Page 218 of Secret Shifters Next Door

Eventually, Tate finished the turkey and brought it inside. As we came in, I saw Celina sitting on the recliner, holding Tate and Harley’s son, Tory. It looked so natural. The grin on her face as she looked down at the little guy made my heart leap with joy.

Harley leaned over to me. “Tory took to her immediately. Like he’d always known her.”

“Really?” I asked, not taking my eyes away from Celina.

Harley squeezed my arm. “I really like her, Miles. Everyone does.”

Watching Celina cradle the baby caused my wolf to perk up. For the first time since meeting her, I was filled with a primal urge to claim. A sense of longing and love filled me. My wolf fed the desire, and I wondered if this was what Steff and Tate had talked about. Since being banished, I knew my wolf had missed having a family and the old pack. My new family was great, and I’d found peace with my friends, but it wasn’t the same as having a pack of your own. A pack you grew up with. My wolf seemed to be desperate for that.

We all settled around the table and devoured the food. It was, possibly, the best holiday I’d ever had. Mostly it was because Celina was there, but something else was happening too. The guys and I had been so alone for so long, that experiencing this was something none of us had ever thought we’d have––mates, kids, laughter, good food, celebration. It felt like a dream I didn’t want to wake up from.

After dinner, we hung out for a few more hours. Once it was time for dessert, everyone raved about Celina’s cookies. She seemed to truly appreciate everyone’s praise. Before we left, April and Harley pulled Celina aside in the kitchen, and my shifter hearing caught what they were talking about. The ladies were offering to take Celina out for a night on the town with them and Kris’s wife, Chelsea. I watched a serene and happy smile spread across Celina’s face as she nodded happily.

On the way home, I took us on a detour up into the mountains that surrounded Lilly Valley and stopped at a lookout. We sat there in companionable silence, staring at the lights of the town for several quiet minutes.

“I really like your friends,” Celina finally said.

“They’ve become family to me. Since I don’t have one.” I realized that wasn’t entirely true and added, “Well, I do have a family. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen them, though.”

“What happened? Why don’t you see your family anymore? I get why I’m alone, but why are you?”

I sighed, thinking of the best way to describe it. “Something happened a long time ago. I got kicked out because I did something dumb that reflected really bad on my parents. I embarrassed them, and rather than have them face the same fate I did, I left. I loved them so much, and knew they’d do anything for me. I couldn’t let them. So, I left in the middle of the night. Didn’t tell them where I was going. One day I had a family, the next day, I was on my own. Simple as that.”

I looked over and saw she had tears in her eyes. She put a hand on my arm. “You’re leaving something out. I can tell. You weren’t some rebellious kid who would do something bad for no reason. Plus, what kind of a family wouldn’t follow you? If my kid left in the middle of the night, nothing would stop me from finding them. There’s pain in your voice, so I know you regret leaving. Why won’t you tell me? I promise it isn’t that bad. I can take it.”

No one had ever been this close to me, so intimate that they could read my voice, and see through my carefully layered stories. She could read me like one of her books. I’d never let anyone get this close to me before, always pushing them away, holding them at arm’s length.

“I miss my parents every single day. You’re right about that.”

Celina took my hand. “Why can’t you go home? If you love them that much, they must love you equally, if not more.”

“It’s complicated.” I chuckled. “You might be ready for the truth soon. I didn’t kill anyone or anything if that’s what you’re thinking.”

She grinned. “Good to know. Whenever you’re ready, I’m ready. I can take whatever you throw at me.”

I kissed her, surprising both of us, and rested my hand on her thigh. I wanted this connection. After this day, I wasn’t sure anything could be better than sitting here, looking out at one of the most beautiful views in the world, and kissing my mate.

We got home an hour later, and I walked her to her door. Before she could step inside, I grabbed her hand. “What are your plans for this weekend?”

“Oh, well, I need to be up in about three hours to go Black Friday shopping.”

I stared at her, dumbfounded, and raised an eyebrow. “Seriously?”

She laughed and blushed. “I actually got you with that one. No. I was going to go out Saturday or Sunday and do some decoration shopping. There should be some good deals.”

“Decorations? For what?”

“My apartment. What else?” She smiled.

I was out of my depth here. She was supposed to leave in less than a week. Why would she put up decorations? I asked her as much, and she gave me a sheepish grin.

“I’m staying for a while. I told my agent I was going to stay in Lilly Valley a while longer. I signed a two-month lease, but only planned on staying a month. I was only going to stay longer if I really liked it.” She looked down, her face going red. “I do really like it here. There are some things that are pretty amazing here. I’m going to talk to the rental agency on Monday and see if I canrent it all the way through until their next tenant is supposed to move in. Two or three more months, maybe?”

I had to clamp my teeth together to prevent myself from shouting in joy. My wolf was doing prancing tap dances inside my mind at the news. I cleared my throat and smiled at her, trying to maintain a calm exterior.

“Are you serious?” I asked, wanting to be sure I heard her right. “You’re staying?”

“Yeah. For now.”

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