Page 84 of Not Your Ordinary Shifter

As Jade drags Zora away, chatting a mile a minute, I feel a presence behind me. The air shifts, carrying the scent of deep-sea currents.

“She seems lovely, son.”

I turn to see my dad, looking as imposing as ever in his human form. His eyes, the same deep blue as mine.

“She is,” I say simply, my chest swelling with pride.

Dad claps me on the shoulder, his grip firm. “Your mother can’t wait to meet her. And your grandmother…” he trails off, a mischievous glint in his eye.

I groan, the sound rumbling deep in my chest. “Please tell me Gran will behave.”

Dad just laughs, the sound booming across the driveway. “Now, where would be the fun in that?”

We head inside, following the sound of Jade’s excited chatter. We find them in the living room, where my mom is fussing over Zora.

“Oh, honey, you’re too thin,” Mom says, her tentacles already reaching for a plate of cookies. “Here, eat something. Jay, why haven’t you been feeding her properly?”

I roll my eyes. “Mom, I feed her fine. Zora, tell her.”

Zora, looking a bit overwhelmed but pleased, accepts a cookie. “Mrs. Lafayette, really, Jay takes great care of me.”

“Call me Maria, baby,” Mom insists.

Then we hear her…

“Where’s this human girl who’s stolen my grandson’s heart?” My grandmother’s booming voice precedes her as she enters the room. “Bring her here so I can inspect her!”

Zora straightens in her chair, then she stands as Gran approaches. I move to come beside her, my hand on her lower back.

Gran circles Zora, her tentacles swaying thoughtfully. “Hmm. Bit scrawny, isn’t she? But good hips. Should be able to bear strong babies.”

“Gran,” I chuckle as Zora’s eyes grow wide. But then she smiles big and rests a hand on my chest. “I can’t wait.”

Gran throws her head back and laughs. “Oh, I like this one, Jay! She’s got spirit!”

Just like that, the tension breaks. Dad starts telling Zora stories of my childhood mess-ups, while Mom keeps trying to feed her. Jade is showing off her latest shell collection, and even Gran is warming up to my girl.

As I watch Zora laugh at one of Dad’s terrible jokes, her eyes bright and her smile wide, I feel a warmth spread through my chest. She fits here, with my crazy, loving family, like she was always meant to be a part of it.

Later, as we’re all sprawled in the living room, full of Mom’s cooking and Dad’s bad puns, I pull my mate close.

“See?” I murmur in her ear. “Told you they’d love you.”

She smiles up at me, her earlier nervousness gone. “They’re amazing, Jay. Thank you for sharing them with me.”

I kiss her forehead, my tentacles wrapping around her waist. “Thank you for being part of my family.”

“Ugh, get a room, you two!” Jade groans, throwing a pillow at us.

As everyone laughs, I can’t help but think: yeah, this is perfect. This is home.

Epilogue

ZORA

The sun kisses my skin, warm and lazy like Jay’s caresses after a long night of lovemaking. I’m sprawled on the deck of his yacht - our yacht now, I guess - the polished teak smooth against my back. The gentle rocking of the boat lulls me into a sleepy state.

A cool, wet touch traces up my leg, leaving a trail of goosebumps. I open an eye to see one of Jay’s tentacles playfully exploring my sun-warmed skin. Even after all this time together, the sight still sends a delicious shiver through me.

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