Page 48 of Shifter and the Succubus (The Pack #1)

Sabrina and Jason were going on a vacation. Jason couldn’t believe it. But before they left for their trip, they stopped at Griffin’s. Sabrina needed to touch base with Lucas before they left, and Jason’s animal wanted to run the estate.

His cat amazed him. Seeing the world through his eyes, walking on four legs, hell, leaping through the air. It was new and exhilarating. And when he wasn’t in his cat form, his shifter senses had also emerged. Smell, sight, sound, even taste had been fine tuned.

He walked to the back patio and took in a deep breath of spring air. Before he could strip his clothes off, his phone rang.

“Hello?”

“Jason Watson?” a woman asked.

“Yes.”

“Brian Fulton gave me your number.”

Jason’s heart sped up. “Can I ask your name?”

“I’d rather not tell you.”

“Okay. Why are you calling? Do you need help?”

She blew out a breath. “I wanted to talk to you about Jessica.”

Now Jason was having trouble breathing. “You knew my mother?”

“She was an amazing person. I know you don’t remember her, but she saved numerous lives. Helped pack members escape from impossible conditions. She saved me and my daughter as well. Once I was free of the pack, I helped her with the Network.”

“That’s the people who helped save and hide the pack members?”

“Yes. And I made a promise to her that I would take you in if you shifted at age twelve.” She hesitated. “Did you have a good life?”

“I did. My adopted parents are great.”

“Jessica would be happy to know that. She talked about your mother Lidia as being one of the only true friends she had.”

Jason clenched the phone tighter. “Did you know my father?”

“No. He had already died by the time I met Jessica.”

He closed his eyes and took a breath. “Did she tell you anything about him?”

“I’m sorry, she didn’t say much. Losing him and sending you away to keep you safe were painful for her.”

“Why did you decide to reach out to me?” he pushed.

“Because I wanted to give you some sort of closure. Your mother would want that. She loved you more than anything in this world. I don’t want you to think that she gave you away because she didn’t want you.”

His vision went blurry as he blinked back tears. “Thank you. Even though Fulton wouldn’t tell me anything, I got the feeling the Network is still active. If you ever need any help, please reach out to me. I want to help.”

They hung up soon after, and he stripped and shifted into his cat.

He ran. And then he ran some more. Letting the conversation and all the anxiety he’d dealt with over the last weeks burn out of him through aching muscles and determination.

After a while he slowed and flopped onto his side, calming his racing heart.

A short time later he heard a rustle behind him and turned.

He smiled—as much as a cat can smile—at Trina’s wolf, who ambled toward him.

She let out a yip, and he growled in response.

Trina ran past him and he gave chase, catching up with her and jumping around the trees with her until they made their way to the back patio.

Trina tucked behind the small changing shed and Jason shifted and pulled on his clothes quickly before she joined him in her human form as well.

She beamed at him. “I’m so happy your cat has decided to come out.”

“Me too.”

“Are you feeling better now?”

He nodded.

“And you and Sabrina are finally together.”

He cocked his head at her. “Finally? So you knew we were supposed to be together?”

She chuckled. “Anyone could see it.”

He smiled. “Anyone, huh?”

Trina shrugged. “You’re fated mates, after all.”

“What do you know about that?”

She got a far off look in her eyes. “I know that it’s time for the spell to be broken. That fated mates are meant to be in our packs. And you started us down the path.”

“A part human shifter and a Succubus?”

She shrugged. “Stranger things have happened.”

Didn’t he know it. And once again he got the impression she knew more than she let on. “Do you think there will be other fated mates?”

Her eyes danced. “I have a feeling it’s just the beginning.”