Page 6 of The Griffin, the Tiger, and Their House Cat Omega

Yet another said:All my friends have said, and I agree, if you go to Animals with an open heart and mind you may find whatever it is you’re looking for. I don’t want to jinx it, but let me just say that wishes can come true.

I took a sip of my cold orange juice and stared at the screen.

“Well, Fate, that sounds promising, doesn’t it? Now’s your chance to let me know. Because after this vacation, I’m back in the shadows again. Out of the loop. Left with no possibilities but the omegas in my pack all of whom, as you well know, are not my true mates.”

I lifted my finger to click on the link to Animals itself to see what their web page had to offer.

As I did so, a shiver went down my spine. I got a strange flash in my mind that I had dreamed doing this at some point in my life, or maybe I’d done it before. Like déjå vu.

But this was the first time I’d ever heard of Animals, let alone clicked on their web page.

The feeling passed, leaving me with even more determination that this was the right path. I was going to go on vacation and find one of these Animals nightclubs and feel the magic for myself.

I focused on beautiful photographs of locations, two had beauty that called to me. One in Arizona. And one in California. There were photographs, descriptions, menus. Already, I felt at home. I mean, I knew it was just a nightclub, but for some reason I could see beyond that and feel that it was more. Especially concerning the one in San Diego.

In San Diego, the nightclub sat between the edge of a forest, which they owned, and an overlook that showed the entire beautiful San Diego skyline and the ocean in the distance. The forest was private, and a place where anyone could shift and not be bothered.

Envy prickled my skin. I wanted to be like other shifters who felt free to shift while others they did not know were around. Well, I wouldn’t be doing any shifting on my vacation. That was out of the question. But I could go there and watch the others and absorb their freedom. Yes, that would be fun. I might not shift, but that didn’t preclude me from having a good time.

That decided it. San Diego would be my destination.

I went to a non-shifter site to scope out hotels and flight information. Even though I flew in beast form, I never liked flying on planes. But for this trip, I’d make sure I added a little vodka to my orange juice and then I’d be good to go.

When I had my trip fully booked, I leaned back on my favorite fluffy rug and stared upward into the room.

“All right, Fate. It’s done. I’ve booked the trip. It’s in your hands now. Last chance. Hint: the place is called Animals. People say Magic hangs out there. Aren’t you friends with him/her? With Magic? Didn’t you guys have a thing one or two times?”

I turned my head and looked directly into the copper flames in the fireplace. “Okay, here it is. Straight and to the point. It’s official. I’m available. And I’m looking for my fated mate.”

I had made my wish. Only Fate knew if it was the simplest request or the most complicated.

I felt like I wasn’t finished, that I needed to say more. “I like being alone. I’m okay with that. But there’s a difference between being alone and being lonely. I’m lonely. I have a big heart and a lot of love inside me to give to the right person. My father taught me never to beg. ‘Go out and earn it yourself,’ he always says. But this? This is hard. I’ll be going to Animals in just a few days to see for myself what it’s all about. If you can help me out, Fate, I’d be forever grateful.”

For a moment, I felt kind of foolish talking to invisible powers that be. But then I told myself it felt just right. Like all of this needed to be said if not for the universe, then for my own mental well-being.

Dad drove me to the airport, chattering away about what a good time I would have. He’d never been to San Diego himself, but he’d heard all good things. He was happy for me, glad I was going for my well-deserved rest.

“Are you okay for the flight?” he asked.

“Yep.”

“I know you hate planes.”

“I had some vodka. And I’ll order at least one more before my flight leaves.”

“That ought to help you out just right.”

We both laughed.

“You call me if you need anything. Or even just to talk. I know you wanted to take this trip alone, but you’re also leaving your lonely old dad home alone. You know that, right?”

“Dad, stop with the guilt trips. And yes, I will call you.”

“Just saying. I’m here for you.”

“Yes, Dad. I’ll call you every night and give you every detail of my day.”

“That a boy. I sure raised you right.”

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