Page 286 of As The Shifter World Turns

It seemed a bit too Twilight Zone to me and I couldn’t see how our friends would agree to contacting Ryder’s cheating ex. But as the stag shifter’s life was precarious, they might be willing to try. They’d run out of options.

“I’m going over to the manor to talk to them.”

No way could I let him go alone. “Daire, clothes or at least a towel would be a good idea.”

He took the towel and raced next door with me at his heels. Neil was sittingon the porch chatting to Ivor and Archer and when they caught sight of a dripping wet Daire wearing only a towel, Ivor got up and glared at my mate.

“No more stories, Daire. You’ve done enough today.” Ivor waggled his finger at my mate.

“It was a sign, Ivor.”

“Daire!” Ivor’s sharp voice had my mate skid to a halt on the path. “I don’t want to hear any woo woo ideas. You had a dream about him. End of story.”

“I think he’s the donor,” Daire blurted out.

Ivor put his hands over his ears, stamped his feet and yelled, “Stop talking.” Dyani cried from inside the apartment. Neil brought her onto the porch and gave her a muffin.

“Let me talk and then you can tell me to go away and never speak to you again.”

“Fine. One minute,” Ivor fumed.

My mate launched into a spiel about how it couldn’t hurt to get hold of Kellan and ask him to get tested. “If he’s not a match, that’s it. He’s out of your life. Again. And if he is…”

Archer put a hand on Ivor’s shoulder as Ryder hobbled out the door and sat down. “No way,” the stag shifter said, and I suspected he was using every bit of strength he could muster. “We’re not bringing Kellan back into our lives. No freaking way.”

The wolf shifter glanced over his shoulder at his mate. His hands were trembling as Archer gave him a hug. But Ivor’s voice didn’t wobble as he said to Ryder, “What if?—”

“No. I won’t do that to you,” Ryder insisted.

Ivor kneeled at his mate’s side. “You and our daughter are my world. I will do anything to make you better even if it means bringing him into our lives again.”

“Ivor.” Ryder cupped his mate's cheek and I squeezed Daire's hand. I almost looked away as the interaction between mates was so intimate, we shouldn't have been witness to it.

The wolf shifter took out his phone. “You still have his number?” Ryder asked. “I thought you deleted it.”

“I almost did and then thought I’d better keep it.”

“I should call him.”

Ivor shook his head. “No, it has to come from me.” He got up and went into 1A.

The only sound from inside the building for the next ten minutes was the low murmur of Ivor’s voice. Daire was freaking out, tugging at his hair and I had to drag him back as he attempted to race into 1A.

“He has to do this. Kellan won’t agree because you threaten him,” I said.

Archer shoved a whole muffin in his mouth while Neil took Dyani into the front garden. When Ivor appeared, the phone in his hand, his tear-streaked cheeks could only mean Kellan had refused.

“He agreed.”

“Don’t get your hopes up, babe,” Ryder stood on his thin, shaky legs.

“That’s all I have is hope. I can’t give it up.” Ivor picked up their daughter. “Thank you for being our friends but we need to be alone.”

“I’ll arrange dinner to be delivered. Thai okay?” I asked.

Ivor nodded. Daire and I were left with Neil and Archer. We gave one another hugs and went home.

“How long does it take to find out if someone’s a match?” Daire asked.

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