by R. E. Butler
Hell, he thought he’d never be done with that. She was too addictive and he was one hundred percent hooked.
We’ll see her soon enough.
His gorilla let out an annoyed grunt.
There was much to plan, anyway. It wasn’t just a date night for them, it was a night that they’d never forget.
He grabbed Zane in the maintenance shed and the two headed out of the park in one of the unmarked vans to go to a strip mall. Atticus didn’t have much in the way of dress clothes, but he wanted to look nice for their date and that started with a suit.
“I think it’s pretty cool that you two found each other,” Zane said as he parked in front of the men’s store. “What are the odds that a polar bear would chase them back and forth across the country for twenty years, and both of them would be soulmates for shifters in the park?”
“It seems fantastical,” Atticus said. “But it also seems to be the way things happen for our people. The VIP tours do work, but our people are also finding their mates in unexpected ways.”
“I heard you’re going to let her see you in the paddock Saturday.”
“Yeah, I want her to see me without being scared.”
“It must be so weird for humans to find out about us, but not be able to talk about it with anyone except other shifters or the few humans in the park.”
“I’m glad for Adriana, Lexy, and Dani, honestly. They’ve been so sweet to Lori.” And certainly it helped that Novi was mated to a shifter as well, so there weren’t any secrets between mother and daughter.
“Do you guys think you’ll have any kids?”
“Hell no, man,” Atticus said with a laugh. “She and I both agreed that starting a new family from scratch is a terrible idea. It’s certainly been done—I mean, we’re not that old—but we’re content to wait for grandkids.”
“It won’t be too long until our little one is born, and you’ll be a grandpa.”
“I’m thinking something fun like PopPop instead of Grandpa.”
“I like it. Maybe Lori would like to be Gigi. That’s pretty popular.”
“I’ll ask her.”
“I hope I’m as great a dad as you are.”
“You’ll be even better than I was, that’s how it’s supposed to be. I’m a better father than my dad was, and you’ll be better than me. Your kid will be so loved! And I’m planning to be the world’s best grandpa too.”
“PopPop.”
“You know it.”
Atticus pulled into a parking spot and turned off the engine. “I feel like everything changed for us with the VIP tours. You were the first one to find his soulmate, and then Win and then Neo. Now that I have Lori, that leaves August. Once he finds his soulmate, our whole band will be mated and that will be something to celebrate.”
“We can join you on the rooftop after your date to celebrate all the good news.”
“I’d love that, and I know Lori would too.”
“Let’s go find you something amazing to wear for your date.”
“I’ll never look as amazing as her, but I’ll try to be a close second.”
He was one lucky male to have stumbled into the path of his soulmate. It was a crazy story, but he was happier than he’d ever been. He had a beautiful soulmate by his side and he loved her with a fierce intensity. He hadn’t told her that yet, though, but he would...tonight. He’d make her his in truth, and when they were officially mated, she’d be the alpha female of the gorilla band. The first human one, as far as he knew. And she’d be the best damned one too. She was a warrior and a survivor, and he couldn’t think of anyone better equipped to help lead them into whatever the next chapter for their people would be.
The future was wide open and very bright.
Chapter Nineteen
Novi watched her mom get her hair curled by Jenni, a lioness in the park. Jenni worked with her mom at the candy shop and was mated to a human male with an upper body full of tattoos named Devlin who worked in the finance office of the park. Novi and Cael were the eleventh couple to get mated in the park, and tonight, after her mom and Atticus were officially mates, they’d be the twelfth.
Before the park had started the VIP tours, no one had found a soulmate in years. She thought it was interesting that shifters pretty much didn’t date around. They believed in soulmates, which was the one person that both their beast and their human side belonged with. According to Cael, there were shifters who didn’t believe in soulmates or didn’t want to wait for that person, so they would pick someone—or have their alpha choose—which was considered simply a mate and not a soulmate.
Then there were shifters like Atticus, who had chosen to have a child with a female gorilla shifter to continue the species, and he raised Zane by himself.
Humans, on the other hand, dated around until they found their one right person.
But she liked being Cael’s soulmate. She felt connected to him immediately, and now that they’d been together for a month, she felt closer to him than she ever thought possible. He was definitely her soulmate, even if she wasn’t able to shift into anything.
“You look so serious,” Lori said. “I look okay, right?”
“Of course!” Novi got off the bed in the apartment where her mom was getting ready. The three gorilla mates—Lexy, Adriana, and Dani—were there helping her mom get ready too. Novi loved how all the mates were so sweet and loving. She’d never met a better group of ladies in her life. She rested her hand on her mom’s shoulder. “I was just thinking about soulmates and how amazing it is that there are now twelve mates in the park when Cael said there hadn’t been soulmates for a long, long time before the VIP tours.”
“It’s true,” Jenni said. “Our people had gone stagnant. It was really depressing, wondering if we’d ever meet our soulmates. The tours started a chain of events that ended with so many of us finding love. Even though several of us didn’t find our soulmates on the tours, including me, it still seems like they were the catalyst we needed to change things up.”
“I’m certainly glad I came along on the tour,” Adriana said. “I wouldn’t have Zane, the nail salon, or my besties, of which I count you two now also.”
Adriana gave Novi a one-armed hug.
“Aw,” Lori said. “You’re all so sweet. I’m so glad we came here too. Atticus is the best guy I’ve ever known. I feel like we were made for each other.”
“That’s how it’s supposed to be,” Lexy said. “When I met Win, it was like I suddenly couldn’t imagine being with anyone but him, and I couldn’t even picture my life without him.”
Novi leaned over and hugged her mom. “I’m so glad we’re not running anymore. I’m glad that because I went against you and went on the tour anyway, you and I both get to have our happily ever afters with amazing guys. It’s like our lives are starting over again, like we were granted a reset with awesome guys who love us.”
“I feel the exact same way,” Lori said.
“That was so sweet,” Dani said. “I freaking love the park.”
“I think we all do,” Lexy said. “It’s where we found our forever guys.”
When Lori’s hair was finished and she was dressed in a black cocktail dress with peep-toe black heels, Novi thought she looked amazing.
“I don’t think he’s going to let you keep this dress on very long,” Lexy mused. “You look incredible.”
“Uh, ew,” Novi said, wrinkling her nose. “That’s my mom. Don’t talk about sex and my mom. It’s gross.”
Lori laughed. “It’s so not.”
“If you get to talk about you and sex, then I do too,” Novi countered.
Lori put her hand over Novi’s mouth and shook her head. “You win, no sexy talk about you or me.”
“Deal,” Novi said, her voice muffled.
“I love you, kiddo,” Lori said, taking her hand away. “You’re the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“I’m so glad you’re my mom.”
“Ah, I’m going to cry,
you two are so freaking sweet,” Lexy said.
There was a knock at the apartment door, and Lori inhaled sharply then smiled. “He’s here.”
They’d opted to get ready separately, so Atticus had taken their underground home and Lori had come to the apartment. It was a great choice, too, because it meant that everyone could be with her, including Novi, while she got ready.
“Have fun tonight,” Novi said. “You look like a million bucks.”
“I feel like it.” She smoothed French-manicure-tipped nails down the front of her dress, her hands trembling a little. “Thank you all for being here for me. You’re the best bunch of ladies a gal could ever know.”
“We wouldn’t miss it,” Adriana said. “Now go wow that man of yours.”
Lori gave Novi another quick hug and then strode from the bedroom.
“It’s amazing that you two can be here in the park together,” Adriana said. “I’d give anything to be able to share the truth with my parents. It’s so hard to keep secrets.”
“It is for Devlin too,” Jenni said. “You’re very lucky to have your mom here and part of the secret.”
“I’m thankful for it. I hated not being able to share anything with her.”
“Maybe someday our people will be able to be open about the truth of what we are with humans,” Lexy said. “I mean, probably not in our generation, but maybe our kids.”
“Who knows what the future will bring?” Dani said. “We can hope for change for the better, even if we don’t think it’ll happen in our lifetime.”
“So long as we can all hang out together and no one has to lie to anyone here, I’ll be happy,” Novi said.
Her phone buzzed and she saw it was a message from Cael. Meet me at the paddock, sweetheart. I miss you.
On my way, she replied. To the ladies, she said, “I’ve been summoned to the paddock by my sexy soulmate, so I’m going to hit the road.”
“I’ll walk with you,” Adriana said. “I’m going to head down to the marketplace for a nail appointment, and I’ll go by way of the cafeteria.”
Their group parted ways, and when Novi left she caught sight of a well-dressed Atticus helping Lori into one of the park’s golf carts. He looked great in a fitted suit, with a big smile on his face. She was so happy and thankful for the Amazing Adventure Safari Park and the VIP tour ticket that had been mailed to their rental home’s previous occupant. Without that error, she wouldn’t have known about the tours or ever thought to come on one. Without that piece of mail, she never would have met Cael, learned about shifters, or brought her mom to the park where she was set free from the chains of the past that had kept them both prisoners.
There was a lot to be thankful for, and it all started with a ticket.
Chapter Twenty
Atticus was the most nervous he’d ever been in his life. It wasn’t because he thought Lori would stand him up for their date, it was just that so much was riding on the night going well.
He parked the golf cart in front of the apartment complex. He hadn’t imagined ever being in one of the apartments again, but he wanted her to have all the dating experiences she’d missed out on when she was in hiding, and hell, he hadn’t had much in the way of dating experiences either, so it was cool to be sharing them with her. Lots of firsts for both of them. First date, first kiss, first time he’d ever tell a female he loved her...tonight.
Clutching the bundle of roses, he heard the stems crack and silently cursed himself for breaking them. Loosening his hold on the white roses with pink tips, he walked up the stairs and knocked on the door to the apartment she’d stayed in before they met.
He heard low voices from within and knew it was her friends. He smiled broadly, thinking about how much the park had given to her that she’d missed out on, including close friends.
The door opened and Lori stood before him in a slinky black dress, heels, and her hair loose and curled at the ends. She looked stunning.
He was speechless.
His gorilla wasn’t, though. The big beast kicked into gear and let out a loud, claiming roar.
Lori smiled so sweetly as she crossed the threshold and hugged him. “Was that your way of saying I’m yours?”
“Yes,” he said, burying his face in her neck and inhaling her sweet scent. “You’re so fucking mine and I’m so fucking yours, and...you look like a goddess.”
“Worship me later,” she whispered and gave him a nip on his ear lobe.
“Over and over again,” he promised.
She took the flowers and sniffed them. “They smell so good! I love pink tipped roses. You’re the most thoughtful man I’ve ever known.”
“Just getting started, sweetheart. Ready for our date?”
She nodded and took his offered hand. He escorted her down to the golf cart. “Your chariot, my lady.”
“You’re so cute,” she said as she sat and laid the flowers on her lap.
He shook his head with a chuckle. Cute was not a word he’d use to describe himself, but whatever made her happy made him happy. She could call him anything, so long as he was hers and she was his.
It took only minutes for them to take one of the back paths that led around to the employee cafeteria. Just like the first time, they went to the roof using an interior ladder. He’d worked all afternoon on setting up their special meal. Pillows were set up on a blow-up mattress covered with a soft blanket. Lap trays held the food, and a wheeled cart was prepped with a bucket of ice and blueberry sparkling wine and their dessert, which contained an even more amazing surprise.
The sun was setting, so the electric candles flickering everywhere were letting out a low amber glow. Once the sun went down, they’d have the perfect ambiance.
“It looks great up here!” she gushed when she saw everything.
“I’m glad you like it, I wanted tonight to be special.”
“Every night with you is special, Atticus.”
“I feel the same way.”
They sat facing each other with their trays touching in the middle. He took off the metal domes to reveal all her favorites: grilled steak, mac and cheese topped with crispy bacon, and green beans.
She picked up her knife and fork and gave him a sweet smile. “You’re definitely the best mate on the planet. It feels like I’m dreaming.”
“You’re not,” he said. “But I know exactly how you feel.”
They ate the delicious meal and talked about their days: the monotonous oil changes he had to do on the VIP tour Jeeps, and the cute little kids who’d come into the candy shop looking for gummies shaped like their favorite animals.
“Before we get to dessert,” he said as he set their trays to the side and off the mattress, “how about a dance?”
He rose to his feet and held his hand out to her.
“We don’t have any music.”
He took his phone from his pocket and pressed play on the music app. A ballad played from nearby wireless speakers. “How about now?”
“I think you thought of everything.” They stood up from the mattress and began to dance, turning in slow circles and holding each other. He’d never danced with a female before. It was one more first he was sharing with his beautiful soulmate.
* * *
Lori loved dancing with Atticus. It was the most special thing she’d ever done in her life. For all the years she’d been on the run, she’d never let her guard down, but Atticus made her feel like she could do that. Like she could just be herself and live her life, and he’d be there every step of the way.
“I have a question,” Atticus asked as the ballad ended and another started.
“Ask away,” she said, closing her eyes with a smile as he twirled her in a circle.
“I want you to be mine,” he said huskily in her ear.
“I am.”
“No,” he said, then kissed her ear. He took a step from her, and she looked at him in confusion.
He was down on one knee a moment later, something sparkly between his
finger and thumb.
Oh! A ring!
Holy crap!
“I feel so close to you, Lori,” he said. “It’s not just that my gorilla is crazy about you, but I am too. I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy. Will you marry me?”
She stared at the sparkling ring until her vision blurred with tears. “Yes!”
He slipped the ring on her trembling hand and stood, catching her in his arms and kissing her. She sobbed a little, unable to stop the happy tears as the sweet feeling of hope bloomed within her.
“I can really stay,” she said.
“Of course you can,” he said. “You’re mine and I’m yours. Where you are is home for me.”
“No, I mean I don’t have to run anymore, and I don’t have look over my shoulder, because you’ve got my back.”
“One hundred percent.”
“Oh!” She threw her arms around his neck. “I love you too.”
He mocked wiping off his brow like he’d been nervous. “I’m really glad to hear those words from you. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, but don’t tell my son.”
She giggled and said, “I was thinking the same thing about you and Novi.”
He brushed his lips over hers. “Our kids are going to be siblings. I wonder if they realize that yet?”
“Probably not. It’s pretty neat to have a built-in family.”
He rested his big, warm hands on her hips and began to dance her around the rooftop again. “The band wants to come celebrate with us.”
Her brows rose. “They knew about the engagement?”
“Yep. But also, you’re my mate, which makes you the alpha female. That means you’re in charge of them too.”
“Wow.” Her mind spun. “Does it matter that I’m human?”
“Not even a little bit, I promise. Adriana, Lexy, and Dani are human, after all.”
“But they’re not the alpha.”
“True. But gorillas don’t care about that, or at least my people don’t. Our people.”
She smiled. “You’ll help me be the best alpha female?”