Chapter Thirteen

Caspian

Our mating had been everything everyone always said it would be and so much more. With one of my mates around since I was a teenager, I’d have said I knew what that meant, but meeting Douglas had not only forged an instant connection with him but also somehow made what I already experienced with Sage more intense.

If I had to describe it, I’d say it was like we had a thin curtain between us until we arrived at Animals and met our reindeer. We knew we were mates, and everything I understood said we never should have been able to keep from acting on that for all those years. We kidded ourselves that the small make-out sessions were our choice to keep things from going too far. Now that the bond was forged between all three of us, nothing could stop us from making love, from making a life together.

There was a lot to figure out, still, but as we’d told him, Sage and I were never going to leave him behind. Whatever we did and wherever we did it from now on was a group decision based on the best for all of us. But there were also going to be times when it was just two together, and we had decided Sage and I had spent many happy hours together as friends/almost mates, and he and Douglas had their special time together.

Now, it was my turn to take our omega out for a date, just the two of us. And since Douglas had been in the area more than my few days, I did what seemed logical and asked him what he would like to do.

“Whatever you’d like,” he said. “Maybe you want to sightsee or something?”

San Diego had many amazing things to do, places to go… I actually had looked online before we came on our trip, but I’ve never loved big crowds like I expected to see at the zoo or Sea World—which had other issues in my mind, since I knew an orca shifter in Alaska, and she was adamantly against captive sea mammals.

She was fine with the fish.

“I’m up for anything you’d enjoy,” I told him. “But if you don’t have a specific idea, maybe Ben at Animals would?” He’d seemed very friendly.

“Maybe so!” He grinned. “Let’s call him.”

I grabbed my phone and called the club, hoping to catch the security chief in. The person who answered put me on hold while she went to check, but the next voice I heard was definitely a bear.

“Ben here.”

“I don’t know if you remember us. We booked a room there, and you spoke to my mate Sage the other night?”

“Oh, the lovebirds.” He chuckled. “You were the talk of the place. What can I do for you?”

Douglas tapped the speaker button on my phone and shrugged.

I nodded, wanting him to know it was fine to do that before continuing my conversation with Ben. “I wondered if you could suggest a good date spot for a couple of shifters wanting to be free to be themselves? Besides your fine club, that is.”

“Well, there is a beach…”

Which was how we found ourselves on a secluded beach a ways north of town, parked right by a small sign marking it as private property. The bear had related that it was shifter-exclusive, and that it was a great place to shift and play in the waves in the evenings when boats and low-flying planes were unlikely to see us. We picked up a picnic lunch at a deli Ben also recommended and arrived just as the sun was setting.

“This was the view when we first arrived at Animals,” I said, pulling the cooler from the back seat. “And it’s even more stunning down here. Do you like the beach?”

“I’ve rarely been,” he confided. “Since I arrived, I’ve been so busy, I haven’t taken a lot of time for myself. Also, the only beaches I knew of were full of humans, and my reindeer didn’t think it was fair that he couldn’t come out and play. He’s a big water fan.”

“My wolf loves to splash in the river near our pack lands.” I carried the cooler down near the edge and set it down while Douglas spread out a blanket he’d brought from home. “So…ready to swim?”

“Is it weird that we are the only people here?” He looked up and down the sand. “Are we in the right place?”

“We followed the directions we were given and there was that sign. I think it’s just the time of year.” It was a little chilly, but compared to Alaska it was positively toasty. And for a reindeer, it should also be fine. “They aren’t as hardy as us.”

“Some should be.” His brows came down then lifted. “But I guess I shouldn’t complain.” He pulled his shirt over his head. “Shift?”

“Absolutely.” My wolf was growling and pawing inside me at the sight of the foaming waves rolling up the shore. “I’ll race you.”

Something about our omega brought out the kid in me, and I stripped as fast as possible and tore off toward the water…on Douglas’ slender heels. To anyone passing by, it might appear that the deer was being menaced by a fierce predator, at least until they saw the confusing sight of us frolicking in the waves. My wolf found it not at all cold, and Douglas frisking along the tide line appeared just as happy with the whole thing. It was in fact magical. The window for swimming in Alaska, at least with enjoyment, was very limited, and I could easily imagine it would be nice to be able to come down here anytime. Sage would love it!

After we let the animals play awhile, we shifted back and curled up on the blanket to enjoy our picnic. I might have been more focused on the delicious roast beef sandwiches and potato salad if Douglas had not still been naked. And me as well. For a moment, I wondered if we could roll up in the blanket and do the naughty, but I was afraid it might be a crime. So, we ate and drank and hung out with only a little kissing and hugging until we got back in the car, when things got a little hotter and heavier.

Having one mate was incredible. Two might be the end of me. But in such an amazing way.