Free The Shifter and the Dreamer by Crissy Smith Page B

rolled down the side of the road.
     
    Cameron paced the inside of his room at the local bed and breakfast, cursing Katy and himself. He should have talked to her. Told her what he was thinking, told her what he had wanted to say when they’d been in bed together.
    She had shared her secrets and it was time he did the same. He had planned on telling her. Maybe tonight. He’d thought about it all last night as she lay beside him.
    It wasn’t fair that she’d bared her soul and he still held back.
    It had been about three in the morning when he realised why he was putting it off. He was still afraid. He didn’t think he could watch her walk away because of what he was.
    She hated her gift so much that he doubted she would look at his in a positive light. But for him, being a shifter was a wonderful thing. He had a family, an entire Pack, a place to belong. He could offer her that. He could introduce both her and Allysa to people who would welcome them and their gifts.
    But what if Katy didn’t want him because of his abilities? She could use that as an excuse for why they couldn’t be together. Still, he’d made the decision to tell her. Lay all of his cards on the table. Let her decide so they could get to work on their future.
    As soon as they case was over, they could be together, forever.
    Now instead of that, she was at dinner with another man. An old lover, he was sure.
    It was stupid. She should be with him.
    He grabbed his car keys off the dresser and left his room. He would go for a drive.
    He knew where he was headed immediately. Katy would probably already be gone on her date, but he would just wait for her. Allysa would probably be home. And if she wasn’t, he would move on to plan B. As soon as he thought of it.
    The word ‘obsessed’ floated through his mind but he tried to push the thought away. She was his mate—he just hadn’t claimed her yet. She would have been his a year ago if she hadn’t run. He’d thought she had just needed time, and he had been hurt when she had told him she didn’t love him and she was leaving. Prior to that, she had put in a transfer, found another job, and packed her apartment, all before she’d let him know.
    He drove past the Sheriff’s station before turning off to take the rural road to her house instead of going through the town. It would wrap around and take him longer but he had time to waste anyway. Needed to think how he was going to tell her he could shift into a wolf.
    It shouldn’t come as too big of a surprise. She had hinted that she had some idea he was different. He should have told her then but he was more worried about getting her to admit she belonged to him. It had calmed the wolf inside when she’d finally said the words.
    He’d let his wolf peek out as he had taken her. Luckily their position hadn’t allowed her to see his eyes, which he was sure had started to glow.
    He slowed upon reaching Katy’s lane and drove up to the house. It was lit up and he saw a Jeep and truck in the drive. He hadn’t thought that Allysa might have company of her own. He really didn’t want to bother her.
    He pulled up behind the Jeep and parked his rental car. He should go inside and ask what time Katy was expected back. He could wait in his car, but that was a little too stalkerish . Before he could make a decision the front door opened.
    Allysa was waiting in the doorway. She raised a hand. Cameron sighed and cut the engine. Well, it was too late now. He exited the vehicle and walked up the pathway.
    “Hey, Cameron,” Allysa greeted. “Is Katy behind you?”
    Cameron shook his head. “No, she was going out to dinner with Clint. I just stopped by to see—”
    “Clint’s still here. Katy hasn’t made it home yet. We figured something came up with the case and she forgot to call.”
    Cameron had reached her by then and could see the anxiety on her face. He checked his watch. It was a little after eight. “Weren’t they supposed to go at