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CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

emma

Before the Hunter’s Moon Conclave

The beat-up old Jeep, which had been parked at the edge of a county road, halted in an uneven parking area, and Jasper turned off the engine, clearly not caring that the vehicle’s nose dipped toward one of the many creeks running through this part of Louisiana, the front bumper nearly touching a Cypress tree. We might all be shifters, but the orange safety cones marking corners of the large parking area marked us as at least somewhat civilized.

He patted the steering wheel. “We made it in plenty of time.”

“Where are we?”

“We’re near the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area in the Pointe Coupee Parish.”

“We’ve gone farther south.” It was the smartest comment I had. “It’s barely even noon,” I said, watchinga small group of shifters stroll across the far end of the grassy area. “What time is the meeting?”

“Everybody shows up throughout the day, with the alphas usually arriving around evening mealtime.”

“I have over six hours to kill?”

“I’m sure they’ll all want to meet ye.”

“Who knows about me?”

“Secrets don’t stay secret for long, ye know.”

I didn’t know how to respond to the thought of already having to overcome all the expectations and preconceived notions, so I decided to mention something I’d been stewing about since we popped out of the Red Tail territory the back way. “You could have at least told me you had an escape vehicle parked on the county road.”

“Instead of letting ye believe we had to hike fifty miles?”

“Yeah,” I grunted.

Jasper must have believed I had an endless supply of goodwill he had earned by working me over during training. What I wouldn’t give to go back to my veterinary practice…

“What fun would that have been? I got to put up with fifteen minutes of yer crankiness.”

My eyes widened. “Well, it would have helped my hiking mood if you had at least let me know you weren’t trying to march me into the ground.”

“But ye was adorable.” He didn’t bother hiding his sarcasm.

“You’re ridiculous,” I snapped, not really meaning it.

He winked, tugged the car door handle, and stuck a leg out through the gap. “Ye ready?”

“Would you stop asking me that?”

Shit.My hands trembled, and I clutched them in my lap to hide the tremor.

He snickered. “What are ye talking about?”

“Every few minutes, you’re asking me if I’m ready, and I don’t think there’s actually any way I can be ready for any of this. College didnotinclude a class on what to do if you wake up to discover you’re a fantasy creature.”

Or how to tell my mother…If the meeting didn’t kill me, my mother still might. Convincing her this was all a good thing wouldn’t be easy. Hell, I wasn’t convinced any of it was good.

“Let’s go,” I grumbled.

“Leave your phone in here.”

“Sure thing.”