high expectation of
being able to claim a male’s necklace, having him as her mate.”
It was true. The one thing most
females of their kind dreamed about was the male who would one day be theirs.
And most were raised to believe they wouldn’t be complete until they were mated,
which Taylor always thought was ridiculous. It was too reminiscent of the
humans during the 1950s when their women had to be housewives and mothers, and
did everything for their men.
“Then go ask a human female out,”
Taylor said. “If I had my way, I wouldn’t have it as such a bad thing.”
Blaise cleared his throat. “Once
you’re head of our family group, you can do just that.”
That was true. Taking his father’s
place, Taylor could make as many changes as he wished. There were old laws that
pertained to all cougar shifters in general, but each family group made their
own that were followed only by them. He could change those as much as he
wanted.
“Don’t give me any ideas,” he said.
His brother laughed. “You know me.
I’m good for that.”
Taylor couldn’t agree more. “Was
there anything you wanted in particular or did you just come in here to bug the
crap out of me?”
“Grady and Jase are coming over in
an hour. We’re going to take you out for some drinks. Kind of our own ‘welcome
back to the family’ kind of thing. And don’t say no. Mom knows and she said
she’ll allow us to manhandle you out of the house if it comes to that. One
night to let loose before you have to take on all the serious responsible
stuff.”
Taylor smiled and shook his head.
“I guess I’ve been ganged up on. It’ll be good to go out with you guys again.”
He, Blaise, Grady and Jase had always been close. Grady and Jase’s mother was
Taylor’s mom’s younger sister. Blaise and Taylor had grown up with Jase and
Grady like brothers, rather than cousins.
Blaise gave a short nod. “Good.
I’ll leave you to get ready.” He backed toward the bedroom doorway. “Remember,
one hour.”
“I won’t forget.”
His brother walked out of Taylor’s
bedroom and shut the door behind him. Taylor shook his head. He’d slipped into
old times with Blaise and his cousins as if the years hadn’t gone by at all.
Chapter Five
“Here’s to having Taylor back in
the family fold,” Jase said as he raised his glass of beer, then took a big
swig from it.
Taylor took a sip of his as Blaise
and Grady did the same with theirs. “Thanks,” he said.
They sat at a back table in the bar
they’d frequented together before his banishment. It was actually owned by a
cougar shifter who was part of another family group in Anchorage. Being tucked
out of the way, it was a hangout spot for their kind where they didn’t have to
keep what they were hidden. It was only the odd human who found the place, and
they were usually made to feel uncomfortable enough to leave after a drink or
two.
Grady smiled. “And to celebrate we
should get shitfaced drunk.”
Taylor shook his head. “You can,
but count me out. I don’t enjoy waking up hungover the next morning.” Cougar
shifters could get drunk on the same amount of alcohol as any human. Only
werewolves needed to drink huge amounts of it to get in that condition.
“Whatever,” his cousin said. “I
plan to have a good time.”
“You always do,” Jase said with a
laugh as he clapped his brother on the back.
“Don’t look now,” Blaise said, “but
we’re about to have company.”
Taylor turned his gaze in the
direction his brother looked, then cursed under his breath. The woman headed
toward their table was the daughter of the owner of the bar. Nikki had made it
no secret she wanted Taylor as her mate, but he hadn’t been interested in her, and
still wasn’t. He’d seen her manipulate too many males to get what she thought
she deserved. She was also spoiled, thanks to her parents.
“Well, look who’s back,” Nikki said
once she reached their table. She came to stand next to
being able to claim a male’s necklace, having him as her mate.”
It was true. The one thing most
females of their kind dreamed about was the male who would one day be theirs.
And most were raised to believe they wouldn’t be complete until they were mated,
which Taylor always thought was ridiculous. It was too reminiscent of the
humans during the 1950s when their women had to be housewives and mothers, and
did everything for their men.
“Then go ask a human female out,”
Taylor said. “If I had my way, I wouldn’t have it as such a bad thing.”
Blaise cleared his throat. “Once
you’re head of our family group, you can do just that.”
That was true. Taking his father’s
place, Taylor could make as many changes as he wished. There were old laws that
pertained to all cougar shifters in general, but each family group made their
own that were followed only by them. He could change those as much as he
wanted.
“Don’t give me any ideas,” he said.
His brother laughed. “You know me.
I’m good for that.”
Taylor couldn’t agree more. “Was
there anything you wanted in particular or did you just come in here to bug the
crap out of me?”
“Grady and Jase are coming over in
an hour. We’re going to take you out for some drinks. Kind of our own ‘welcome
back to the family’ kind of thing. And don’t say no. Mom knows and she said
she’ll allow us to manhandle you out of the house if it comes to that. One
night to let loose before you have to take on all the serious responsible
stuff.”
Taylor smiled and shook his head.
“I guess I’ve been ganged up on. It’ll be good to go out with you guys again.”
He, Blaise, Grady and Jase had always been close. Grady and Jase’s mother was
Taylor’s mom’s younger sister. Blaise and Taylor had grown up with Jase and
Grady like brothers, rather than cousins.
Blaise gave a short nod. “Good.
I’ll leave you to get ready.” He backed toward the bedroom doorway. “Remember,
one hour.”
“I won’t forget.”
His brother walked out of Taylor’s
bedroom and shut the door behind him. Taylor shook his head. He’d slipped into
old times with Blaise and his cousins as if the years hadn’t gone by at all.
Chapter Five
“Here’s to having Taylor back in
the family fold,” Jase said as he raised his glass of beer, then took a big
swig from it.
Taylor took a sip of his as Blaise
and Grady did the same with theirs. “Thanks,” he said.
They sat at a back table in the bar
they’d frequented together before his banishment. It was actually owned by a
cougar shifter who was part of another family group in Anchorage. Being tucked
out of the way, it was a hangout spot for their kind where they didn’t have to
keep what they were hidden. It was only the odd human who found the place, and
they were usually made to feel uncomfortable enough to leave after a drink or
two.
Grady smiled. “And to celebrate we
should get shitfaced drunk.”
Taylor shook his head. “You can,
but count me out. I don’t enjoy waking up hungover the next morning.” Cougar
shifters could get drunk on the same amount of alcohol as any human. Only
werewolves needed to drink huge amounts of it to get in that condition.
“Whatever,” his cousin said. “I
plan to have a good time.”
“You always do,” Jase said with a
laugh as he clapped his brother on the back.
“Don’t look now,” Blaise said, “but
we’re about to have company.”
Taylor turned his gaze in the
direction his brother looked, then cursed under his breath. The woman headed
toward their table was the daughter of the owner of the bar. Nikki had made it
no secret she wanted Taylor as her mate, but he hadn’t been interested in her, and
still wasn’t. He’d seen her manipulate too many males to get what she thought
she deserved. She was also spoiled, thanks to her parents.
“Well, look who’s back,” Nikki said
once she reached their table. She came to stand next to
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