AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Just my luck to be a tiger. Probably the rarest of all shifters.” He sighed, heating the oil in the frying pan. He knew it to be true. Unlike the packs of wolves, tigers weren’t exactly social beasts, to begin with. Tigers were notorious loners. In fact, when he grew to adulthood, it felt perfectly natural for him to strike out on his own and never look back.
Mostly. At least his parents were only an hour or so away. Family, even a small one, was still family.
At that moment, his phone rang. Picking up his phone, he answered the call.
“Hi, Rev. Any plans for the weekend?” his mom asked.
“Nothing tonight, really. I’m going to eat dinner and hit the hay. I trashed my bike today, so I have to go pick it up in the morning and maybe start working on it. After that, maybe taking a ride into the city for the evening.”
“You and that darn bike. And you know that nothing good happens in the Quarter on a Saturday night. I’m not naïve. You’re lonely,” his mom snarked.
“You’re up to something, aren’t you? It’s not the arrangement again, is it?”
“Well, the Garcia’s are coming over …”
“Mom. No. We talked about this. I’m not getting into some prearranged mate thing. Sorry, but that sounds like the perfect way to find a lifetime of misery.”
“Just listen to me. I’m going to be honest. Since the last true tiger leaders were killed, it’s nearly impossible to find other tigers close by, and it’s even more rare to find one who is even an eligible mate. And the Garcia’s know other tigers across the country. I’m sure a suitable arrangement can be made. It’s just our way. It’s always been our way. After all, your father and I didn’t even meet each other until the day of our mating ritual. And it all worked out, mostly.”
“Mom, I hate to disappoint you, but no. I’m not interested in getting locked into some awkward arrangement. How about I come home next weekend when matchmaking isn’t on the schedule?” He could honestly use a visit home to be around those who were like him. He just didn’t want to be lambasted about some archaic prearranged mating. He’d take a hard pass when it came to that.
“Fine. But you know I will still be asking around for you.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
After the call, all he could do was shake his head and smile. His mom meant well. She was just old-fashioned and traditional.
