Page 44 of Siren in the Rain

“I know it’s only been a week, but it seems like Shae’s first few appointments with the therapist have gone well,” Emma offers.

I nod. “Seems like it. He doesn’t really talk to me or anyone about their sessions, but I get the sense that the tangled mess of emotions inside of him is starting to unravel, in a good way. It’s just a vibe I get, you know? Like, from his aura or something.”

I tend to have keen instincts that way.

Emma chuckles to herself. “Seriously, Griffin, you’re such a California surfer dude sometimes.”

I grin at her. “Like you should talk, surfer chick!”

She and I have been going surfing together lately. I’ve given her one of my old boards for the time being since she hasn’t been able to return to her apartment. We’re all too worried that the place is being watched by the folks out looking for Shae. Eventually, we’ll be able to get her clothing and stuff and move it here or put it in storage, but we’re opting to stay safe for now.

“Well, Shae totally has a thing for the cute himbos,” Emma says. “I say, use that to your advantage when you try to woo him.”

I have noticed Shae’s eyes lingering on my body at times, especially when I bare all during our swims together. Perhaps I need to find more opportunities to get naked in the house in front of him as well? Hmm….

“Shae seems to be cool with you touching him,” Ruby says. “He’s nowhere near as comfortable with any of the rest of us. Your special empathic abilities are a major advantage in your favor when it comes to him.”

I smile like a besotted fool, which I totally am and a-okay with it. “He’s adorable, isn’t he? Every night he lets me sleep with him and cuddle him.”

It leaves me with boners of steel every freaking morning, but it’s well worth the pain and suffering.

Emma chokes on air. “Sh-Shae lets you… cuddle him?”

I nod enthusiastically, my tail thwapping against the side of the stool. “It started because he had some nightmares when he first arrived. Haku couldn’t wake him up, so he came and got me to try and help. We quickly discovered that my presence—and my super awesome SCSS—lets him relax and get a good night’s sleep.” I puff out my chest in pride. “I’m thrilled to know I can do this for my mate.”

Ruby’s eyes twinkle with mischief. “Are sleep and cuddling all that’s going on when you share his bed?”

My cheeks warm. “While I would love for more, obviously, I’ve promised to keep things platonic.”

There’s no way I’d ever take advantage of Shae or anyone else. I’m all about mutual consent.

I dart my hand out and steal a green jelly bean before Ruby can swat me. Popping it in my mouth, I grin. “Anyway, I get to spend quality time with my mate while we sleep, and we go swimming together every day. It’s pretty awesome, all things considered.”

Even if my hand is getting a serious daily workout from jacking off multiple times a day.

Ruby rummages around in the bowl of dwindling jelly beans and pops a blue one in her mouth. “I’m sure time in the water is helping him a lot. Sirens are natural ocean dwellers.” She shakes her head, anger blazing in her eyes. “I can’t believe his family kept him away from the ocean for fifteen fucking years. It’s amazing that he’s still alive and sane.”

I can’t stop the growl that rumbles up the back of my throat. My fists clench on the bench. “I almost want those assholes to come after Shae just so I have an excuse to rip them to shreds.”

Ruby’s eyes widen. “Whoa! I’ve never seen you get wolfed out like this before.”

I blink at her. “What do you mean?”

“Griff, your eyes turned gold.” She points at me. “And look at your hands.”

I stare in total disbelief at the claws I’ve sprouted. “Holy shit.”

Ruby clutches her hands to her ample chest. “Griff! You finally got your claws.”

I turn my hands over, marveling at the sight. Wolfkin aren’t shifters in the traditional sense, although we are distantly related to werewolves. We maintain our human form but possess some wolf-like characteristics, like our ears and tails. But most of our kind also sprout claws and have our fangs lengthen when in danger. They’re an enhanced form of protection. As a Bearkin, Dallas can also activate deadly claws on his hands and feet. I’ve never been able to.

Until now.

As my anger recedes, the claws do as well.

“I can’t believe it,” I whisper.

Being unable to activate my claws was one of the many reasons I’d been an outcast in my old Wolfkin pack. I’m just not dangerous and calculating enough for the ones who prioritize political and economic power, nor am I remotely aggro enough for the meatheads in the community.

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