Page 7 of As The Shifter World Turns

Daire, Micah, and Ivor shouted, “No,” and they grabbed Ryder before he tumbled headfirst down the staircase.

“I’ll drive my van,” Daire said. “Everybody coming? Archer? Ivor? Micah?”

Yes, my wolf agreed. I nodded, grateful for the opportunity to let my wolf take his fur before glancing at Neil. Poor guy, he was the odd one out. That wasawkward having to leave him behind, but Daire had the situation in hand. “Come with us, Neil. It’s a beautiful night.”

Neil made a face. “I don’t know. I’m happy to put away the leftovers and then watch TV.” He gave me a lopsided smile. “I’m not a huge fan of going outside. Not… not anymore.”

I squeezed his hand. “It’d be nice if you came. All of us together.”

“Yes, come with us,” Ivor pleaded.

“Well,” Neil’s voice wavered, “Maybe.”

“Great. That’s settled,” Daire said. “We’ll go to my parents’ place. No one else will be there.” Turned out his folks lived in town and only went to their big estate on the weekends.

Daire’s van was a luxury one with heated seats and USB ports. And once we were buckled in, I yelped as the seat massaged me.

“That’s Daire’s party trick,” Ivor chuckled. “He does that to the first-timers.”

I caught Micah’s eye as he sat opposite me, but Daire switched off the interior light and closed the door, and the unicorn shifter turned and looked out the window.

“Ready, family?” Daire yelled.

“Yes!”

Him calling us family gave me the warm fuzzies. I missed my parents and worried about my alpha dad. While I’d barely gotten past the introduction stage with Ivor, Ryder, and Daire, I hoped Neil and I were going to be good friends. I couldn’t say what my relationship with Micah would look like. My wolf was clamoring to shift with him, and my dick was certainly paying attention to the man.

Being inside the van with four shifters, each with their own distinct aroma, wasn’t a problem. But Micah’s scent, which was overpowering, came with a delicate undertone that made me dizzy and had me wishing we could open the windows. And Daire’s driving didn’t help. Maybe he thought he was behind the wheel of his sports car.

“If you don’t slow down, I guarantee Ryder’s going to be sick,” Micah grumbled as the stag shifter murmured, “I don’t feel so good.”

“And you’ll be cleaning it up, Daire,” Neil laughed.

“As long as I don’t have to do it,” Ivor mumbled.

I gripped the back of the seat in front, thinking I might join Ryder in a vomit fest as my stomach lurched from side to side when the van veered left and then right. I couldn’t blame it all on the driving. It was the unicorn’s fault. Even my wolf was complaining, and I had to restrain him from shifting and breaking the windows.

When we arrived in a clearing beside a small lake, I was the first one out, gulping in the cool night air. Ryder practically fell out behind me, yelling, “I love this place.”

“Do you get carsick, Archer?” Neil put a hand on my back as I bent over, swallowing mouthfuls of oxygen and hoping my racing pulse would slow.

“Not usually. Must have been that sandwich.”

I stood up in time to see Ryder flinging off his shirt, and not bothering with his pants, he charged toward the woods. Two legs became four and as his stag emerged, I was struck by his antlers outlined against the shimmering body of water.

“Magnificent,” I observed.

“Isn’t he?” Ivor chimed in as he undressed while Ryder’s stag charged into the forest.

Ivor’s face lit up as he closed his eyes and shifted, and I admired his beast’s dark brown fur that contrasted with the light and dark gray of my own wolf.

“Shifting’s the one time he can forget his troubles and be the confident being I know he should be,” Neil informed me.“He’s constantly worried about his lack of money and is aware of how much Daire has helped him by letting him share his apartment.”

“Poor guy.” I understood how money worries dominated your every waking minute. “That is one stunning wolf,” I said as Ivor raced away, and Daire’s huge grizzly ambled into the water. A rustling behind me told me Micah was removing his clothes.

“Are you going to wander down to the lake and watch Daire’s bear catch fish, Neil?” I asked as I toed off my shoes and placed my folded shirt inside the van.

“Nope. I have my music and a blanket and I’m staying in the van. Go have fun.” He stepped inside and slammed the door, and the distinctive click of the lock being activated broke the silence.Guess the rest of my clothes will stay outside.

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