Page 65 of Out of Peril

“It's okay, Lindsey. I promise you it's okay.”

I nodded and took a deep breath.

I wasn't good at trusting people, but I needed to trust him. If I couldn't trust my one true mate, who in this world could I trust? It was a big, scary, lonely world as it was. Maybe it was time I took a chance.

“I'll be right here the whole time,” he encouraged.

I took a deep breath and then quickly stripped out of my clothes and shifted before I could change my mind.

Even in my beastly form, I knew I was weak and vulnerable. She didn't try to take control, fly off, or freak out. If anything, she was submissive. It was the oddest feeling.

Walker stayed true to his word and kept watch over us as I walked over and curled up under his deck. Just the act of shifting had already worn me out.

“Go to sleep if you need to, but stay in your fur and feathers until you feel a little better. It may take a few shifts, or you might have to stay that way for a while, though I really hope not, because I have missed the hell out of you.”

My beast quirked it's head to the side, studying him before chuffing in approval and laying its head back down to rest.

I didn't want to sleep anymore.

If he was telling the truth, I'd been asleep long enough. More so, I'd missed out on so much.

But exhaustion pulled me back under anyway.

Walker

Chapter 18

Shelby called on the way home from the school. Since she was a teacher there, it just made sense that she pick Maya and Dante up and bring them home so I didn't have to leave Lindsey. It had been a blessing the last two days since they'd started there, but even more so today. There was absolutely no way I was going to leave my mate when she was at her most vulnerable.

I knew she was safe here. No one would bother her, but she didn't understand that. I prayed she would in time, but for now, all I could do is stay nearby and reassure her.

Michael had granted me an indefinite leave of absence and Kyle and Patrick had both approved it.

It didn’t dawn on me to call and tell Shelby that Lindsey had woken up today. So when my best friend arrived with all five kids in tow, she came to a screeching halt when she found me in the backyard.

Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open when she saw Lindsey in her beastly form for the first time.

“Hey. How was school today?”

“Walker? Where's Lindsey?” Dante asked as he stood on the deck looking down at me.

Before I could say a word, Maya started to cry, which meant Mary Alice, who was standing next to her, started to cry. That made Zachary and Nathan angry as they tried to protect their sister.

“Relax and get down here. Lindsey is fine. She woke up today.”

Maya's tears instantly stopped. “Really?”

“Yes. You can come down and see her, but be quiet because she's taking a nap. She’s just really tired. Grant said that by shifting she would heal faster.”

The kids all ran down the stairs to see.

The triplets stared at her in amazement.

“Cool,” Nathan said in awe.

Maya and Dante didn't stop. They ran right to her and climbed up to hug her, startling Lindsey awake.

“It's okay, babe. The kids are home.”

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