Shiftr: Swipe Left for Love by Ariana Hawkes

Author:Ariana Hawkes [Hawkes, Ariana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Luna Negra Press
Published: 2016-02-07T16:00:00+00:00

Dominic was a long time opening his door again, and Caleb rapped until his knuckles were sore. At last, the door was snatched open and a long black muzzle poked out, followed by two brown eyes, glazed with sleepiness. Caleb pushed past him and bounded into the cabin.

“I’ve had a revelation!” he announced, his voice louder than he’d intended. Dominic closed the door quickly. It was so cold up in these northern reaches that retaining warmth in the cabins was always a struggle. Dominic fidgeted and pawed at the ground, and Caleb could tell that he was reluctant to summon up the huge effort required to shift into his human form. “I’m leaving Stonybear Peak!” he continued. That did it. Dominic’s huge body folded in on itself, his bones snapped and crunched, his fur retreated, revealing tan skin, there was a violent jerk, and he was standing on two feet as a man. A man whose face wore an expression of absolute bewilderment, his eyes open wide enough to reveal the whites all the way around.

“What did you say?” he demanded.

“I was asleep just now. And I woke up, and – I can’t explain it but – I just knew it. I have to leave town and go somewhere where there are new women, women who might be my mate.” Dominic raised his hands and dropped them again. He looked like a man who’d just discovered that everything he thought he knew about the world was false.

“But – bro – you’re my best friend. You can’t leave!” he stuttered. Caleb met his gaze. Dominic was also single – which was probably part of the reason why they were so close. But he was six years younger than him. He’d had six fewer lonely winters rolling into fruitless springs.

“I have to, Dominic. I’m never going to find my mate here. I’ve tried so hard. I’ve been to every party, every gathering. I’ve forced myself to get over my beary gruffness and learned how to speak to women. But none of it has helped me. I’m still single. I just want to find my mate and have cubs. Like every bear does. Is that so much to ask?” Dominic’s hazel eyes narrowed as he turned Caleb’s words over in his mind.

“No, of course it’s not,” he said at last. “But what about us? The clan needs you.” Caleb nodded.

“I take my responsibility to my clan very seriously. You know that, Dominic. But I’m not leaving forever. I’m just leaving to find my mate. And hopefully I’ll be back soon, bringing her to live here with me.” Dominic broke into a grin.

“You mean it? You’ll bring your mate back here?” Caleb shrugged.

“Absolutely. As long as she’s happy to move here.” Dominic was quiet, thinking.

“That’s ok then,” he said at last. “I think the clan will be able to cope without you for a while, as long as you’ll be adding to our ranks.” Caleb grinned, touched by his friend’s straightforwardness and his generous spirit.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.