Page 34 of Mated to the Pride

“But they’re not real.”

Stone rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb, drawing a gentle circle around her knuckle. “To most of the world, yeah. We know how it sounds.”

“You’re teasing me.”

She didn’t sound convinced. Clearly, this was already a lot for her to work with. To save her the mental gymnastics of trying to decide whether this reallywasan elaborate joke on her, I shuffled forward in the chair.

“Would it help to get this part out of the way if I showed you?”

Jess nodded, eyes wide. The corner of her mouth turned up in a sweet smile — half challenge, half apology.

“Alright,” I said. “Let’s see.”

I rolled my shoulders back, already feeling the lion in me unfurl. Knowing that I was about to shift was always a thrill, even after 27 years; it was a formative but secret part of me. I had to be careful of guarding the secret, and hiding away a part of yourself didn’t come naturally to anybody. It warmed me to know that Jess was finally about to see all of me — not just the human-filtered side I had been forced to limit her to.

As I slipped forward into my paws, I heard an audible gasp from Jess. When I lifted my head, great mane flopping around my face, I saw the awe on her face. To my relief, it definitely outweighed the fear.

“I…”

The others gave her a little space as she shrank to the floor to reach out for me, one shuddering hand slowly closing the gap between her fingertips and the top of my head. Just before she reached me, I bumped my head up playfully to touch her first. She jumped, but gave a breathless laugh a second later.

“So it is you in there, huh?”

“Nothing ever changes with that one,” Stone agreed. She looked between us, peering into my dark lion’s eyes, and Stone’s human pair.

“I don’t want to be a jerk,” she said, voice still sounding a little shaky, “but this isreallyweird.”

I laughed, a rippling roar-purr that transformed into a sound she’d find much more recognizable as I shifted back. “Yeah, I guess it must be.”

“And there you are again.”

Her eyes met mine, alight with what looked like attraction. I imagined her hands on me, and watched both her smile and her blush spread.

“So it’s real,” she accepted, sitting back in the chair again. “And you’re a… a pack?”

“A pride,” said Preston. “But yes.”

“It finally makes sense.” Her head fell back against the couch cushion as she processed the news, though her body language was a lot more relaxed now. She seemed to be safe and secure, surrounded by all four of us. It seemed like a natural place for her to be. “And you’re really not mad about…?”

“We don’t get jealous about this stuff,” said Stone. “Not under, uh. Certain specific circumstances.”

She blinked, shaking her head. “What do you mean?”

We all turned to Blake, even Jess was able to sense the potency of his authority in this moment. When he looked at her, his eyes warmed and creased at the corners — a rare visible sign of happiness in his serious, ageless face.

“We think you’re something special to us, Jessica. We think you’re our One Mate.”

Jess’ brow furrowed in confusion, lips pursed into a tight line. I cleared my throat and answered the unspoken question. After all, this was all very new to her; she shouldn’t have to ask.

“It means you’re the fated partner for all four of us,” I explained. “Mate to the whole pride.” I traced my fingertips across her upper arm, and down over the curve of her elbow. It felt like a new level of intimacy, somehow more than the private moments we’d already shared together. She felt vulnerable and light, her skin was satin-soft. Still, the enormity of the announcement had shaken her. For a few moments, she just blinked down at her hands, thinking — then looked up, voice low.

“So. This shifter thing. It’s genetic…?”

Blake nodded, but for some reason this was a tipping point for her. She closed her eyes, head falling back against the couch again. It seemed involuntary; she had gone limp.

“Jess?” Stone said, squeezing her hand. “Are you okay?”

“Lion baby,” she said. “I’m having a lion baby.”

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