The bear claws he’d gotten from the bakery at the start of his shift were history, and Kee was looking forward to one of Mrs. Hooper’s pre-made meals when he got home.
Waving off calls for him to have a drink, Kee stepped out into the cool evening air, wrapping his jacket around him. Unlike many of Arrowtown’s residents, Kee loved the cold and couldn’t wait for the snow Deputy Mal told him would be thick on the ground within another month. Looking up the main street, he didn’t see anyone he didn’t recognize, and mountain man would find it difficult to hide seeing as he’s so big.
Determined to keep to his routine, Kee started walking. Crossing diagonally, he stayed on the side of the road the bakery was on, until he reached the library. The windows were all dark, so Barney and his mate must have already gone home. Turning down the walkway that was tucked down the side of the library, Kee pulled out his phone and turned it on, the brilliant screen illuminating his face.
Within five seconds, the phone dinged. Did you have a good shift at work today?
Kee grinned wondering how long it took for the mountain man to compose the simple message. It was busy but I seemed to spend most of my time wondering when I’d see you. He hit send. There was no point in him being coy, and while Eagle had said this Dian couldn’t be near him without his other half wanting to say hello, Kee still didn’t understand why that was a problem.
Until another text came through. My shifted form tends to make people run screaming from me. It would be gutting if you did the same.
Hmm. Kee kept walking slowly, his fox half keeping an eye on his surroundings for him. It’s difficult to know what I’d do, because I don’t know what you shift into. But I can’t think of anything that would turn me away from my mate. Kee considered what he’d typed, and then hit send before he second guessed himself. It was true though. Kee had met a lot of different shifter types over the years, and none of them had made him scream. Whimper, maybe, and sometimes he might be inclined to groan with a shifter or two, but that was for a whole different reason and not one he’d share with a new mate.
It’s happened before. Kee could see the bubbles showing Dian was still typing. I want so bad to…
What? What? Kee ground his teeth in frustration, but the bubbles stopped. He thought he heard a rustle behind him and spun around but there was no one there.
I don’t understand, Kee typed when it was clear Dian wasn’t going to elaborate on what he wanted to do. In most cases our human sides meet, and we do a meet and greet with our other halves later – sometimes not until after the claim is made. Is that different for you? Aren’t we allowed to talk as humans without your other half meeting me first? Do I have to pass some sort of sniff test or something first?
There was a delay before the bubbles started. Kee looked up from the screen and saw he’d gone past his apartment. There were only two units in the block, and the one at the front was empty, but Kee was glad to have his one set off the road. Not that there was a lot of traffic. The reply came in as he got to the front door.
My kind are very old, Kee read as he put the key in his door lock. For over half of our existence, we would rarely shift into our human forms and just hid from humans and other paranormals. Kee thought that was sad. Pushing open his door, he flicked on the light, closing the door behind him and walking the few steps necessary to his couch. Flopping onto it, he continued to read.
When we were known about, no one would ever compliment our shifted forms. Understandable, but hurtful all the same. You have the power to hurt me.
Wow. Kee put his hand to his mouth, his eyes filling. Who did that? Who opened themselves up so readily by text? My mate, that’s who. I must be so important to him already.
Thinking quickly, Kee typed, are we able to talk, at least? Can you call me?
The phone rang almost immediately, causing Kee to fumble with it, the sound was so loud