Colton smiled as he looked over at him. “You would. But really think about this, Justin. It’s against shifter law. We could become the ones the true Enforcers hunt. Rogues who are hunting rogues. Besides, how would I even be able to find shifters who’ve been rejected and want to join?”
“I think if we stay off the radar and don’t go after the ones the true Enforcers are going after, it could work. And the answer to finding them is obvious. Skylar. He can sniff out anything about anyone. He’d easily be able to find them.”
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I think this is a great idea, her owl said inside her, causing her to jump. She didn’t know when she’d ever get used to that. No, not great, it’s brilliant. It gives our mate and our new family their dream, and gives others the chance to have theirs, too.
Our mate? she asked cautiously, still not sure what the word meant.
Oh, he absolutely is. No question about that. You need to claim him now that he’s claimed you. Do it soon.
Her owl fell quiet and she blinked, trying to refocus on the conversation. She’d come back to the mate thing later, when she and Colton were alone.
“Who’s Skylar?”
“Someone we grew up with. He’s a chicken shifter, and he’s the best snoop I’ve ever met.”
Justin nodded. “Yep, with the best cock jokes ever. And he’s always wanted to be an Enforcer, too, but they wouldn’t accept his animal. He’d totally be down for this.”
“Wait,” she said, holding up a hand. “There are chicken shifters with mad cock jokes running around?”
Colton laughed. “Yeah. He and his family are the only ones I’ve known, but I’m sure there must be more. He’s always making inappropriate cock jokes. Since, you know, he’s a rooster.”
Pursing her lips, she nodded, deciding she was going to try not to be surprised by anything else in the new world she was apart of again. “He sounds like an interesting character.”
“He is,” Justin replied in agreement before looking at Colton. “Go get him and enlist his help. He hangs out with the Blood and Bone Enforcers. You can say hi to Blake and Liam while you’re there.”
Colton glanced over at her. “They’re Enforcers I was in training with.” He went quiet for a moment, frowning thoughtfully. “Okay. We’ll do this. But we have to be cautious. I’m not trying to be the one hunted and put in shifter prison.”
Justin let out a whoop, going over to his cousin and thumping him on the back. “That’s what I’m talking about.”
“All right now get out of here,” Colton ordered with a smirk. “I need some time with my mate.”
He glanced over at her. “Thank you for coming up with that idea. And I really am so—”
“Don’t say it again,” she said with a laugh. “It’s all good.”
He nodded at her with a warm smile. “Welcome to the family.”
Turning, he left the room, presumably going to the one they’d gotten him earlier. Colton stood up and came to the bed, sitting sideways next to her, and she turned to face him.
Brushing her hair behind her ear, he searched her eyes for a moment. “Are you really okay? How are you doing?”
“I promise I’m fine. I’ve never been better, actually. You don’t have to keep asking. I’d tell you if something was wrong, but it’s all perfect.”
And it really was. Her uncle was completely fine—he had a lump on his head and he was pissed the hell off, at both being knocked out and her being kidnapped. But he was healthy, with no lasting injuries.
She had the most amazing man she’d ever met sitting next to her, and he loved her. Enough to ask his cousin to turn her when she was dying, so he’d have forever with her.
There was a snowy owl living in her chest, which was still mind blowing to her, but the coolest thing ever. Her senses were enhanced, she felt stronger and just better, all around. And even though she and her animal had just met, it was like they were already in accord. Like they were already friends.
She always felt as if she had a hole in her chest for years, a void she hadn’t even realized was there, until her owl was filling it.
And Colton had his cousin back, and his dream was finally in reach again.
Life wasn’t just good. It was damned near perfect in that moment.
“What’s a mate? You’ve called me yours, and my owl said the same of you.”