“Not unless you count that your “mate” turns furry at will.”
“Well, yes, there is that little stipulation.” I wait for her to ask more questions or give me another smart aleck reply but after a few minutes she seems finished and is focused on driving.
Then she asks, “Pike, what happens if one of the non-furry mates is allergic to dogs?”
“We’re not dogs,” I growl.
Chapter 20 – Bloom
~ One of a kind ~
Ocean blue … the clearest water with its warm sun and its rainstorm scent. Rainstorm? That can’t be right there’s not a cloud in the sky, but still my ocean smells like home after a good summer storm has moved through, all fresh and woodsy. My ocean smells like Pike. Heck my ocean’s even the same color as my furry best friends’ eyes. I wonder why he isn’t here with me, he wouldn’t leave me alone. I call for him, “Pike! Where are you?”
I expect him to come to me but instead I get a reply, “Bloom, I’m right here.”
Spinning around in the water looking for the person who’s answering and finding no-one, I scream for Pike again.
Once again that voice replies, “Bloom, I’m right here. Open your eyes and you’ll see I’m right here with you.”
I do as the voice demands and find my ocean reflecting back at me from the strangers’ eyes and just like in my dream I feel safe. I force my eyes away from his so I can take in the rest of him. The top of his head is covered in jet black hair that’s shaggy and falling into his eyes. His nose is narrow and a little crooked at the bridge, it’s probably been broken before. I have to grip the sheets under my hand to stop myself from reaching out and running my fingers over the crooked section. Forcing my eyes on I find his lips, the bottom is a tad fuller, the kind that begs to be kissed and nibbled on. As the thought crosses my mind his cheeks take on a soft blush. Did I say that out loud? No … no, I didn’t. But why is he looking at me like he knows exactly what I’m thinking.
Pushing that silly thought from my mind I continue perusing. He has a strong jaw with a five o’clock shadow. His shoulders are broad and connected to muscular arms. Gosh those arms. I want nothing more than for those arms to be wrapped around my body holding me to his well toned chest. Then my eyes travel further down his arms and I find his hands gripping my free hand. The one that isn’t attached to the sheet; keeping me from making a fool of myself by caressing every clothes free section of skin of a complete stranger. Yet, he doesn’t feel like a stranger. Why do I feel like I know him? Why do I feel like I can trust him with my life? And why the hell does he smell so darn good? Just like a summer storm ….
“Pike?!” I whisper.
Those unbelievably tempting lips spread into a wide smile revealing pearly white teeth and a dimple in each cheek. Then he speaks in a gravelly voice that melts me from the inside out, “Yes darlin’, I’m Pike. And we have a lot to explain to you.”
“We?” I ask looking around the room and finding that Pike and I aren’t alone, though if he hadn’t mentioned them I would’ve thoroughly enjoyed eating him up with my eyes for several more hours. But to my dismay Bonnie and her father are sitting at the foot of the bed, and Billy’s standing across the room looking out the window. As if sensing my eyes on him, he turns and gives me a half-hearted smile and then says, “Blu, I have a story you need to hear.”
I look back to the dimpled dark haired angel still holding my hand hoping that he can get me out of whatever “talk” Billy has for me, because the lord knows with the look he has on his face it won’t be an enjoyable one and right now I want nothing more than to admire this man calling himself Pike. Yes, he has the same piercing eyes as my dog and apparently they share that unique name, but I’m not ready to hear the story yet, can’t they see I just want to enjoy my ignorant bliss.
He squeezes my hand and practically reading my thoughts says, “I promise if you listen to what Billy has to say it will answer those questions that are floating around in your beautiful mind. And when he’s done we can talk alone, if that’s what you still want.”
“Alright,” I begrudgingly give in.
Thirty minutes later I’m left thunderstruck looking at the small group of people sitting around me. I’m half expecting someone with a hidden camera to jump out and say I’ve been punk’d, but after taking in each of their faces I realize no one’s hiding to record my reaction. The alternative seems way more farfetched though. How can they expect me to believe such a story?
I look to Bonnie, she’d never lie to me, “Bonnie, please tell me the truth.”
She comes over, sits beside me and says, “Blu, you know I wouldn’t lie to you.”
I nod in agreement.
“Well, I can’t vouch for Billy’s story about your mom,” I give her a sharp look because she knows I don’t refer to that woman that way and she amends, “I mean Rose. Because like you I’ve never met the woman, but as for Pike, I saw him shift from that black furry mutt.”
Pike growls softly on my other side and once again my attention’s drawn to those stormy eyes. But I know if I keep my attention on him I’ll never hear the answers my friend is giving me. So I turn back to Bonnie and she continues like Pike’s growling hasn’t intimidated her, “Like I was saying. I watched him shift from that lovely beast who’s been following you around all week to the man he is now. I wouldn’t make that up, Blu. And I don’t think Billy or my Dad would make up the stuff about Rose either.”
“But Bon, if you’re not making this up that means th-that Rose is a werewolf and so am I.”
“We prefer shifter,” Pike jumps in. “And though you haven’t technically shifted, yet, you still carry that gene.”
“Yet?” I ask a little frightened by the idea of myself sprouting fur and howling at the moon. Don’t be afraid. I hear come through my thoughts and it sounds like me but somehow not me. Great now I’m hearing voices.
Pike grabs my hand again, in an attempt to comfort me. He already gave me the mate speech, after Billy told me about Rose, explaining what we are to each other, and that it gives him direct access to my thoughts and feelings. I wonder if he heard that voice inside me too. On one level I’m drawn to the idea, knowing this beautiful man I’m so attracted to is all mine, but then I find myself drifting to the other side that’s screaming I didn’t get the choice. My thoughts and feeling will never be private again. Will I ever get to the point where I’m comfortable with him knowing all my fears and insecurities? That other part of myself that seems to be fighting the wolf side (Could that be who the voice is, my wolf?) of myself, is feeling like I’ve been dropped naked in a room full of strangers for their viewing pleasure, and she doesn’t like this one bit.
He waits for my inner monologue to cease then says, “Bloom, I know this might be a lot for you to take in after everything else you went through last night, but as your mate I promise to never keep anything from you.”
“Well that’s good to know. Why do you think I still may shift?” I ask still a frightened of his answer.
“Because the shifter gene’s dominant. A mating between a shifter and a full human isn’t uncommon, but if a child is born from the relationship it always comes out a shifter.”
“There’s always an exception to the rule, right? There has to be others like me, who heal faster than normal, but don’t shift,” I plead
“I can check with the pack elders when we go back to Tennessee, but as far as I know you’re the only exception to that rule, darlin’.”
“So not only am I getting thrust into a world that most people only believe is real in books, but apparently I’m a freak in this world as well. Great!” I reply sarcastically. I know I’m coming across extremely whinny, but seriously can you blame me. In a span of less than 12 hours I have been attacked by a psycho, saved by my pet who happens to be some kind of furry knight in shining armor, found out that the man I trusted like my own father kept a huge secret from me about my birth mother also going furry, and now they’re telling me that I’m
the odd one. So excuse me if I get a little whinny.
Reading my mind Pike smiles down at me, “Darlin’, you’re not odd; you’re one of a kind.”
“Blu, don’t get down on yourself. Wolf boy’s right, you are one of a kind and anyone that says different will have to deal with me,” Bonnie adds, taking hold of my other hand. I smile at my friend. I’ve always thought I was the stronger of the two of us, since I’ve fought her fights more times than I can count, but I see she’s just as fierce, she just doesn’t need to show that side as often. Though I see she’s decided it’s the side she’s showing to Pike, she apparently doesn’t want the alpha wolf to see her as weak. I hope she doesn’t make it a permanent change. I’d miss my sweet sunny Bonnie. While I’ll probably always live in the darkness with my demons in one way or another, she’ll always be the person who knows how to bring the light into my life. She’s the sun to my moon, the sister I never had, simply put she’s my best friend.
I let go of Pike’s hand and pull Bonnie closer for a hug and whisper, “Thank you, Bon.”
“Anytime, Blu.” Then pulling back she says, “Now I think we need to give you and tall, dark and furry a chance to talk alone.” Pike growls at the nickname and for the first time since the revelations I giggle. Mr. Harris gives me a quick hug and tells me to call him if I start to feel bad, which I promise to do. Then Billy kisses my cheek and apologizes once again for keeping the secrets from me. I take pity on the old guy and let him know I forgive him, which brings tears to his eyes. Bonnie ushers them both out and follows, but not before she promises to return to check on me the next day.
Once I hear the front door shut I become acutely aware I’m alone in my bedroom with Pike. He’s still sitting at my bedside watching me intently. Feeling a little overwhelmed I hop out of bed thankful someone, probably Bonnie, had thought to remove my tattered sundress and put pajamas on me. Standing up against the wall by the door as far away from him as I can get I declare, “Umm … I think I need to get cleaned up. You can go in the living room. I’ll be in shortly and we can talk.” Yeah, I know I’m real smooth. It’s ok, he’s our mate. You don’t have to win him over, we already have him. Great, now I’m getting advice from the voice in my head.
Strutting over to me he stops and places one hand against the wall by my head and leans in close so our faces are less than an inch apart. That traitorous wolf half of me is screaming for him to kiss us, while the more sensible human half wants to kick him in the balls so he’ll back up out of our personal space. Come on; close the distance so we can see what his mouth tastes like. My wolf pushes. I know he can hear my thoughts and they’re probably what is causing the shit eating grin that he has plastered to his face. He leans in closer and I instinctively close my eyes and brace myself for his lips to touch mine, but it never comes. Instead when I open my eyes I find him smelling the crook of my neck. I surprise myself by being mad that he didn’t kiss me.
“You smell so good, darlin’, like fresh picked strawberries,” he whispers when he steps back from me.
Exasperated I throw my arms up and growl, “Freaking shifters and your freaky smelling abilities! Go to the living room now so I can get cleaned up or you’re sleeping on the porch tonight.”
“No reason to get upset, darlin’, I promise I’ll kiss ya. I just want to wait till you can handle it.” He chuckles at my outburst.
Glaring at him and pointing at the door, “Out!”
Holding up his hands in surrender he says, “Okay, but don’t take long. We have a lot to discuss.” Then he leaves my room.
Remembering something he said early I holler, “And I caught that Tennessee comment earlier and I am not going!” My wolf whimpers because she doesn’t like that idea.
“Yes, you are!” He hollers back and the way it comes out I know it isn’t up for discussion, which has my inner wolf smiling.
Chapter 21 – Pike
~ Our Dirty Little Secret ~
I pull out of her thoughts while she gets cleaned up. She needs the privacy so she can think through everything that’s happened today and I need to gather my thoughts before we talk. I’d already explained our mate connection, but we have some decisions to make and I know she’ll have questions. She may not see it now but I can feel the pull she has to me and no matter what she may say or think I know she wants me with her just as much as I want to be with her. So she has to come home to Tennessee with me. I’ve already been gone from the pack too long and need to get back, and I’m not leaving here without her. My pack needs to meet their alpha’s mate and we need to talk to the Elders about her not being able to shift. I’m hoping one of them has some insight. I’m happy with my mate either way, but I can feel how uneasy she was when she realized she should’ve shifted by now. I’m going to help my mate through all of these changes in her new life, it’s the least I can do for her since she’s going to let me love her.
“Pike, are you awake?” She asks softly causing me to open my eyes. I sat down on the couch to sort through my thoughts and I didn’t even realize I’d closed them.
She crosses the room and sits at the other end of the couch facing me with her legs pulled up against her. Her hair’s wet and braided down her back and her perfect face is clean of all make-up. The gash that had been on her head, from being hit with the gun, is already healed. She’s wearing her favorite worn in jeans and a loose fitting white t-shirt. She’s avoiding eye contact with me by picking at her perfectly manicured toe nails.
Turning to mirror her position I demand, “Darlin’, look at me.”
Her head snaps up and those brown-green eyes lock on mine and she sighs, “Okay.”
“Bloom, tell me what you’re thinking. Please.”
“Can’t you just pick it out of my brain?” She snaps back.
“Yes, I could.” I sigh then say, “But I don’t want to. I need you to tell me what you’re thinking; I need you to trust me. I promise to give you as much privacy as possible, but sometimes I won’t be able to. Until we complete are mate bond and learn to control our connection, your thoughts are going to be screaming at me. It’s a way for me to protect you. Eventually you’ll be able to block me when you need privacy. But until then I’ll try to give you some mental privacy.”
“Thank you,” she says chewing her lip.
“Darlin’, please tell me what’s going through your mind?” I ask softly.
“Will I be able to read your mind?” she blurts out. The question makes me smile because it reassures me of how she feels even though I know she may not confess it just yet.
“I think so. You kind of already did.”
“What? When?” She asks confused.
“Do you remember the night you found me in the woods?”
She nods.
“Well, when you were trying to figure out what to call me. I was screaming my name over and over in my head hoping that you’d be able to hear me. I really didn’t want you to call me Fido or Rover.,” I explain.
“Your name just seemed to come to me that night.”
“Because you picked it up out of my thoughts and I think that now that you realize you can you’ll be able to pick out my thoughts easier.”
“Can we try?”
“Try what?” I ask confused.
“Me reading your thoughts,” she says all giddy.
“Of course, darlin’. I’ll think of something really hard and you try to focus on me. You should be able to pick it up,” I suggest.
“Alright, let’s try this Tennessee.” She smiles at me before closing her eyes to focus.
I start with a simple word.
Mate.
I repeat it over and over in my head. When her eyes flew open and she has a smile stretching across her face I know she’s heard it.
“Mate?” She asks confidently.
Smiling back I nod a confirmation then say, “Let’s try something harder. How about I replay a memory and you see if you can pick it up and tell me about it.”
“Okay,” s
he says closing her eyes again.
This time I focus on the day I picked up her scent. I play the memory out until I had arrived at her house and then I repeat the memory over and over. Filling it with all of the emotions I’d been feeling that day. On the fourth rotation of the memory in my head she speaks without opening her eyes.
“You were running so fast and you had such a need,” she whispers.
“I knew I’d found you, darlin’,” I state.
“How can you be so sure?” she asks opening her eyes and looking into mine.
“Sure that you’re my mate? Darlin’, we wouldn’t be able to …”
Cutting me off she says, “No. I understand that we’re mates. I can feel the pull to you. In that memory you just shared I could feel how happy you were. I want to know how you can be so sure I’ll make you happy. We don’t even know each other, Pike.”
Reviving Bloom (Bloom Daniels Series) Page 8
