Chasing Shifters: The Rejected Mate

She knew it was time. Kataya stood there covered in red paint. Hiru pointing his fingers and laughing at her. Ari King glared and the serpent as he tried to place his jacket over her shoulders. Katya brushed him aside. Rei Kang held his twin brother's arm to keep him from hauling off to punch Hiru. Samuel had grabbed Hiru’s arm. “Dude, you said you were just going to reject her! Why would you humiliate her on top of that?” Kataya tilted her head, hearing his words. Hiru and Samuel were both her mates. Along with Ari and Rei. It was too much. She’d had enough. For far too long, Hiru tormented her. Samuel tried his best, but he did nothing to keep his best friend in line. She was done. Beyond done. Her white dress was stained with red paint. Her hair weighted down by the liquid, causing her tight curls to clump together. Red paint slid down her dark skin. The Hiru fan club gawked, pointed fingers, and laughed at her. Every girl adored Hiru. He was the snake king's son. A beautiful you

Montelius shook his head at the thought. Wolves are prideful, reptiles can go either way depending on the species, and primates are closer to their regular human counterparts than the rest of them. Most humans he came in contact with were selfish and greedy or cruel. He prayed to the Moon Goddess. “Please let her be born in our kinsmanship. For her sake please, Moon Goddess.” He reached his home in time to hear the good news. His mate rushed to him. “Monty! They’re here!” A smile split his face. His sister had just given birth to her litter. “Where is she? Is she presentable, Lavender?” Lavender nodded her head. “Yes. They’re twins. And just as adorable as ever.” She choked up at the thought of them. Monty rushed to his sister’s side. She was his twin. His wombmate and other half. Bursting into the room, she gave him a weak smile. “Montelius.” Her voice was weak. Her hand outstretched for his, she could barely keep it up. He took it and sat next to her side. Kissing the top side

Solomon thought the words were sweet, but the reality is a reptile shifter could be deadly. Even if he didn’t think his son would be, others would. It’s uncommon for a baby to display their potential shifting features. He kept those thoughts to himself as Taerin cooed over Hiru. The sky brightened as the sun made its ascension across the sky. The primates were dealing with their own intense labors. Several of the women had gone into premature labor. One woman had been begging for a c-section but was denied. “Miss, you’re not in dire straits. The least you could do is push and we can go from there.” Lina knew they wouldn’t listen to her. The child in her belly was anything but normal. She could feel it. She believed it with her soul. Her child hardly ever moved. It was as if she was carrying around a stone inside her stomach. There were no tender flutters, or random kicks. Just a lump in her belly that siphoned nutrients from her. She couldn’t go to any of the other hospitals, they w

Lina wasn’t sure how to answer her. The moon goddess selected all who shifted, and only one was chosen to be shifterless until their coming of age. “We should ask the elder sweetheart. How about that?” Kataya nodded her head. “Ok then.” Lina tried to think back to the day Kataya was born, but she was so drugged up. That day was just a blur. “So, was that why you didn’t tell me how school was?” She shrugged. “No, I was going to tell you, but Hiru said something that just didn’t sit right with me.” Lina frowned. “Is he the one that called you a bastard? Although Kataya, I do not want you to use that kind of language.” She looked down at the counter. “Yeah, but he only heard it because of the other girls. They say I have to be a bastard if I haven’t had any animalistic changes.” “Well, we’re primates. We’re closer to humans than most animals. Did they ever think of that?” “But mom we don’t even look alike.” Lina shrugged. “Genetics are weird.” She sighed. “But mom you look like

TRIGGER WARNING: INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR WITH A MINOR He relaxed his grip. “I know, but if she is, we mustn’t let it get out. That could ruin our standing and cause her problems.” “We would have to keep this secret for a decade. Do you think we can?” He shrugged his shoulders, then kissed her hand. “I don’t know, but we need to get the elder here tonight.” He turned to Lina. “Have we ever checked her for the mark?” Lina thought about it. “I don’t remember. We had help the first few years, so I never bathed her and then she was old enough to do it herself. What if she has it?” Melius shook his head. “You call the elder over and we’ll get confirmation. He’ll have to bring someone with him since she’s a girl.” Lina nodded her head. She looked past her husband to their daughter, studiously doing her assignments. The black hair faded to the background against the golden streak in her hair. “Yeah, I call them. You go help Kat.” He started to walk away but stopped. “Whatever happens, w