Page 14 of The Griffin, the Tiger, and Their House Cat Omega

“That’s most gracious.” I leaned against the wall. “I was afraid I’d blown the deal, and that would be unfair to my employer.”

“Zevo understood. He said not to put another thought into it, just get to the club.”

“He didn’t say why though?”

“Still no.” The doors opened again, and River waved me out first this time. “I guess we’ll figure…” He stopped speaking and less than a second later I knew why. “Do you scent that?”

My heart rate sped up, thudding at the rate of a very different kind of shifter. “I’ve never experienced anything like it. What…”

Seemed like we were both at the same loss for words. My original thought about it was a shame this man was not my mate was rocketing out with the recognition of something more. With no discussion, we set out to find the source of the exotic scent. It reminded me of a type of incense one of my cousins in the Clowder used to burn when we were kits. I always liked it, but my dads didn’t want “smelly stuff” in the house, so I only enjoyed it when I visited.

The club was huge, something I had not realized earlier because we’d taken the employee route through those hallways. But the kitchen should have offered a hint to size. There were a lot of people working in there for a nightclub, even one that offered more food than usual.

And crowded. The line outside must have been feeding people in since I got here at a pretty steady rate. And they were all having a great time, judging from the noise level. I would have anticipated being extremely uncomfortable surrounded byso many shifter—and many were indeed shifted. There was a mountain lion stretched out along the leather bench seat of a booth and a bear on the dance floor, for example. But when I took my emotional temperature, I found that same feeling of safety that had enveloped me the moment I stepped inside.

I didn’t understand it completely, but I was willing to enjoy it. We made a loop of the outside of the room, the scent of exotic spices growing stronger showing us we were going in the correct direction.

And then, there he was. Near the front of the building, and he had his nose up, sniffing the air.

“He’s ours,” I breathed. “Do you feel it?”

But River was already approaching the male, and when he reached his side, and then when I did, some kind of fusion took place. I looked around, expecting everyone to be staring at us, but nobody even seemed to notice. How could they not see this extraordinary moment taking place.

“I’m Allen,” said our mate. “I scented you both the moment I arrived.”

“We have been following your scent as well,” River said. “We need to find somewhere to talk.”

We found a booth as far from the dance floor and bandstand as possible so we could hear one another, and sitting between them, with their thighs pressed to mine, I was suddenly terrified. These were my mates. And they were getting to know one another as if this sort of thing happened to them every day, but anxiety coiled within me, trying to undo the safe feeling. They were so grand and so handsome and so strong, their alpha energy intense. And I was not good enough for them.

“Matthew? Are you all right? We were just talking about letting our animals meet.” River laid a hand on my arm. “You must have something to say.”

“I do,” I blurted. “I think you have the wrong guy.” My fight-or-flight instinct had me ready to climb under the table to get away before the two most beautiful men I’d ever met, two who seemed ready to accept me as their mate, realized what a huge mistake they’d made. I was not worthy of them. “I need to go.”

They both stared at me for just long enough for me to realize they thought I had lost it but then River smiled and patted my arm. “Don’t go. Please give us a chance. At least shift together before you decide we aren’t your cup of tea.”

Chapter Ten

Allen

After River made sure his niece was taken care of, he led us outside to a beautiful patio area.

I was still reeling, and so was my beast. It all felt like a dream. Were River and Matthew truly my fated mates? Instinct uncurled deep inside me, a deep knowledge that the truth stood before me solid and unwavering. The three of us were meant to be. I still had so much to learn about both of them, yet I was infused with the feeling that I’d known them all my life.

Shift with mates. Now.

I didn’t blame my beast for his demand, but the idea of it was so alien to me my body shook.

Beautiful River, the tiger shifter, came up close to me and said, “Are you all right, Allen?”

The lovely shy house cat, Matthew, gave me an empathetic look. As a house cat shifter he suffered from some of the same issues I did.

“I’ve never shifted outside my pack before,” I said.

“I don’t know why you’re keeping your beast a secret from us. His scent is beautiful, but I can’t quite place it.” Matthew put a gentle hand on my shoulder. “We promise you’re safe here with us.”

“I’m not trying to keep it a secret from you. It’s a secret from the whole world.”

“What is it?” Matthew asked. “I’m dying to see.”

---