Page 59 of Shifters Unifying

I shrugged but didn’t answer, aware I was probably on the verge of a grown-up version of a tantrum.Snackies and nappiesheal a million ills whether you’re little or big, my mom used to say. A reset was definitely in order.

She went on. “Well, like I said, it’d be good for the shifters from today to see you, too. They’re worried about you. So, if you’re ready, I’ll show you where we’re setting up.”

Shaking my head, I said, “I don’t think so. Not today. Maybe when I get back.”

“What? You can’t be serious. I don’t think going-it alone is your safest best at the moment.”

“Well, I’m going. Don’t make me go all multimorph on your ass.” I smiled then, to soften the cut of my words. “Will you let Logan know I’m taking some time alone? Maybe a day or two. I’ll head to the squirrel territory after that. Can you handle training the newbies for now?”

“Sure.” She frowned. “Where are you planning to go?”

“Away.”

“I’m not sure Willow Creek?—"

“Not there.”

“Good.” Her gaze narrowed, calculating. “If you travel north, you’ll run into a dirt road. Follow it west. It leads to another road, the north route will lead to an off-grid cabin all by itself in the woods, sort of in no man’s land. It’s a safe house for any shifter, and it’s generally stocked with some canned goods. You should be safe there, but I can’t make any promises about keeping other shifters away.” She didn’t have to audibly sayLoganfor me to hear his name in her warning.

“Got it.” The electronic drive still rested in my palm, and I held it out to her. “Can you keep track of this? Dr. Wise gave it to me, so I’ve got more studying ahead of me.”

“Don’t want to take that with you?” she asked.

“Is there a computer in the cabin?”

The corner of her mouth twitched as she took the drive. “Fair point. What about your cell phone? Wanna take that with?”

“I’ll deal with everything when I come back,” I said.

“Sounds good.”

“See you soon.” A gust of colorful wind burst around the corner as I drew on an abundance of shifter magic, and I dropped to all fours, already morphed into a lanky cheetah.

Then I galloped away, determined to take as much time as I needed. Toddlers or not, the clans would have to manage themselves. As I ran, two thoughts followed…

What if I can’t do this anymore?

How long would it take to find another multimorph?

CHAPTER NINETEEN

logan

Six-Mile Manor

Olivia returned to the gathering…withoutEmma.

Phil was already drinking a beer while he flipped burgers on the grill, chatting it up with the four new—and newly healed—shifters. The quintet group of squirrel shifters huddled together, chittering at one another over the hastily assembled, buffet-style food table. They were probably discussing whatever had happened during training.

I stood at the edge of the group with my arms crossed. The last thing I’d heard from my mate has beenNot now. I’d done my best to respect her wishes, to let her focus on whatever the fuck she’d been doing. But I’d been on the other side of our bond when she’d drawn all that power, and it had scared the shit out of me.

Acheron had to know Emma had been up to something, and he was hiding somewhere nearby. He’d been remarkably quiet, but he couldn’t have gone far from the multimorph he wanted.

My blonde beta paused before she strolled into the growing collection of shifters without so much as a glance at me, andI gritted my teeth. She’d promised to returnwithEmma, so I marched toward her, prepared to rip her a new one.

As I came to a stop, her gray eyes flashed. “She wants time alone, Logan.”

“That’s some bullshit,” I snarled. “I have a right to know she’s okay.”