Page 51 of The Buck Stops Hare

“I take it that Deborah was involved in the attack?” I sat up straighter, brows furrowed.

“Indirectly. She ran off, blabbering about, and gave enough info to pierce the heart of your land. I trust you’ve hidden your heart well now?”

“And in multiple places. With Cliff at my side, it’s easier to disperse my power to anchor it.” I offered a half grin that I couldn’t muster the heart behind for the anger I held. For me, for my mate, and for River most of all. As much as I disliked River superficially, he’d saved me, and had always been there and respectful, if annoying and dangerous.

“Someone won’t be getting grandmother time—” I caught myself muttering, catching Dani’s curious gaze.

“Oh Jesus. You two got one on the way?” Dani blanched, and I cringed.

“Not sure. Cliff doesn’t know, and I don’t want to scare him until I know for certain.” I huffed and she stared at me with a steely glint in her eye.

“I’ll figure it out. I got this tea I make for the local raccoon gaze women and omegas. If he’s in the family way, it should taste nice.” She threaded her fingers together and leaned back.

“And if he isn’t?”

“Taste like hot ass.” She nodded once and I recalled Rayne having something similar.

“Do it.”

She smirked and stretched, making her way inside to the kitchen. When Cliff got home soon, I’d know and… I didn’t know what. I loved him so much, but I didn’t want to make him unhappy.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Cliff

Walking around campus was an interesting experience, since I’d come into my powers. I noticed things I’d not before, like the odd shifter here and there. I could see it in their shadows, in the lines of their spirit. And the odd looks I got every now and again made sense.

I finished my test with relative ease, and I was reasonably confident in my A in the class.

“Cliff, my dude! Where have you been?” One of my fraternity brothers waved me down as he jogged up, eyeing me up and down. The scent of canine wafted off him, or maybe fox. His shadowed form hiding in his spirit gave me a clue.

“Moved down to live with my brother and his new family.” I laughed and waited for Ransom to catch up with me.

“Ohhhh. Demi. Omega?” His tone dropped low as he eyed me up and down. “And mated. Oooh.”

He wagged an eyebrow at me, and I tensed, waiting for a negative comment. “I can’t tell what you are though. Deer? Goat? I smell a lot on you. Mixed pack?”

I shrugged. “I don’t… It’s complicated.”

“Not manifested? No, you smell manifested. C’mon. Something weird?” His half grin twisted when he bumped my shoulder. “We all know you been living with that old witch up yonder. Did you know you was a demi?”

I rolled my eyes. “Not sure what I was. All three of my siblings are the same thing. Sorta.”

He followed me out of the building, yammering about other shifters on campus having a get-together after finals, offering to get me mega-drunk.

“I’m omega. Not going out drinking anywhere other shifters are.” I gave him a sidelong glance.

“Bad experience with an alpha?” His breath shuddered as if he were sniffing me.

“Yeah.” I hefted my backpack and attempted to walk away from him, that alpha scent annoying me. He followed still, though. I knew Ransom fairly well before all this, but I didn’t have much trust left for other shifters after the boars. At any rate, if I could get to Mrs. Pemberlin’s car in the back parking lot before he grabbed me, I could whip out the god powers and get away if he tried something.

He hesitated and fell a step back. “That why you’ve not come back to class and missed all the chapter meetings? Left your job?”

“Yeah. So, yeah… I’m like… See ya, man. I guess. Done with classes and all. Not going to graduation.” I waved him off since it seemed he was going to take a hint, but he kept following. Though, his posture eased, and he kept the distance between us.

“Sorry. I—I knew you were something, but we’re not allowed to say nothing unless you show the signs. I got an inkling you might know, why you moved out of the frat house.” He paced behind and I set my sight on the back parking lot. “But can’t you tell me at least what you are?”

As I rounded the corner, out of sight of others, I turned on my heel and glared at him. “I said that it’s complicated.”

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