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“It happens to us all.” I wanted our mate to understand a little about being a shifter, particularly since she hadn’t had a clue she was one until this morning. Neither had we recognized her latency, although my bear had a certain smugness that made me wonder if he’d known all along. If so, he wasn’t sharing the information. “The only difference is, we grew up expecting to become bears and you did not.”
She’d shifted back and asked for something to put on, looking pale and shocky. After I bundled her in one of my hoodies that came down to her knees, she said, “This is the most vivid dream I’ve ever had.”
“Oh, mate.” Ansel took her arm and led her into the kitchen. “You aren’t dreaming. I’ll pour your coffee.”
I followed them and took the stool next to hers. “This is very much not a dream.”
“But it has to be. I’m not a shifter.”
Yes, you are.
“And now I’m hearing voices.”
“Voices or a voice?”
“Just the one.” She shook her head. “It’s enough right.”
“Monroe, listen carefully. It’s not a dream, and you aren’t hearing voices. You are very much awake and you just shifted back from being a sun bear. So the voice in your head is your bear. Just like I have one and Ansel has one.”
My friend returned with coffee for us all and joined us at the counter. I took a sip and pulled cool air over my burning tongue.
“I’m really awake?” She took a gulp and yelped. “That’s hot.”
“You’re awake. And you’re a sun bear. Which, considering your appearance as a human is a surprise. Sun bears are from Southeast Asia, and you look like a Nordic princess.”
She shrugged. “Like you said, I never fit in my family and I have so many questions for them. But is it possible to have a human side that is completely the opposite of the animal? You guys are big and muscular and hairy like your bears.”
“Hey!” Edward growled. “Are you saying you think we’re too hairy? We could get waxed.”
“Don’t you remove one hair from your bodies. Everything about you is perfect.”
Monroe
They wore just pants again, and I was beginning to think that was the uniform of the day around here. I approved.
The guys had me stay at the counter while they made us a big breakfast. Edward filled my plate. “Shifters have a higher metabolism than humans. Now that we know you are one, it makes sense how much food you’ve managed to put away. And having mated and shifted for the first time, you need a lot to eat.”
He had a grill filled with pancakes and French toast, every breakfast meat known to man, and still didn’t slow down. And each time one of them added to my plate, I ate whatever they gave me. I had a kind of hunger I’d never experienced before.
By the time they took my empty plate away, I’d been eating for two hours solid. And I was full. Mostly.
“Let’s lie around and relax for a bit then we can go out for a run if you’re not too tired.”
“I’m not the least bit tired.”
But I did fall asleep with my head on the counter a few minutes later. My new life was going to take a lot of energy.
Epilogue
Monroe
I fell asleep in the kitchen, but I woke up in bed with a bear on either side of me. Not just a bear shifter but the full deal, two grizzlies.
“They wanted to spend time with you,” Ansel said after shifting back a moment later. “They like you.”
“They love her.” Edward was also back in his skin. “I love you, mate.”
“Me too.” Ansel was not to be outdone. “But we promised you a run.”
