"I'll let my scouts know. Deeper in the woods, the better I think, huh?" Max asks.
"They can drop him from the cliffs if they want. I don't fucking care."
"I'll be right back." Max turns to Shannon, who's been standing in the doorway. "Honey, can you and Bethany stay here and watch the cubs for us? I'm going to let the scouts know what to do."
"Sure thing, babe, I'll run up and check in on them now. They should be waking up soon." Shannon and Max hug intimately, kissing on the lips quickly, then going their separate ways.
Parker looks back to Addison, at her unconscious tiger form, and she's just purely an amazing being.
He pets the top of her massive head, down her neck, to her shoulder. Tiger fur. He's never met a tiger shifter before. They are one of the very top of the cat line, regal.
Addison growls low and deep in her throat, a soft purr and Parker chuckles quietly. Thinking back to when Addison laughed at his cat purring with her in his arms.
Parker gets up and grabs comfy clothes for Addison, she'll need them and a shower when she wakes, and sets them on the counter by the bathroom sink.
Parker sits back on the bed, pushes himself against the headboard and strokes Addison's head again.
She needs to wake up soon. I can't believe this. A tiger! Why didn't we scent this before? Parker's leopard decides to break the silence.
She'll wake when her body is ready to. For now, we wait. London is cared for, we just need to wait for Addison, and I'd wait forever for her. She shifted really fast and not knowing what she truly was, her body and mind are in shock.
I agree. She is our one true soul mate. We'll wait for her to be ready and come back to us. Parker's cat purrs, settles down and is silent once again.
An hour and a half later, London and Ben are awake and playing with her toys in the living room. They're eating a snack of crackers and sharing with each other, feeding each other.
Max and Parker carefully brought London's crib up to Parker's old room. Bethany and Shannon brought up the baby clothes, diapers, and other things to make the new bedroom complete.
Parker unpacked Addy's things from her suitcase, finally. She was home and forever Parker's. She wasn't going to be leaving anytime soon. With her suitcase safely stashed in the closet and her personal things put away, he eases back into bed with Addison.
Knowing the kids are taken care of, he leans over to Addison's furry ear, "Sweetheart, you need to wake up. We need to go over a few things."
That's an understatement, his leopard whispers.
I know. But if she doesn't wake up soon, I'm going to worry more about her. She should have woken up by now and I'm eager to talk to her about all this, Parker tells his leopard.
Me too. I can't feel her tiger yet, so Addison still is hanging back. Talk to her, Parker, get her to hear you, or she'll wake up as the tiger and not human.
"Babe, Addy, you need to wake up. Come on, London needs you. I need you to wake up," Parker says softly.
Addison groans and lightly growls at the intrusion of sleep. She slowly opens her eyes as Parker gently shakes her shoulder. Her golden eyes appearing from under the lids.
"Good afternoon, sleepy head." Parker smiles at her. Seeing her eyes and knowing she sees clearly who he is.
"Ummm," is all she says. Almost a growl.
Parker coaxes her, "Addy, I need you to think of your human body. The way your legs feel, your arms, your back. Feel them stretching and then do that with your body, baby. I need you to come back to me."
She stretches out on her belly, stretching out her front legs, her back legs, completely taking over the bed. Her front paws flop over the edge when she runs out of room. She yawns and her enlarged teeth all on display.
Parker can see her body tremble, and slowly her human body returns, her bones realigning to make her human once again.
Parker notices the surprise on her face, "Yeah, you were a tiger." He chuckles.
"Holy shit, Parker. I'm a tiger shifter?"
Parker pulls her back to him and lifts the blankets to cover her up. He chuckles, "Yeah. You're a tiger shifter. I'm guessing you never knew."
"I had no idea shifters even existed until you told me, let alone me even being one!" She's clearly upset and a tear falls down her cheek.
"Hey now, it's okay. We'll figure it out. I do have some questions though, about your family."
"I never knew my parents. I was adopted and lived with them since I've been little. I have one sister and I had a brother, but he died when we were young. He had leukemia," Addison explains.
Parker says, "I'm sorry about your brother, Addison. What about your sister, I know you should call her, but was she adopted, too?"
"Yes, all three of us were adopted. I doubt she's a shifter, or I would have known about it. We told each other everything. When I went with Derek, she encouraged it. He wasn't evil back then. He just slowly made excuses for me not to be close to her. Pulled at our relationship, until we barely spoke to each other but once every couple of months."
"Let's get you into the shower, you have dirt and dried blood on you. We'll talk more in there. I want to take care of you now."
He lifts her from the bed after pulling the blankets away, her body so much smaller now, and chuckles as he lifts her easily into his arms, against his chest. He rests his chin atop of her head and walks to the bathroom. He sets her down on the edge of the tub and starts the water.
"You get in when it's warm enough. I'm going to let Max and the women know you're awake and that we're going to bathe." He kisses her lips quickly and leaves the room, shutting the door behind him.
Parker leaves Addy in the bathroom and quickly enters the living room, where Max is on the floor playing blocks with the two little ones. Bethany and Shannon watching television quietly on the couch.
"I heard her talking. Crazy story, man. Just crazy," Max says as Parker walks over to him.
"I don't understand it either, but it is what it is. She wasn't with a shifter family, she's adopted. It sounds like she's been with them since she was a baby, too," Parker tells them. All eyes in the room are on him now.
"Maybe her birth parents were killed. As shifter parents, you would die to keep your cubs safe. Maybe something like that happened. Shifter parents don't just give up their cubs. We can't. It's in our nature to protect them. Not give them away." Max makes a point.
"Maybe her parents were killed, or taken away. We may never find out." Parker bends down and kisses London on the top of her head then ruffles Ben's hair.
"I'm going to help Addison wash up. She has blood and dirt all over and she's still pretty shaken up. You guys okay with watching London a bit longer?" Parker asks his friends.
"She's not a problem. You go comfort and wash your mate. We'll be here if you need us," Max says.
"Thanks. We'll be out soon then we can go out to the diner for dinner. My treat. Your scouts, too," Parker announces.
"Good deal! We'll be waiting," replies Max.
Parker makes it back in to the bathroom and Addison's already relaxing back in the hot water. She opens her eyes as he shuts the bathroom door behind him and begins to strip off his clothing. He eases into the water behind Addy, and leans forward to shut off the water.
He grabs some body wash from behind him and the sponge, squirting some of the scented gel and plunging it into the water quickly, making some bubbles.
He begins to wash Addison's back, neck and wherever his hands can reach. He reaches around to the front and she leans against his chest. Parker washes her stomach, breasts, and shoulders as well.
Nothing sexual, even though he can feel himself poking Addy in the back. "Sorry about that." He chuckles as she smiles up at him. "My body has other things in mind for us. This time, right here, isn't about making love to you, Addy. This is about comforting you and making sure your mind can wrap around what happened."
"I know. I'm trying. It's weird now. I have a real voice in my head." She giggles and Park
er chuckles at her statement.
"I don't understand why you haven't shifted before. This is your first time, and you're well overdue. Have you any idea who your birth parents are? Or their names?"
"My adoptive mom and I have looked and researched but never found anything. My birth certificate has my name, birth date and place of birth. The names on the certificate for parents are smudged so bad it's not readable. They must not want to be found." She sniffles at the thought.
"It's unusual for shifter parents to put a child up for adoption, unless they were killed and no other family was around. I do know that the tiger shifters are rare. I've never met one, until now." He smiles and pokes her gently in the ribs.
Parker continues to wash Addy's body and they both wash and scrub her fingers clean. He drains the water and fills it back up again.
"You have to wash your hair," is all Parker says.
Addison slides forward, leans back and dunks her head under the water in front of him, her long hair swirling around his cock, caressing it with every movement.
She sits back up, wiping the water from her face with her hands. Parker grabs the shampoo and lathers it in her hair for her. She dunks again, letting Parker swirl her hair, making sure the soap is out. She sits up again and they do the same thing with the conditioner.
When she's finally clean and bubbles are out of her hair, he leans forward and kisses her shoulder and neck and just behind her ear. He lets the water out of the tub and stands up. He steps out of the tub and grabs a fluffy towel for each of them.
He helps her out of the tub and they each dry themselves off. He wraps the towel around his waist and walks into the bedroom, grabbing some clean clothes.
Addison dries off and notices her clean clothes on the counter by the sink and gets dressed.
Parker walks into the bathroom, where Addison is finishing up, and says, "I'm going to let Max and the women know we're ready to go."
She nods and he walks out.
Upon returning, Parker has London in his arms and Addison smiles so big, it brightens her face. She quickly changes London's diaper and clothes and they jump in the truck, headed for the diner.
Parker reaches for Addy's hand, resting on the seat and he entwines their fingers together.
Addison and Parker don't talk about the elephant in the truck cab, Derek, and what was done with his body. They both leave it alone, for the time being, but Addison will want to know.
"Parker, can I use your cell to call my sister now?"
"Yes, by all means. I'll get you your own cell, too." He hands over his cell and Addison punches in the number to her sister.
She leaves a message after the beep. "Hey, Ness, it's Addy. Um, I just want you to know that London and I are safe. I got away from Derek and he won't be bothering us anymore. This number is good for you to call me back at until I get my own cell. Okay, well, I love you! Bye!"
With that call out of the way, Addison feels better that she at least contacted her sister. She puts the cell on the seat and slides her hand over to grab Parker's and links their fingers together.
"Parker, can I ask you a question?"
"Addy, you can ask me anything, anytime. You don't have to ask me if you can ask me something."
"Okay, then… Umm… What happened to me? How did I change and what did I do to Derek?"
"Well, you were on the porch when we brought Derek into the clearing and when he spouted off to you, well, it was like you moved so fast and then you were in his face. You yelled at him and poked him in the chest with your finger. It looked like he was going to backhand you, but…it was almost like you sensed it? I don't really understand it. You shifted right there on the spot and attacked him. Scratching, punching, and kicking with your tiger body. It was an amazing thing to watch, actually."
"Umm… All I remember is I was on the porch, then I was poking him. I don't remember how I got there. Just that I wasn't, then I was. He said bad things and I got very angry and all I saw was red. I could see him, but it's like I was wearing red-tinted sunglasses. I've never experienced anything like that before. When I realized he was on the ground, it was like all my strength disappeared. I felt him reaching towards me and I reacted. My human would never grab someone by the throat, but my tiger did. She killed him. Oh my God! I killed Derek!"
Parker quickly pulls over to the side of the road, and slams the truck in park. He unbuckles both seat belts and pulls Addison onto his lap, cradling her head and her body into his. She's crying and her body is trembling.
"It's okay, Addy. I've got you. I've got you, babe. I can teach you to shift easier."
"My whole body is sore. Like I've been stretched out and someone tried to piece me back together again. My muscles, tendons and my bones just…ache. Deep inside, too. Is this normal?"
"Addison, nothing about what you did, was normal. We had no idea you were a shifter. And, usually, when we shift for the first time we're babies or toddlers. You're a full grown woman. You shifted quickly, and didn't give your human body the time to react. Your tiger reacted and came out to protect you. When we get home, if you're feeling okay, I'll show you how to shift, slowly. I think we need to wait a few days to let your body get back to normal, though. It will hurt to shift until your body gets used to the movements. Are you okay now? We can go back home, if you want." Parker's concerned, and he has every right to. His future wife went through a traumatic thing in her life.
"No, Parker, were not going to cancel on your friends for dinner and I think we need to wait a few days for the ache to go away before I shift again, too," Addison tells Parker, quietly.
Parker lets her go and she scoots back to her seat, buckling back in. Parker buckles up again, checks London, then steers back onto the road.
A few minutes later, he parks the truck in the diner's parking lot and they make their way inside. Parker notices Max and the others at a large table and two empty seats and an extra high chair for London waiting for them.
They all shake hands, hug one another, and he straps London in her seat, next to Benny. They both giggle and grab each other's hands.
The waitress comes and takes everyone's orders. Returning with drinks on a tray, she makes another trip back twenty minutes later with the food.
"I just want to thank all of you for your help today with the issue we had, and any questions will be answered in time. This right here, is a thank you for your assistance today," Parker announces and spreads his hands out over the tables of food.
Parker sits and starts to eat, with everyone else in quiet conversation around him. He takes his left hand, sliding it over Addison's thigh and squeezes it. She looks down to his hand, then up to Parker's face. Seeing love, happiness, and contentment.
He leans over and kisses her quickly on the lips. "You make me happy, Addison." He grabs her hand in his and kisses her knuckles.
She smiles at him, "You make me happy, too, Parker." They smile again and London squeals out loud, clapping her hands.
After dinner and with the check paid, Max and his family leave. Parker shakes hands with the scouts and tells them 'thank you' again. After they leave, Addison, London, and Parker leave for home.
When they arrive at home, Parker helps Addison out of the truck, and then grabs London from her car seat. Her birthday is right around the corner. He's wondering if Derek was a shifter, will London become a tiger shifter or become whatever Derek was? Only time will tell.
Chapter Fourteen
Over the next week, Parker leaves Addison alone. No sexual advances. He wants her human to not be sore and he wants her ready, because the next time they make love, he's bonding them.
"Addison? I want to discuss something with you. We talked briefly of the mating bond and I want to make sure you want this," Parker begins.
"Parker, I want to talk to you, too. Give me a moment to get London down for her nap. I'll meet you in the living room." He nods and she walks upstairs with a sleepy London.
A few minutes later, Addison e
nters the living room, and sits on the couch with Parker. "Okay, I want to know what your thoughts are," Parker asks.
"Parker. I've been with you for a while now and I know what I want. My tiger is pushing me." She laughs quietly.
"What do you want?" He's hoping it's him. He knows it's him. There's no mistake on what his leopard wants. They both want Addison for their wife, soul mate, forever. He loves her with all that he is, leopard and human.
"I want you, Parker. I've wanted you since I woke up that first day. I just never realized that it could be so intense. That there could be such a pull to you."
"That's your tiger." He chuckles. "I've been dealing with that same thing with my leopard since I saw you in the damaged car. I want you, too, Addison. Forever. If you'll have me?"
Parker presents a small black velvet box from his pocket and opens it, showing Addison the ring. "Will you marry me, Addison?"
She gasps, holding her hands over her mouth, and the tears begin to fall. "Parker. Yes. Yes, I'll marry you!"
They both reach for each other and embrace. Parker's leopard is purring, Addison's tiger is purring and they can feel each other vibrate through their chests.
They let go and laugh because they know the animals inside are content as well with the decision Parker and Addison just made.
"Can I take you to bed now, Addy? I want to make love to you. I want to mate with you. I've waited to make sure your human body was no longer sore from shifting. Because after we mate, you're going to be sore all over again." He grins mischievously at her.
"Yes, Parker. I want to make love with you. Take me to bed, and let's become soul mates. I'm more than ready." Her breathing is heavy already, knowing what's to come.
Parker pushes the engagement ring on Addison's left ring finger. A perfect fit for this sparkly, round, one carat diamond. He has in mind what kind of set he wants for her, but that will come later. His cat is eager to mate and is sending images of Parker and Addison in the middle of passion.
Remote in the Shadows: A Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance Page 12
