Page 38 of Fight (Kitsune #2)

"I have something I'd like to propose to you, but we need to do it face to face." I tried to calm any apprehensions he might have.

"Do you want to meet somewhere? We could have dinner?" He asked.

"Actually, it's something that needs to be done a little more privately than a restaurant." I said. "You can come to our hotel room, or we can get together on your boat. It's up to you."

"I guess I could come by your hotel tonight." He said hesitantly.

"That would be great." I kept my tone bright and cheerful as I gave him the address and our room number, we set a time, one well after mealtime, before ringing off.

I let the others know about the meeting, and we ordered to have dinner delivered from a nearby restaurant. While we waited for our food to arrive we discussed how to bring the issue up to Mr. Donovan and how to let him know his options without influencing his decision.

Later, after we'd eaten and cleaned up, a knock sounded on the door.

Knowing it was probably Mr. Donovan I waited in the common area, while Devon answered the door.

He invited Mr. Donovan in and ushered him to the seating area.

I stood and greeted him, shaking his hand and introducing him to Alexis and Caden, who had remained seated so as not to intimidate our visitor with his size.

"Can I get you something to drink?" I asked.

"No, I'm good." He said.

"Why don't you have a seat." I offered, aware that what we were going to offer him would be a bit of a shock.

Reese took a seat in one of the chairs arranged into a conversation area, his confusion growing. I sat on the edge of the sofa near him.

"This is going to be a little shocking, Reese, but we have a proposition for you. An offer."

"You have an offer for me?" He repeated.

I nodded. "I realize you probably aren't aware, but we're all Kitsune. We know you are too, and that you don't shift." I caught an unfamiliar scent in the air.

"You're scaring him," Caden said from his seat. .

"We're not here to hurt you or to harass you. We had plenty of time to do that while alone on the boat with you." I reasoned. "Why would I invite more witnesses and invite you to my room for that?" I tried to calm him. The scent of fear faded some and a look of confusion crossed his face.

"I...if you know I don't shift, what do you want with me?"

"I want to give you the opportunity to shift." I said.

"That's not possible." He shook his head.

"Actually, it is." Devon spoke for the first time since greeting Reese. "Three months ago I was just like you. A non-shifter, with no hope of ever shifting, knowing it just wasn't possible. Now, because of Nickie and Alexis, I shift as though I've been doing it all along."

"You're teasing me, tormenting me." Reese seemed sure.

"Actually no, we're not." I assured him. "I can't guarantee that it will work, but I'm offering you another opportunity to try."

"But, how?"

"It seems that I have a rare combination of talents, that allows me to sense an animal form inside someone who's never shifted. Not being able to sense that animal form, is what keeps most who can call animal forms from being able to shift you."

Reese nodded. What I was saying apparently matched with what he'd been told. "It's as simple as you can sense the wolf, when no one else could?" He sounded almost lost.

I shook my head. "I wouldn't say that, but it's a major factor." I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, giving myself a few seconds to think. "You need to understand, we've only tried this once."

Reese turned to Devon. "On you?"

Devon nodded. "On me."

"But it worked?"

"It did, but the process took both of them." Devon motioned to Alexis and me. "Alexis is our pack healer, she watched what was going on inside me, as Nickie tried to call my wolf and she found something wrong. She fixed it, and had Nickie try again, that time it worked. I shifted."

Reese turned back to me. "And you think it will work with me?"

"I think it could. I can't make promises, but I can tell you I can sense your wolf. I can feel him and I should be able to call him. Assuming the same thing that kept Dev from shifting, is what's keeping you from shifting, we should be able to shift you."

"Wow." Reese looked at his hands where they hung between his knees.

"I realize it's a lot to take in. We're not asking for an instant decision."

Reese looked up at me. "It's a big decision." He agreed.

I nodded. "I know, and we're not going to pressure you either way."

"You need to know that if you choose to try to shift and it works, you'll be expected to join the local pack." Alexis put in.

"We've already spoken with the local Anikitos. He's aware of what we're offering you and he's said he'll accept you as part of the pack." I said.

"Who all knows about this?" He sounded nervous.

"Just a few. We don't want you pressured into a decision that you'll regret.

My Anikitos found you. We've spoken with the local Anikitos to get his permission and his enforcer knows, of course.

I'm sure you know that unless you're a close personal friend, the Anikitos always has an enforcer close at hand. " I said.

Reese nodded then shook his head. "No one's talked to my family?"

I shook my head. "No, and we won't. We'll leave telling them up to you, if you choose to shift, assuming it works."

He nodded again. "All right." He took a deep breath, and let it out in a rush. "It's something I'd given up hope on and it's a big decision. Can I have a few days to think about it?"

"Of course." I smiled. "Take as long as you need." I handed him a small card with my number. "You can contact me here." I said. "I'm more than happy to answer any questions you have and if I don't have the answer, I'll tell you that honestly and then I'll do what I can to find the answer for you."

He took the card and nodded. "That's good to know. Thank you."

"We'll be in town for a few days, giving you time to make up your mind, but if it takes more than three or four days, we'll likely go home until you decide."

He nodded again, absently. He seemed almost in shock.

"Reese?" I asked, "Are you okay? Are you sure you don't want a drink?"

He looked up and gave me a lopsided grin "You know, a drink probably isn't a bad idea."

"What do you want?"

"Whatever you have, something strong."

"I've got a bottle of tequila." Caden offered.

Reese nodded. "That'll do."

Caden stood get the drink and Reese's eyes widened when he got a look at how large Caden was but he didn't say a word. Caden retrieved the alcohol from the bedroom, poured a couple of ounces into a glass from the kitchenette and handed it to Reese.

Reese tipped his head back and downed the whole thing, like someone used to doing shots.

He set the glass on the coffee table in front of him. "If that was tequila, you paid a pretty penny for it. It was too smooth otherwise."

Caden laughed. "Had your share of tequila, have you?"

"I grew up in Texas, what do you think?"

We all laughed and Reese seemed better, less in shock from the news.

"Thank you for calling, and I'll consider your offer. I'll try to get back to you in a couple of days." Reese stood up.

"Are you okay to drive after that?" Alexis asked.

"I'm not driving." He said. "I didn't know what was going on and unless you're staying in the hotel, parking's hard to come by, so I took a cab."

"All right then," She said. "I won't stop you from leaving, I just wanted to make sure you're safe."

"I understand." He smiled at her. "That's one of the dangers of being a healer."

Alexis laughed. "Very true."

He turned to leave, Devon walking him to the door. Before leaving, Reese turned back toward the room. "Thanks again. I'll be in touch."

I smiled and nodded and heard the deep rumble of Devon's voice as he said something to Reese but I couldn't make out what he was saying. Devon closed the door behind Reece, flipping the dead bolt before he came back to sit beside me.

"That's done." His voice revealed how relieved he was that it had gone well.

"Yep, now we wait."

We turned on the screen and found a film to watch as we relaxed for the evening.