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“When I get done shifting, I like to climb into bed with my omega.”
“Perfect answer.”
Chapter 12
Anders
I miss you.
Brett was in Rockhill on a five-day course. I told him to check out Daxon’s coffee shop there, though someone said he might have sold it.
But Brett and I kept playing telephone tennis or message tennis. I’d be on a job if he was on a break, but when I finally got done, he’d have muted his phone or been in bed.
This reminded me of when I was single. I was lonely and couldn’t concentrate on anything in my spare time, wondering if Brett was free to chat.
But as I was drinking my morning coffee in the back garden, I told myself I was effing silly. Missing my mate was to be expected, but my life didn’t end because he wasn’t at my side. Brett didn’t need or want a lap dog that existed solely to be with him. He needed a mate who had a full life, a circle of friends, hobbies, and a community.
Wanna hunt? It was late afternoon, and barring any plumbing emergencies, I was done for the day.
My beast agreed, he was tired of my moping. Allowing him to run and eat might allow me to get out of my head and enjoy the outdoors.
And not be looking at your phone every five minutes, he suggested.
True. Though it was more like every minute.
I drove a ways out of town, farther than where we usually shifted and gave my snow leopard his fur. While the terrain around Oakheart wasn’t similar to a wild snow leopard habitat, there were plenty of deer and small mammals for my beast to feast on.
While my beast ate his kill, I tried to enjoy the last rays of the sun on our head, the birds flying home to nest in the canopy over our head, and the chirping of the insects.
When my beast had his fill and before I took my skin, he asked, How far is Rockhill from here?
What? We were just outside Oakheart, and Rockhill was a good three-hour drive.
Isn’t that why you chose this location to shift?
No. I took my skin and got dressed before getting into the car and slamming the door. I was annoyed that he’d suggested I had an ulterior motive when I drove here.
But instead of putting my foot on the accelerator and tearing off down the narrow dirt road, I thought about what my beast had said. Why did I come here when our usual hunting ground was much closer?
Maybe in the back of my mind I did want to drive to Rockhill and surprise Brett? Was that ridiculous?
Perhaps. It was a good idea. I was only a little over two hours away. But if I did go, I’d have to leave at 5 a.m. tomorrow.
Do it.
So much for being my own man and living my life while my one and only was gone for a few days.
Okay.
I started the car, and Brett messaged saying he was headed back to the guest house. I fibbed, telling him I was on a job and we’d speak later. Hoping he wasn’t planning a night out with his classmates, I turned right onto the highway rather than left. But he texted again saying he was going to nap and we’d chat when I was free.
As I hadn’t planned on driving to Rockhill I pulled into a gas station halfway to my destination. Just as I had finished filling the car and was about to pay, a car drove in and parked on the other side of the gas pumps.
I didn’t look up but noted the car was the same color as Brett’s.
“Hello, stranger. Fancy meeting you here.”
I swung around at hearing my mate’s voice. “What are you doing here?”
