Page 71 of Ice Rebel

Possibly like a caveman, which was how he’d been when that asshole in the bar had been determined to come onto me. Maybe that had been the jerk who’d taken unauthorized pictures of us.

Cole had been protective, ready if not eager to punch the guy. And there’d been something about his reaction that had put me on edge.

When the shit had hit the fan about their possible existence, I’d been a high school senior. The girls had gone wild, taking bets on how many of the boys were shifters. Come to think of it, I’d heard the two cock rumor, which even I’d realized was crazy. However, there’d been some insane incidents of girls sneaking into the boys’ locker room showers. They’d wanted to expose those pretending to be human.

As if they weren’t human.

“Okay. Is that supposed to scare me?”

“I don’t know. Does it? A lot of people… well, they think we’re monsters.”

At least I could snort and feel good about it. “A lot of people are assholes, not just my father.” Scared? Why would anyone be frightened? That was ridiculous. Although she was right in that my father would try to make a big deal out of their lineage. Fuck.

Samantha was studying my face as if I was about to freak out or pass out. At least I defied the odds, locking eyes with her. She finally relaxed. “You’re not angry with me for not telling you?”

“Is that what you and your family have faced since being forced into the open? A requirement to tell people you’re a shifter?”

“Let’s just say they’re trying to pass legislation requiring us to place our shifter identity on every piece of identification. There are also groups still trying to reduce or eliminate our rights as humans.”

“That’s ridiculous. You’re very human.”

She nodded and I gathered a sense she was trying to find the right words while relief crossed her face. “Yes, we are. I haven’t shifted in years. I don’t have the desire to do so, but being able to enjoy our heritage is important. We don’t hunt people and we certainly don’t eat them.”

Her nervous laughter made me sick to my stomach. I wrapped my hand around her fisted one. “You don’t need to worry about me and I don’t need reassurances. Unless there’s some strange, maybe sexy rituals you have that, heck, I might be interested in, I couldn’t care less if you grow furry at the moon.”

Now her pinched face was the one I’d seen so many times. “The full moon? Would you like me to howl for you?”

I turned my head from side to side before leaning in. “I’ll let you in on a little secret that might make you feel better. Cole already did that for me.”

For a girl who was quick to the draw, it took her a full ten seconds to absorb what I’d just told her. “Oh. My. God. Maybe you are getting married. Cole hasn’t howled for anyone. I can see a mating ritual in your future.”

“Mating ritual?” Obviously, I’d paled because a few seconds later, she was back to managing fits of laughter.

“I’m just teasing you. We don’t really mate any longer. There’s no need, although there is something to be said for the chemistry shared between two people destined to be together. You should see your face.”

“I’m just caught off guard.” I could only imagine what my father would say if he caught wind of the fact I was dating a hockey player. Add in Roy, I mean Cole was a shifter and forget it. My father would go ballistic.

“You’re upset.”

“I’m worried.”

“About Jagger?”

“Oh, please. Jagger has no right to tell me who I can date and who I can’t.”

Samantha’s nose wrinkled. “Your dad?”

“Yes, he thinks I should marry someone of his stature. Trust me, I’m not interested, but try telling that to Mr. Fortune One Hundred.”

“Ouch. I’d tell you your secret is safe with me, but that’s not going to happen. Pictures can be doctored, but the chemistry you two share is… unnatural.”

Her choice of the one word permanently lodged the fact he was a shifter into my mind. “What do I do?”

“What do you want to do?”

“I honestly don’t know.”

“That’s fair. Just know that Cole hasn’t been interested in anyone in a very long time. I do think you should at least talk to him.”