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We land at the front of some sort of nature reserve.
“My pack works as park guides and workers,” North explains. “Hiking instructors, rafting guides, all of that. It’s so that we can be close to nature and take care of it, and it gives us a lot of area to run around in when we shift without running into people.”
That makes a lot of sense. “Do other shifters use national parks like this?”
“Most of us do, nowadays. It’s a safe way to stick to our natures.”
One of the park rangers walks up to us. I can see his nostrils flaring as he takes in the scent of us. He’s definitely a shifter.
“North?” the man says. He’s built a lot like North is, broad all over.
“Hudson.” North nods. “It’s been a while.”
“You could say that.” Hudson doesn’t seem unhappy to see North, more just surprised. “Are you doing all right?”
“Fine.”
Hudson glances at us, obviously curious. I wonder what he can sense. Shifters have mates too, of a sort, don’t they? Can he tell that we’re mates?
“We’re kind of on a mission here,” North admits. I can tell he’s trying not to sound too impatient, but the growl is still present in his voice. “Can we talk to Ratchet?”
Hudson looks hesitant. “I’m not sure he’ll want to see you.”
“Trust me, I don’t want to be here anymore than he wants me here. I wouldn’t have come if it wasn’t urgent.”
Hudson looks hesitant for a moment more, but North growls in the back of his throat, and Hudson gives in. “All right, this way.”
He glances at the rest of us again, but he doesn’t stop us from following him and North as we enter the park. We have to trek a little way, but we end up at a surprisingly large and well-done cabin.
I know that shifters aren’t the barbaric animals that some people say. They don’t live in caves. But they prefer to be close to nature, so I didn’t quite expect something so homey and luxurious, either.
The doors open and immediately other shifters emerge, not just men, all of them staring at us curiously. They can smell outsiders, I’m sure, and they’re worried about defending themselves.
Hudson puts his hands up in a placating motion. “It’s all right. I’m taking them to see Ratchet.”
As we get closer and walk up the front steps, I can see people registering that it’s North, and whispers start up. Packs are multigenerational homes and they cover a large territory, so they can get really large, thirty people per pack, grandparents and kids included. Around us I see about two dozen people—there are probably more just out doing errands or at work.
We’re led inside to a large main room, with a massive stone fireplace and a big gaming table, a pool table, couches and beanbags and soft blankets everywhere. It’s a real family area, and my heart aches.
This is what North had to leave, because he felt he wasn’t good enough. This was the homey, tight-knit, cozy family atmosphere and support system that he no longer got. My heart aches for him.
Sitting on one of the couches, reading a book, is a man that looks similar to North. I think they might be distantly related. There’s no softness about him, though, and if I were dealing with him instead of North, I wouldn’t trust him an inch. North is our leader because he treats us like equals and takes care of us, and I suspect this is the kind of man who’s a leader because he’s barking orders and thinks his ideas are the best.
“Ratchet,” North says, stepping forward.
The man looks up, his brows drawing together. “North.” He stands up. “You’re the last person I expected to see here again.”
There’s a slight mocking tone to his voice, and I try hard not to glare. This is North’s thing, not mine, and I don’t want to mess this up by showing my temper.
“I’m only here to…” North looks like it’s equal to swallowing nails to make him say this. “…ask for your help with something.”
Ratchet snorts with amusement. “Help? Now this is amusing. Go on.”
My hands ball into fists, and I take a few deep breaths. I need to let North take the lead here.
Cain wraps his hand around my wrist and rubs his thumb soothingly up and down. He knows how I feel. He’s got a temper himself, and he’s probably not any happier than I am to see North treated this way, but we have to try to be patient.
“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t important,” North says. “I’m glad that most of the pack’s here so they can hear this.”
