Page 19 of Cleo

“Um…” My cheeks heated. “I have plans later, but I’m good until late afternoon.”

They paused at a set of double glass doors. Minx took my arm. “Here we are.” The doors parted to disappear into the walls at either side, and we entered. “It’s right in the center of the first floor, this way.

We passed through a small lobby with an information desk then a narrowed area with elevator doors on both sides. I gave a little shiver, grateful I wouldn’t have to use it since the coffeehouse was on the ground floor. When we emerged from the elevator area, I saw why my sisters chose this place for our coffee date. “What is this?” We were entering what looked like a garden with sunlight somehow beaming down from above. Exotic flowers and trees surrounded a small pond where gold and silver fish splashed. Between the flower beds were pathways and circular spaces paved with broad, flat stones. Tables and chairs were almost hidden by all the foliage. I thought the soft jazz was a recording until I saw the trio of musicians providing the sweet strains.

“Like it?” Ava elbowed me and regained my attention. “Cleo?”

“This is a place to drink coffee?” I’d never seen anywhere so beautiful.

“They also have pastries.” Minx pointed out an empty table, and we all made our way there and sat down. A server arrived within seconds, and I let my sisters order for me because the menu of fancy coffee drinks was bewildering.

“Okay, so what are your plans this afternoon, Cleo?” Kiki cocked her head inquiringly. “Extra homework?”

“She probably wants to go to the library again,” Minx suggested.

“I don’t think that’s it.” Ava stopped while the server returned with our drinks and a plate of tiny pastries filled with cream and topped with drizzles of chocolate. My mouth watered.

When the server left, Minx asked, “What is your theory, Ava?”

“I’m right here, ladies,” I protested. “You could just let me answer.”

“Don’t you wonder what Ava is thinking?” Minx could be a terrible tease.

“No, let Cleo tell us, and I’ll let you know if she’s right.” Ava picked up a pastry and took a bite, sighing. “These are sinful.”

I’d had enough, and I really didn’t mind them knowing. “I am going to some wilderness park with Pax and the others.”

They all burst into laughter. “That was exactly what I thought,” Ava said. “Well, not where you were going but with whom.”

“We all really guessed the same. So, the wilderness park? That’s a good choice. There aren’t a lot of places to really let your wolf stretch out around here.”

They teased a little more but as we enjoyed our cinnamon cappuccinos and mocha lattes, they told me how glad they were that I was spending time with the nicest guys in the school besides their mates.

Chapter Nineteen

Saturday afternoon, I braided my hair back out of the way, not because it affected shifting, but it just felt more like what a person would wear to go hiking. I donned a whole new outfit of jeans, tight white tee, and sneakers, grateful once again for my sisters who made sure I had clothes to help me fit in here. They had asked me what I was wearing tonight and had approved my choice, so that gave me more confidence.

It was a little harder to think about the fact that I’d have to take all those clothes off in order to shift to my wolf. Also, I had a little glitch in my shifting that hadn’t happened since I was going through puberty when I’d also had a lot of anxiety about my changing body. But that was a long time ago, so I shouldn’t have to worry.

I heard them coming down the hall and didn’t wait for them to knock. Jude and Miles wore running shorts and hoodies, and were full of cheerful banter on the way to the elevator. They had me laughing so hard, I forgot to be worried about the confining box we rode in or anything else. This time, Pax was driving his own car, so we all piled in and off we went. The city was buzzing this early in the evening, lots of people heading out to enjoy their Saturday fun. And, for the first time, I was part of it.

The park was much closer than I expected, given their description of it. Unfortunately, a chain blocked the entrance with a sign hanging on it that indicated the hours were from dawn to dusk.

“I guess we can’t go, then,” I said, disappointed but a little relieved too.

“Oh no, we got this.” Pax pulled up to the gate, and Miles hopped out of the back seat and went over to the chain. “Remember, I told you it was closed.” Miles opened the lock anddropped the chain to the ground where Pax drove over it. Then Miles replaced the chain and got back in the car. We drove into the parking lot and into a dark corner where a tree would hide us from the highway. “Just not closed to us.”

“You have a key?”

“I have the code.” Miles grinned at me and opened his door. “Let’s run, people. There’s no strict curfew on the weekends, but if we get in too late, we will have to listen to a lecture.”

Undressing went better than I thought. In the dimness, I was able to pretend they couldn’t really see me, but the intimacy of the moment still hung over me. Shifting as part of the class was reminiscent of running in the compound area with guards who were also in wolf form. My father might have every animal form at his disposal, but all his employees to the best of my knowledge were wolves. He claimed they were the most loyal shifters. Which brought Angie to mind, and I sent a wish into the night sky that she was safe. We had agreed not to contact one another for at least a year for safety reasons, so I had no way to know how she was doing.

I tossed my clothes onto the front seat of the car and shifted into my wolf, joining the other three at the trailhead nearby. They were larger than me, as was common among wolf shifters, but as we began to run, I was easily able to keep up with them. Or maybe they were being considerate. My wolf was thrilled to be out with them and showed off a little, bouncing ahead and twitching her tail as she bounded over a log or scrambled up a pile of boulders. I’d never experienced her behaving like this, but it was fun because I felt exactly the same way.Mates,she announced as we padded along the trail.Ours.

We don’t know that. Not yet.

Mates.

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