Chapter 950 Chapter 950
Webb sat there watching her eat. She was one hundred percent more graceful eating after her first shift than he had been. His gaze strayed to the mark on her neck. His mark. His mate. He smiled.
She took a sip of her drink and then gave him a half grin. “What? Is it on my face? I’m trying to eat politely, but I’m starving.”
He chuckled. “There is nothing on your face. Eat however you want.” It was near dawn, and no one else was up yet, not that they’d judge her if they were. Everyone had gone through a first shift and would understand.
She stabbed a piece of food with the fork and paused with it halfway to her mouth. “I can’t believe I shifted.” There was a light in her eyes that hadn’t been there before. He loved seeing it. “How many half breeds shift?”
He cringed. “Don’t call yourself that.” He blew out a breath. “I don’t know the statistics.” He shrugged. “Shaelan probably does. There are a lot of full-blood shifters that can’t change and some that just don’t.”
“Does my brother shift?”
Webb shook his head. “Not really.”
She raised one brow.
“He was on medication to suppress his animal for years. That might be why, but once it was out of his system, his body changed, and when his animal is close, he bulks up and is crazy strong.” He shrugged again. “That’s what I’ve been told.”
“I’d like to see that.” She nodded.
“Me too. I think. Amari says it’s usually when he’s pissed off, so I’m torn wanting to witness it.”
She chewed what was in her mouth while studying him. “I feel—this will sound dumb, but I always felt like I was pieced together, if that makes sense. Now, I feel like all those seams are attached. Is that because we’re mated or because I shifted?”
His bear rolled through him, happy to listen to her as long as she wanted to talk. His animal was acting like he was high on something. Webb grinned. “Probably both.” He motioned to her. “Do you feel your animal now?”
She set the fork down and focused on the table. “I think so. How does it feel? Yours?”
Webb leaned on the table and considered how to explain it to her. “It’s like that voice in your head is really, well, mostly images and emotions, " he said, recalling how he’d been acting the last few days. And sometimes they try to override your body and movement.”
An intense look of focus was on her face. She sighed. “I’m still not sure, but I hope she doesn’t choose to come out when I’m asleep again.”
“Me too. That was one startling wake-up call.” He glanced at the doors. “I have to find a new door.”
She cringed. “You can’t fix it?”
He chortled. “No. That is not fixable.” He would never forget the way she’d pummeled it and then charged through it.
“I’m sorry.”
He shook his head. “Don’t be. It’s not the first time someone’s animal had damaged something, and it won’t be the last.” He leaned forward and touched her hand, needing just the slight contact for himself. “I tried to climb a tree, fell, and landed on my mother’s new swing seat.”
She smiled. “I guess everyone tests their limits at first.” She sighed. “Hopefully next time I shift outdoors.”
“Yeah. Shifting outside is encouraged. Especially for our size.”
She laughed. “I’m going to be so pale next to you.”
“I love the color of your coat.” He glanced at the double door to see Blaise, Griffin, and a woman come in.
“What is it called again? My clan?”
“Kermode bear, or spirit bear.”
“I wonder if my mother is that color when she shifts.”
He took hold of her hand and squeezed it. “You can ask her.” He flicked his gaze toward the door.
Her hand tightened when she turned slowly and looked over her shoulder.
Webb wasn’t going to rush her. If she wanted to just sit and look at them for now, that was fine. He watched Griffin turn and take his mother’s hand. The woman was most definitely Rhogue’s parent. She was an older version of his mate in looks.
“Okay.” She whispered and then turned on the bench. As she stood up, she continued to hold his hand tightly, causing Webb to lean over as he got to his feet.
Skirting around the end of the table, he moved to stand beside her. “You okay with this?”
She nodded. “Yes. It’s just—I never thought it would happen.”
He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “They look like they feel the same way.”