Change

by Melissa Stevens

  Chapter 28

  By Wednesday I couldn't take it anymore. I realized that morning that I'd been avoiding Devon. I didn't know how to act since we'd kissed. I didn't want to ruin the friendship we'd built, but at the same time I wasn't sure I could ignore the attraction either. By the time I got off work I knew it had to end, now that I'd realized what I was doing, my pride wouldn't allow it to continue.

  By the time I pulled into my parking space at home I’d worked out a plan. I went up to my apartment, intent on getting out of my suit. I changed into a pair of comfortable denim shorts and a soft, bright colored tank top. It wasn't an outfit designed for seduction, it was just comfortable, non-work clothes.

  I headed back down to Devon's, intending to invite him up for dinner. But as I closed my door and turned to descend the stairs I saw him, he was half way up the same stairs, and climbing fast. I stood for a moment, taking in the sight of him. He was wearing a pair of jeans and a snug blue t-shirt that made me want to touch him, and in one hand he carried two pizza boxes.

  "I was just coming to see you." I smiled down at him.

  He looked up, smiling when he caught sight of me, "Imagine that." I stepped back so there was enough room on the landing for him as he reached the top step.

  "I assume you're planning on sharing those with me?" I pressed my thumb to the panel beside the door to unlock the door so I could let us into the apartment I'd just left.

  "That's my plan." He stepped inside behind me and pushed the door closed.

  "How are you adjusting?" I lead the way to the kitchen, to get plates and drinks for us, "Have you told your family yet?"

  "So far so good. The more sensitive hearing is still a bother more often than not, but nothing too bad. I'm getting used to the additional strength, and all the rest. And no, I haven't told my family yet. I'm still trying to decide the best way to go about it." He set the pizza boxes on the table, turned and watched me as I moved around the kitchen. "What've you been up to?"

  "The usual, nothing out of the ordinary other than the meeting with Bill and Alexis a couple of days ago." I fixed a couple of glasses of iced tea, using a plastic cup for Devin’s, and put the plates I'd pulled out of the cabinet on the table. "Bill wants to see if we can shift other non-shifters too."

  "Do you think you can?" He opened the top box, revealing a large mushroom and spinach pizza, my favorite.

  "I'll have to meet them before I can tell. But I'm not sure if I can is the real question." I watched him put a couple of slices on one of the plates and set the plate aside, before closing the box and switching the two pizzas. "I'm afraid it may end up to be more a question of if I will. Bill seemed to agree to my conditions but I'm not sure that everyone will." Devon opened the second pizza box, revealing another large pizza, this one covered in different varieties of meat toppings. He served himself a couple of slices of this pizza then closed the box and set them both onto the counter out of our way. Watching him a slight smile spread across my face, "Are you a little hungry?"

  "I've already learned that what I was eating just isn't enough, I figured you were the same way so I came prepared. Anything we don't eat tonight we can stick in the fridge and eat tomorrow." He shrugged, sitting down at the table and looking up at me, waiting for me to join him.

  I sat down at the table, "Have any talents started to show up?" I took a bite of the pizza he'd served me while I waited for him to answer.

  "Not really. I mean I've had a couple of instances where I knew that someone was lying to me, but nothing major. And that could've just been the enhanced senses." I nodded and we ate in silence for a bit. When Devon got up to get himself more pizza he spoke again, "Are you going to try to tell me I'm the only one who feels it?" He asked, his back still to me.

  "The only one who feels what?"

  "The draw between us. The one that means we're potentially mates," I was dumbfounded. I blinked at his back, unable to find the words to ask what he was talking about. "I might believe it was just me, except for the way you responded when I kissed you the other day."

  "Mates? What do you mean potential mates?" Finally able to speak again.

  It was Devon's turn to be shocked. He turned around and looked at me, the amazement plain on his face. "Are you telling me you've known you're Kindred for almost two months now and no one has explained mating to you?"

  I shook my head, "I've never heard of it."

  "It's one of the major benefits of being Kitsune. The mating instinct tells a shifter when someone is compatible with them. It tells you when you’ve met someone you could be happy with for the rest of your life."

  "But you said that you would believe you were the only one? How can it let you know the one, but only be you?"

  "That's the downside; not every possible mating goes both ways. The upside is that there is no 'one mate' over the course of a lifetime; unmated Kindred can encounter a dozen or more potential mates. Mating isn't forced, you can chose whether to seal a mating or not."

  "And you're telling me that I'm a potential mate for you, and you believe you're one for me?"

  "Yes, exactly."

  "How do you know? How can you tell if someone's a potential mate?"

  "It's an instinct. It starts out as an attraction, but over time it gets stronger. The more physical contact you have the stronger the draw to the other person gets. If a person didn't know about it, or what to look for they could easily take it as nothing more than a strong attraction."

  "Then how do you know?"

  "I grew up knowing about it. I spent years expecting to encounter it someday.” He looked away, “It was one of the hardest things for me to deal with when I learned I'd never shift."

  "Because you'd not have a mate?"

  "Not really, I could still have a mate, but it wouldn't be the same. You see, once a mating is sealed, a mated pair gains power, in some pairs they share strengths. It's a unique bond, and though there is a bond with humans, or non-shifting Kitsune, it's just not the same."

  "I'm not sure I understand."

  "I know, and I'm sorry. I'm not explaining this well."

  "So, tell me this. How did you know, after you shifted, that I'm potentially your mate?"

  "There's no round-about way for me to put this well, so I'll just come out and say it…" He looked across the room, not meeting my eyes as he confessed, "I've been attracted to you from the beginning."

  "The beginning?" I didn’t know if he meant since we were kids or since he got back.

  "That day in the courtyard, when I was moving in." He clarified, "But after you shifted me it was different, it was more, a lot more. That's when it dawned on me - it was the instinct calling me to you."

  "I see."

  "I didn't intend to kiss you, but after I shifted again, the urge to touch you overwhelmed me."

  "I don't mind. I mean, it surprised me, but it felt right. I’ve found myself wanting to touch you anytime you’re near. I thought it was just the tactile closeness that I’ve noticed among the pack. But then, when I'm not near you I find myself missing you, more than normal I mean. "

  "Those are common effects of the instinct, or at least from what I was told growing up I’d say they are."

  "So, what now? You said there's always a choice, but I know nothing about it. What are our options?"

  "We can continue as we have been, spending time together, and the effects will likely get stronger."

  "Or?"

  "Of we can separate. As in no contact, no being near each other in anyway. Eventually the effects will fade."

  "Are those our only options?"

  "Other than sealing the mating. Which I'm sure you're not ready for. Hell, I know I'm not. That's pretty much it."

  "What's sealing the mating?"

  "Making the mating permanent. It’s like marriage with no option for divorce."

  "You're right, I'm not ready for that. But I can't imagine not seeing or spending time with each other. You've become a big part of my
life in the few weeks you've been back."

  "I don't care much for the idea of breaking the connection either. But if it's what you wanted, I'd do it."

  "So we continue?"

  "We continue." He smiled, "With a change if you don't mind."

  "What do you have in mind?"

  "This," Devon leaned over me, settling his mouth over mine, softly kissing my lips. He coaxed my mouth open to let him sweep his tongue inside, tasting me as he pulled me to stand and my body close to his. After several minutes he lifted his head enough to say, "Well?"

  "I think we can come to an agreement." I whispered, pulling his head town until lips down to meet mine again.

  Dictionary of Terms

  Kitsune ~ Species of shape shifters that has lived alongside and inter-bred with humans for as long as anyone has known.

  Kindred ~ Term used within wolf shifter groups to refer to other wolves / Kitsune.

  Archon ~ An elder who is also a member of a ruling cabinet representing their animal form.

  Archon Cabinet ~ the council made up of the Archons, each animal group has a single Archon to represent them.

  Alekto ~ Alpha Female in wolf pack, rules alongside and is generally married to the Anikitos, position achieved by battle.

  Anikitos ~ Alpha Male in wolf pack, rules alongside and is generally married to the Alekto. Position achieved by battle .

  Harmonia ~ Beta Female in wolf pack, she and her mate, the Lysandros, are second in command to the Anikitos and Alekto, position achieved by battle.

  Lysandros ~ Beta male in wolf pack, he and his mate, the Harmonia, are second in command to the Anikitos, and Alekto, position achieved by battle.

  Theron ~ chief enforcer / head of security in a wolf pack.

  Enforcer ~ Security / Body guard for wolf pack, also metes out punishments ordered by the Anikitos or Alekto.

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