Page 29 of The Buck Stops Hare

I shrugged. “Cliff isn’t fair like most omegas though. I do hope he fits in.”

Brook shrugged. “River fits in few places, but he leaks his way in and carves a path. Perhaps Cliff will do that with him.”

Nodding as we walked, we caught Storm’s eye, and I opened my arms for baby. My grin was short-lived as Brook counteredmy reach and took Vida with a soft coo and bright smile. “Uncle Brook is here, little one. How is our goddess this evening?”

Jerk.

I avoided pouting by a small margin and glanced about, pinpointing Jacque and the pups not too far away, still learning how to hop after the hare. “You say that, but I’ll be sitting Vida tonight while their daddies sleep.”

Storm shot me a raised brow. “I think Brook and River expressed interest in sitting with Vida. You need to tend to your mate. I trust his heat went well?”

I shook my head. “We avoided anything interesting this cycle. He’s too new to rush into a family way.”

“Hey, it’s never a guarantee. River and I have tried every heat for hundreds of years and nothing.” Brook bounced Vida in his arms.

“At this point, I have to ask if you’re putting it in the right hole, brother.” I gave Brook a sneer, and he rolled his eyes.

“River is magnificent to pleasure. I assure you we do it correctly. I’d like to see either of you hold a candle to his when it comes to our passions. He is small but mighty.” Brook flashed too-white teeth and went back to bouncing Vida, who understood nothing we said but enjoyed warm arms. “But you do need to spend time with your mate. He suits you.”

I agreed, as much as I wanted to protest. Cliff and I had so much to explore with one another. And one of those things was sleep. Beyond our passion, and so many other things, I wanted to rest.

“So, are we shifting and running with the little one?” Brook continued bouncing Vida, staring her down with a half smile. “Has she discovered she can shift?”

Storm shook his head. “It’s not like shifters. She’s not even certain of her own form or nature aside from the body thatcreated her. Her form is much of what Rayne imagined our child to look like. I think she’ll need to realize she’s able to.”

Vida, as if realizing she was being spoken about, squeaked and grunted in Brook’s arms before opening a jaundiced eye to glance about, the dark-steely baby blue of them well on their way to Storm’s dark brown.

Storm smiled and took Vida from Brook, gesturing for us to run. My heart needed no more reason before I took my favored form of a great mule deer buck. I’d favored white tail at one point, the elegant grace in their limbs, but mule deer felt more tuned to my elements. The stocky build wrapping me tight made the earth pulse beneath my cloven hooves with every galloping step.

Without provocation, Brook shifted aside me, his form much like his human one, not of this world entirely. Being half näcken, he took the form of another creature of the water, one hidden from the human eye.

A gray-coated stallion appeared beside me, his coat a myriad of patterns like the rivulets of a creek. It had eyes like white fire, and a mane made of a tangle of mossy algae and pond weed that swayed in the breeze as if it were still beneath the water.

Kelpie.

We pawed the earth and huffed at one another, not having a need for words before we took off running in celebration. A nicker and whinny from my left rose skyward.May your mate join us on our next run.

Maybe he would. Maybe he’d be another deer, or choose something that belied his namesake, an eagle that nested in the cliffs or a great mountain goat. Whatever form his powers chose for him would be perfect, I was certain.

At my flank, a wolf joined me, his ears high and tail wagging. We ran across the pack lands, taking in wolves as we went, the final volley of the full moon’s run as they howled atthe rising disc amid the darkness and silvery light penetrating the humming yellow sodium bulbs sparsely dotted amid the neighborhood, turning our coats shades of orange as we passed through.

As we crested a hill, I transformed myself, leaping high into the air as a great pronged buck with more points than common sense and landing as an earthen wolf, poised to howl skyward. In my voice, I thanked our mother for Cliff, praising her for our new goddess and reveling in her glory. A second, quieter, howl went out as a quiet thanks for Adamant Eve, Grim Dawn’s aspect, and the happiness that she might bring to another of my brothers.

The only thing I looked forward to beyond spending more time with my mate was the offering of a meal to come, a true communion with the gods.

Chapter Fourteen

Cliff

I found River to be far less of a pain than everyone had told me, much like they’d cited their fear of Grim. Storm and Buck had long-formed opinions that maybe I’d not had the privilege of time to learn how big of a pain they could be.

River wrapped his arms around my waist and spoke a mile a minute, welcoming me into the fold.

“And don’t take this the wrong way, but I justknowthat you’re going to be more fun than Rayne.” River’s tinkle of laughter like water over stones drew me in with a chuckle of my own.

“I don’t know about this. Rayne’s always more social than…” I started but frowned. Rayne had a bright and familiar personality, but I never saw him party or go out. In fact, I did that far more than he did. I bartended and was a member of a frat. Well, by name I was a member. I never really participated in much. It was an opportunity to develop my career later in life. All of which meant precisely nothing when I became aware of my superpowers? Gifts? I wasn’t sure how I’d develop, but River assured me that I’d hold gifts like Buck and his earthen namesake. But, since I was an environmental science major, focusing on reforestation and land reclamation, my skills were right at home with my powers to come.

“Rayne’s a wet blanket. He never throws any parties or drinks.” River pouted but Brook rested a hand on his shoulder.

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