Page 67 of Siren in the Rain

Shae’s eyes widen.

I chuckle. “Wolfkin are much more connected with human society and culture than werewolves, who tend to prefer living more off-grid. We do share some similarities, of course, since we’re distantly related as a species. For instance, we also have an alpha figure as our leader, but power struggles for the position of alpha tend to revolve around financial and political power rather than brute strength.”

Shae considers this. “Are Bearkin communities similar?”

“I’m not sure, actually. That’s something you’d need to ask Dallas about. From what I’ve seen, Bearkin tend to emphasize immediate family rather than any kind of larger community.”

Shae’s eyes widen and he grins. At the same time, we both say, “Papa Bear!” and burst into gales of laughter.

Shae wipes at his eyes. “God, that explains so much about Dallas.”

“We’re his family in every way that matters.” I look at him. “And that includes you.”

His eyes are huge. “What?”

I bite my bottom lip. “Well, he knows you’re my mate. He pretty much brought you into the fold immediately because of that. But he also genuinely likes you and is happy to have you become part of our household.”

“But—” he starts, but I hurry to cut him off.

“Look, Dallas wants a big family. Why do you think we live in that huge compound? Why do you think there’s still a bunch of empty rooms waiting to be filled?”

That brings him up sharp.

I shift gears. “So, uh, back to my family?”

Shae nods.

“I come from a rather long-established and highly regarded family in our pack. A number of relatives in my family’s bloodline have been alphas over the last century. But as the youngest of three brothers, I proved to be a massive disappointment and a failure.”

Shae gets a fierce look in his eyes to accompany his frown. “Why would you be a disappointment?”

I avert my gaze and study the wall. “Apparently, I lack ambition. My eldest brother is a premiere neurosurgeon at Cedars-Sinai. My equally talented and smart middle brother is a high-powered lawyer with a major firm in LA. They both went to super prestigious universities and bring renown to our pack, as well as a lot of money, resources, and connections.” I shrug and give a self-conscious chuckle. “In comparison, our genetic pool ran out of smarts when it came to me.”

“Did they tell you that you aren’t smart?” Shae demands, his voice a scary growl I haven’t heard before.

Embarrassed, I give a jerky nod but don’t bother to tell him some of the labels they used.

Family fuckup. Waste of space. Brainless loser.

“I was never very good at school,” I admit. “I couldn’t stay focused on my work and barely graduated high school. It wasn’t until I met Dallas that I got tested and diagnosed with ADHD, but I was happy to have at least earned my diploma. I never had any aspirations to do more schooling beyond that, but my parents were super disappointed. I guess I was a total slacker who didn’t work hard enough in their minds, even though I shed blood, sweat, and tears to pass my classes and graduate high school.”

I’m shocked when Shae strokes my cheek. “You should be proud of that accomplishment. I wasn’t allowed to go to school after… Margaret came into my life. She and my dad registered me as being homeschooled. They hired tutors for me and I was able to earn my high school diploma, but after that…”

He trails off, his free hand automatically going to his neck where the collar used to be. My heart squeezes in my chest at the sight.

Shae clears his throat. “So, what happened after you graduated from high school?”

“I didn’t apply for college. It wasn’t for me. Instead, I ended up looking into a bunch of trade school programs and ultimately studied to become a massage therapist.” I smile in recollection. “It took me a year longer than most people, but I was so damn proud of myself when I earned my license.”

“I’m kind of surprised you didn’t become a surfing instructor,” Shae jokes.

I laugh. “That would have been awesome, but I’m nowhere near good enough for that. I love to surf, but I’m not even close to being a pro. Surfing is a passion I indulge in when I have free time. Massage really appealed to me because I wanted to help people feel better in their bodies while also using my magic to deepen their overall relaxation. These days, lots of people have really stressful jobs and they need to let go of all the tension their bodies are holding.”

Shae flashes me a rare smile. “I can see that. It’s a good fit for you.”

My ears droop. “Unfortunately, I found it too difficult to get steady work as a massage therapist. None of the human-run establishments wanted to hire me on as a permanent employee. At the moment, there aren’t any clinics exclusively for Otherkind here in LA. Not enough of a population to make that sustainable, and I wasn’t interested in relocating to a more remote Sanctuary Haven. Humans were my primary pool of customers to draw from, but many refuse being treated by Otherkind massage therapists. There’s a lot of fearmongering and misunderstanding still out there. Getting a massage involves a certain amount of vulnerability. You’re mostly naked, save for a sheet, and a stranger is touching your body. There needs to be trust and respect between both parties.”

Shae scowls. “People suck.”

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