Page 133 of Shifter Situations

My only wish might have been not acting at the mercy of a timeline.

But I couldn’t even bring myself to believe that.

When we sealed our bonds wouldn’t matter to any of us.

These were the days that I would remember for a hundred lifetimes.

25

Sloane

Sunday, June 7th

Late Night

Returning home was a dose of relief that I’d welcome with open arms.

As soon as I’d landed behind the barrier around the estate, I heard the hounds bay outside. I ambled through the kitchen, opening the patio door to greet Pete and my boys.

Cronus and Helios circled around me, backing off when they were satisfied. I got one good scratch behind their ears before they were off again, patrolling the grounds.

Atlas weaved between me and the patio furniture, betraying his extra excitement. His large paws hit my shoulders, his tongue quickly swiping over my face. As I spluttered and fussed at him, Pete’s trunk wrapped around my waist.

I found myself hanging upside down in front of the pedmar’s gigantic eyes when my guys finally made it outside.

“I dropped your bag in your—” York began, shaking his head as he asked, “Why does he do that?”

Shrugging had no effect at this angle, but I tried. “I have no clue. He’s always done it, though. It’s not like I can ask him why.”

“Have you tried?”

“Yes, but not recently,” I sassed. “Pete, please explain to the kind druid why you insist on picking me up.”

Pete chirped, and York snorted. “Smartasses.”

Briggs yawned, causing Novak to grin at him. “Dead on your feet, Wolf?”

“I don’t even have the energy to tell you to fuck off,” Briggs replied. “I’m going to sleep.”

“In your room,” my druid called to his retreating back before turning to the rest of us. “I think I’m going to sleep too. We haven’t gotten much recently.”

I tapped Pete, silently commanding him to put me down so that I could shrug properly. “Sorry, not sorry.”

“Sleep sounds lethal,” Palmer commented, and I was pretty sure that didn’t mean what I thought it meant.

“Right behind you,” Vaughn commented.

“You owe me chocolate-covered popcorn when you wake up, or I will be lethal, Mage.”

He winked at me. “You already are, Love,”

Vaughn and Palmer went back inside, following Briggs and York to bed. I giggled to myself as my thoughts began to run wild with what-ifs.

Novak called me out. “That wouldn’t happen. Doesn’t matter how much you want it to.”

“What wouldn’t happen?” Stone asked, snapping his attention from the pedmar to us.

“Sloane’s imagination was about to run away from her. The guys went to bed, and she latched onto the word together.”