Page 8 of Shifter Marked and Claimed

Mate!my wolf cried out in the back of my head.

“No!” I screamed, grabbing up my daughter and running from the building.

It wasn’t until I reached the car that I realized my keys were sitting on top of the paperwork back in the clinic.

For a solid minute I contemplated walking home, packing, and leaving.

This couldn’t be happening. I couldn’t have a mate. I didn’t want a mate. There was so much broken inside of me that I could never take a mate. It wouldn’t be right.

And then there was Vada. How could I expect any man to accept her when my own family couldn’t?

I was freaking out so badly that I didn’t notice when he walked outside carrying my keys.

“You, uh, forgot these,” he said.

I stared down at the keys feeling as if there was a great chasm stretched out between us. I could see the uncertainty in his eyes, too.

As I took them, he didn’t look my way. Instead, he crouched down to Vada’s height and held out his hand.

“Hi, I’m Micah, or Doc if you prefer. You must be Vada. Vanessa called and said I should expect you to stop by.”

Vada giggled and then shook his hand.

“I understand you are such a big girl that you’re ready for big girl school.”

She grinned and nodded.

“I am. I big girl.”

“Yes, you are.”

He sat down on the ground in front of her and pulled out a stethoscope.

“Do you know what this is?”

She nodded her head as her eyes lit with excitement.

“You are a big girl. Can I listen to your heart with it?”

“Yes, pease.”

He placed it on her heart and listened then checked all her vitals being careful to explain each thing he was doing first. By the end of the very odd visit, he had Vada laughing and then sang the ABCs with her as he filled out her paperwork.

Finally, he stood and faced me.

“She’s perfect,” he said handing me the paper.

Vada surprised me and held her arms up asking him to pick her up. He did so without hesitation.

“Miss Vada, you’re going to do great in school. Tell your mommy that she has absolutely nothing to worry about.”

He passed my child back to me. His hands brushed against my skin in the process and it felt like I’d just touched a powerline.

Mine!my wolf growled in my head.

I was trying hard not to hyperventilate. Why was this happening now?

After talking to Kelsey, I had hope that just maybe Vada and I would be safe here, happy even. I knew it was too much to ask to be fully accepted, but I wanted to be functional within this Pack at the very least.

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