89- Relationships to grow up

She lowered her wing tips to the waves; water sprayed up as she touched them. Then, she flapped again and surged a little higher. In mere moments she was a speck on the horizon. Just before she went out of sight, I could tell she was turning, no doubt following the coast back to the island that housed the Alpha Parliament.

“That was it?!” Milan asked. “I thought it was going to be so much more intense. Not to mention daunting.

I shrugged. ‘I wasn't really sure what to expect,’ I confessed. ‘But I guess she liked whatever she saw in your mind.’ I lashed my tail. Not to mention whatever prompted her advice to me.

“What now?” Milan asked,

‘Well…’ I paused to shake some sand or snow off the bottom of one paw. ‘I guess now we can go back to the coffee shop and whenever you're ready… I can change you.’

“Tonight?” Milan asked in surprise. “We don't have to wait until the full moon or something?

I shook my head. ‘We can do it anytime, as long as I'm in cat form. And…’ I hesitated and took a deep breath. ‘I could also claim you tonight… if you wanted. But I certainly don't have to.’

“Why don't we just go ahead and do that too?” Milan laughed. “I am kind of just jumping into all of this, so I might as well do a thorough job of it.”

I laughed too, feeling relieved. ‘You know,’ I admitted. ‘I was worried that you were going

along with this a little too easily, but it seems that whatever Elara sensed from you, you want this.’

Milan shrugged and opened his jacket back up, nodding for me to rejoin him. “I dunno,” he said. “I guess it just feels right. Fate and all.”

I gathered myself and jumped up into his arms, already purring. Fate indeed.“I’m afraid you really do have low quality coffee,” Eron told me, taking a sip. Don't worry though first thing I'll do is get some better beans for you.”

“I don't have a working grinder anymore,” I said, embarrassed.

Eron smiled at me and I didn’t feel embarrassed anymore. “I guess I'll just have to get you a nice grinder, then.”

“You really don’t have to,” I protested.

“Nonsense,” said Eron. “I'm your alpha and your mate. And I promised that I would help save your shop. So, that's what I'm going to do.”

“Thank you.”

Eron nodded. “Now, first things first. Let me know if you really want to be turned tonight.

And we'll go ahead and do it.”

“I think I'm ready,” I said. I shrugged and took the last couple sips of my coffee. I winced at the taste. It seemed that Eron was not only planning to save my shop, but was determined to make coffee I’d like as well. Before making it, he quizzed me on my various likes and dislikes, not just of coffee but of food and other drinks too, and then done his best to make something I’d like with the ingredients I had on hand. It hadn’t worked very well, but I appreciated the effort. “So, what do I do?” I asked, standing.

Eron stood as well, and started to take his clothes off. “For now, all you have to do is stand there, my mate.”

Once again, I found myself admiring his naked body. His muscles rippled with an almost feline grace beneath his skin, as he bent to pull his pants off. My dick twitched and started to strain against my pants. I swallowed hard, wondering if he was bending down with his ass in my direction on purpose.

And then, he started shrinking. This time, his fur didn’t appear first. His tail, gross and rat-like, erupted from him. For a few seconds he looked like one of those hairless cats, then his sleek, brown coat sprouted out and covered him. It was the color of creamy coffee and suited him perfectly. I rubbed my hands together, remembering the feel of his sikly fur. He shook off, and then groomed part of his tail, before fixing me with his bright eyes.

‘Last chance to change your mind.’

“Well, according to the dragon. I don't have any doubts,” I said. I still wasn’t completely over the fact that I had just seen and spoken to a dragon, but I supposed it was something I was going to have to get used to. “I'm ready to do this.” I felt confident as I said it. “As long as you are.” Eron was rushing into this just as fast as I was.

Eron nodded solemnly. ‘Shifters dream their whole lives of finding their true mates. I've been ready for this for a long, long time’

“What do I do?” I asked.

‘Well, first, I'm uh… I’m going to bite you,’ he said, suddenly sounding uncertain. ‘Sorry, that's the only way it works. And it will probably hurt, but I swear, I'll never hurt you again.’

“I've been bitten by cats before,” I told him.

He nodded. ‘I'm sure you have. I guess I never thought about it much. It was probably a lot

more daunting for my cousins’ true mates.’

“You mean they have to let wolves bite them?” I asked. That did sound quite a bit more intimidating than a cat.

He nodded.

“Okay, let’s do it.” I sat down and took a deep breath, preparing myself. I rubbed for a moment at my sore shoulder. “And this will go away too, right?”

Eron nodded again. ‘It won’t go away after I've changed you, but it will stop hurting after we've marked each other.’

“I guess I'm ready then.”

He jumped up on my lap and sat down on one thigh. Eron was heavier than most cats, but warm and comfortable. I could have let him sit on my lap for hours.

He locked eyes with me and said, ‘I suppose I'll just bite you on the arm?’

“That seems best,” I said. I offered him the back of my forearm, where it was a little fattier, and rolled up my sleeve.

‘Here goes,’ he said. ‘I’m sorry, my love.’

With that he lunged forward, lightning quick, as only a cat can be, and sank his fangs into my arm. It hurt, but no more than normally being bitten by a cat. I waited, but nothing else happened. Eron jumped down off my lap, and sat down regarding me.

“Did it work?” I asked, not feeling any different.

‘Yes,’ he said.

“What do I do now?” I asked.

‘Now, you can go ahead and change into a cat.’ I could hear a chuckle in his mental voice. ‘And then if you still want to claim each other, we’ll do it. And if not, you can change back.’

“How do I change into a cat?”

He laughed. ‘Close your eyes, and focus. Remember what it looked like when I was changing into a cat. Imagine that happening to yourself.’

“I'm not going to get stuck as a cat, am I? No offense.”

‘No,’ he said confidently. ‘We'll get you back to human.’

I stood and rolled my shoulders a bit, getting ready to change.

‘You should probably undress. It's frustrating to get tangled up in your clothes.’

“Oh. Right.”