I leaned against a tree, relishing its sturdiness. I’m all about nature; I appreciate every aspect of it, and I draw comfort from it. I needed a little comfort just then. As I looked around, I realized sadly that Connor was right. There wasn’t as much laughter as usual. Everyone seemed to realize that our world was on the brink of shifting—and we just weren’t comfortable with aspects of shifting that weren’t directly related to our bodies. Maybe that was the reason we still used terms like mate and only the guys publicly declared their intended. We were archaic in a quaint sort of way.
As it grew dark, a few torches were lit for the benefit of those of us who hadn’t had our first transformations yet. Those who could shift had the keen night vision of a wolf, even when they weren’t in wolf form. After the initial transformation, we brought many of our enhanced abilities back to our human shape. On one hand, I couldn’t wait. And on another, I was still terrified. What would it really be like? And what if I’d made a mistake in selecting my mate?
“So who’s ahead?”
My heart galloped at the familiar raspy voice so near my ear. I don’t know anyone else who moves as silently as Rafe. Glancing back over my shoulder, hoping he didn’t hear the wild pounding of my heart, I smiled casually at him. “The sons, I think. How come you’re not playing?”
An odd expression crossed his face—and I remembered that his dad had died. “I’m sorry. That was thoughtless—”
“No big deal. It’s not like it was any great loss to the clan.”
“But it was to you.”
“Not really. So is this the dullest summer solstice celebration we’ve ever had, or have I just outgrown them?”
It was obvious that he wanted to change the subject. His dad had died in a car crash that he’d caused after getting behind the wheel drunk. I accepted the new topic with grace. “Oh, it’s definitely the dullest.”
“You want to sneak away for a while? I’ve got my bike.”
I felt a spark of pleasure that he’d asked, and abruptly realized how inappropriate my reaction was. “Thanks, but I can’t.”
Because I couldn’t get that dream out of my mind, or the way he’d watched me during the meeting. And if we were alone, out in the woods…
The truth was that I didn’t trust myself. Would I give into temptation? Rafe called to some part of me, something inside me that I didn’t understand. He made me think about getting up close and personal with him—and Connor had already claimed that privilege with me.
I looked back toward the game, watched as Connor raced out and caught the pass thrown by Lucas. Only a few people cheered. It was as though everyone wanted to make sure that no one in the forest heard us—as though we’d reverted back to being ultrasecret. The way we were acting, we might as well have been afraid of our own shadows.
“You know they’ll play for a couple more hours,” Rafe said. “We’re legendary for our stamina. Even the old guys are like Energizer bunnies: They just keep on going and going.”
“I know, but—”
“Come on, Lindsey. I’m just talking about a ride on my bike. It’s way more fun than leaning against a tree.”
And here I’d always thought he was a guy of few words.
But he was right. I was bored out of my mind. Rafe and I were friends. I could go with him and not do anything to betray Connor. Couldn’t I? Sure I could. I never wanted to hurt Connor. It was one of the reasons that I was keeping buried so many of my doubts about us. “Connor and I—”
“I know,” he said with a hint of wistfulness. “You’re destined for each other. He’s got your name inked on his shoulder and everything.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “You have a tattoo. Whose name is it?”
Usually a guy declared his mate before he had a symbol representing her name etched on his skin, but Rafe wasn’t about following rules. Only recently had we learned that he had a tattoo.
“Come with me,” he dared. “Maybe I’ll tell you.”
“I’m not going to do anything Connor wouldn’t like.”
“I won’t ask you to.”
His voice held a resignation that I didn’t quite understand. It made me wonder again if he felt the same pull toward me that I did toward him. Besides, I couldn’t deny that I was curious about his ink.
“I can’t stay away long,” I said quietly. When the game ended, Connor would be looking for me. I didn’t want to give him any reason to question my loyalty. And the more time I spent with Rafe, the greater the chance of me doing something I shouldn’t. Like finding out if his kisses in reality were as amazing as the one in my dream.
“Just a quick ride. No one will even miss us,” he promised.
I glanced back at him and nodded. It was easier to do things I wasn’t supposed to if I didn’t actually give voice to them.
THREE
As the wind whipped my white-blond hair, which flowed like silk behind me, I felt carefree, unburdened by the future. I tightened my arms around Rafe and pressed my cheek against his strong, broad back. His headlights remained off. I knew it was probably crazy, but I trusted him not to get us killed as he sped through the dark forest on his motorbike. Even for a Shifter, he has excellent night vision.
I laughed just for the hell of it, simply because I could do so with no one but Rafe to hear me, and the sound reverberated between the trees, echoing off the thick canopy of leaves overhead. Rafe’s booming laugh drowned out mine. It was so wonderful to hear joyous laughter again. I hated that Bio-Chrome had taken it away from us, had turned our celebration into a wake.
Rafe and I had grown up in Tarrant, a small town near the entrance to the national forest. Although he’s two years older than me, we’d gone to the same schools. We’d even been in a couple of the same classes. I was an academic whiz; he wasn’t particularly. What was advanced for me was normal for him. I’m into using my brain, while he’s all about using his hands.
A shiver coursed through me as I remembered the dream—the way his large hands had caressed my back and held me close.
Among the guys, Rafe is known for what he can do with mechanics, with a motor. Evidence of his skill was purring beneath me now as we raced over ground where there was no actual trail. It was a prototype he was working on: a two-wheeler all-terrain vehicle that could cut a neat swath through the forest without struggling over rugged ground. He’s a mechanical genius.