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Serena raced alongside Gabe through the forest of his dream, her white wolf keeping just ahead of his gray one. “Can’t catch me!” She gave the equivalent of a wolfish grin and sped up, losing him in seconds as she put on her best speed.
“You bet I can.” His challenging growl was lost behind her and soon she ran by herself through the unfamiliar woods.
She slowed down, looking behind her. Where was Gabe? Had she really lost him?
There was a rustle in the leaves beside her, and she turned, just in time to brace for Gabe’s playful pounce. “No! Gabe, don’t!” But she laughed as he took her down to the grass, rolling and tumbling like puppies.
They slowed their tussling, and he nuzzled her face. A hum of happiness filled her.
Here in the dreamscape, they were able to race together as wolves and to speak using dream telepathy. It was a wondrous experience, and she suspected the thrill of flirting with her mate in wolf form would never grow old. Not when they were middle-aged. Not when they’d reached white muzzle stage. Not ever.
In the real world, she’d taken back her job and stayed in Colorado. The council had understood—they were almost all shifters, after all. The Fever was part of their lives. Nancy was on probation for her poor handling of a new employee and both she and Serena were working to get the office together after losing Vince. It had been an odd experience, bonding with Nancy after the horror of being kidnapped by Vince, but it gave her hope that the dreamwalker’s office would not just survive, but thrive.
“Hey.” Gabe licked her face. “What’s going on in there, dreamwalker?”
“Nothing, just thinking about the future.”
He grinned. “How about we wake up and start making a future of our own?” His eyes sparkled with mischief and his form faded, disappearing from his own dream. Serena watched as Gabe’s dream forest faded into mist.
Was this the dream? Or was her waking world a dream? One where she had a challenging job, a new pack, and a mate who never let her forget how much he loved her? She smiled and let the dream go. She’d rather be awake, back in her bed. With Gabe.