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Never mind the fact that I didn’t know how or why. Or if he would accept it.

“So, when will I shift?” Maya asked eagerly.

That snapped me back to the present, and I put thoughts of Connor on the back burner. He leaned in like he was curious as well.

“It varies for everyone, though most young wolves will shift sometime in their mid to late twenties. It’s better that way, so we don’t have a bunch of teenagers making bad decisions and able to shift into their wolf form,” Mason explained.

“How come my dad was so late to shift? Isn’t he a little old?” Maya asked.

“Ouch,” I said. Good thing she was here paying attention, because I was too distracted by the scent of Connor all around me.

Mason’s jaw twitched, so minutely I was sure most everyone missed it. But I saw it. He was unsure what to share.

“Some wolves just take longer than others. Since he wasn’t aware of his lineage, his wolf wasn’t brought forth until now. It could be that since he was never surrounded by wolves like those that are raised in a pack, his wolf just went dormant. But we’ve found him now.”

Seemed legit. And I knew that was the partial truth. The other part he wasn’t mentioning was now that I had shifted, I needed to find my mate and solidify the bond. Oh, and I was very likely going to be the next pack alpha.

No pressure.

Chapter 13

Connor

Itook my cues from Jack throughout the pack gathering. I kept my gaze trained on his face, and any time it seemed as if he needed support, I was there. I held his hand, stood by his side, and if there was something I was curious about, I asked. I tried not to take over the conversation. I had a million questions, but I knew they’d all be answered in due time. When I sensed he needed space, I stepped back. Maya and I hung out at the campfire while the wolves shifted and ran.

Maya took it all in stride; meanwhile, I was low-key freaking out. It was one thing to see Jack shift, but now we were surrounded by wolves, all of them massive.

It was amazing to see a pack of wolves stand where men and women had been moments before. They all seemed to shift at once when Mason gave the command. Jack’s own shift seemed to go more smoothly than the one last night. Not that I had a lot of experience in watching a man become a wolf, but it seemed today that it was less chaotic and more controlled.

He let out a howl as soon as he was in his fur. The pack responded in kind.

It was Jack, not Mason, that they followed into the woods after he let out a long howl.

Was it because he was the newest among them? Maybe it was some kind of tradition. It seemed to be something else, though. I wasn’t the only person who kept my gaze trained on him all day. Everyone was curious about Jack. The young ones came running when he returned from the woods, and little toddler hands wove their way into his fur as he sat on the ground. His tongue dropped from the side of his mouth as he panted, tired from his run. He looked more like a dog than a wolf in that moment, surrounded by kids who just wanted to pet him.

I melted as I watched him. The children clearly gravitated toward him, pegging him as a kid-guy. They truly were the best judges of character.

We were back at his house now. Maya gave her dad a hug, kissing his cheek and letting him know she would see him tomorrow. She and I didn’t get a lot of time to talk today, but I got the vibe that we would get along just fine. She was clearly a great kid with a good head on her shoulders, a true testament to both her parents. She winked at me as she turned away, like she was giving us space to figure out our next steps.

I could think of a few things we could do, but I didn’t want to take advantage of Jack during his time of need. The man had to be reeling with all the changes happening.

“How are you?” I asked when we stepped inside.

He pulled in a large lungful of air and seemed to really think about his response. “I’m good. Today felt right. Shifting has always felt good once I was in my fur, but it was lonely. It was better when I shifted with you, but being with the rest of the pack was amazing. Like coming home.” He ran a hand through his hair, the wavy gray strands curling around his fingers. “I know that sounds insane. It’s all so crazy.”

“It is, but it’s great,” I said, simultaneously happy for him and sad for him. He was finding his place, and that was great. So why did it feel like I wasn’t going to be a part of it?

“Did you have fun?” he asked.

“I did. Really. It’s been a long time since I’d been to a gathering like that. Actually…” I pursed my lips, thinking back to when I might have ever been to an event that was that much fun with that many people. My family had been small. I had distant cousins, but any get-togethers we had, we hosted at a restaurant meeting room space, not out in the open where we could all enjoy the fresh air. Those events had been kind of stuffy. I’d been expected to dress up and sit still the whole time. There was no playing or running. And no one changed into a wolf. I wouldn’t really call them fond memories. I wasn’t close with any of my family members.

As I was thinking, a low rumble shuddered from deep in Jack’s chest, and when I looked up, his gaze was on my lips.

My whole body heated, the air suddenly becoming thicker around us. His eyes flashed gold.

My breath hitched when Jack cupped my cheek and rubbed the pad of his thumb over my lower lip. My eyes fluttered closed, and I leaned into his touch.

Gods, I hoped he wasn’t expecting me to play hard to get. If he gave me any more encouragement or indication that he wanted this, I’d drop to my knees right here like a man starved for water in the desert. Jack was like the sun, and I was in his orbit, desperate to soak up his sunshine.