“You told him about us?” Jonas exclaimed excitedly.
“How do you know he’s not making it up?” Wes asked bluntly.
“Because he’s not,” Saffron insisted. “And I…”
“But he might be. Mac might just be saying that because he likes you.” Wes’s petulant tone wasn’t what Saffron was expecting. The boys were acting a little odd, or maybe they were just scared of the wrong person hearing about their secret.
“Wes,” Nina warned. “What’s this all about?”
“I just think it’s better if we don’t tell everyone that we are shifters. Aunt Saff has only just met Mac and she’s already told him about us.” Wes’s forehead creased and he turned to face his mom. “We never told anyone back home. You and Dad always said to keep it a secret.”
“We have to be careful who we tell,” Nina agreed. “But we also need to trust people.”
“So, now it’s okay to tell people?” Jonas asked in confusion.
“Some people.” Nina looked at Saffron for help.
Wes’s fist curled into a tight ball as he glared at Saffron. “Great, now Jonas will tell everyone, and they’ll just make fun of us.”
“I will not,” Jonas protested.
“Hey, where did this come from?” Saffron asked Wes. “I thought the reason we came to Bear Creek was to find shifters who can help you when you shift for the first time. We have to trust someone or there’s no point.”
Jonas glanced sideways at Wes, but he didn’t speak, he simply pressed his lips together and looked mutinous. What was she missing? Before they came to Bear Creek, the boys had been so excited about the possibility of meeting shifters and learning how the whole thing worked. Now their behavior had turned on its head, leaving Saffron confused and upset.
Taking a deep breath, Nina reached out one hand toward each of the boys. “Talk to me.” Nina had always encouraged them to open up about the feelings and emotions when their dad died. She didn’t want them to hold in their emotions.
“We’ve never told anyone,” Wes said. “It was our secret.” His eyes flickered in Saffron’s direction.
“I know.” Saffron swallowed down her hurt feelings. She had been excluded from their secret and it hurt to think Evan and Nina didn’t trust her. But there was no sense in being mad at them for their lack of trust. Not now. “Is that the issue, because I told someone?”
“Mom used to say that if we told anyone, the chances were that they would think we were crazy and should be locked up in a looney bin.” Wes made crazy eyes to emphasize his point. He was trying to ease the tension in the room. Which made Saffron feel even worse for the perceived betrayal.
“I did,” Nina admitted. “But things are different here.”
“Your mom is right. Things are different here and I want you to know that I would never tell anyone unless I absolutely trusted them,” Saffron promised. “And what if I told you I didn’t tell Mac, or anyone? What if I told you Mac already knew you were a bear shifter?”
“How did he know?” Wes’s eyes lit up brightly. “Did Mac know my dad? We used to come here sometimes when I was young, and Dad grew up here so maybe they knew each other.”
“No, that’s not it,” Saffron answered. “Mac and his family only moved here a few years ago so I doubt any of them would have known your dad.”
“So how?” Jonas asked.
“Mac tells me shifters have a sixth sense and that sixth sense told him that you were a bear shifter.” She directed her comment to Wes, who had opened the door last night and invited Mac in.
“How did he know?” Wes asked incredulously.
“Maybe you smell different or maybe he could sense your bear,” Saffron suggested. “When you meet him, you could ask him.”
Wes nodded as he turned his head and sniffed his armpits. “Do you think other people know I’m a bear shifter?”
“If they do, I don’t expect they’ll say anything,” Saffron assured him. “I get the feeling even in Bear Creek, shifters don’t go around telling each other about their special gift.”
“Is it a special gift?” Wes asked suddenly.
“I think it is,” Saffron told him. “I’d love to be able to shift from a person to an animal. It’s so cool.”
“Or so weird,” Jonas replied. “Grandma thinks we’re freaks.”
“Or liars.” Wes pulled his hand away from Nina’s and tucked it under the table as he glared at his brother. “Some people need to keep their mouths shut.”
“Grandma said that?” Saffron asked in shock. As far as she knew, her mom had no idea about shifters let alone that her grandsons were both bear shifters. She would never understand.
“She said that you shouldn’t encourage us to believe it because it’s impossible,” Jonas replied.
Cold dread spread throughout her body like fingers of ice clawing along her spine. “When? When did you hear grandma say that?” Saffron and Nina had agreed to keep this information from their mom. Particularly since their mom hadn’t wanted them to move at all and had threatened to fight for custody of the children. Which was why Saffron and Nina hadn’t told their mom where they were.
She needed time for Wes to make his first shift before grandma came to visit. Then, Saffron intended to take a gamble and let her mom see her nephew shift so that she would know it was real and not a pile of bullshit made up by Nina.
“I spoke to her on the phone,” Jonas admitted, looking subdued.
“When?” Saffron asked.
“An hour ago. Maybe more.” Jonas raised his eyes and looked at his mom. “Sorry. She was upset that we moved away.”
“I know.” Nina nodded. “I should have handled this better, but Grandma doesn’t believe in anything that isn’t based on scientific fact. She certainly wouldn’t believe in shifters. It was too risky to tell her.”
“And Grandma already thinks you are crazy,” Wes said defensively.
“Wes…” Nina’s eyes misted with tears. “Grandma thinks she’s doing the right thing.”
“She’ll never split us up,” Wes said savagely.
“No, she won’t,” Nina said simply. Her shoulders sagged forward as if all her energy had been zapped from her. She didn’t have any fight left in her. Not tonight.
Saffron went to her sister and slipped her arm around her shoulders. “We’d fight every inch of the way if she ever tried to take you away.”
“Thanks, Aunt Saff.” Jonas came around the table and hugged Saffron.
“You are welcome. I love you guys too much to ever see you torn apart.” She sighed, hating the idea of taking on her mom. The woman was formidable in business but lacked compassion. But Saffron would fight her tooth and nail. Whatever it took to keep Nina and her children together.
“What about Mac?” Wes asked, steering the conversation away from a future that was uncertain. He was a lot like his grandma, he liked to deal with facts. Mac was a fact. If he could really shift.
“I think the best thing would be if we met him and he shifted for you guys.” And me, she thought. The boys had sown a seed of doubt in her head. What if they were right and the whole thing was a hoax? “You saw your dad shift, didn’t you?”
Wes lowered his eyes and nodded. “Yeah, but it was so long ago now.”
“Wes thinks we might have just imagined it and it wasn’t really real. Like our minds played tricks on us,” Jonas admitted.
“He was very real,” Nina assured them. “Very, very real.” She closed her eyes and her fingers moved as if they were stroking an animal. “His fur was so soft. A deep, rich brown with copper strands running through it.”
“I wish I could remember him clearly.” Wes sighed.
“Me, too,” Jonas said sadly.
“I’m glad we came to live here,” Wes admitted. “Not because shifters live here but because this was where Dad grew up. I wanted to feel closer to him.”
“And because we’re new and people don’t know about us,” Jonas added, and Wes shot him a loo
k meant to silence him. It didn’t. “No one at school will know what happened.”
“What happened?” Saffron asked, needing to know what she had missed.
“Nothing happened.” Wes glared at Jonas.
“Everyone looked at us differently,” Jonas’s voice hitched in his throat. “Since Dad died, everyone looked at us differently, it was as if we were weird, weirder than if we could shift into a bear.”
“I had no idea,” Nina admitted. “You should have told me.”
Wes shrugged. “There was nothing you could do.”
Nina looked down at the table and a large tear plopped onto the wooden surface. “I should have been there for you guys.”
“You were, Mom,” Wes’s arms encircled his mom and he held her close, his face contorted in anguish.
Saffron fought back tears as she got up from the table. “Okay, I am going to ask Mac to come over.”
“Now?” Jonas asked excitedly.
“Yes. He can shift and then we’ll all know shifters are real. You’ll know that you can trust him, and he can help you with your first shift. Okay?” Saffron asked.
“Yeah,” Wes replied. “That would be great. Thanks, Aunt Saff.”
After all the talk of the past, Saffron longed to lie in Mac’s arms and feel the warmth of his body next to hers. He was so alive, so vital, and she wanted him to comfort her and tell her everything was going to be okay and that her mom was not going to come here and take away the boys.
But if she did come, Saffron would fight to keep Nina and the boys together as she’d never fought before.
Chapter Thirteen – Mac
“Why don’t you come here instead?” Mac asked when Saffron called him to request a visit from his bear.
“Are you sure?” Saffron asked. “I don’t want to impose. I know your brothers are busy with the wedding.”
Mac paused, the empty house seemed to loom large around him. “They’ve all gone out. They are visiting The Catherine Hotel where the reception is being held.”
“Ah, so the perfect time. Unless you are relaxing and unwinding with your feet up after a long day since you no longer have to go to your office in the dead of night and catch up on your paperwork,” she teased.
“I do have a beer in my hand, but I’m working on the plans for the two new houses.” Mac ran a hand over the large pieces of paper spread out on the table. His mood had been melancholy as he’d pored over the designs. His life was changing. His brothers were moving out and he had no idea when his mate might move in.
The home he’d bought for his family would be almost empty. Only Mac and his mom would live here, and he had a feeling his mom had plans to live an active life with plenty of vacations now that she had a group of friends to share her new adventures with.
“In that case, we’ll come to you,” Saffron agreed.
“Why don’t you bring an overnight bag?” Mac suggested. The idea had just popped into his head and he’d spoken before thinking. “I figured the boys could spend tomorrow exploring the forests around the sawmill. It’d give them a chance to get to know us all.”
“I’ll ask them,” Saffron answered. Luckily, there was no edge to her voice. Mac didn’t want her to think he was pressuring her to stay the night.
Even though sleeping with our mate by our side would be incredible, his bear said.
“We have a couple of guest bedrooms,” Mac added.
“Okay. If they like the idea, we’ll sleep over,” Saffron said. “It also means I can have a drink.” She took a long, shuddering breath. “I think I might need one.”
“You’re worried about me shifting?” Mac asked.
“No!” She paused. “It’s just… It’ll make it true.”
“It is true,” Mac assured her.
“Yeah, I’ve gone on faith up until now. So, to actually see you shift and to touch your bear…” She gave a short laugh. “Please, don’t be making this all up. For me, for the boys, please tell me the truth.”
“It is the truth,” Mac assured her. “Just get in the car and come on over.”
“On our way.” Saffron ended the call and Mac placed his phone down on the table and stared at it. Nervous energy bubbled up inside of him. His mate was going to stay the night. She was bringing her sister and nephews over to visit, and he was going to shift in front of them.
His stomach flipped at the thought. What if he messed this up? He had no experience with children, what if he couldn’t shift and he destroyed their belief in him and themselves?
When have we ever not been able to shift? his bear asked.
Mac nodded and carefully folded the house plans away and inserted them into a folder for safekeeping. Then he took a long gulp of his beer and stood up. A cursory glance around the kitchen told him it was all clean and tidy. He’d washed the dishes after the others had gone out and cleaned the surfaces.
Pacing the kitchen, he waited for Saffron and her nephews to arrive. As the minutes ticked by, he worried they had changed their minds. What if they didn’t like him? What if Saffron freaked out when she saw his bear?
His head shot up with relief as he heard the wheels of Saffron’s car crunching on the gravel trail leading to the sawmill. In two long strides, Mac was across the kitchen, pausing before he reached for the door handle and yanked it open. He could sense her. Saffron was getting closer and every fiber of his body thrilled with anticipation.
Mac pulled the door open and stepped outside into the cool night air. Winter still lingered and the air was cold as he inhaled deeply while he crossed the backyard and went to meet her.
As her headlights illuminated him, he lifted his hand and waved in welcome. Mac had never felt so alive as that moment when he stood waiting for his mate. He needed the boys to like him. But he had no idea how to act. He didn’t want to be too friendly and appear false.
Just be yourself, his bear replied. And leave the rest to me.
Mac nodded and let his hand drop to his side as he walked over to the car which Saffron had parked next to his truck. “Hi there,” he said as the car doors opened, and two boys got out. They were nearly young men and he sensed the shifter in them both, but Wes gave off the strongest shifter vibe.
He is so close, it’s like he’s on the precipice and is about to step off, his bear said.
“Hi,” Wes said, his voice high before it broke as he added, “Are you really a bear shifter?”
“Excuse Wes and his directness,” Saffron said as she got out of the car and came around to join her nephews who were helping Nina out of the car.
“Yes, I’m really a bear shifter,” Mac announced as he stepped forward to help Nina. “I can carry you,” he offered.
“No,” she waved him off. “Thank you.” Nina stood up straight and her family took a step back. “I can do it on my own.”
With grim determination, Nina took a step forward and then another step. She dug deep and found the strength to walk, Mac suspected she needed to assure her family she was okay even though it was obvious she was not.
“Nina is stubborn,” Saffron said with obvious affection although her expression remained troubled.
“I can hear you, my hearing works just fine,” Nina said over her shoulder as she stopped walking. “Where are we going?”
“I thought we’d go around the side of the lumberyard. There’s plenty of space there, the men managed to clear the timber that had piled up during the snow.” Mac reached for Saffron’s hand and she took it, her fingers curling around his as they joined Nina and her children.
“I expect you have plenty of time on your hands now that Saffron has organized your life,” Nina smiled at her sister, the love they shared plainly written on her face. “I want to thank you, Mac.”
“For what?” Mac asked.
“Making my sister happy.” Nina stared at Saffron for a long, long moment, a bittersweet smile on her face. “She deserves to be happy.”
“Nina…” Saffron began but Nina shook her head and sile
nced her.
She knows we are mates, Mac’s bear told him. If Saffron didn’t tell Nina, then she guessed. Probably because she saw the goofy expression on your face every time you look at Saffron.
“No, I want to say this.” Nina took a breath, her face deathly pale as the moon broke through the clouds and shone down on her. “After everything we’ve gone through, I didn’t think I’d ever see Saffron look this happy again.”
Mac let go of Saffron’s hand and slid his arms around her shoulders, pulling her close. “I never thought I could be this happy either,” he admitted. “I thought I was destined to be alone.”
He winced as he heard the words in his head, too late to stop his mouth from uttering them.
“You are both blessed.” Nina’s face crumpled before she smoothed out her expression and asked, “Lead the way?”
Mac glanced at Saffron. “Sorry,” he mouthed.
She shook her head briefly, dismissing his fears. “So, this bear of yours.”
“He’s very excited to meet you all,” Mac told her. “I can barely contain him.”
“I can barely wait to meet him,” Saffron admitted. “Although, I am a little scared, too.”
“Scared how? He’d never hurt you. Any of you,” Mac assured her as they walked past the house and around into the large yard where the daily comings and goings of trucks and semis occurred. It was all quiet now, with only the occasional sound of an owl in the distance.
“I don’t know. I never saw Evan shift. I never really believed it,” she kept her voice low. “When Nina first told me, I thought she was delusional.”
“So, I’m about to shake the very foundations of your world and rock your belief system.” Mac looked down at his mate who nodded.
“Yeah, that just about sums it up.” She inhaled deeply and then shivered against the cold. “I’m worried about Nina being out here in the cold.”
“I’ll be quick and then we can all go inside. Hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallows usually warms everyone up.”
Saffron slipped her hand beneath his jacket. “You don’t need warming up.”
Mac (Winter - Shifter Seasons Book 3) Page 10
