Page 48 of Drive me Wild (South Island Shifters)

“Then I’ll keep looking. For now, my love, it’s time for bed.” I clamber onto the bed, and he tosses the duvet over me before joining me. Laying in his arms is pure bliss. He laces our hands together on his chest.

‘So, tell me more about you? When did you shift for the first time?’I ask, only this time telepathically.

‘About this shifting… In future, if I’m out for a fight and you’re here, only contact me with information about the clan unless I’m just shifting to relax,’he replies, placing a kiss on my forehead.

I lift my head to look at him, disbelief that I’m here with him. I admire each curve on his face as he smiles down at me.‘Okay.’

“We should sleep. It’s almost two am.”

“Are we safe?” I ask him.

“We’re safe. I checked all the windows and doors up here. We also have a white tiger guarding us tonight,” he replies, kissing my forehead.

“Can Lily have next week off so we can have girls night?” I ask.

He chuckles. “You just want to talk about me, right?”

“All good stuff. I promise.”

“She can. At least I know you’re safe with her. Wait a minute; you’re going to ask her to show you her tiger, aren’t you?”

“If Autumn isn’t home, yeah.” I snuggle into his chest and begin drawing little hearts.

“I have to admit; I was worried you were going to ask me for more space earlier after I shifted.”

I lean up and look at him. “Declan, I told you I wouldn’t run. While it’s scary to watch and comprehend my boyfriend turns into an animal, I have to get used to it.”

“I can feel myself falling for you,” he admits. Those are words I’m not sure I’m ready for just yet, but damn, do they feel fantastic to hear.

I laugh. “You owe me a first date before you start professing things like that.”

“I do indeed. You might decide afterwards you don’t like me,” he teases.

“I highly doubt that, Mister Stone.” I kiss him before snuggling back against him. He pushes a button on the pad just by his nightstand, and the next thing I know, his roof is opening up, revealing all the stars above us. It’s a clear night and so pretty out. He gently runs his hand along my back as I drift off to sleep once again in the arms of a man who has wormed his way into my soul.

He has the power to make my walls crumble, but he also has the ability to break me. It’s a scary thought, opening my heart up again. One that I’m glad I’m trying out with him. Declan Stone is precisely the kind of man I want to own my heart.

Eighteen

DECLAN

Entering the local café to buy myself and Winter a morning coffee, I order the drinks as I spot Edward working in the back. He flicks his head up to me in acknowledgment, then waves me through to him. I enter the back room where he is.

“Hey, how’s it going? No more trouble from my lads, I hope,” Edward says.

I shake my head. “Not from them. But there’s trouble brewing elsewhere. Do you know much about the Central Otago Pack?”

He looks at me. “The what pack?”

“Yeah, that was my thought too. I’ve never heard of them either. Two of their members have joined my clan recently: one has mated with a member of my clan, and the other is her brother. They’ve told me that the pack is somewhere in the Central Otago District, in a hidden location. The woman claims to have overheard a conversation with their leader about brewing magical potions designed to connect with a person’s DNA. It’s designed specifically for the targeted person. We’ve run tests on her brother, who was under the influence of one such potion. There are no remnants of it in his blood, but I fear this person, whoever they are, is gunning for me.” These new clan members have been as helpful as possible, but because neither was high ranking within their pack, they don’t know much.

Edward looks at me sceptically. “Sounds like some sort of dark magic at work.”

“I know I sound completely mental right now, but I was hoping you’d be able to help.”

He shakes his head. “Sorry, mate. I’m about as useful as tits on a bull. I’ve never heard of the Central Otago Pack. But I’ll keep our patrols on my lands aware of your situation. I’ll put some feelers out there to see what I can find out about potions and such too.”

“Be discreet.”

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