Page 26 of Ice King

“That’s what he said only I didn’t know there was more to his bloodline as well.”

“I’m sorry. Had I known that you were in the dark about the situation, I wouldn’t have brought it up. I feel like such a shit for doing that to you.”

“You’re not a shit. I’m just processing everything. I think I need proof. I spent enough time studying anatomy and neurosciences that I need the real thing right in front of me. You know, like watching one of them shift.”What are you doing, girl? You don’t want to see them in wolf form!

Hmmm… Maybe just one of them.

Both her eyebrows lifted. “You studied neuroscience for massage therapy?”

Her father really hadn’t told his daughter anything. “I’ve taken other classes along the way.”

“Ah, okay. I don’t blame you.”

“Have you ever seen anyone shift into a wolf or a lion or anything else?” How far did this insanity go? Were there alligator shifters?

“No. I came close, but shifters can be very shy about allowing people into their world. They fear retribution. I’d heard some people still think shifters should be exterminated. That’s why when they feel the need to shift, they do so in private. Don’t worry. They’re not suddenly going to appear next to your house.”

“Why do they hide? If they don’t eat people, then there’s nothing to worry about. My God. I’m buying into this.”

“It’s true. Everything Roxanne told you is true.” Jake suddenly appeared. He was casual about his comment as he placed a delicious-looking appetizer in front of us.

At that point, I was terrified I wasn’t really having this conversation, perhaps falling into some level of psychosis after what I’d endured the last ten days. Or maybe I was hopeful I was merely having a daydream. Was the thought that shifters lived amongst us remotely exciting? Yes, on some primal level, but I’d been taught not to believe in fairytales.

I lifted my head so I could look him in the eyes. “There’s no way of telling who a shifter is and who isn’t?”

There was a glint in his eyes that appeared almost mischievous, as if no one had asked him that question before. He appeared completely normal, a rugged-looking guy with dimples in his cheeks, thick tousled hair, and friendly eyes, but who was I to judge?

“Not unless we partially shift.”

I don’t know why I was nodding as if in full acceptance of what he’d just said. As if the conversation was completely normal when it was anything but. “You can partially shift.”

“Sure thing. If we’re enraged or very passionate about a situation, we can lose control of our wolves briefly, but we’ve been trained how to handle those situations. At least most of us anyway. Don’t worry, Georgia. We’re not interested in hurting humans and I’ll let you in on a little secret. There’s a lot of us who haven’t shifted for years and have no intention of doing so. We don’t need to hunt for our food and even the freedom that being a wolf allows isn’t the thrill ride it once was.”

“A thrill ride.”

“Yes, running freely without the confines of our human bodies. Feeling the cool breeze in our fur and the damp earth in our claws. The thrill of the chase and the speeds that we can run areall undeniably attractive. Some within the younger generation are finding a new love for embracing their wolf, but it’s a mixed bag at this point.”

“And you?” I dared to ask.

He shrugged, very nonchalant about the entire situation when I was freaking out a little inside. Had my father known he was placing me in a society full of dangerous wolves?

“I haven’t shifted in a couple years, but I won’t lie and suggest the hankering hasn’t been there lately. Now that we no longer feel the need to hide, I might find the joy in doing so. I don’t know. We’ll see. Can I get you ladies another drink?”

I held up my glass. Thank God, I didn’t have far to drive. “Please.”

“Sure. Why not,” Roxanne said, her entire face beaming, reminding me of when I was in high school and my best friend and I had shared secrets we swore we’d take to the grave. “So what do you think?”

“What do I think? I think I just dropped into an episode of theTwilight Zone. Ford Kendrick is really a wolf?’

“Hence the Wolfman.”

“My God. Are they all so arrogant?”

“Pretty much. Think about it. They could be tops in any sport. They could blow the competition away, but they choose not to. They harness their natural power, which is an amazing feat if you ask me. But also, a reason so many people still hate them and some politicians do not want them allowed to play sports.”

“Ford really doesn’t use his special attributes?”

“Oh, my guess is like any red-blooded male, when they become hyped up on adrenaline, they use every bit of their masculinity, but he’s very controlled. So are his brothers. However, that gives them the excuse in their minds to act so damn overconfident. Because they know they’re hot stuff.”