Page 15 of Finding His Fox

"I did not, in your words, slap your delicious booty," I stated.

For some reason, that made Nate burst into laughter. It almost made me smile, but I quickly composed myself and returned to my indifferent expression.

Hold on a moment. I replayed Nate's words in my head. A date. Was he expecting me to ask him out on a date?

Before I could press him for an explanation, the door opened and Rory appeared, already dressed in his pajamas.

Rory took in the scene.

"Sorry, Cal. Nate gets really weird when he's drunk. Thanks for bringing him back to us safely," Rory said.

He sighed when Nate leaned on him, then burped. I sneezed all of a sudden. Then rubbed the bridge of my nose.

Was there a cat nearby? I was allergic to cats, despite finding them extremely cute.

“My pleasure,” I said, before turning on my heel.

I walked back to my truck and realized, with some shock, that I meant those words.

Taking Nate home had been an unexpected pleasure and a source of much confusion.

* * *

As my thoughts continued to be consumed by Nate, I drove back home to my three-floor rustic cabin overlooking the serene lake.

This property had been passed down to me by my late grandfather. It was also situated on the outskirts of the pack territory, offering me the privacy I needed.

Upon reaching the cabin, I didn't immediately enter. Instead, I leaned against the railings of the wide wraparound deck, taking in the tranquil view of the lake.

The cerulean waters mirrored the dusky hues of the sky, creating a breathtaking scene.

A pair of cranes gracefully took flight, leaving ripples in their wake. I wondered if Nate would appreciate this view.

This house, with its multiple empty rooms and expansive decks, always felt too large for just one person.

Owen had once suggested demolishing it and building a smaller cabin that better suited my needs.

However, I had continuously postponed such plans for two significant reasons.

Firstly, this house held memories of my grandfather, who had been my guardian and mentor after the loss of both my parents.

It served as a tangible connection to him that I couldn't bring myself to sever.

And secondly, there was a secret and somewhat shameful part of me that imagined this house as the perfect home for me, a partner, and perhaps even a couple of children.

Of course, I never shared this fantasy with anyone, not even my closest friends Owen and James.

After all, who would see a grumpy and anti-social person like me as mate material?

I scoffed at the thought, dismissing it as nothing more than a passing fancy. Such dreams seemed out of reach for someone like me.

With restlessness still coursing through my veins after the encounter with Nate, I decided to indulge in a quick run, shifting into my other form.

After discarding my clothes, I embraced the familiar pain of shifting, knowing that the freedom and agility of my fox form awaited me.

Bones popped, fur sprouted, and my body transformed into that of an alpha fox shifter—larger than an ordinary fox and often mistaken for a wolf by unsuspecting humans.

With the transformation complete, I bounded towards the nearest trees, ready to explore the woods on all fours.