Page 13 of Falling for My Shifter Defender

The door swings open before we reach it, and a woman with warm brown hair and kind eyes steps onto the porch. She's human—I can tell by the way she moves, by the lack of that predatory grace all shifters seem to possess. But there's a quiet strength in her stance, a confidence that speaks of someone who's found her place in a world not quite her own.

"You must be Grace and Willow," she says, her smile genuine as she descends the steps. "I'm Jenna Cooper. Welcome to Whispering Pines."

She crouches down to Willow's level, her voice softening. "I hear you're a very special girl. We have a few other shifter children inside who would love to meet you."

Willow's grip on my hand tightens for a moment, then slowly relaxes. "I haven't shifted yet," she admits in a small voice. "I don't know how."

Jenna's expression is so understanding it makes my chest ache. "That's perfectly normal at your age. Some children shift early, some later. That's why we're here—to learn together." She glances up at me. "We have experienced pack members who can help guide her when the time comes."

I nod, grateful she addressed my unspoken concern.

"Eli!" A tall woman with dark hair bounds down the steps, pulling him into a quick hug. "About time you brought them by."

"Hannah," he says with obvious affection. "Grace, this is Hannah Thorne, Ryan's sister and the pack's resident troublemaker."

Hannah rolls her eyes but grins. "Ignore him. I'm the fun one." She winks at Willow. "Want to see where we keep the good snacks?"

Willow looks up at me, seeking permission. I hesitate, old instincts screaming at me not to let her out of my sight, but Eli's steady presence beside me and the open warmth of these women helps me push past it.

"Go ahead," I tell her. "I'll be right here."

With a delighted smile, Willow follows Hannah inside, already chattering away about her favorite cookies.

"She'll be fine," Jenna assures me, nodding for us to follow. "The kids are in the back playroom with a few of our pack members. You can peek in if you want, but first, let me introduce you to everyone."

Inside, the community center is even more beautiful than its exterior promised. Sunlight streams through the windows, illuminating a spacious room with comfortable furniture and walls decorated with colorful murals of forest scenes. A long wooden table dominates one end, surrounded by mismatched chairs that somehow look perfectly at home together.

Several women look up as we enter, their conversations pausing. I brace myself for the questions, the suspicion, the careful distance I've grown accustomed to when meeting new people. Instead, a woman with silver-streaked black hair hands me a steaming mug of tea and guides me to the table.

"Sit," she says. "You look like you could use this."

Before I know it, I'm seated between Jenna and a younger woman who introduces herself as Lily, listening as they talk about everything from the upcoming community potluck to the latest antics of the pack's youngest members. No one asks why I'm here or how long I'm staying. No one treats me like I'm temporary.

Through a doorway, I can see Willow in the playroom, already engaged in what appears to be an elaborate game involving stuffed animals and a makeshift fort. She's laughing, her face more relaxed than I've seen it in months.

"She could start school here when she's ready," Jenna says, following my gaze. "I teach at the elementary school. We have both human and shifter children there, so we balance regular subjects with helping the little ones learn control."

"That would be..." I trail off, not sure how to express what it would mean for Willow to have a place where she doesn't have to hide who she is.

"It's a lot to take in," Jenna says, understanding in her eyes. "When I first came to Whispering Pines, I had no idea what I was getting into. Being human in a shifter world isn't always easy, but it's worth it."

I study her, this woman who chose this life. "How did you know? That you could trust them?"

She considers the question, her fingers tracing the rim of her mug. "I didn't, not at first. But Ryan showed me, day after day, that I could. And then one day, I realized I already did." She smiles. "Sometimes trust isn't a decision you make. It's just something that happens while you're busy trying to keep your walls up."

The door opens, and Eli walks in with a tall, imposing man who can only be Ryan Thorne. They've clearly been discussing something serious, but Ryan's stern expression softens when he spots Jenna.

"Ladies," Ryan nods to the group, his eyes lingering on his mate with unmistakable affection before he turns to me. "Grace. Welcome to our home."

"Thank you for having us," I say, surprised by how much I mean it.

As Ryan moves to greet the others, Jenna leans closer to me with a conspiratorial smile. "I see the way Eli looks at you when you're not watching. He's been stealing glances at you all afternoon."

I follow her gaze to where Eli stands, his broad shoulders relaxed. The afternoon light catches in his tousled brown hair, highlighting the sharp angles of his jaw. As if sensing our attention, he turns our way, and the warmth in his eyes when they meet mine makes something flutter in my chest.

Heat rises in my cheeks. "We're not—he's just letting us stay with him until we figure things out."

Jenna's knowing look tells me she doesn't believe me for a second. "Mmhmm. That's how it starts."

---