Page 24 of Unmistakable Mate

“Why don’t you start at the beginning?” he offered when he saw how upset she looked.

Zoey stared out at the setting sun for a long minute and then gave a small nod of her head. With a deep breath, she turned to face him. She took one of his hands in hers and met his eyes as she began to speak again.

“When I was adopted, I wasn’t just taken in by a new set of parents. I was raised as part of a pack, the Moirae Pack to be exact. I was young and I don’t remember our life before so it didn’t seem as crazy to me when I learned the truth as it will for you. I’m sorry for that. I wish there was a better way to introduce all of this to you but I honestly never imagined you would track me down and come here or that you’d spark a bond yourself.” Zoey squeezed his hand, “Don’t get me wrong. I am so, so glad that you’re here. I’m overjoyed to get to know my long-lost brother and the beautiful niece that you brought into my life. I just wish there was an easier way to tell you that Noir, Louisiana isn’t like other towns. The people that live here aren’t just people. They’re supernatural.”

Zander tilted his head, “Supernatural?”

“The Moirae Pack are wolf shifters.”

“Wolf. Shifters.” He raised a skeptical eyebrow. “You mean like, werewolves?”

“Kind of…” Zoey anxiously chewed her bottom lip.

“You’re telling me that you were raised by… werewolves?” he repeated cautiously, more certain than ever that he was either on a reality prank show or his sister was far, far crazier than he’d realized.

“We prefer wolf shifters.”

“Uh huh, and you’re a wolf shifter too then?”

“I am.”

He snorted, “And how exactly did you become one of these wolf shifters? Because I was there when you were born and I can assure you there were only two arms, two legs and you were not covered in fur.”

Zoey winced, “You’re not taking me seriously.”

“It’s kind of hard to when you’re telling me that you, my flesh and blood sister, are part wolf.” He shook his head. “What happened? Did you get bitten on a full moon or something?”

“Not exactly. It was before the full moon but I turned for the first time on the next full moon. That’s how it works, if you’re bitten by your fated mate.”

“Okay, so, next you’re going to tell me that your husband is the wolf who bit you and turned you into a werewolf then?” Zander stood up suddenly and shook his head, “No. I’m sorry Zoey but something is seriously wrong with you if you think any of this is true or that I would believe it.”

“Zander, please…” Zoey stood up too and reached for his arm. “Wait.”

“No, I… Ouch!” He flinched when Zoey’s grip tightened to the point of pain.

She looked apologetic but she didn’t let go of him. He stared at her, his mind whirling. There was no way she should be strong enough to hurt him. Not with nothing but the grip of her hand. She shouldn’t be able to hold him immobile but she was and he was having a hard time putting any of it together.

“I’m sorry. Really, I am so, so sorry. But if you’re not going to listen to me then I have to show you. Please, don’t run, okay? I promise you that what you’re going to see is real and it’s still me. I would never hurt you and neither would my wolf.”

“Zoey…” He started to shake his head but he choked on a gasp and snapped his eyes shut when his sister, who had been wearing a robe beneath the blanket on her lap, suddenly untied it and dropped it to the ground, “Jesus Christ, Zoey! Put your clothes back on. I’m your brother for god’s sake and your husband is…”

“Don’t be scared.” Zoey spoke softly as she released his arm and stepped back, off the porch. “Open your eyes and don’t run. Please, don’t run. She’ll chase you and I don’t want her to hurt you even if she thinks you’re just playing.”

“I don’t think I…”

“Shhh. It’s okay.” Zoey’s voice was a quiet whisper and then, out of nowhere he heard her whine, a long, low sound that made him flinch and his eyes flashed open to see what was wrong.

His mouth gaped and he sank backwards a step out of pure shock. His sister, his flesh and blood sister, stood before him, but as he watched, her features contorted and her body convulsed in ways his brain had a hard time understanding. He stared in horror as he heard bones snap and muscle and sinew tear. His mind reeled as she fell to her hands and knees, her skin changing colors and then morphing into a reddish-brown fur. He was frozen to the spot as he blinked once, twice, three times and then, as if by magic, in the same spot where Zoey had been standing only moments before, there was a large red wolf.

Zoey had warned him not to run. She had worried he would run and her wolf would chase him. That was what she’d said. But he couldn’t run because he couldn’t get his legs to work, couldn’t get the world around him to stop shifting and spinning in dizzying measure. She had tried to tell him but he wouldn’t listen so instead she had said she would show him and now nothing he had thought he knew about the world seemed real.

Not when his sister could turn into a wolf.

She was a werewolf. A wolf shifter. Supernatural monsters were real and his sister was one.

He felt like he was going to pass out but he kept himself upright as the red wolf bounded up onto the porch and moved towards him slowly. He didn’t move. He didn’t dare even breathe as the wolf nudged him with her muzzle. He moved a hand up on instinct, petting the large wolf as if she were only a normal pet dog instead of a gigantic beast that had emerged from inside of his sister.

The wolf, Zoey, made a soft purring sound of contentment and he pulled his hand away as she turned and stepped back off the porch. He could do nothing but watch yet again as the sound of bones and muscles reforming broke through the otherwise quiet night. He could do nothing but gape when Zoey, the small, pale, copper haired sister he was only just beginning to know stood in front of him again, wrapping her robe back around her body.

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