“Has dinner started yet?”
“No. I don’t know if I can last ‘til dinner.”
“You’ll last. Ben is probably handling it like the pro he is. Give him some credit.”
“I left him alone with them.”
She imagined Dana rolling her eyes.
“I’m hanging up now.”
When she got back to the sitting room it was only Ben sat waiting. “Dinner will be served soon.”
“I’m really sorry about this,” she said, tucking some hair behind her ear.
“Come here.”
She went to him. Ben reached out, tugging her onto his lap. “What if we get caught?” she asked, looking toward the door.
“I think David and Susan would understand this a lot more than us being apart,” he said.
“What do you mean?”
Ben let out a sigh. “Your parents love you. They love you and care about you and want to see you cared for.”
“You’ve clearly got the wrong message from them.”
He wouldn’t let her move. “But they’re into each other. They’re so totally in love with each other that they can’t let anyone else in. There are times they feel guilty about their feelings because they do want time alone, away from you.”
“I don’t believe you. They’re like stone.”
“When we were knocking on the door, your dad was fucking your mom, Heather.”
“What? Eww, gross. There are some things a daughter should never know.”
Ben was laughing. “They’re totally into each other, which sometimes makes them act like their one and only daughter doesn’t exist.”
****
The look of total disgust made Ben laugh. He’d not wanted to tell her, but the way she was treating her family was wrong. They were not the best people when it came to others, he’d admit. He scented the truth on their skin and in their looks. David and Susan Howard were like a rich mated couple. Nothing and no-one existed outside of the realm of their feelings for one another. In all honesty he was a little jealous of their feelings for one another. They were so much in love that at times they forgot about their own daughter. It wasn’t right, but was it so wrong?
He’d never forget about his children. When they all grew up he’d still have his woman by his side.
Susan came back to the room with her hair ruffled. He’d heard them kissing as he’d been talking with Heather.
Dinner was interesting. Susan and David were good cooks but nothing like Kathleen Ashton. He knew where Heather learned her skills from. The couple did try their best to bring more of a conversation out of Heather. His woman was having a hard time.
Every now and then she’d rub her nose where the scars started. Her parents didn’t mention them at all, and it was clearly bugging her. Ben saw the evidence clear on her face. She wanted them to notice her enough to mention the scars.
Taking her hand in his, he ate his food while listening and answering questions. Their time at David and Susan’s house was not bad even if it wasn’t great. He understood why Heather gravitated toward the shifters. She was a natural, cuddly person. Her personality couldn’t allow her to be closed off. It made perfect sense to him as to why she was his mate.
He was thankful when it was time for them to leave. Heather said her goodbyes without giving them a hug or anything. Ben scented their relief at getting through the dinner without grossing out their daughter.
Seated in the car, Ben pulled out of the lot.
“They’re that into each other they didn’t see my scars? That’s bullshit, and even I know that.” Heather turned on him. “What are you not telling me?”
“Your parents and any non-mated human can’t see the marks on your face. When you walk down the street you’ll look exactly the same as you did before you met me.” He gripped the steering wheel tightly.
“What? No, that’s nonsense. I can see the scars as plain as you can.”
“Your parents are not mated to a shifter. They cannot see your scars and do not know they’re there. You’re mated to me and can see the scars, which is known as the shifter’s possession in my family line.”
She was silent for a long time. During the silence he sped on home. He wanted to hold her and be able to look her in the eye when he told her the truth.
Heather didn’t wait for him to open the door. He followed behind her and watched as she slammed into the house.
Ben found her stood at the mirror inside their bathroom. She’d left all the mirrors downstairs to come to this mirror in the bathroom. Folding his arms over his chest, he waited to gain her attention.
“This does not make any sense,” she said. “I can see it.”
“You’re mated to me. Of course you can see it.”
“No humans can see it?” she asked, looking at him.
He nodded.
“All along you knew?”
“After the first attack we didn’t know if you were going to make it. Most humans die from an attack like that. When you didn’t die and you grew stronger and were not pushing me away, I knew without a doubt you were my mate.” He took a step toward her.
“Do all mates have this mark?” she asked.
“Some mates have worse marks. It’s easier the more you’re around shifters to no longer see the scars. Over time, you’ll eventually no longer see it.” Ben reached out, pressing a finger down to where the line ended on her neck. “This was my mark. It’s vicious, and every shifter will know I lost control. When they first look at you, they’ll see my loss of control but admire you.”
“Why?”
“Because not only did you survive such a strike but you’re still with me. You’re a warrior, Heather. My warrior.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about this? I could have seen my parents before now.”
How did he answer that question?
With the truth!
“I thought if I told you the truth you’d leave me without giving me a chance.”
“You thought I’d leave you?”
He cupped her face in his palms. “I’d hurt you badly, Heather. This gives you a chance to have a life away from me. Only you and mated shifters will ever be able to see the truth. Over time you’d forget about them and me.”
“So you kept the truth from me.”
“Being without you terrified me. I was selfish, and I shouldn’t have done it. I just wanted the chance to prove to you that I’m a good guy and how much I love you.”
“I could walk away?” she asked.
“Yeah, you could walk away.” His throat felt incredibly dry.
“And you couldn’t stop me?”
“No, I can’t stop you. All I ever want is your happiness. If you can’t find happiness with me then I’ll let you find it elsewhere.” Tears were blurring his vision.
“Okay.” She walked out of the bathroom, and Ben broke apart.
Let her go. She deserves better than you.
His heart pounded against his chest. He had to let her go.
I can’t. I need her. I love her. I can make her happy.
Before he could talk himself out of it, Ben charged out of the bathroom and jumped over the staircase landing on the floor. Heather was sat with her back against the door. Her knees were up against her chest, and she stood up as he stared at her.
“It’s about time. I was giving you another couple of minutes, and then you were going to get your tiger ass kicked.”
“What?” Tears fell from his eyes. He took several steps, stopping in front of her.
“I’m in love with you, Ben. I could leave and pretend to love someone else, but I’d only be kidding myself and hurting someone else. I love you, and I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me. Tiger shifter or not, you’re mine, and I’m not going anywhere.”
He silenced her with his lips. “I love you. God, I don’t know what I’d have done if you left.”
“Before we move on, I need to see you in your tiger form,” Heather said.
“What? No, you’d be scared.”
She pressed a finger to his lips. “Show me your true self. I’m not afraid. I want you to be yourself.”
“How did I get so lucky?” he asked.
“Show me.”
He took several steps away from her. Staring into her eyes, Ben changed into his tiger form. He was a little bigger than natural tigers.
Heather hesitated at first and then reached out toward him. He waited for her to come to him. There was no way he’d spoil this moment by scaring her. Ben would have always kept his tiger shifter side away from her. The fact she was giving herself to him like this meant so much to him.
She took little steps, reaching out to stroke him. Her hands shook, and he moaned as her fingers caressed through his fur.
“You’re so beautiful,” she said.
He enjoyed the feel of her stroking along his back, and then Ben changed back to human form. “I think you love my tiger more than me?”
“Your tiger has soft fur. You’re all hard muscle.”
Grabbing her around the waist, Ben inhaled her warm womanly scent. Against all the odds, his woman was in his arms and in love with him. There was nothing more he could have wished for.
Epilogue
One year later
“You guys make me sick. When are you going to argue?” Dana asked.
Heather looked at her friend and smiled. Dana was ladling out some fruit punch. It was Halloween, and they were celebrating the occasion at Ben’s house. Heather had spent the last two weeks getting the house decorated with many disgusting ornaments. She’d gotten Ben to install voice activators to welcome guests or to spook them.