Chapter Four

James

I want to pluck Caine's eyes from his head as I watch my mate disrobe, her nudity on display for a split-second before the air around her shimmers and she shifts. I am struck speechless as I stare at her. I thought she was beautiful the moment I saw her, but her animal is magnificent.

Peyton takes a seat beside her mate and smiles at her friend. "I was waiting for you to show us."

"You knew?" I ask.

"Everyone knows," Peyton says with an eye roll. "She smells like a predator but definitely not wolf. Max will be happy to know he was right. The guys have been taking bets."

My mate shifts back and covers her nudity quickly. It is something I am happy about and pissed off at the same time. I watch her as she processes the words and I see the moment something inside her snaps.

"What the hell?" she asks loudly. "I've been living in fear that you would send me away if you found out and you've known all along!"

"April," Caine says softly as he stands and steps closer to her. "We were giving you time to get acclimated to the people. Besides, it's no one's business if you don't want to tell them."

"For God's sake, Caine. I'm a fucking panther!" she yells, tears streaming down her face. "Your pack deserves to know who is living here."

"They do," Peyton interrupts. "You're April. The sweetest person most of us have ever met. You love cooking even though you're still learning, you help whenever and wherever you can, and the kids love you. The animal you change into doesn't make a damn difference. You're still you."

"And you?" she asks, turning her tear-filled gaze on me. "You've been held captive and abused for years only to find a mate and now I'm not even a wolf. How do you feel about that?"

"I don't know," I reply honestly but I don't get to say the rest of my sentence before both she and Peyton are glaring at me.

"Well, then, you can refuse me," April says angrily. "I don't care if you want me or not. It's my birthday and I am going to get drunk."

She spins on her heel with Peyton following close behind. I am shocked. Stunned speechless where I have been standing behind the counter. After a long tense silence, I turn to Caine.

"Does Peyton also cut you off before you finish speaking?"

A deep laugh rumbles out of him. "All the damn time."

"Should I follow her?" I rub at my temples where a headache is brewing.

Women have always been a mysterious breed to me, and it seems things haven't changed through the years. I wonder if I will ever understand what women want.

"I wouldn't," he says opening the fridge and handing me a beer. "I would give her a day or two to cool down. She seemed pretty pissed off."

I nod my head as I take a big gulp of the ice-cold beer, my first in years.

"Do you care?" Caine asks after another stretch of silence.

I don't have to ask. I know he is referring to her animal.

"Not one fucking bit."

"Good. I think Peyton may have kicked your ass if you did."

****

April

Fucking pack.

Fucking mate.

Fucking day.

The door to the house I live in slams into the wall hard enough to leave a dent. I can hear Peyton following me, but I won't acknowledge her. My thoughts are running a mile a minute and I don't know what will come out of my mouth if I speak right now.

Instead, I make a beeline for my freezer where I have a near-empty bottle of tequila calling my name. Grabbing the bottle, I unscrew the top and swallow as much as I can before my throat feels like it's on fire.

"Fuck!" I yell, throwing the now-empty bottle at the wall.

I'm so pissed off I can't even think straight. How stupid can I be? I can't believe I honestly thought the entire pack of wolves couldn't scent the difference between me and themselves. Hell, I can, so why wouldn't they?

"Are you going to break anything else?" Peyton asks from where she is leaning in the doorway.

"Probably," I mutter, lamenting the fact that there is no more alcohol in my house.

"Can we talk?"

"I honestly don't feel like it. Besides, what is there to say?"

She sighs before walking into my kitchen and taking a seat at the little table in the breakfast nook. I love my house. When I got here, everything was painted white, but I have slowly been making it my own. The kitchen walls are now painted a soft pale yellow, and I have lace curtains covering the windows.

She waits patiently for me to join her. With a huff I stride across the tiled floor and plop down in one of the chairs.

"I know this is overwhelming," Peyton says. "But we are all here for you. We thought giving you time and allowing you to tell us about your animal in your own time was the right thing to do. I can see the mistake now."

My anger deflates with her words and the way she looks at me. I know none of the members in this pack meant to cause me any harm.

"I was afraid if you … if the pack … found out, I would be forced to leave," I say softly, staring at my hands. "I don't want to leave."

"I'm sorry," she replies taking one of my hands in hers. "I know there are many packs that don't allow other species in, but we aren't like them. You are a valued member of this pack. Just because you're a big fat cat doesn't mean we like you any less."

I can't help but laugh at her words or the way she wrinkles her nose.

"Thank you. "For everything," I say. "Also, not fat."

"Enough of this sadness and anger," Peyton says, waving her hand through the air dismissively. "You said something about a birthday?"

"Shit. I didn't tell anyone."

"Why not?" she asks loudly.

"I don't know," I reply with a shrug. "It's never been a thing. I've always been alone on my birthday."

She frowns before hugging me from the side. "You're not alone anymore. And part of that is celebrating your birthday with your friends." I stare at her in confusion. "We are going out tonight. Get ready, we'll pick you up in an hour."

"What?" I ask, confusion coating my words.

Peyton is already up and moving. "Just do what I say. We're going to have some fun."