Page 16 of The Griffin, the Tiger, and Their House Cat Omega

“A griffin,” Matthew said.

“How beautiful,” River said. “Your secret is safe with us.”

I furled my wings on my lion’s back and lowered my head until my beak was just above them. River reached up and petted me right over my nostrils. He smelled divine.

Soon, Matthew’s cat form appeared at my feet. River’s tiger transformed alongside him.

Together, the three of us walked into the woods. I had to duck many times, but the woodland accommodated my size quite well. The more we walked, the more comfortable I felt.

The tiger ran ahead. The cat followed, tail standing high in the air.

Our animals became playful. I sat on my haunches and let them sniff me all over. Matthew jumped onto my shoulders and began to nuzzle and purr.

River curled his tiger form up against my forelegs and looked like he was going to take a nap.

Our animals bonded quickly. The sensation was electric. In less than an hour, they had made themselves into a family. Their own fated mate pack. Their minds locked with my human mind and I felt the presence of all of us. Six beings in six bodies. All forming one gestalt of truth and love and forever.

We had only just met but I felt like we were already married.

When we got back to the benches and our clothes, there were other people out for shifter exercise. None of them saw my griffin form, which was a relief. They all had their own friends and agendas and paid no attention to us.

“That was so awesome.” River sat and started putting on his pants.

I shimmied into my own pants, zipping up. “Thank you for being so patient with me.”

“You’re magnificent.” Matthew shrugged into his pullover.

“So are you.” I reached out and touched his face with the back of my hand.

He grinned and leaned into the touch.

“So now that you both have seen me,” I said, “you will go peacefully to your deaths, right?”

“What?” They both looked up.

I grinned. “Just kidding. It’s me who would be killed for revealing my true form to another outside the pack. But as I said before, the exception is for fated mates.”

“Right.” River pretended to wipe sweat from his brow.

“Yeah. We only just met you, and I haven’t even gotten to do everything I want to you,” Matthew said.

“Well,” I replied. “I do want everything.”

Chapter Eleven

River

I wanted to do everything, too, but in the back of my mind, there was always someone else here—Flora. I’d sort of sprung theZevo is watching youthing on her. She didn’t seem to mind, and it wasn’t like he was a stranger, but also, she started her new school in the morning. Being there for her was my first priority.

Even if I just found my two mates.

Even if my tiger was clamoring to mark them.

Even if all I wanted to do was to be enveloped by their scents and bodies.

She was asleep, and it just didn’t seem right to keep Zevo there longer than necessary.

Nights had been the worst for her since the beginning. They were when she woke up—not as often anymore, but this was someplace new. If she woke up, she deserved to have me there for her. And Zevo didn’t sign on to the sobs and trembling she woke with, thankfully with less frequency.

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