by Moxie North
The group broke up with Rain and Quinn grabbing hoodies and sturdier shoes to head outside. The day was still crisp but the sun was shining through the tree limbs, dappling the light on the ground. An early morning frost still clung to the leaves that the sun hadn’t touched yet.
Rain took Quinn’s hand in his and they started walking down a narrow path the led off from the side of the garage. They passed by a huge wooden play structure that was twice as tall and ominously dangerous looking compared to anything Quinn had ever seen before. It was a play area built for bears, not humans.
They walked in silence, Quinn taking in the smell of the damp ground. It was the smell that Quinn had missed so much. The few times she was able to be in the trees, she tried to soak up as much as she could as she walked. Their walk took them down the edge of the river. The path wasn’t totally clear, with fallen logs and roots littering the path. Rain helped her over a few and Quinn loved that her hands were dirty from the moss and dirt that clung to everything she touched.
Quinn liked that they weren’t talking. It was too pretty and quiet to interrupt it with conversation. Continuing on, they walked for another ten minutes before Rain stopped by a large rock that was jutting just over the edge of the river. Crawling up, Rain sat her down then joined her.
A few minutes passed as Quinn looked over the water. She’d pulled her knees up to her chest and turned her head to look at Rain and laid her head on her knees. Rain was also looking over the river and turned when her eyes moved to him.
“Hey,” he said softly.
“Hey.”
“Big day, lots of stuff, huh?”
Quinn shrugged. “I thought I was going to be freaking out, but Cassie gave me some advice and it’s working.”
She expected him to ask her about the advice, but he didn’t. “You’re really a bear.” It was a statement that didn’t need explanation.
“I am, or rather, we are. The twins were a bit of a cheat. But they are hard to deny being so cute and all.”
“Yeah, it was sneaky,” she admitted. “But it worked. I guess I really didn’t believe it even with the claws and teeth. It’s not that hard to pretend your mind is playing tricks on you.”
“And now?”
“Now, my world has turned upside down. Do you know I was thinking this morning during breakfast that you were offering me more than I had realized?”
“How so?”
“You talked about love, companionship, and devotion. I guess that you offering yourself forever was enough. But what you don’t realize is that you’re offering me a family too. I love my mom, but we are barely friends anymore. Did you know Cassie called me auntie to the twins? I would have nieces and nephews. Cassie would be like a sister. I think we would get along.”
“Cassie likes collecting people, so that is totally gonna happen. And yes, you will be an aunt, a daughter, a sister, all those things here.”
“That kind of changes things. Is that bad?”
“Not at all, it’s a package deal that you’d be agreeing to here. Although there are a few more things I need to talk to you about.”
“Ahh, the biting thing?”
“Partly. I explained the bite, but there is something else about the bite I didn’t mention,” he hedged.
“Do I grow fur?” she joked.
“No, not fur. I uh…” Rain rubbed a hand on the back of his neck. “The thing is that shifters live longer than humans. Quite a bit longer, actually.”
“So do you age?”
“Yes, slowly. The bite, it makes our mates age slower too.”
Quinn was silent staring at him. “Age slower?”
“Yes, which if you think about it gives us a very long happy life together. The bite also helps with carrying shifter babies. Our women tend to gestate closer to our animal’s gestation than a human’s.”
Quinn closed her eyes for a moment. She opened them again and almost laughed at him. “Back to the babies again.”
“Don’t get me wrong, I can resist for a while. We both have grad school and plans before we need to think of that.”
“Kind of you. So what else don’t I know? Just lay it out for me.”
“Besides the bite, the aging, the babies… not much else.”
“Rain…”
“Fine, the babies you know spontaneously shift until they are closer to preschool age. That means we have to keep them home and away from people that can’t be trusted to know about us. We don’t tell anyone about what we are to keep them safe. There have been shifters as long as there have been humans, but for obvious reasons, we stay hidden.”
“So who gives up their career to take care of kids?”
“Neither of us have to give anything up. That’s why a big family is so great. There is always someone to watch the babies and everyone else works their schedules as they need to. Everything is fifty-fifty, at least that’s the way it’s always been with my family. Even my dad was the one doing the parent helper role at school.
Our businesses are manned by family members and the young ones are groomed to fill in the positions that the older ones are vacating. The family has accumulated wealth over the years and everyone gets a share. We don’t really think about the money anymore, it’s just a means to an end.”
“Do you have to work? If you don’t, why would you?”
“If I lived carefully? No, I don’t need to work. But we live a long time, and retiring in your twenties doesn’t sound very appealing. Besides, I want to help the family out, that’s why I chose law. We needed a lawyer. I found it interesting, and it was a way to work. I’ve done the mills and the logging, it was okay, but I didn’t really enjoy it. Others love it, and I say more power to them.”
“We’d live here?”
“I’d get my uncles together and we’d figure out a piece of land and we can start building slowly while we are still in Seattle.”
“A house, a real one that we wouldn’t have to move from?”
“A real house that can be whatever you like. The Rochons have a number of very handy builders on payroll and in the family. Everyone works on their own homes. We can design it together.”
Quinn was quiet, turning back to the river. “I like it here.”
“I’m glad.”
“I like you too,” she said, her eyes still on the water.
“I’m glad about that too. I don’t expect you to love me right away, Quinn. I’m not going to rush you on that.”
The birds were chirping, the wind was blowing, and Quinn felt like it was a momentous occasion that she was smack in the middle of. That deep swirl of emotions that tells you that you are moments away from a life changing event, that event was almost inevitable.
Taking a brave breath she said, “Rain, I’ve never been in love. I wasn’t sure I would even know it when I saw it.”
Rain was going to interrupt her when she looked back at him and he stopped. “I do know, that I’ve never felt like this before. I think about not being with you and my heart hurts. When you aren’t around, you’re all I think about. I worry about you, wonder if you’re okay. I crave you like no one ever before. If I don’t accept your offer, I’m now afraid that I’ll never be as happy as I could with you and honestly, I’m a little pissed about that”
“Sorry?”
“Don’t be smart. I’m trying to tell you that… I love you, Rain.” She said it faster than she’d wanted, but she was proud that her voice didn’t waver.
Quinn made sure that she kept her eyes on his when she said those words. She didn’t know how often she’d be able to say them, so she needed him to know that she meant it when she did.
Those beautiful eyes that she had come to adore were shining at her with the glow of two souls.
“Will you still love me if I don’t say it as often as you?” she asked quietly.
“You’ve said it once. I’m sure I’ll hear it again once or twice in the next hundred years. There is nothing that won’t make me love you more every day w
e are together. ” His eyes were still glowing, and he looked happy, but hungry. It was a look that made Quinn’s nipples tighten.
Quinn still was surprised that he could give her a look and she was ready to go. She knew he knew too, because his nostrils flared and she could tell that he could smell her arousal. That was another thing she’d have to get used to.
“I’m not having sex outside. I’ll get mosquito bites on my ass, or poison ivy on my… other bits.”
“That can wait. I’m pretty happy just sitting here with you. But I’d like you to meet my bear. It’s a safe place for him, and he’s been dying to meet you.”
Quinn felt the hairs on her arms stand up. It was time. She knew it. Not being brave enough, she just nodded instead of speaking.
Rain didn’t hesitate. He stood and started stripping off his clothes. Quinn raised her eyebrows at him.
“What, you think a five-hundred-pound bear could wear my jeans?”
“Five hundred pounds?” she gasped.
“Big guy, big… bear.” He said while wiggling his eyebrows.
Quinn shook her head as he took the time to fold his clothes and stack them up. When he was standing naked as the day he was born, the man had zero shame; he stretched his arms over his head in the sunshine.
“Show off,” she muttered. Quinn knew that he was giving her a moment to adjust. Of course, him being naked wasn’t helping her decision about not wanting to have sex in the woods.
Rain took a few steps back from her and paused.
“Come on. Do you need a drum roll?” she asked, trying to be sassy to cover her anxiety.
Rain rolled his shoulders and focused his eyes on Quinn. She watched as the air around his body started shimmer like he was standing on a hot road in the distance. The shimmers started to change color, the colors shifting through Rain’s skin.
The light started changing shape and the man that was standing in front of her morphed. The space the Rain had been in now taken by the bear that stood before Quinn. It was a massive beast, dark brown fur, paws as big as her head, and teeth that looked menacing.
She couldn’t help herself; she started to scoot back on the rock. The big bear sat down and didn’t make any moves towards her. Quinn caught herself hyperventilating and forced herself to calm down.
The animal wasn’t moving, so she took an extra moment to gather herself. The bear was being incredibly patient and she appreciated it. She looked closely at the eyes and she saw Rain in there. His eyes mixed with the bear’s, shining back at her. Quinn could focus on the fact that she’d seen a human being turn into a bear in front of her, but the only thing her mind was repeating was, I’m in love with a bear. It was enough to make you question your sanity.
“Now that is some party trick,” she murmured. The bear made a chuffing noise in response.
“Shit, you understand me don’t you?”
The bear nodded. He actually nodded.
“Will you bite me if I pet you?” Quinn was pretty sure that the bear rolled its eyes.
It was by far the weirdest conversation she’d ever had and she used to talk to the homeless man outside their motel as a child that wore an aluminum hat to keep the aliens away.
Reaching out, she held her hand still so that the bear could come to her. He didn’t have to move, instead he just laid down which put his head closer to her hand. Letting her hand drop down, her fingers curled into the thick fur.
“Well, that’s not so bad now.” She was surprised how calm her voice was. The bear let out a rumble that blew hot air over her leg. “You sure you’re not just a huge cat getting your ears rubbed?”
The bear lifted his head and glared at her.
“Fine then. It’s nice to meet you,” she said continuing to rub his head. The pair sat together in the sunshine for a while before Quinn got comfortable enough to lay down on the rock beside the animal. She played with his big paws and got bolder. So much so she ran her fingers along his long black claws.
She was doing her best to do the pretending thing. It was a normal Saturday, hanging out with a bear. She did this all the time. Nothing new to see here. Quinn could almost believe it herself. The rock underneath them was getting warmer under the sun. It would have been easy to fall asleep next to the big animal.
The paw under her hand started to shimmer and in a flash of color and sparks, Rain was laying next to her.
He didn’t say anything, he just pulled her into his arms and held her close. After a little while he whispered into her hair, “Thank you.”
She knew what he meant. It was a step that they had both been nervous about.
“Would you be mad if I told you that I brought you here so you could meet all of my family?”
“Not just your brother and Cassie?”
“No, I really wanted you to meet everyone. I’m so proud of you and honored that you are my mate that I couldn’t wait to show you off.”
“Believe it or not, I’m not that dense. I didn’t think you’d take me all the way out here without accidently running into at least your parents.”
“Damn, I’m not as sneaky as I thought I was. What do you say? I can’t promise that they will be normal or quiet. In fact, I’m sure they can’t be any of those things.”
“Will they be kind?”
“Oh baby, I can guarantee they will be kind. They are gonna love you.”
“Okay, but there better be carbs. I can handle anything with the right amount of carbs.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” he promised.
Chapter 40
Rain was over the moon. His mate had agreed to meet his family, and more importantly, she said that she loved him. There was only one thing left and that was to bond himself with her forever. She took the news of the aging thing pretty well. In fact, her level of calm was a little strange. He really needed to thank Cassie for whatever she had said to make his mate so accepting.
They made their way back to the house and Quinn decided to play outside with the cubs for a while. Cassie ran whooping to her bedroom to take a bubble bath.
Rain used the time to text Fin and let him know that plans had changed. Once he got the thumbs up from his brother, he turned off his phone. The minute his parents found out, they’d start calling.
Luckily for him, they would start on Cash when they couldn’t get a hold of him, and Cash would remind his mother that smothering wouldn’t be helpful. Cash would also remind his mother that the whole clan didn’t need to be included for this first meeting.
Standing at a window overlooking the yard, Rain watched Quinn catch one of the cubs as it fell from the top of the swing set. She didn’t even look scared; she just laughed at the little one and put him back on the top. It was like she was a natural with shifter children.
Quinn didn’t put any human rules on the twins. It would have been a natural response to seeing toddlers climbing so high. Instead, she knew they could climb, and were pretty good at it already. She was born to be a shifter mother. It seemed that the Fates had picked a woman that would fit seamlessly into his world.
He knew he was so close to claiming her. It was a small step to a bigger future. She was doing so well, he almost was afraid that something was going to happen to change it all. His trust in the Fates had to win out. She’d already stood up to her friends, her mother, and was still with him. The last hurdle wasn’t his family; it was her trust in herself.
Quinn felt a strange sense of calm as they walked to the Rochon house. It was much like Cash and Cassie’s house, but it wasn’t just the outside that was similar; it was the glow emanating from within. It had a warmth, a welcome that called out to visitors and family alike. Quinn’s hand was clasped tight inside Rain’s.
On the outside, she was calm, but inside, the butterflies were fluttering in her stomach. She wanted his family to like her; it meant so much to Rain. He seemed so confident and she wished that she felt the same. The tension in him was for the opposite reason she felt. He was worried she would be
scared off by his family, but nothing could be further from the truth.
Cash and Cassie had welcomed her like they had known her all her life. It felt amazing to have a sense of togetherness. Quinn hadn’t realized how alone she had been. Rain had filled some of those cracks made by struggle and suffering. His family just might make her stronger.
Rain stopped at the door. “Ready?”
“Just your parents, right?”
“No promises. I can at least promise not the whole clan. There would be more cars if that were the case.”
Rain pushed open the door and Quinn half expected to see a crowd of people huddled together staring at her. There wasn’t. Just a nice appointed entryway with a row of coat hooks along one wall and a table against the wall with a mirror above.
There was a decent pile of keys laying there, obviously the prescribed landing spot when you came in. Quinn took off her coat and Rain hung it up on an open hook. She’d dressed like herself, although she had taken the time to add some curls to her hair making it bouncy and not so scary looking. She had also put on one of her flowered headbands and was sporting a long sleeved brown shirt that didn’t have an obnoxious saying on it. She’d picked an ankle-length gray skirt to go with it. None of her clothes matched, so she went with subdued.
Rain looked handsome, as always. He walked out of a high-end store having been dressed by one those people that pick your clothes for you. She never understood that, letting someone else dress you. He was oddly matching her with a brown shirt and jeans. She wasn’t sure if he had done it on purpose or if they were already one of those couples that dressed alike.
Quinn slid her hand back into his and he started walking her towards the sounds that were coming from the other side of the house. They walked down a hallway that led to a large room that was long and had a number of chairs and couches. It looked like a place many people would use to sit and talk.
The long room connected to a kitchen that had the biggest center island Quinn had ever seen. Around it were a number of people. As they walked in, they all stopped talking and turned towards them. Quinn tried to resist the urge to hide. It wasn’t very brave of her, but faced with so many inquisitive faces, she faltered and gripped Rain’s hand tighter.
