If there was one thing Hope did not enjoy about being a shifter, it was getting undressed outside during winter. Shifters dealt better than humans with the cold, but that didn’t mean she liked it. Once she changed into animal form, she’d be fine. After all, reindeer were designed for much colder temperatures than Scotland. It was the naked human stage right before she shifted that was the problem. Brrr.
Which is why she was stalling.
“It’s not going to get any warmer,” Adam pointed out.
“I know.”
She looked up at the sky. Dull and cold, it was a typical December day. Although it was usually still a little too early for snow, the air had a definite bite to it.
“I’ll change just over there.” Adam nodded toward the trees. “And then I’ll come out so you can ogle my antlers.”
Hope snorted. “Okay. Liv and Emmett would probably like privacy to get undressed. I’ll help Bella.”
Although shifters were fairly blasé about nudity, they did try not to give each other an eyeful. If a kid was old enough to bathe alone, they generally preferred to strip in private.
Hope directed Liv and Emmett to a couple of spots where they could change, then took Bella into the trees.
“Okay, sweetie.” Hope hunkered down to Bella’s level. “This is shifting time, so I’m going to help you get these clothes off and then you can shift into your reindeer.”
Bella’s little face frowned. “But it’s cold.”
“Yes, but it’ll only be for a minute, and then you’ll be a reindeer. You won’t be cold then. Remember what Auntie Anna said about only shifting at proper times? Well, this is the proper time.”
“Okay.”
“Remember to wait here until I shift too, okay?”
Hope pulled off Bella’s coat and helped her take off her shoes. Within minutes, Bella was changing into reindeer form, stamping her tiny hooves in impatience.
“Just a minute, sweetheart.” Hope removed her own jacket, flinching at the icy air.
Little Bella trotted over to the edge of the trees, but stayed there, looking out.
Knowing the calf’s patience was limited, Hope hurried to strip and took her reindeer form. She walked over to Bella and nudged her shoulder, getting a nuzzle from the small calf in return.
Slowly, they stepped out into the clearing, Bella prancing excitedly. Two other calves stood there, one a little bigger than Bella and the other almost fully grown. Emmett and Olivia. A moment later, a moose strode out to join them. Adam.
Hope looked him over. He was huge. A bull moose in his prime. His antlers were enormous, but they’d seen better days. It was probably past time he shed them.
Adam ducked his head slightly and Hope ambled over to boop noses with him, little Bella running around them. Gently, Adam nudged Hope, and they started to move. At first, they walked. Then trotted.
After ten minutes, Bella took off, and Hope had to rush after her. Next thing she knew, they were all running through the woods, and it was exhilarating. How long had it been since she’d truly run free in reindeer form? Probably not since she’d taken on the kids. She’d tried to make time for them all to shift, but it hadn’t happened nearly often enough. Between grieving for her sister, moving to the city, trying to find work, wrangling the kids, and just plain exhaustion, there had simply never been time for this. And she’d missed it.
Her nose picked up a faint scent of moose. Not Adam. Maybe one of his family had been through here earlier. He had said that his family liked this spot. There was also an odd sort of smell…
There. Hope almost crashed into a tree when she came across a giant white mouse with fangs. A leopard snuggled into it, seemingly content. Hope cast a quick glance at Adam, but he seemed totally unconcerned, so she shrugged it off and continued their run.
When they arrived at another clearing, a lion was spread out, sleeping. At their approach, he merely cracked open one eye. Hope edged away.
Bella, however, launched herself at the lion, her little tail twitching furiously as she butted him with her head. Hope took a step forward, ready to intervene. While shifters generally didn’t prey on each other, she couldn’t be certain how the strange lion would react.
Adam bumped her shoulder. He appeared to be calm, so maybe he knew the lion.
Suddenly, the lion flipped onto his back, paws in the air, wriggling under Bella’s attention.
Hope stared. There was something familiar about that lion… The blatant invitation to rub his tummy, that goofy expression… that fabulous mane…
Felix!
Of course. Hope hadn’t seen him in lion form since they were teenagers and he’d changed since then, but now that she knew, she’d recognise him anywhere.
Emmett scampered over to Bella and rubbed his nose over hers, the reindeer equivalent of a hug. Then the two of them dashed off into the trees, with Adam following.
Was… was the lion pouting?
Hope glanced at Olivia and then trotted after the others. Olivia followed behind, never wandering off, yet somehow apart.
Slowly, Adam herded them to where they’d started. Hope nuzzled Adam and stepped back. He shook his massive head… and an antler fell off, dropping to the ground with a thud. Everyone stood still and stared, and Hope swore he looked embarrassed, even in moose form.
Adam turned and walked into the woods, and they all split up to shift back.
Hope shifted into human form and dragged on her clothes as quickly as possible. It wasn’t getting any warmer. When she turned to Bella, the kid was still in reindeer form. If a reindeer was capable of looking stubborn, this one did.
“Bella. It’s time to shift back, sweetie.”
Nothing.
“Bella. Shift now.”
A single ear twitch.
Hope sighed.
She crouched down next to the little calf. “Remember, Bella. There are times for being a reindeer and times for being human. It’s time to be a girl now. You can shift again on Wednesday evening, and then on Saturday, we’ll come back here. Okay?”
Finally. Bella shifted and Hope got her dressed.
“Pwomise?” Bella asked, blinking those huge brown eyes at her. “We can come back?”
“Promise, sweetheart.”
“With Adam?”
“If he wants to come.” Hope zipped up Bella’s jacket.
“And the big kitty?”
“Felix?” Hope asked. “I don’t know. But now that we live in Bearbank, we can have lots of new shifter friends, and I’m sure we’ll meet some of them in the woods sometimes.”
“I like the big kitty.”
Hope laughed. “Yeah, everyone does.”
***
“What are you thinking?” Adam asked Hope as they settled at their table in Dana’s café. The kids were at the counter, picking out their cakes.
Hope’s lips twitched. “I was thinking that we really need to set up a play date for Bella and Felix.”
Adam chuckled. “Probably. Before she outgrows him.”
“And Bella wants to know if you’ll be joining us next week.” Hope’s blue eyes met his.
“Absolutely, if I’m wanted.”
“I like the big weindeer!” Bella piped up from beside them.
Hope snorted.
“I’m a moose,” Adam told her.
Bella nodded. “Big weindeer.” She looked at Hope. “Can I have two cakes?”
“No, just one,” Hope told her. “Go and choose.”
Sighing as though Hope were the worst person in the world, Bella skipped back to the counter.
“You do look a bit like a giant reindeer,” Hope teased.
Adam gave her a mock offended look. “I look nothing like a reindeer. Didn’t you see my massive rack?”
Hope’s jaw dropped. “Not in front of the kids,” she hissed, glancing around.
Adam checked. The kids were still examining the cakes.
“I was talking about my antlers, woman.” He raised an eyebrow. “Why? What did you think I was talking about?”
And there it was. That oh-so-tempting blush. Adam was becoming incredibly fond of that blush.
“Nothing.” Hope looked down at the floor.
“Uhuh.”
“So, how are you after your antler fell off?” she asked, squinting up at him.
Yeah, that hadn’t been his finest moment. It just had to wait until he was standing right in front of the woman he really wanted to impress.
“Yeah, I’m good,” he assured her. “Just feels weird. It’s somewhat overdue, but I haven’t had much time to shift lately. And they won’t fall off until I’m actually in moose form. Sadly.” Adam had always hoped they’d magically disappear while he was in human form and just be missing when he shifted. Never happened, though. It didn’t hurt, but it was a bit messy and uncomfortable.
“And now you’re lopsided.” Hope grinned.
“You realise I will remember this conversation when it’s your turn?”
Hope waved that away. “That’s not for ages yet. You’ll have forgotten by then.” She twisted to look at the kids. “You’re really okay with this?”
“With what?” Adam took her hand and lightly squeezed it. “The kids?”
She nodded and turned to look at him.
“I’m absolutely on board.” He ran his thumb over the back of her hand. “Hope, I love kids. That’s why I became a teacher. Did I see this coming? No, of course not, but I’ve adjusted. Today was fun, and yeah, I know that it won’t all be so easy, but I’m in it for the long haul. Even the tough stuff.”
“Even Liv?”
Adam smiled. “Yeah. I’m convinced there’s an actual person in there somewhere. Look, the kid’s been through a lot. I get that. She needs time to heal and to trust me.”
“And to trust me.” Hope sighed. “Hell, to trust anyone.”
“She’ll get there,” he assured. “Just give her some time.”
Bella ran back to their table and clambered up onto a chair. “Dana said she’d get me a big cake.”
“I did, indeed,” Dana said, arriving with a plate and setting it in front of Bella.
Adam sneaked a look. It was a perfectly normal-sized cake. Dana winked.
“What do we say?” Hope prompted.
“Thank you.” Bella grinned.
“You’re very welcome.” Dana beamed and then turned to the other kids as they reached the table. “What about you two?”
“Can I have a gingerbread man?” Emmett asked. “And Liv wants a doughnut.”
“Not a problem.” Dana looked at Hope.
“I’d love a brownie.”
“Make that two,” Adam added.
“Coming right up.” Dana smiled and left to get their orders.
Adam looked around the table. Yeah, he was more than good with this.
Not just a mate, but a ready-made family.
He’d hit the bloody jackpot.