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Gwen smiles. “She’s fine.”
I act dumbfounded. “Then how can Vince be the perfect child if she’s still around?”
Vince groans and says, “We better leave before Dad tries to be any funnier.”
After they leave, I decide to go to the forest for a run. I park in my usual spot, a nice, secluded clearing mile from the road, and strip naked. I close my eyes, take a deep breath and start to run. I shift as I run and in seconds, the human is replaced by a sleek, powerful wolf the size of a lion. Shifters, for whatever reason, are larger by far in their animal forms than the animals they take the form of.
As I run, I think about my relationship with Klarice. We’ve been seeing each other for a month now, secretly for the sake of my kids, and in that short time, all of the pain and depression, and hopelessness I feel is gone, replaced by actual excitement for the future. I can’t believe it but I actually feel happier as the day of my divorce approaches. I can’t wait for the day when we can finally be open with our relationship. Gwen knows about Klarice. She thinks very well of me for it, saying Klarice needs a man like me.
Gwen encourages me to tell her about my wolf sooner rather than later.
I try not to think of the differences between Gwen and Klarice, but it’s unavoidable. The biggest difference really, is that Klarice has no problem with me being vulnerable. Even when we were madly in love, Gwen never knew how to deal with my emotions. Coyotes are far more level-headed than wolves. Everything is a cost-benefit choice for them. As solitary hunters who are outclassed by most other large predators in their habitats, wild coyotes don’t have the need or the luxury of being sentimental and their shifter counterparts are much the same. It’s not that Gwen is cold. She just can’t fathom the intensity of feelings that wolf-shifters feel. I think in the end that our inability to truly understand each other emotionally is what ended our marriage.
I don’t have that problem with Klarice. I feel absolutely comfortable telling her about my concern for Kiara and Vince now that they’re heading into the world. I feel completely at home sharing my relief at the improved relationship with Gwen after splitting and have no trouble listening to her air her own complaints about all of the work she has to do with the kids.
Speaking of the kids, they all have fallen in love with me, and the feeling is absolutely mutual. Annie reminds me so much of Kiara that it’s almost like watching her grow up all over again. I decide I have to introduce the two when everything’s settled with me and Gwen.
Michael is just as fun for me as Annie. He is at that age where he desperately wants to prove to people that he’s grown up but because he’s still so young, he has no idea how to do that. I give him some guidance and advice and seeing him blossom into a fine young man is as rewarding as any other aspect of this relationship.
The younger kids make me feel young again. Running, jumping, and playing with them take me right back to Kiara and Vince’s childhood, and knowing that they love me as much as I love them is fulfilling in a way that only parents can understand.
Everything is just so wonderful and so easy that I almost worry that there’s another shoe that’s going to drop when I’m not expecting it. I don’t dwell on that worry though. All that matters to me is that I’ve found someone who accepts me and everything on top of that is just icing on the cake.
I finish my run and return to my car. When I’m back in human form and dressed again, I text Klarice.Can I come over?
She texts backI thought your son was in town?
I replyYes, but he won’t be home until late tonight.
What about your wife? I just saw her pull into the driveway.
She knows about usI reply.She approves of our relationship.
Klarice doesn’t respond for several minutes and I’m afraid she’s reacting poorly to the news that Gwen knows about us. I’m trying desperately to think of a way to apologize when my phone buzzes again.Sorry about that. Kaitlyn thought it would be funny to see if my phone could swim. Thank God I got the waterproof case! And yes, you can come over.
I smile and textbe right there.
I reach her house a half hour later and she answers the door wearing only a robe. She shifts slightly, just enough to make it clear she’s not wearing anything underneath.
“The kids are staying over at Gina’s tonight,” she explains. “I know you can’t stay over but I thought we could make the most of the time available to us.”
I smile at her. “I can think of nothing else I would rather do.”
She smiles. “Then get in here and do me already.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Klarice
His hands move over my body in such an odd way. No,odddoesn’t really describe his touch. Maybe counterintuitive is a better way to put it. The point is that I just don’t really understand how he can somehow be demanding and giving at the exact same time, how he can go about things in such a way that I almost feel overpowered and cuddled at the same time.
God, it’s amazing.
This man is amazing.
Valentine.
I’m willing to say right here and now that there’s no better name for him. Damn it all to hell, did I just make some kind of reference to him as though I’m in love with him already? I don’t even know how to think along those lines. I know it’s way too damned early to even…
