Page 114 of Shifted Desire

I freeze halfway into my sweatpants. “Shit, what if Shane doesn’t want to finish the charm now that he knows about us?”

Samantha grimaces. “Crap. I hadn’t thought about that.”

She thinks for a moment and shakes her head. “He’ll finish it. Dad was freaked out and pissed, but he cares about keeping his family safe more than anything else. If he says he won’t make it, I’ll remind him of that. I’ll even offer to help him with the charm—he’ll eat up any excuse for me to share a hobby with him.”

“If you’re okay with doing that…I don’t want to make things any more uncomfortable for you.”

She waves away my concerns. “Eh, it’s fine. He loves you and he’s a total pushover for the people he loves.”

My chest squeezes, hoping she’s right. I told myself I’d manage if Shane wants to end our friendship, but losing that would be an ache that would never go away. He’s always been there for me, and I feel incredibly selfish for asking him to keep being there for me after my betrayal of his trust.

“I’m not sure he loves me anymore,” I say with a huff as I finish getting dressed.

Samantha wraps her arms around my waist and squeezes me tight. “He does. He might not like you for a while, but I could feel it last night, even when he was angry. It’s going to be okay. The one I was worried about was Mom, and she was fine with it.”

I let out a weak laugh. “She was, wasn’t she? I never would’ve guessed she’d accept it so easily.”

“She could feel how much we love each other. That made it simple for her, I think.” She tilts her head up for a kiss, and I happily claim her lips, that love she spoke of thrumming through our connection, steady and hopeful and bright.

42

Tires crunch on gravel as we pull down the secluded drive, heading even further into the wilderness. The last sign of civilization was over a half-hour ago. Nathan really wasn’t kidding when he said his cabin was isolated, but the trek is worth it.

Whatever makes him feel safe during the full moon is worth it.

Even the supremely awkward conversation I had with Dad about finishing work on the collar as soon as possible, which ended with us working on it together but pointedly avoiding discussion of what it was for.

Even the hour-long lecture from Mom on how to use the collar, since Dad didn’t want to talk about it with me.

Even the phone call we made to Mom’s cousin Xae asking them to be our safety net and allow me or Nathan to summon them if something goes wrong tonight.

I understand now all that mushy stuff about doing anything for your partner. I would’ve embarrassed myself a thousand times over and faced much more than awkwardness to make sure Nathan is comfortable tonight. That’s saying a lot, considering how much I’ve avoided embarrassment like the plague in the past.

The trees open up as the drive slopes down, presenting us with a scenic vista of a two-story log cabin tucked beside a sparkling pond, the grass dotted with wildflowers, mountains rising in the distance.

“Godsdamn, this place is gorgeous! Screw the house in Moonvale, let’s move out here.”

Nathan chuckles and shakes his head. “You’d go crazy after more than a few days. There’s literally nothing to do and no one for miles.”

I pretend to pout. “Hmm, I guess.”

“We can come here every full moon. If you end up liking it,” he says quickly. His voice holds the nerves I’ve sensed buzzing inside him since we got to the airport at the ass crack of dawn.

“Sounds good.” I smile and place my hand atop his on the center console.

He flips his palm over, interlacing our fingers and giving me a quick squeeze in appreciation, pulling the rental car into the carport attached to the cabin.

We unload the car, with Nathan chuckling as I exclaim over every fancy new feature I notice about the cabin. This place is way too nice to only be used once a year. It’s big enough that it could fit my entire side of the family, spouses and kids included. I can’t help imagining a tree by the huge stone fireplace in the two-story living room, and all of us gathered around drinking mulled wine and exchanging presents.

Though when I focus back on Nathan and see his increasingly stiff posture, I squash any comments about family gatherings. This place holds uncomfortable memories for him if he’s only come here for his yearly transformation. I can only hope to rewrite them together over time. Then maybe we'll talk holidays. By then I’m sure everyone will be over the weirdness of us being a couple.

I take Nathan by the hand and guide him to sit down in one of the cushy armchairs. When he reaches for me, I step behind him instead and rest my hands on his shoulders.

He groans softly as I start to knead the tense muscles. “Thank you,” he murmurs. “I’m sorry I’m so tense.”

Leaning down, I kiss his cheek. “You have nothing to be sorry about.”

Nathan huffs noncommittally, clearly not wanting to argue but disagreeing.