Shifted Love Volume 1 - Fiona Davenport Page 0,8

can you be sure?”

“I need you to keep an open mind.”

“Okay,” I drawled, pressing against the cushion at my back. it probably wasn’t a good sign that he felt the need to ask me that.

Resting one hand on my thigh and wrapping the other around my calf, he said, “There are things in this world that are kept a secret from a lot of people because they wouldn't be able to understand the truth or accept it.”

“Whoa, hold up! Are you trying to tell me you're married or something?” I squeaked in horror as my gaze moved to his left hand, but there wasn't a wedding ring there.

“No! Of course, not.” He dropped his head to stare down at his lap and heaved a big sigh. “There's no other way to say this other than to just put it out there. I’m a wolf shifter, and you are my fated mate.”

“I’m sorry. Did you just say you’re a...a...a werewolf?” I sputtered.

“No.” My sigh of relief abruptly ended when he continued, “We prefer to be called wolf shifters. There are too many negative connotations with the term werewolf.”

“Negative connotations?” I echoed softly, scooting deeper into the cushion at my back.

“Yeah, popular culture got so many things wrong, and it’s a big part of the reason we keep our animal sides hidden from humans.” I was close to hyperventilating, but he didn’t seem to notice how freaked out I was. “We don’t turn other people into shifters by biting them. We’re born this way. And it isn’t just during the full moon that we change. Our animal side is just as much a part of us as our human halves. We can shift whenever we want.”

I shook my head, back to thinking the coma explanation made sense. Then I came up with another possibility. “Seriously? That’s the story you’re going to try to tell me to get into my panties?”

“It isn’t a story,” he insisted, his hand tightening around my leg as I tried to scramble off the couch.

“Oh, yeah?” I huffed. “Then prove it. If you don’t need to wait until the next full moon, show me how you can shift into a wolf. Right now.”

5

Zeke

My gorgeous mate was already fair skinned, but the news I had just dropped on her had made her even paler. Her skin looked almost translucent in contrast to her long, dark hair and brown eyes. Her curvy body looked so small as she tried to curl up in the corner of my couch. I wanted to cuddle her on my lap until she wasn’t scared of me anymore. This was the first time I resented the animal side of my nature because it was frightening her.

I had never told a human that shifters existed—not only was Timber Ridge an all shifter town, but we also had rules about not sharing information about our existence without a damn good reason—but I figured her shock was to be expected. “Are you sure you're ready to see my wolf?”

She nodded. “Yup, totally ready.”

Her tone made it more than obvious that she didn't believe a word I was saying, and I wanted to howl in frustration. I had hoped to introduce Allegra to the other side of my nature under better circumstances, but if this was what it took to convince her I was telling the truth, then it had to be done. I couldn't risk losing my mate when it was easy to prove I was telling the truth.

I glided my hand down her leg, wrapping my fingers around her ankle for a moment because I was loathe to let go of her. I savored the feel of her beneath my palm—even with her jeans between us—and inhaled her scent deep into my lungs. It helped soothe my beast as I stood from the couch and stripped my shirt over my head.

“Um...wait...why are you taking your clothes off?” she asked. Her dark eyes were locked on my bare chest, and she was biting her bottom lip with a hungry look on her beautiful face.

“I only leave them on when I’m in a rush. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have anything to wear.” My lips curved up in a smug grin when her gaze followed my hands down to my jeans and her eyes widened as I popped the snap open before lowering the zipper. She gasped and her cheeks pinkened when I dropped my jeans to the floor after kicking off my boots. My cock strained against my boxers, and