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  “I understand.” Sadie sounded thoughtful. “I hope Keller was able to Shift so Sammie could help him. He was a complete asshole but he never hurt me. In fact . . .” She frowned. “I don’t even think he really liked me all that much. I don’t understand why he wanted me so badly. Was it just because he wants to carry on his Shifter line?”

  “I think so.” Mathis sighed.

  “Well then, couldn’t he find some other girl—one he really cared for?”

  Mathis shook his head. “Not a Juvie—not one that could carry on his Shifter DNA. But it’s more than that—Keller’s given up on love. On finding a female he can bond with and care for, anyway—because he was burned once before.”

  “What do you mean?” Sadie asked. “Can’t his kind of Shifter form more than one life-bond?”

  “Oh, I don’t think he formed a life-bond with the female in question,” Mathis murmured. “I don’t even think she was a Shifter. Just a human girl he fell for who couldn’t handle what he was.”

  “Really? So a Shifter can mate, uh, marry a non-Shifter then?” Sadie asked.

  “Uh-huh.” He nodded. “Of course, their kids only have a fifty-fifty chance of getting the Shifter Gene and there’s even less of a chance that their daughters will ever Rejuvenate but it’s possible.” He sighed. “It’s just not often a good idea.”

  “What? Why not?”

  “How do you think people who have never heard of Shifters before react when you try to explain everything to them?” Mathis asked her. “Like you did, right? You had a really hard time believing it at first, even after the weird shit you’d already seen and heard.”

  “I guess so.” Sadie sighed and settled into his arms again. “That was how Sammie reacted. She thought there was some weird hallucinogenic agent in the water here and we were all suffering from a mass delusion that we could change into animals.”

  Mathis barked a laugh. “Really? Damn.”

  “Really.” Sadie nodded seriously. “So if it’s such a bad idea for a Shifter to mate with a non-Shifter, then why did Keller do it?”

  “Who knows?” Mathis shrugged again. “Probably because there weren’t any Shifter females around. His father sent him off to college at some exclusive Ivy League school—someplace far away from any of the Shifter communities in the country.”

  “There are more?” Sadie turned her head to look at him. “It’s not just Cougarville?”

  “Hell no, sweetheart—there are pockets of Shifters scattered all over the world. Some are just more secretive than others. We’re pretty open with it here in Cougarville because most everyone living in this town is a full Shifter or part Shifter or a Shifter-sympathizer—that’s what we call humans who know about us.”

  “So . . . why didn’t Keller’s father send him to a college near another Shifter community?” Sadie asked.

  “Don’t know,” Mathis said. “I think because he couldn’t find one that was prestigious enough. The Kellers have always owned most everything around this town—he wanted his only son to do him one better—get rich and famous and powerful. And it worked.”

  “It did?” Sadie looked at him again.

  “Uh-huh.” Mathis nodded. “You wouldn’t know it because he hangs around in little old Cougarville, but Keller’s actually a bigwig on Wall Street. Fuckin’ financial genius. He’s worth millions—maybe billions.”

  “You’re kidding!” Sadie’s eyes went wide.

  “Nope.” Mathis laughed. “You sorry you ended up with me now, sweetheart? I’m comfortable but I’m no damn billionaire.”

  “Mathis.” She took his face between her small hands so she could look him squarely in the eyes. “Don’t even joke about that. There’s no place I’d rather be than here with you, in your arms.”

  “Aww, sweetheart.” He pulled her close and they cuddled, wet and naked in the warm water. Her soft, sweet curves pressed against his chest felt amazing and Mathis dropped a protective kiss on the top of her head. God, he was a lucky male!

  “So Keller’s a billionaire,” she said drowsily. “Why doesn’t he just pay a surrogate to have his baby if he wants an heir so badly?”

  “Because Juvies are so rare,” Mathis explained. “There haven’t been any before you and your sister in probably over a decade, at least in Cougarville.”

  “Oh, that’s right. But Samantha’s not a Juvie,” Sadie protested. “Fiona told me if she hadn’t already started experiencing signs of Rejuvenation she was probably safe.”

  “Well, I don’t know . . .” Mathis frowned. “I didn’t smell any Juvie scent on her either but sometimes females can surprise you. And she must have the Gene if both your parents were Shifters.”

  “Fiona says it skips over people sometimes. I just hope for her sake she doesn’t have to go through Rejuvenation,” Sadie said. “I mean, it’s wonderful to feel young again and to find someone you love so much . . .” She cuddled closer to Mathis. “But Sammie is really independent and happy being on her own. And honestly, I don’t think she believes in love—it’s just not as big a priority to her as her career is.”

  “Well then, it’s probably best if she stays like she is,” Mathis said. “I’m damn glad you didn’t though, sweetheart.”

  “Why—because you wouldn’t have wanted me if I hadn’t suddenly turned twenty years younger?” Sadie asked teasingly.

  “Hell no.” Mathis looked at her, surprised she would think such a thing. “I thought you were fucking gorgeous from the first minute I saw you—even before you really started to change. I just don’t think I would have approached you if your Rejuvenation hadn’t sort of thrown us together.”

  “Fiona was the one who did that, as much as my hormones,” Sadie said thoughtfully. “She’s way more than a pharmacist, I think.”

  “I think most of the town agrees on that.” Mathis laughed. “She’s been in Cougarville for as long as anyone can remember, you know. She’s kind of a town fixture.”

  “Is she a Shifter?” Sadie asked.

  Mathis shook his head. “Nah. Some people say she’s a witch but that’s not really the right word. She’s more like a wise woman.”

  “Well, she was wise enough to know you and I belonged together.” Sadie pressed against him, rubbing her bare breasts against his chest. “Speaking of which . . . Mathis . . .”

  She looked up at him with those big brown eyes and he felt his heart squeeze tight in his chest.

  “Yeah, sweetheart?” he murmured. “Something you want?” Thanks to their new connection, he knew exactly what she wanted—what she needed—but he wanted to hear her say it.

  “I think . . .” She bit her lip and a blush rose to her cheeks. “I think I need you again, Mathis. Inside me, I mean.”

  “Mmm, I’d love to be inside you again.” He cupped her cheek. “But why are you blushing?”

  “I guess I’m not used to, uh, asking for it.”

  “I dunno—you were asking for it pretty loud out in the moonlight.” He grinned to let her know he was just teasing.

  “I know I was but that’s not how I usually am.” She cleared her throat, still looking embarrassed. “I mean, I was married for twenty years but I was never the, um, initiator if you know what I mean. But now, I can’t help myself. I really need you.”

  “Feeling empty inside again, sweetheart?” Mathis asked sympathetically.

  Sadie nodded. “Uh-huh. I mean, after that first time in the forest I would have thought I’d be satisfied for days. But, well . . . I’m not. I . . . I need it again. Need you again.”

  “Sadie . . .” He cupped her cheek and looked into her eyes. “Don’t ever be ashamed to ask for what you need,” he murmured. “And don’t be afraid of what your body asks for—I think this is just part of your cycle.”

  “My cycle?” She frowned.

  “I don’t know a whole lot about it, but I do know that Shifter females get monthly cravings that last while the moon is full or mostly full. This is just part of that.”

  “Fiona did