Page 72 of Confusing Hearts

It seemed odd to me that I was more comfortable with Chase’s brothers and Maddie than I was with Matt and Anita’s visit. My panther was restless while they were there and when they suggested going to see a movie, I quickly encouraged them to go but said I had a headache and wanted to rest instead.

“What was that all about?” Chase asked as our guests left. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Sorry. If you really want to see the movie, we can go. I don’t know I was just done. I don’t know why, but having them here was stressing me out,” I admitted. “I don’t understand why having virtual strangers here was perfectly fine. I enjoyed having your brothers and Maddie stay, but Anita and Matt just felt off. She’s my best friend, Chase, what’s wrong with me?”

“Nothing is wrong with you, princess,” he said lovingly. “Remember that smell you were asking about? You said my brothers smelled a little like me.”

I nodded.

“That’s because they’re pack, sweetheart. That smell should always bring you comfort. Being part of a pack is very different from what you’re used to, but I can already see the signs of your panther reaching out and accepting it. Over the semester you’ve gone from tolerating my fraternity brothers for an hour or two, to pulling all-nighters playing video games. It’s not quite the same there, but wolves do lean towards each other. They are my pack away from home, I guess you could say. That feeling of comfort is only magnified with our actual pack. You’ll see when we go home for spring break.”

“About that,” I hesitated. “Do you really think that’s a good idea?”

“Uh, yeah, I do. I think it’s really important for us, for you,” he said.

“I don’t know how to get out of going to Cabo with my sisters,” I admitted, biting my lip in frustration.

Chase started to speak and then hesitated. “Is that what you want? Be honest with me, because I can sense when you aren’t, you know. Would you rather spend the week in Cabo with Tessa and the other girls?”

I looked up into his beautiful brown eyes and slowly shook my head. “No, I would rather spend it with you.”

He grinned, popping out those dimples. “So, are you saying you’d rather just stay home and hang out here alone with me all week instead of going to my parents’?”

I knew he was teasing me, and it made me blush anyway. I also knew the answer was a most definite “YES!” When his grin deepened, I knew he knew it, too, without me having to make the confession.

“Okay, so how about this, a compromise. I already know our Friday classes are cancelled, again, so we’ll head out Thursday night and make the drive back to San Marco. We’ll stay through the weekend, and then play it by ear. If you want to come home early, we’ll drive back on Monday, though Mom may harass us to stay for her Tuesday night family dinner. Just leave her to me if she starts to guilt you.”

“Okay, I can do that, except that the girls aren’t leaving until Friday and it may draw even more attention my way if I leave before them.”

“Fine, we’ll leave on Friday as soon as the girls make their exit for Cabo. Deal?”

I nodded, feeling a little relieved. On the one hand I was excited to see his family again, at least those I had already met, but on the other hand I was terrified to meet his parents, especially his mother. I couldn’t imagine any mother being happy her wolf son would choose a panther for a mate.

“Don’t worry so much. They’re going to love you,” Chase said, and my eyes shot up to meet his.

“Can you hear my thoughts?” I asked. I knew it was a stage of bonding, but I didn’t think it should happen that quickly. Then again, I’d been able to feel his emotions and his location since almost the beginning and that was one of the final stages of a fully bonded pair.

“No, I can’t. I hope to someday, but that’s one of the final stages of a sealed bond,” he told me. I looked at him like he had two heads.

“No, it’s not. And we’re already exhibiting signs of a sealed bond, Chase.”

“We are? Like what?”

I hesitated. Could he really not feel it? “Um, I can feel your emotions, Chase. I can sense your presence and always know where you are. It started happening even before we met, and it totally freaked me out. That’s one of the final stages of the bond.”

Chase laughed, “Um, maybe we should go through the stages. I think maybe they are different for different animal shifters. That’s the only thing that would make sense. For a wolf, emotions and presence are among the first signs of a bond beginning.”

“Really?” I said curiously. “Panthers are more touch driven. Our first signs can be the feel of presence, too, but also the physical connection.”

“What do you mean?” he asked.

I picked up my knife and pressed the blunt end hard into the palm of my hand.

“Ow,” he said, staring down at his own hand in disbelief.

I shrugged. “I knew you were injured before I got here yesterday. It’s one of the reasons my panther was so aggressive. I could feel it. That should strengthen over time where if you get hurt it physically hurts me too, but that part takes a lot longer. The sensations begin at the start of the bond.”

“This is so cool,” he said excitedly. “It’s like our bond signs are in different orders but we’re getting hit with both at the same time. Telecommunication usually takes longer for us, but it typically happens before physical feelings.”

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