Page 17

Harper bounded up the stairs to her room, keys jingling as she unlocked the door. Her fingers were already pulling up Nathan's contact info before she'd even kicked off her shoes.

The phone rang twice before his warm voice answered. "Hey beautiful. How was the meeting?"

"It was amazing!" Harper curled up in the window seat, tucking her feet under her. "So much happened - we're organizing different committees, and I volunteered to help with resettlement since I know what it is to have to start over, plus I can assist with financial planning." Her words tumbled out in excitement.

Nathan's chuckle warmed her heart. "Slow down, sweetheart. I want to hear everything."

"There's so much to tell you." Harper watched a moth flutter against the window pane. "And some of it might really surprise you. Would you like to meet for lunch later? I'd rather share the bigger news in person."

"Absolutely. Would one o'clock work?"

"Perfect." Harper's stomach growled, reminding her she'd skipped dinner. "How about Mexican? I'm craving tacos."

"I know a great place, Casa Rivera?" Nathan suggested. "They have an outdoor patio, we'd have privacy to talk more openly than inside."

"That sounds perfect." Inside her, Reyna perked up at the mention of food. The fox's enthusiasm made Harper smile.

"It's a date then." The smile in Nathan's voice was evident. "I can't wait to hear about everything - and to see you."

Heat bloomed in Harper's cheeks at the tender note in his voice. "Me too. Both telling you everything and seeing you."

He chuckled, his voice warm in her ear. "Great! Then it's settled. I'll pick you up at one."

As Harper ended the call, a delightful shiver of excitement coursed through her body. Her heart raced at the prospect of seeing Nathan again, his warm brown eyes and gentle smile already vivid in her mind.

But beneath the surface bubbled a far more potent thrill. The revelation about vampires burned inside her, a secret yearning to be shared. Harper's lips curved into a mischievous grin as she pictured Nathan's possible reactions - his eyes widening in disbelief, jaw dropping in shock, or perhaps a burst of nervous laughter.

What's more, Reyna was busily chasing her tail, yipping " Mate! Mate! ", making her laugh.

The morning seemed to crawl by after that, with Harper frequently checking the clock. When 1 o'clock finally rolled around, she practically bounced out of her chair, grabbing her purse and heading for the door.

Nathan was waiting outside in his car, a warm smile lighting up his face as Harper approached. As Harper slid into the passenger seat, the familiar scent of Nathan's cologne washed over her, a subtle blend of cedar and citrus that made her heart race. She inhaled deeply, savoring the aroma that had become synonymous with his presence.

Harper's heart fluttered as Nathan leaned across the center console. His warm brown eyes met hers for a brief moment before he closed the distance between them. His lips brushed against hers in a tender kiss that sent tingles down her spine. The subtle scent of his cologne enveloped her, making her head spin with delight.

Perfect mate, Reyna sighed contentedly within her.

The kiss was sweet and gentle, full of promise. When Nathan pulled back, his smile made her stomach do little flips. Heat bloomed in Harper's cheeks as she touched her fingers to her tingling lips.

"Good afternoon," Nathan told her, reaching for her hand, taking it in a warm clasp. "Ready for some delicious Mexican food?"

"Tacos," she nodded. "Bring it on!"

As they drove, Harper asked Nathan about his morning, and the children who came to see Jill. She carefully avoided any mention of the meeting - she wanted to wait until they were seated and could talk more privately.

The drive was short, and soon they were pulling up in front of a charming brick building with red, green, and white awnings over the carved wooden double doors. The smell of meat and spices wafted through the air as they stepped out of the car.

"Wow," Harper breathed, taking in the sight. "This is perfect."

"Yeah, but we won't be able to sit outside," he said, disappointment on his face, as he gestured to the crowded patio. "I guess I should have expected that, on a nice Sunday afternoon like this."

"It's okay, we can ask for a booth," Harper consoled him.

A tall, broad-shouldered man with a friendly face approached them as they entered, his arms spread wide in welcome. "Nathan! Good to see you, my friend. And who is this lovely lady?"

Nathan's face brightened, a warm smile spreading across his features. "Hey, Nick!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine pleasure. He pulled Harper close, his arm coming around her shoulders. "I'd like you to meet Harper. She's a newcomer to our little corner of the world, having just recently moved here from the city."

Harper extended her hand, a warm smile gracing her features. "It's nice to meet you, Nick."

As their hands touched, Harper felt the familiar tingle of recognition dance across her skin. Her amber eyes widened as they met Nick's dark eyes, seeing the same flash of startled awareness there. Another shifter! Her heart leaped with excitement at finding yet another member of the community. A soft chuckle escaped her lips as her eyes darted to Nathan, who was totally unaware.

At Nathan's request, Nick led them to a cozy booth in the far corner, away from the other diners. As he handed them their menus, Harper leaned in slightly.

"Nathan knows about us," she told Nick in a low voice.

Nick froze mid-motion, his eyes widening. Nathan's brow furrowed as he processed Harper's words, then his eyes lit up with understanding.

"Wait, you're a shifter too?" Nathan asked, his voice pitched low but filled with wonder.

Nick's eyes widened as he stared at Nathan. "You know about us?" He grinned, slapping Nathan's shoulder in delight. "Well, damn! I wish I'd known. I'm a badger shifter."

Harper watched Nathan's face light up with boyish enthusiasm. "That is so cool!" he exclaimed, keeping his voice low despite his excitement. "A badger shifter - I'm totally envious."

Reyna stirred within Harper, preening at Nathan's obvious fascination with shifters. The fox's satisfaction radiated through her, making Harper's lips curve into a fond smile.

Nick's attention turned to Harper. "How about you?"

"I'm a fox," she admitted. "I just moved here last week."

"Fox!" Nick's eyes widened as he stared at Harper, his expression shifting from surprise to dawning recognition. The intensity of his gaze made her want to shrink into the booth cushions.

"You're the one from Yosemite," he breathed, his voice barely above a whisper. "I heard that fox shifter was relocating here."

Heat crept up Harper's neck and flooded her cheeks. She ducked her head, fingers fidgeting with the corner of her menu. "Yes, that's me," she admitted softly.

Nick seemed to sense her discomfort, and flashed her a charming smile. "Well, welcome to our little community. I hope you're settling in well here in the Hudson Valley?"

Harper's shoulders relaxed, tension she hadn't realized she'd been carrying melting away. "I am, thank you. Everyone's been so welcoming and supportive. It feels like home already."

Nick leaned against the edge of their booth, his dark eyes studying Nathan with keen interest. "So how did you come to know about shifters?" he asked curiously. "I had no idea you knew about us."

Harper noticed Nathan shift slightly in his seat, his fingers playing with the edge of his menu. "Oh, that's... well, it's kind of a long story," he said, glancing briefly at Harper before returning his attention to Nick.

Harper recognized the hesitation in Nathan's voice - the same careful tone he'd used when explaining about Jill the jackalope. She understood his caution. After all, supernatural revelations weren't exactly casual lunch conversation, even among those in the know.

Reyna huffed inside her. Mate protects secrets well, the fox approved.

Before Nick could press further, a loud clatter echoed from the kitchen, followed by rapid-fire Spanish. Nick's head snapped toward the sound.

"Excuse me for a moment," he said, already moving toward the commotion. "I'd better check on that."

Harper watched him disappear into the kitchen, then turned to Nathan with a grin. "Small world, isn't it?"

Before Nathan could respond, Nick returned, expertly balancing two large bowls of tortilla chips and fresh salsa, plus glasses with ice water. The spicy aroma made Harper's mouth water.

"Now, what can I get you two?" Nick asked, pulling out his order pad. "Our fish tacos are excellent today - just got a fresh delivery this morning."

"Those sound perfect," Harper said, closing her menu. "I'll take that… make it the combo."

"Make that two orders of fish tacos," Nathan added. "And could we get some guacamole too?"

Nick jotted down their orders with a nod. "Right, and drinks?"

Nathan grimaced. "I'm driving, so just a Coke."

"Sucks to be you," Harper told him, and grinned at Nick. "I'll have a margarita."

"Coming right up."

As Nick gathered their menus and retreated into the restaurant's interior, Nathan leaned forward, his eyes bright with interest. "So, tell me about the meeting," he prompted, his voice warm with curiosity. "How did it go? I've been eager to hear all about it."

"It was really productive," she began, her voice soft, even though there was no one near enough to overhear them. "Katerina led the meeting with her usual enthusiasm. You know how she is—all energy and ideas." A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. "We set up different committees to help support shapeshifters who might be displaced, and the shifters here who are going public."

"We formed four main committees," Harper continued, her voice low but animated. "There's Resettlement, Integration, Threat Management, and Security. Each one has a specific focus to help the shifter community navigate this new reality."

"That sounds really well-organized," Nathan said, clearly impressed. "And you joined the Resettlement one. That makes a lot of sense. Given what you've been through, you'd have valuable insights to offer."

Harper nodded, a mix of emotions flickering across her face. "Exactly. I know firsthand what it's like to have to uproot your entire life and start over in a new place. If I can help make that transition easier for others, even in a small way, I want to do it."

Nathan's eyes softened with warmth as he absorbed Harper's words. He leaned forward, his gaze never leaving her face, and reached across the table to gently squeeze her hand.

"That's really admirable, Harper," he said, his voice low and earnest. "I'm sure your experience will be invaluable to the committee. Your insight could make a world of difference for families trying to find their footing here."

Harper felt a warmth spread through her at Nathan's touch and supportive words. She smiled, grateful for his understanding. "Thanks, Nathan. It feels good to be able to help, you know? To turn my experience into something positive for others."

"I can imagine," Nathan replied, his voice soft with admiration. "You've been through so much, and here you are, using that to help others. It's really inspiring."

Harper felt a blush creeping up her cheeks at Nathan's praise. She was about to respond when Nick appeared with their drinks, momentarily interrupting their conversation.

She took a sip of her Margarita, the tart lime and salt dancing on her tongue. She set the glass down, her amber eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint as she glanced over at Nathan. A small smile played at the corners of her mouth, anticipating his reaction to what she had to share.

"The wolf shifters have come forward to provide security for the homes and businesses of those shifters who come out in public. You know, to keep everyone safe. But, there's more," she said, her voice low and conspiratorial.

Nathan leaned in, intrigued. "Oh? What's that?"

Harper paused for a beat, her eyes dancing with barely contained amusement. She glanced around the room, ensuring no one else was wandering close enough overhear their conversation, before leaning in closer to Nathan. "For night-time patrols, well... the vampires from Manhattan have volunteered."

Harper's eyes sparkled with mischief as she watched for Nathan's reaction, anticipating.

His jaw dropped in disbelief. His lips parted and sealed several times, as if he couldn't find the right words. "Hold on, what?" he managed to splutter. "Vampires? Come on, Harper. Are you just messing with me to see if I'll believe anything?"

She couldn't contain her giggles any longer. She laughed, the sound light and musical in the warm afternoon air. "I swear it's true!" she exclaimed, holding up her hands in mock surrender. "Cross my heart!"

Nathan shook his head, a bewildered look on his face, and he peered at her closely. "No way," he said, his voice a mix of amusement and incredulity. "You're pulling my leg. Vampires? Really?"

Her eyes danced with amusement as she bobbed her head up and down. "Really. Vampires exist, and they've volunteered to handle the night-time guard duty. Since they're awake all night anyway, it's totally logical.."

Nathan leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair as he tried to wrap his mind around this new information. "Vampires," he muttered, shaking his head in amazement. "Just when I thought jackalopes and shapeshifters were the craziest thing I'd ever encounter. What's next, unicorns?"

Harper's grin widened, and she raised an eyebrow suggestively, causing Nathan to groan and bury his face in his hands.

"You're killing me here, Harper," he said, his voice muffled by his palms. "My whole world view is being turned upside down."

Harper reached across the table, gently pulling his hands away from his face. Her touch was soft, reassuring. "It may be a whole new world to you, Nathan," she said softly, her amber eyes meeting his brown ones. "But we've always been here, even if you didn't know about us."

Nathan shook his head, a mixture of disbelief and awe etched on his face. "Yes, I know," he said, his voice still tinged with incredulity. "It's just... vampires!" He ran a hand through his hair, disheveling it slightly. "I mean, shapeshifters and jackalopes were one thing, but vampires? That's a whole other level of supernatural."

Harper watched him with a mixture of amusement and sympathy. She could remember her own shock when she first learned that vampires were real, and she'd grown up in the shifter community, knowing about the many supernatural beings. She'd been a teenager, when her parents had dropped that bombshell on her. For Nathan, who had only recently been introduced to this hidden world, it must be overwhelming.

"I know it's a lot to take in," she said softly, reaching across the table to give his hand a reassuring squeeze. "But they're not like in the movies, you know. They're just... people, with their own unique challenges. Okay," she admitted. "Maybe they're a little more dangerous than normal people."

Nathan nodded slowly, his brown eyes meeting her amber ones. "I believe you," he said, his voice steadier now. "It's just going to take some time to wrap my head around it all."

As if on cue, Nick appeared at their table, balancing two steaming plates of food. The rich aroma of Mexican food wafted through the air, momentarily distracting them from their conversation.

"Here we go," Nick announced cheerfully, setting down their meals. "Fish tacos all around. Enjoy!"

As Nick turned to leave, Nathan suddenly straightened in his chair. "Wait, Nick," he called out, a determined look in his eye. Sensing what was coming, Harper's eyes began to dance with amusement.

Nick halted, turning back to them. "What is it?"

Nathan leaned forward, his eyes wide with a mixture of curiosity and trepidation. His voice dropped to a hushed whisper, barely audible above the clinking of silverware and murmur of conversation in the restaurant. "Is it true?" he asked, his words carrying an undercurrent of urgency. "Are vampires real?" The question hung in the air between them, charged with the weight of potential revelation. Nathan's heart raced as he awaited an answer, his fingers unconsciously gripping the edge of the table.

Harper had to bite her lip to keep from smiling, her eyes darting between Nathan and Nick. She could see the matching gleam of amusement in Nick's eyes, the quick glance he threw her way before answering.

Nick's face betrayed nothing, yet a trace of mirth colored his tone as he responded, "Yep, they're real, dude."

Nathan groaned, slumping back in his chair. "Unbelievable," he muttered, shaking his head.

Nick chuckled softly. "Welcome to our world, Nathan. Enjoy your meal." With that, he turned and headed back into the restaurant, leaving Nathan staring after him in stunned silence.

Harper couldn't hold back her laughter any longer. It bubbled up, light and melodious, filling the air between them. "Oh, Nathan," she said, her eyes twinkling with mirth. "Your face right now is priceless."

Nathan turned his gaze back to her, a rueful smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I'm glad I can provide you with entertainment," he said dryly, but there was no annoyance in his tone. "I suppose I should just accept that nothing is going to surprise me anymore."

Harper grinned, picking up her fork. "Oh, I wouldn't say that," she teased. "There's still plenty of surprises left in this world of ours."