
“I didn’t think I could be a dad,” he mutters.
“Why?”
“I thought I had too much rage inside me to be a good one,” he replies.
“That’s not true,” I say.
“You don’t know about my life yet.” He looks between us. “I want to have a family with you.”
“We can talk about kids more, later,” Hunter says. There are many things we have to talk about, including their mysterious past.
