The Snow Leopard's Love Page 2

  Belle didn’t answer. She simply held her mom in her arms. “Okay. What do you want to know?”

  Caleb and Aiden approached the house with Elise and Flora by their sides. “We’d like to know about your father. We’d like to know why he kidnapped us when we were children.”

  “And we also want to know if Reginald killed our parents,” Aiden said and received a warning glance from Rift.

  Our mate is not the enemy here. His snow leopard’s tail swished from side to side as he sharpened his claws.

  We need to stay calm, Rift replied. Everyone is on edge, the situation is too emotionally charged for anyone to think straight.

  “Killed your parents?” Belle’s face paled.

  “Yes,” Aiden answered tersely.

  “Do you know anything about this, Mom?” Belle pulled back from her mom and held her upper arms as she studied her face. “Mom?”

  “I don’t know much about Reggie except what came out at the court case. We became estranged for a couple of years or more before he was arrested and sent to prison. I don’t know if he killed your parents. I swear. All I know is… I would not be surprised.” Katrina’s mouth turned down at the corners as she fought back tears.

  “And Murray?” Caleb prompted.

  “I knew Murray was mixed up with some bad people. It’s the main reason I took Belle and moved away.” She wiped her hands across her face. “He never could hold down a decent job for more than a week. He wasn’t the kind of man who would work hard eight hours a day, five days a week for an honest wage. So he earned money through dishonest means.”

  “He kidnapped children?” Belle whispered, her eyes drawn to her children as they prowled around the garden searching for wildlife.

  “He... I never knew about that. Not kidnapping. I never thought him capable of that.” She blew the air out of her cheeks. “Once, when he was drunk, he murmured something about children. Children who could turn into animals.”

  “Children who turned into animals. Did you believe him? You said he was drunk. Or was he on drugs, too?” Belle asked.

  I think Belle’s mom knows about shifters. But Belle doesn’t. She doesn’t know about shifters and so she has no idea that we are fated mates, Rift’s snow leopard said.

  We’ll tell her when she’s ready. I don’t think that time is right now, Rift answered.

  “No, not drugs. He was just drunk. Not even that drunk. It was during one of his ramblings. He’d sit and drink a beer while watching TV, then another beer. He used to like me to sit with him. Then he’d start to talk. He’d build himself up and tell me of all the things he was going to do to make our lives easier.” Her mom gnawed on her bottom lip as she stared at Rift.

  “And during one of these times, he spoke about shifters?” Caleb asked.

  “Shifters?” Belle asked. “What is a shifter?”

  “A shifter is a person who can change into something else. An animal.” Her mom’s eyes bored into Rift. “The police had a drawing of a man they suspected of murdering Murray. From an eyewitness. But they never found the man. I thought it was a cover-up and that he’d been killed by one of these shifters because he’d…I don’t know…robbed one, assaulted one... So I searched for information on them.”

  “And did you find anything out? Was he killed by one of these shifters?” Belle shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Of course he wasn’t because they aren’t real.”

  “They’re real, aren’t they, Rift?” Belle’s mom’s eyes narrowed as she stared at him.

  Katrina knows we’re a shifter, his snow leopard said. I suspect she also knows about mates. And that we’re Belle’s mate.

  That would explain why she is looking at us like that. Rift lowered his gaze and glanced at his brothers. Aiden reached out and placed his hand on Rift’s shoulder and nodded, while Caleb pressed his lips together and inclined his head slightly toward Belle and a small smile of understanding crossed his brother’s lips.

  They know, too, his snow leopard said.

  They probably knew as soon as I stumbled around like a clown and had to grab hold of the gate post to stop myself from falling flat on my face. Talk about a bad first impression.

  “Rift?” Belle’s anxious tone brought him back to the present.

  “Shifters are real,” he acknowledged. “I’m one.”

  “And so are we,” Caleb answered, pointing at himself and Aiden.

  “But not you two?” Belle asked Flora and Elise.

  “No, we’re fae,” Flora said bluntly.

  “Fae.” Belle cupped her face in her hands and shook her head. “Did I make a wrong turn and end up in crazy town?”

  “No, this is all true.” Elise lifted her hair and revealed her pointed ears.

  “You could have had plastic surgery,” Belle said.

  “Okay, Rift, I guess you’re up.” Flora clapped her hands and stepped back. “Show Belle your stuff.”

  “My stuff!” Rift shot Flora a confused look. “Wait, you want me to shift here? And now?”

  “That would clear up this part of the discussion,” Flora replied.

  “You’re serious?” Belle asked.

  “Absolutely,” Flora replied. “We’ve come a long way and Aiden and Caleb have waited a long time to figure out the truth about their past, and that starts with you.”

  “I don’t have any information on what my father or Reggie had to do with you or your parents.” Belle leaned to the right and fixed her gaze on Aiden and Caleb, who stood a little away from them.

  “We know. But you can tell us about them. And that might lead to us uncovering the truth.” Rift stepped forward. His mate stepped back.

  “And proving that you are one of these shifters will help?” Belle swallowed hard as she stared at him, eyes wide.

  “I don’t know. But perhaps it’ll help you see that you can trust me. Us.” Rift met Belle’s gaze, his eyes soft as he etched her face on his brain. He never wanted to forget any single thing about her. From her pale blue-gray eyes to her auburn hair, streaked with copper and tied up in a messy bun.

  “You’re going to show me a magic trick and that’s going to make me trust you?” Belle shook her head. “I’m done with this. We have more stuff to pack up in the house. And then I’m going to take my kids home.”

  “Wait!” Her mom grabbed her arm and then let it go as Belle yanked it out of her grip. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to grab you so hard.”

  “What is it, Mom? Why are you so quick to believe in all this?” Belle’s eyes leveled with her mom’s for a moment and they stood as if frozen in time. “You really do believe this is true.”

  “I don’t just believe it,” she answered. “I know it.” She placed her hand on her heart. “I’ve seen shifters before.” She tore her eyes from her daughter’s.

  “What?” Belle reached for her mom’s hand and held it tight as she coaxed her to speak. “There’s more. Something you’re not telling me.”

  “Nathan is a shifter. A wolf.” Her mom swallowed hard as she met her daughter’s shocked expression.

  “Nathan.” Belle’s forehead furrowed. “Nathan. Scumbag Nathan?”

  “You shouldn’t call him that. When your father died, he was very supportive.”

  “Was he?” Belle crossed her arms over her body. “Because all I remember is him stealing the rent money from your purse and disappearing into the night.”

  “I guess he saw it as payment.” There was a hard edge to Katrina’s voice.

  “Anyway...” Flora cut into the conversation. “Rift will shift. You’ll see shifters are real and we can cut through all this pointless conversation.”

  I thought Flora might have grown more tactful after being around Aiden, Rift’s snow leopard remarked.

  She is. Most of the time. But this means a lot to her because it means a lot to her mate. Rift put his hand on Flora’s shoulder as she drew closer to Belle. We need to calm the situation.

  Then we’ll shift, his snow leopard replied. Belle will s
ee shifters are real and we can...cut to the chase.

  Or freak her out completely and lose her forever. Rift didn’t like the sound of that at all. But it was a possibility. Belle was on the defensive and seeing a man change into a snow leopard might appear like a serious threat to her children.

  “This conversation might be pointless to you,” Belle replied, “but this all concerns my family. My children.”

  Flora stared at Belle for a long moment before she replied, “Point taken. But you have to see that if we prove shifters are real, and your mom already knows that they are, then we can move on and not have a debate about it.”

  Belle closed her eyes briefly before nodding. “Go ahead. Shift.” She leveled her gaze at Rift and then crossed her arms in front of her body.

  “Okay.” Rift sighed, this wasn’t how he’d pictured his first meeting with his mate going. But he’d work with what he had. “I’ll...” He looked around, pushing his senses out to check there was no one close by who might see him shift. He usually avoided shifting outside of Wishing Moon Bay and if he did shift in the world beyond, he usually waited until the cover of darkness.

  “You’ll what?” Belle’s impatience kicked up a notch.

  “I’ll move around the side of the house, so the children don’t see me. I don’t want to scare them.” He glanced at the children who were hunting around in the undergrowth. They reminded him of Penny’s son, Milo. Filled with wonder and enthusiasm, they were digging in the backyard, talking quietly as if searching for something.

  “Belle.” Her mom touched her arm briefly. “Keep an open mind.”

  Belle’s mouth turned down at the corners. “Mom, this isn’t real.”

  Rift let his mind unfocus and let go of the world. He needed to get this over with and show his mate the other side of him. There was no point trying to explain anymore. Perhaps he should have told her he would never hurt her and not to scream, but he sensed Belle wasn’t the screaming type.

  The world faded away and his human form slipped from the world, to be replaced a few seconds later by his snow leopard, who twitched his tail as he set eyes on their mate for the first time.

  Silence. No one spoke as Belle stared at the creature who had appeared as if by magic. All eyes were on her as her eyes widened and she covered her mouth with her hand. Rift didn’t approach her. He sensed she needed to take the first step forward herself. He didn’t want to pressure her, even though it took all his resolve to stand just out of her reach.

  “Belle.” Her mom touched her arm as if trying to wake her from a trance.

  Belle blinked several times but didn’t take her eyes off the snow leopard. “It can’t be real.”

  “It is. Touch him.” Belle’s mom took her hand and led her forward. “I know it’s a shock. The first time I saw Nathan shift, I thought it was an illusion, that he was playing tricks on me. But once I touched him, once I looked him in the eye, I knew he was real.”

  “But how?” Belle asked. “It’s impossible.”

  “Clearly not,” Flora said.

  Belle turned to look at Flora, then she reached out her hand as she stepped toward the snow leopard. “You are incredible.”

  Rift lowered his head and closed his eyes in bliss as she ran her fingers over his head and threaded them into the soft fur along his back. He rubbed his head against her thigh and purred softly.

  “Now do you believe in shifters?” her mom asked.

  “It’s hard to believe.” Belle looked over her shoulder at her mom. “But how can I not believe when he’s right in front of me? When I can see him and touch him?”

  “I can’t imagine how hard it must be to accept something that you thought impossible,” Flora said gently as she approached. “When you’ve known about something your whole life and take it for granted, it’s hard to put yourself in someone else’s shoes.”

  Belle stroked Rift’s back and then crouched down in front of him and cupped his large head in her hands. “You are the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen.”

  Rift’s snow leopard stared into her eyes and she stared right back, the connection between them flooding him with warmth. The shock of recognition on Belle’s face told him she felt it, too. Would this make it easier for her to also accept that they were mates, and he was meant to be by her side for the rest of their lives?

  “Okay.” Flora placed her hand on Belle’s shoulder and glanced toward the sound of the children who were coming closer. “It’s time Rift shifted back to his human form. It’s risky for him to be this exposed in your world. And we need to talk.”

  “In my world?” Belle twisted around to look at Flora.

  “Yeah, that’s something else you’ll have to learn about. But maybe we should go inside?” Flora backed away, leaving Belle to stare at Rift for a few seconds longer before she let him go and rose to her feet.

  Rift’s snow leopard rubbed his head against her thigh once more and she tickled his head before he turned away. The air fizzed and popped as the two sides of Rift swapped places once more.

  Both of them were sworn to cherish and protect their mate and her family. No matter what it took.

  Chapter Three – Belle

  Shifters were real. The words kept echoing around and around in her head as she stared at the man who replaced the snow leopard. Only a second ago, she’d been stroking the creature’s soft fur.

  She flexed her fingers. It had been real. Her senses told her the snow leopard was real. Yet her brain couldn’t quite accept it. There had to be a trick. Some kind of illusion. Yet she knew that was a lie. This was the house where her uncle had spent his last months, the place was nothing special. Situated on the outskirts of a small town, there was no way Rift and his friends had set up an elaborate ruse.

  Shifters were real.

  “Belle.” Rift ducked his head and looked up at her, searching her face for an answer to a question she didn’t know.

  “You’re right. We should go inside.” She took a shuddering breath and turned away from him.

  “I’ll make some coffee,” her mom said and turned around, hurrying up the porch steps, her face pale.

  “Jack, Rosie, we’re going inside!” Belle called. “You need to come in, too.”

  “We’ll be there in just a second,” Jack replied.

  “Now, please. I don’t want you out here alone.” Belle climbed the porch steps, aware of Rift following behind her, but the others held back, as if unsure of themselves.

  “One second,” Jack answered again.

  “I won’t ask again.” Belle put her hands on her hips.

  “I can keep an eye on them,” Rift told her. “Well, not so much an eye, but I can use my senses. I’ll know if they are close to the house and if anyone else is approaching.”

  “Thanks,” she replied bluntly. “But we’ve gotten along just fine so far with normal parenting skills.”

  “I can see that.” Rift’s jaw tensed.

  Belle turned to face him. “I know you probably mean well. But the last few months haven’t been easy. Today was supposed to be all about closure. We came to clean out the house and hand back the keys to the landlord. We’re finally putting the past behind us.”

  “And we arrive.” Rift nodded in understanding.

  “Yeah.” Her eyes rested on Aiden and Caleb who were talking quietly with Elise and Flora. “You arrive.”

  “My brothers came looking for closure, too.” He climbed another step, closing the distance between them. “We didn’t come here to make trouble for you.”

  “I get that. I really do. But you’ve just shifted into a snow leopard. What am I supposed to do with that knowledge?” Belle tapped the side of her head.

  A small smile played across his lips. “It’s pretty awesome if you think about it.”

  She blew the air out of her cheeks and stared into the distance, her eyes unfocused as she pictured him fading out of the world and the snow leopard taking his place. “Yeah. It is awesome.”

 
“What if I told you...” He chewed the inside of his cheek as he studied her, as if trying to gauge her reaction to words he hadn’t said.

  “There’s more?” She arched an eyebrow. Maybe she didn’t want to know more. Not yet. One shock at a time.

  “There is.” He glanced toward the cabin as the smell of fresh coffee drifted out. “But maybe that’s for another time.”

  She stared at him for a long moment. “Another time.” Although she wasn’t sure she wanted there to be another time. Once they’d talked, Belle would be more than happy if this group of shifters and fae just left her life as suddenly as they’d arrived.

  Belle brushed her hand down her thigh, her palm tingling as she recalled touching him for the first time, of the shock of recognition that passed between them. Did she really want him to walk out of her life and never see him again?

  “Coffee is ready.” Her mom was in the doorway, holding onto the doorframe as she leaned forward. “Jack, Rosie. Cookies.”

  “Coming!” Jack grabbed Rosie’s hand and pulled her toward the house.

  “Go wash your hands first,” Belle instructed as they ran up the steps and clattered across the rotting wooden porch.

  “Okay.” They went inside the house and ran upstairs to the bathroom, casting a quick smile at their grandma.

  “You spoil them,” Belle told her.

  “I know.” Her mom winked at her. “I’m Katrina, by the way. Since we haven’t been properly introduced.”

  “Good to meet you, Katrina. I’m Rift.” Rift lifted his hand.

  “I got that.” Katrina nodded toward the others. “And Aiden and Caleb.” She pointed at Flora. “You’re Flora, but I don’t think I caught your name.”

  “Elise.” Elise mounted the porch steps and held out her hand. “It’s good to meet you.”

  “Excuse me if I don’t return the pleasantries,” Katrina replied. “The jury is still out as to whether it’s good to meet any of you.” Her gaze rested on Rift. “But since you’re here, let’s go have coffee and we can talk.” She turned back toward the house but then looked over her shoulder. “There are cookies for you all, too.”