“Well, I’m sorry about your family, but I’m glad you’re here now. I don’t mean that to sound selfish.”
“I know what you mean, and I’m glad I’m here, too.” He felt her smile against his chest, and then she shivered. “Cold?”
“Just getting a little cool. No fur coat in this form, you know.”
“I guess we should head back,” he said with real regret. “Early day tomorrow for me.”
“More demon hunting?”
“God, I hope not! The Pack has a meeting and then some training exercises. After that, Nick will probably have us wash the SUVs since that hasn’t been done in a while.”
“Sounds more fun than serving drunks.”
“Thought you like your job?”
“Most days,” she said. “But so
metimes it does get old.”
“Well, once we’re mated you can do whatever you want. Stay there and tend bar, work at the compound, or go back to school and learn something else. The choice is yours.”
Propping herself up on his chest, she stared at him. “You’d support me if I wanted to go back to school?”
“Why not? I’d like that a hell of a lot more than you being at the Grizzly every night serving guys like that asshole Grant. But like I said, it’s your deal.”
“You won’t try to use your influence as my mate to make me quit my job later on?”
“No,” he said firmly. “I’d never do that to you.”
“Thank you. I have thought of trying to do something else, but there’s never been enough money or time. I spend my days surviving, mostly.”
“Well, no more of that. My mate will do what she wants.”
She seemed so happy about that, it made him a bit sad that life hadn’t treated her the best for the last few years. She had struggled, but she wasn’t the sort to complain. He admired how she put her head down and simply did what had to be done.
With reluctance, he parted from her and prepared to leave. This spot would always be special to him, and to her, too, he hoped. There would never be another first time. But he prayed there would be many more. He still hadn’t confessed his problem and that worried him, but tonight hadn’t been the right time to spring his heavy crap on her.
Please let her understand.
They shifted back into their animal forms, and Micah admired her coyote once more. Real wild coyotes tended to be thin and scrawny, half-starved and not attractive. But Jacee’s smaller body was filled out, her coat shiny and plush. She was a perfect example of her species, and he had no clue why her kind was looked down upon in the shifter world. It didn’t make sense to him, but that sort of thing never did.
When they reached the spot where they’d left their clothing, they got dressed again, then walked back to his car. He kissed her soundly, then helped her inside. Once behind the wheel, he drove her home as slowly as possible, not wanting the night to end.
They made out in her driveway for a while, and when he couldn’t put it off any longer, he walked her to the door. “Good-bye, for now.”
She hesitated. “You can stay if you want.”
“I want to take you up on that, believe me. But I think you need your space to process everything,” he said ruefully. “I’m not going to rush you.”
“You are quite a man, Micah Chase.” She beamed at him, then gave him a long hug. When she finally pulled back, she said, “I’ll talk to you tomorrow?”
“Count on it.”
His wolf was howling piteously as he drove away from her house, and he agreed. The last thing he wanted to do was leave, but he knew he’d made the right decision. He didn’t want to rush her any more than the mating urge would necessitate. He wanted her happy. Comfortable. If that meant moving at her pace, so be it.
The hour was late, or early, depending on one’s viewpoint, when he arrived back at the compound. Only a couple of the Pack were up and about in the hallways, and he said good night to John and Sariel as he passed by. He didn’t think those two ever slept.
But he did, deeply.