The night passed in what seemed like minutes. We finished our meals, and I felt awful having delicious homemade carrot cake in front of her when all she could muster for dessert was a pint of ice cream.

Once she was here, she could have anything she wanted for dessert or any meal for that matter.

Audrey let out a yawn. “Sorry, guys. It’s been a day. I might need to go to bed.”

Shit. I didn’t want this night or this call to end.

“Audrey,” Idris started, and balled his fists. I’d never seen him like this. “Would you like to come here and stay with us? Give this a real shot?”

Audrey bit down on her bottom lip. “Do you guys mind if I take some time to think about it? This has been great but I need to think, and I can’t do that with you three in front of me, or like this.”

Lachlan leaned toward the phone. “Of course. Take all the time you need. If you want to call us or text or anything, we’re always here.”

“Thanks. Thank you for the date, too. It was really nice. Good night.”

Before we could tell her the same, she ended the video. My heart sank, knowing there was a chance she would say no.

She was afraid of humans, but I was afraid we were about to have our hearts broken by a beautiful domestic cat shifter.

Chapter Fifteen

Audrey

My human mind and my cat instincts were at war, all night, in fact. I tried to sleep but gave up right after dawn.

She had become angry with me, and my animal and I were not often at odds. She had become demanding since the video chat the night before. Sending images to me both tame and not of the three men who had captured her heart.

According to her, I should be packing for a move to them instead of a trip to the climbing gym. I had to burn off some of this extraneous energy so I could think straight. My cat needed to calm the hell down.

Charlotte decided to join me, mostly because she wanted to hear all about my match.

I smelled my friend before I saw her. Wolves always scented of power and danger. She would never hurt me, but my baser instincts were always there, in the back of my head.

“Ready?” I pulled on my shoes.

She sat next to me and did the same. “How did the video chat go?”

I sighed. “I’m fine. Thank you. How are you?”

She laughed, shaking her head. “Give me the details while we’re climbing.”

We took the less intense course because she wasn’t as practiced as I was and wanted to talk more than climb.

“They are amazing,” I admitted once we got into a groove.

“Were they your first match?” she asked.

“No. Not even the first five. I think seventh or eighth. I don’t know.”

Charlotte grumbled, trying to find her next hold. “Doesn’t matter. Tell me about them. More than one? Tell me everything.”

I explained that there were three males. I called them males because I was saving the detail of them being human for last, not knowing how she would react.

“And they are vets? All three?”

We finished one course and took a break. “Idris and Lachlan are vets and Hale is a vet tech.”

“Hale is the sweet talker who can cook.”