Cael (Were Zoo Book 11) by R. Butler (best e reader for academics .txt) 📗

“Why are some of the SUVs marked and some aren’t?”

Half of the park’s SUVs had large logos on the sides and back, and the others were plain.

“When Rhapsody and Kelley went to her place to pack after they mated, we only had marked vehicles, and they used one. It turned out that a male was stalking her in order to take her as his mate, and he was watching her house. He saw the park’s information on the SUV and came for her.”

“Scary. She’s okay though, right?”

“Yep. It all worked out, but the alphas declared that if someone wasn’t doing official park work, they needed to use an unmarked vehicle.”

She hummed. “That’s pretty smart.”

“That’s why they’re the alphas.”

“So who will be alpha when Alistair is finished?”

“I don’t know, actually. I expect he’ll be alpha until he dies or decides to retire. Elephants aren’t like wolves that need ranks, so we don’t have an official second-in-command. We’d probably vote on who took over, or Alistair might name his successor.”

“Do you want to be alpha?”

“Nah, I’ve got my hands full being the only vet. Being alpha means meetings with the other alphas and being responsible for the safety of every shifter in the park, not just our people. I only want to be responsible for you and our children, and the animals.”

He pulled into a spot near the front door of the thrift shop.

“I really don’t want to go to work today,” she said, brushing a lock of hair away from her face.

“I don’t either, but we do what we must.”

“Thank goodness in two weeks I’ll be able to be in the park and we won’t have to say goodbye like this and be apart.”

“It’ll be nice to see you whenever I want.”

“I agree, I’m pretty fabulous.” She shot him a big grin, and he chuckled.

“You are,” he said.

Her eyes grew serious, and she said, “I’m going to miss you. But I’m excited for the day to be over so we can see my mom and pack up.”

“That goes double for me.” They kissed, and though he’d meant it to be quick so he didn’t get too caught up in her, she was addictive in every form of the word, and the kiss grew deep really fast.

She pulled back with a little sigh. “So easy to get carried away.”

“It really is. Have a good day, sweetheart. Love you.”

“Love you too. See you at five.”

She grabbed her pack and shouldered it as she climbed from the SUV. He waited until she was inside the building and had turned to wave at him. Giving her a wave in return, he turned from the parking lot and headed back to the park.

Once he’d arrived, he got a text from his parents that they were available for a video chat, so he called them from the maintenance shed while he prepped the food for the antelope, deer, and Tank.

“How are you, son?” his dad, Braden, asked.

“Great, Dad, you?”

“Could complain, but I won’t. I’m breathing, the sun is shining, and I’m getting a new chair for my office on Friday.”

“Sounds good. How are you, Mom?”

“Good, honey.”

His parents weren’t mated. They were part of the same memory that he’d grown up in, but aside from getting together to have him, they hadn’t wanted anything more permanent. They were both hoping to someday find their soulmate.

“So the reason I wanted to talk to you guys is that I found my soulmate. Her name is Novi and she’s human. Well, part human and part polar bear.”

There was stunned silence for a long moment and then both his parents talked over each other as they congratulated him.

“Wait, did you say she was part polar bear?” his mom, Abigail, asked.

“Yeah. It’s a crazy situation,” he said, explaining how her life had been as she and her mom had stayed hidden from her father who was clearly off his rocker.

“That’s terrible,” his father said. “The male should’ve taken them both in instead of trying to kill her. I’ve never heard of that happening, but then again polar bears notoriously keep to themselves and tend to be old fashioned with lots of rules and traditions.”

Cael nodded. “I think that’s the case. He’s following his group’s rules and that’s why he won’t just leave them alone.”

“She’ll be safe with you in the park, though,” his mom said. “That’s the benefit of where you guys live. I’m not sure I could stand to live underground, but it does have its benefits.”

“You get used to it,” Cael said. “We’re hoping to get Novi’s mom to take one of the apartments here, so she’ll be safer. Until she does, Novi and I will stay underground, and then we’ll move up into the complex when she does.”

“How are you going to get her into an apartment?” his dad asked.

“We’re not sure yet. The alphas are trying to come up with a plausible explanation for why she can take one of them, but so far no one has any good ideas.”

“I’m sure you’ll come up with something,” his mom said. “So when can we meet Novi?”

“I’d like to bring her to the memory in a few weeks maybe? But I was hoping we could all video chat tonight.”

“That would be fine,” his dad said. “Just send us a note to let us know when.”

“You got it,” Cael said.

“Can’t wait to meet her,” his mom said. “And we’re so happy for you, honey.”

“Thanks, Mom. Love you both.”

His parents returned the sentiment and said goodbye. Cael smiled, thankful that his parents were happy for him. He’d known they would be. They wanted him to be happy, and they didn’t care that Novi was