Fated Shifter Mates

by Jade Alters

  “Oh yes, we have one of those,” she pointed to the far corner of the waiting room, right next to where a big ass German Shepard sat with his owner. The dog's brown eyes were already on me. His ears were standing straight up and he was growling low in his throat.

  “Oh, okay, thank you.”

  “The best thing to do for the long run would be to bring him in for his vaccinations and have him chipped.” I was glad I already knew what that meant. I smiled and nodded and said,

  “I intend to, thanks. I'm just on my break from work now, but when I figure out my schedule, I'll call for an appointment.”

  “Good,” she said, smiling brightly. “We can also schedule the neutering at the same time, if you're planning on having him fixed.”

  Ouch. I felt an ache in my loins. I'm glad wolves don't get domesticated. If they take my balls, they may as well just take the rest of me with them. I had to work hard to force the next smile. I nodded, thanked her again and tried not to hold my crotch protectively as I walked toward the machine.

  I heard the German Shepherd growl and her owner say, “Oh hush, Ellie. What's wrong with you? We don't growl at people, it's rude.”

  I smiled at the lady, that only seemed to piss the dog off more and the hair on her neck and back rose higher, her ears pinned back and she stood up straight on all fours and began to bark. I could tell the lady was doing her best to hold the dog back and I wasn't sure how long she would be able to, since the dog looked like it outweighed her by about fifty pounds.

  With a hand that was shaking because I was trying so hard to move fast, I picked the first tag that popped up when I touched the screen. It was shaped like a dog bone.

  Next, I put in the name, “Gray.” Then the address. It was the address that Ridge had text me, the address of Cheyenne's apartment complex. She lived in apartment 4. I didn't ask him how he knew exactly where she lived and he didn't tell me.

  Anyways, on my tags, I just left off the apartment number. I fed money into the slot and waited for the little tag to finish engraving.

  The German shepherd was going insane and the lady was sweating. The tag popped out at last and I looked at it and then tucked it into my pocket before walking in a wide circle around the German shepherd and smiling at the receptionist as I passed the window. I let out a breath I'd been holding as soon as I walked out the door.

  The island was small, thank goodness, because I walked everywhere I went. The pack has two cars that we're all allowed to use for groceries, business, or appointments.

  But I didn't think this would qualify for any of that. My next stop was a little hardware store where I bought a dog collar to put the tag on, and once I had that, I headed toward the address Ridge gave me. It was Saturday, late morning and I wondered what I was supposed to do if she wasn't home. I didn't want to call Ridge again, however, so I decided to wing it. I walked until the buildings of the little town began to disappear behind me.

  Once I was in a secluded area, I ducked into some trees and bushes. I slid the tag onto the collar and lay it down on the grass while I stripped off my clothes, and shifted. I left the clothes, but picked the collar up in my teeth and using the back roads that encircled the town, I ran until I was on the other side of the island, rolled in the dirt so that I hopefully looked more like a stray dog than a wolf and then found a comfortable spot underneath the steps that Cheyenne would have to walk up to get to her apartment.

  Cheyenne

  I parked my car and looked up at the apartment building.

  It was funny to think that just a few short weeks ago, I was happy.

  Now, I just felt like I was going through the motions. I used to be lonely from time to time, I guess everyone gets that way sometimes. But for the most part, I was content and I was sure that when the time was right, I'd meet some nice young man and we'd get married, have a family...you know, normal stuff.

  Then, I met Ridge, and now not only could I not stop thinking about him, but I felt guilty for thinking about him. I felt weird, like there was something wrong with me for wanting a man who would take me and hold me captive.

  Sometimes, mostly late at night when I was really lonely, I'd start making excuses for him. I'd tell myself that yes, he did take me, but he didn't hurt me. He didn't rape me. He had plenty of opportunity, had he wanted to do anything awful to me, and he didn't.

  Then I'd remind myself that he did drug me, and drugging and kidnapping a woman because you “want” them, isn't normal. But Ridge isn't normal, and that white wolf, Chelsea, tried to explain to me that Ridge had grown up wild, not quite human, I suppose. So, he thought what he was doing was normal...but was that really an excuse? Am I pathetic for trying to find one for him? I have no idea...but all of it was making me feel as if I was losing my mind.

  I sighed and got out of the car. I grabbed my yoga bag from the back seat. Myrna usually does yoga with me on Sunday mornings, but she had a family thing to go to in Bali today.

  Bonnie always spent Sundays with her grandmother, so at least today I'd have some time to myself and they wouldn't be around to stare at me like I might break. I crossed the parking lot and was almost to the stairs when the sight of fur caught my eye.

  Something white and gray was laying under the stairs. It sort of looked like a dog, but it was bigger and it was really dirty. I stopped, afraid to approach the stairs with him lying underneath it. Was he lying in wait?

  The dog lifted his head and looked at me. He didn't look aggressive, at least not in that moment. He was holding something in his teeth. It looked like it might be his collar. I wondered if someone was looking for him. I said a silent prayer that it wouldn't attack me as

  I slowly approached it. I've never had a dog, and there aren't that many of them on the island.

  Talking in low, sweet tones I said, “Hey guy. What are you doing under there? Where are you supposed to be?”

  The dog's eyes were light blue, almost clear. I'd never seen eyes like that before, but they were beautiful. He wasn't growling at me, or making any kind of aggressive moves, so I got a little closer, squat down and put my hand out so that he could smell it. When he did, he opened his mouth and let the collar with the tag on it, fall at my feet. I scratched him under his chin and he lifted it and closed his eyes like he liked it. With the other hand I reached down and picked up the collar. It said his name was Gray and the apartment complex address was imprinted on the tag...but there was no apartment number. “Gray, huh? So, you live here?”

  He didn't answer me, of course.

  I looked around me. There were fifty apartments in our complex. Only about half of them were occupied, but knocking on 25 doors could still be time consuming. Yet, I couldn't just leave him there. What if he got into the parking lot and got ran over? I would feel horrible.

  My eyes fell on apartment number one, the super's apartment. If anyone knew who owned a dog here, it would be him. I stood up and the dog immediately came out from underneath the steps and stood next to me. I smiled and reached down and pet him again. He was so soft. He was big too, now that I saw him on all fours.

  He nearly came up to my waist. I didn't know much about dogs, but I thought this one was a husky or a malamute. They were normally arctic dogs and I wondered what the heck he was doing on a tropical island. “Come on Gray, let's see if we can figure out where you belong.” The dog wagged his tail and followed me over to the super's apartment. I knocked on the door and Mr. Balik's door. I was still learning about the Balinese. Myrna told me he wasn't really Mr. Balik. His name was Wayan Balik...which meant, “Wayan again.” Eldest boys are named Wayan and there are names for second, third and fourth sons. The fifth one starts it all over, and that was Mr. Balik. I snickered at the thought of me calling him “Mr. Again,” but the American in me couldn't help it. It was Mr. this or Mrs. That in my world.

  Mr. Balik opened the door with a big smile on his face. I had lived there for over six months now, and I never saw him when he wasn't smiling. He was only about five foot
tall and his skin was olive colored. His eyes and hair were jet black and no matter what time of day you knocked on his door, he was always perfectly groomed, like he was waiting for company.

  “Miss Cheyenne,” he said, “How are you?” He enunciated his English words precisely. The accent was still there, but his words were perfect.

  I smiled back at him and said, “I'm good, thank you...”

  “You have a dog!”

  “Well no. I found him, under the stairs. He has this collar,” I said, holding it out to Mr. Balik. He squinted at it and I said, “It's the address of the complex but no apartment number. I was hoping you might know who he belongs to?”

  He shook his head and looked perplexed. “The only people who had a dog here moved out about two months ago. I don't think they had such a big dog though.”

  “You never saw their dog?”

  He shook his head again. “No. They paid a pet deposit but no, I never saw the dog. I think it was a small dog though, it lived inside.”

  “I hope they didn't forget him. Maybe he got scared when they were moving and ran off. Do you have any way to reach them?”

  “No. No forwarding address.”

  “Dang. I'm not sure what to do with him. Is there an animal control on the island?”

  “No, just the veterinarian. Maybe you could take him there.” The dog started nudging my leg, like he was trying to nudge me away from the apartment door. I laughed and said,

  “I don't think he likes that idea.” I pet him again and he looked up at me and I swear he was smiling. “Mr. Balik, would it be okay if I kept him just for a few days and put up posters to try and find his owner?” The little man laughed and my face was suddenly on fire when he said,

  “Just like the posters up for you!”

  I forced a laugh. “Yeah, like those.”

  He waved a hand at me and said, “Sure, sure. You're a good tenant. Just make sure he doesn't bite nobody.”

  “I will. Thank you.” He went back inside and I looked at Gray and said, “I guess you're staying with me for a few days.” He smiled again and wagged his tail.

  I smiled back. Maybe he'd help me with my loneliness.

  He followed me up the stairs and as soon as I unlocked the door and opened it, he walked inside, like he owned the place.

  I smiled and followed him in, tossing his collar and my keys on the counter. I put my hands on my hips and said, “I have to apologize, I don't know a thing about dogs. Are you hungry?” As if he understood the question, he got excited and ran over to the refrigerator, wagging his tail.

  I laughed.

  “Okay, let's see what we have here.” I opened it and picked out some leftover chicken and pasta. “Myrna made this, it was pretty good. Well, not really, but maybe since you're a dog, you'll like it, huh?” Myrna wasn't the best cook, but she tried and I didn't want to hurt her feelings, so I choked it down. Maybe the dog can help me out there too. I put it in a plastic bowl and set it on the floor. Then I filled another bowl with water and put it on the floor too. Gray sniffed at it, but he didn't take a bite. “I'm sorry. I guess you don't like it either? Tell you what, let me shower and I'll run to the store and get some dog food, okay?”

  Again, he didn't answer me. I rubbed his soft head and headed for the bathroom. When he started to follow, I said, “Oh no, Mr. No boys allowed in the bathroom or bedroom. I'll be right back, okay?” I'm not sure why I kept saying okay like I expected him to say it back, but he sat down in the hallway and didn't try to follow me any further.

  As I gathered my things for my shower I realized I felt happier already. Maybe I didn't need a man. Maybe all I needed all along was a dog, or a therapist. I laughed out loud and decided that yes, the therapist might be a good idea.

  Grayson

  I waited for the shower to come on and then I shifted. I started to pick up the bowl of chicken and pasta and remembered suddenly that she had a roommate. It would probably not be good for her to walk in and find a naked man in the kitchen.

  I went over and locked the door and then picked up the bowl and stuck it in the microwave. I might look like a dog, and yes, I've been known to eat road kill when times got hard...but, I was human enough these days that I wasn't about to eat cold food out of a bowl on the floor.

  That was funny, actually. All I knew about being human, the Pack had taught me over the past year. Ridge helped too...some.

  Before times got desperate for our old pack, Ridge was old enough to go into town and hang out with the humans...girls mostly. He had always had a penchant for the human girls.

  While the food was heating, I took a glass down out of the cabinet and opened the refrigerator. I'd seen a bottle of wine when she had the fridge open before, it was red wine, it would go nicely with my pasta. I was happy to see it was already opened and I poured myself a glass, it was early in the morning for wine, but I was pretending to be a dog, currently standing naked in a stranger's kitchen, waiting for the food she'd given me cold and on the floor to heat up in the microwave. I deserved a glass of wine, and damn it was good. As soon as the microwave dinged, I took the bowl out, found a fork and went over and sat down at the table with it...like a human.

  I eat fast, and that was a good thing since it turned out that Cheyenne showered fast too. I heard the water shut off and shoveled in the last few bites, drank the rest of my wine, rinsed out the glass, put it back in the cabinet and threw the bowl back down on the floor. I shifted just as I heard the bathroom door open.

  Seconds later, Cheyenne appeared in the hallway, wrapped up in a towel. She smelled good and her skin was all dewy and fresh looking. She looked at me and smiled and then looked over at my bowl.

  “Wow! I guess you just don't like eating in front of people, huh?”

  She came over and squat down to pet me. It wasn't my fault that my eyes were level with her cleavage. She had nice cleavage and I was suddenly feeling things I shouldn't be feeling for my best buddy's mate, but she was touching me, and it was hard to put all of that out of my mind. “You're a good boy, aren't you? You're so handsome too.” I pulled my head up and closed my eyes. With a satisfied smile on my face I let her pet me underneath my chin. This gig might not be too bad after all.

  As soon as I had that thought, I heard a key in the door. I remembered I was supposed to be acting like a dog and I started wagging my tail and ran toward it.

  I saw Cheyenne frown and look at the doorknob as it turned. I wondered if she was trying to figure out if she locked it or not. I had forgotten that, I'd have to be more careful. It opened and a pretty little dark-haired Balinese girl walked in. I rubbed up against her and watched as she looked at me with a shocked look on her face. “What the heck? Where did he come from?”

  “Why are you home so soon?”

  The little petite brunette growled and said, “My family...I can't deal with them today. I was on the ferry when my sister called me to complain about my mother and as soon as I hung up with her, my mother called to complain about my sister and my father. I told her I was ill and I wasn't going to make it to brunch. As soon as the ferry docked, I got on the return ferry and came home. Your turn now, where did that hairy beast come from?”

  “I'm sorry. I was going to text but I didn't want to bother you. Isn't he pretty? His name is Gray.” I stuck out my tongue and wagged my tail, waiting for her to say I was pretty. Instead she said,

  “He needs to brush his teeth. Whose dog is he?”

  Well that was insulting.

  I brushed my teeth this morning. It was her chicken and pasta that gave me the bad breath. It wasn't even all that good anyways. It would probably give me heartburn.

  “I don't know,” Cheyenne said. “I found him downstairs. He has a tag and a collar, it's got this address on it but no apartment number. Mr. Balik says there's no one here with a dog so I'm going to put up posters and see if anyone claims him. I hope you don't mind if he stays here? It'll only be for a few days.”

  The little dark-haired girl r
aised an eyebrow and said, “Is he housebroken?” Jeez, insult to injury. Of course I'm house broken.

  “I think so,” Cheyenne said. “Let me get dressed and I'll take him out.” Take me out? She expects me to go outside like a common animal? I mean, yeah, of course I've gone outside before, most of my life in fact. But that was in the woods, in the wild. I can't just pee on a main street in town.

  Cheyenne bent down and rubbed my neck. Her face was close to mine, so I licked it.

  She laughed.

  “That tickles, and Myrna's right, I'm afraid, you could use a toothbrush...or a mint.”

  Wow, do they even know I have feelings? I watched Cheyenne go down the hall toward her bedroom. Once she was gone, I turned to look at Myrna and she was frowning at me.

  I whined at her and wagged my tail.

  She made a face and then walked past me into the kitchen without even so much as a pat on the head. I'm not sure I like this one. I sat down and watched her open the fridge. She pulled out the bottle of wine I'd just sampled and she frowned again and held it up.

  Damn, she noticed that some of it was missing. Maybe she'll think Cheyenne drank it. I watched her take down a wine glass and pour the wine into it.

  About that time, Cheyenne came out of her room in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Her hair was wet still, but she was braiding it as she walked toward us. She was really pretty. I was busy staring at her when Myrna said,

  “Did you have company today?”

  “Just Gray,” she said, giving me a cute little wink. She's an animal lover for sure, that's a check in the pro’s category.

  “Does Gray drink wine?”

  Cheyenne looked confused. “No...” she chuckled. “Why do you ask?”