Page 4 of Miles's Pact
Hey, I tried to say into his mind, and he jumped again, telling me he could hear me. Not all shifters could talk to each other like this. The alpha of a pack could communicate to members of her pack when they were both in their animal forms, but mates could communicate even when one of them was in their human form. It was especially useful when only one of the mates was a shifter.
Mateo and I had always been able to communicate in our shifted forms, and until now, I'd assumed it was because we were twins. Could it be that we were mates as well? I knew siblings or family members could be platonic mates, so maybe we were and we'd never realized.
I'm sorry I brought you home without your permission, Mateo said, breaking me out of my thoughts.I forgot I could communicate with you this way. Would you like to go back there? We could come visit you instead if you feel more comfortable at the shelter.
Fondness rushed through me at Mateo's thoughtfulness, and he shot me a look, his feathers fluffing up with pride.
The shifter was quiet for a long moment, and I wondered if he even spoke English.
What do you want from me?he asked, his voice devoid of inflection or tone. I wondered if that was because we hadn't heard his actual voice yet.
Mateo and I shared a glance, and he nodded once, telling me I should reply.
Nothing. We don't want anything from you. We want to help you. Is something stopping you from shifting?I asked, remembering how Ollie—a cat shifter in our pack—had been cursed by a warlock to be trapped in his cat form.
I don't want to, he replied after a long moment, and I blinked. Was he planning to live like a duck for the rest of his life?
That's okay, Mateo said before I could say anything, and the shifter relaxed a little.You don't have to shift. Can you tell us your name?
The shifter was silent for so long I was sure he wasn't going to answer. After what felt like ages, he said,Duckie.
I shared a glance with Mateo, wondering if that was his real name or if he didn't want to tell us.
This wasn't quite how I'd imagined meeting my mate, but it was par for the course for this town. At least I wouldn't have to figure this out on my own. As always, Mateo would be right there with me.
Duckie
It had been a long time since I came across other shifters, and yet I'd met quite a few of them in the past week.
For most of my life, I'd been a free bird, but an accident when I'd been flying too low had landed me in a bird sanctuary, and then I'd somehow found myself in a pet shelter run by a wolf shifter. She'd figured out I wasn't just a duck, and she'd kept bringing by supes to see me. I hadn't understood why she was doing that, but I got it now as I stared at the two shifters perched in front of me.
They were brothers, and my mates. Both of them.
My parents had been fated mates, so I knew how all-consuming and good a mate bond could be. Somehow, I'd lucked into having not one, buttwoof them.
Judging by what the one called Mateo had said, our bond wouldn't be romantic. But the other one? Yeah, he was different.
I didn't know what to think of any of it, but I knew I didn't want to shift back. A small part of me felt silly for still being unwilling. It'd been years since that night. I wasn't a scared little kid anymore. And yet even the thought of taking my human form scared the crap out of me, so maybe I was.
Life as a duck was so much easier. I didn't have to think as hard, and I didn't have to be afraid.
My name is Miles, the other owl said in my mind, pulling me back to the present. I tilted my head, taking in the owls. They weren't very big compared to me, and looked like balls of fluff with eyes and beaks more than anything. They were the least scary thing I'd ever seen, and it made me feel a little less afraid.
I don't want to go back, I said, replying to the question Mateo had asked me before, and he hopped in place. I could feel his satisfaction, and it made my chest lift in a strange sort of joy.
The one downside to spending all my life in this form was that I'd never had a friend, not since I was eight at least. I missed it, missed talking to people, missed spending time with someone, missed the intimacy that came with having someone you could rely on.
Maybe, if these two were okay with me not shifting, we would be friends? I didn't think I could be more than that to Miles, not unless I got over my fear of shifting, but if he didn't mind being friends...
Okay, I'm getting hungry. Duckie, what would you like to eat for dinner?Mateo asked, and I blinked.
I can pick?
Of course. If it's not something I can make at home, we can order in.
I thought about it for a few short seconds before the answer spilled from my lips. It was only after I'd said it that I realized how childish it sounded.
Mac and cheese?
