Page 26 of Shifted Existence

“Yes, who was taken by another pack. I have inquiries out. I will tell you as I’ve told her. It is doubtful the warrior who ran her to ground will give her up. Depending on which pack it is, I may offer him a place here or at least a way they can see each other.”

“You would do that?”

“I would. As alpha I have a responsibility to those in my pack to see to their needs and happiness. Blitz says even though Dani is happy, there are times he finds her alone and crying, missing her sister and a woman she said was as close to her as her sister. She would never speak of her friend, afraid she would give something away. It is the only thing she would never share with Blitz. We now believe you are that friend.”

“May I see her, Talon, before I transition?”

“Why would the status of your transition be of concern?”

“It isn’t. Not in the way you think. I just would rest easier knowing Dani was here, was happy, and would be with me. Please?”

“I will have Blitz bring her, but first you will finish your breakfast.”

“You keep letting Melea stuff me with all this good food, I’ll grow so round you won’t want me.”

“One of the things about wolf-shifters—those in our prime rarely have to worry about what we eat. With our metabolism and libido, we burn the calories. As for you being too round, I look forward to the day your belly swells with our child. As for not wanting you, I will be long gone and burned on my funeral pyre, and will still want you with every fiber of my being.”

“Do you really want me to throw up on you?”

Talon laughed. “She-wolves who deliberately throw up on their mates get their bottoms spanked and do not get to see their old friends.”

He silenced any more talking by feeding her. Afterwards, he gave her his shirt and tucked her back into bed. As he did, Talon could hear Blitz trying to catch Dani and keep her from intruding.

“Let go of me, you misbegotten son of a bitch. Bailey? Bailey?”

Bailey launched herself from the bed, the sudden movement causing her to have vertigo. Talon caught her before she could hurt herself. He smacked her backside and put her back in the bed. “You will stay in bed unless someone is here to assist you.”

“Fine. Whatever. Dani! Dani! I’m in here.”

Dani burst in. Talon hadn’t been kidding. It was easy to see that Dani was pregnant and seemed to be happy about it. She was radiant and the indulgent look Blitz gave her spoke of the depth of his feelings for her. It was a look she had often seen on Talon’s face when he thought she was sleeping.

Bailey’s friend—the one person she’d allowed herself to become close to—rushed past Talon and hugged her close. “God, it’s good to see you. You look better than the last time I saw you.”

Bailey nodded as she remembered. “That last winter was a rough one. I’ve been here and Melea has been stuffing me like I am to be the fatted calf offered to the terrible beast.”

Dani looked over her shoulder and laughed at the two warriors who looked on. “Well, you kind of have been. Blitz said they think you’ll start the transition. Everything will be fine. I’ll be with you…”

“You will not over-tire yourself, and you will abide by Talon’s wishes,” scolded Blitz.

“You are a worrywort,” chided Dani, “and Talon would never deny his fated mate her best friend as she transitions.” She looked at Bailey. “What?”

“I’m not sure you’re my best friend anymore.” Both Talon and Blitz growled. “After all, you never made me blueberry muffins.”

Dani laughed. “Well, this is true. I always tell Blitz it’s a good thing we have the communal kitchen and meals. If he had to eat my cooking, he’d starve.”

Bailey laughed with her friend as she looked at Blitz. “I can attest to the truth of that. Dani can burn water.” She sobered, taking Dani’s hand in hers. “You’re happy?”

“More than I ever dreamed was possible. Once you get past all the growling and snarls, they’re not so bad. And the only thing that beats shifting and running through the forest as a wolf? Getting knotted and tied by your mate. Trust me when I tell you, as good as they are when they’re just fucking your brains out? It doesn’t hold a candle to being knotted by your mate and held in his embrace as he rocks you through mind-boggling orgasms and then ties you to him. It is beyond compare.”

Bailey hugged her close. “The jury is still out on this whole being made into a wolf-shifter, but I’m happy to see you are happy.”

Dani sobered and looked her friend in the eye. “Let the past and the Conquered Realm go, Bailey. There is a whole wonderful future stretching out before us.”

Bailey glanced up at Talon and Blitz. “I’ll have to take your word for that. Time will tell, I suppose.”

“It will indeed,” said Talon.

“I was coming up to let you know the Council should be here within the hour,” said Blitz. “They stopped their entourages at the inner perimeter. Each council member will have one attendant.”

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