Free Pack Balance by Crissy Smith

He’d… Wait. If Cooper can shift into a wolf, does that mean our kids would too? She hadn’t even considered that.
    As panic built, she had to take a deep breath. Sure, they weren’t at the having kids stage yet, but Julie sure hoped they’d get there one day. Maybe Cooper didn’t even want children. She tried to think back on any conversations that might have come up but she couldn’t remember him ever talking about his future plans. She knew they had plenty of time to discuss things and she’d only gotten him back. She wouldn’t let Cooper slip away again. He’d probably think she was crazy even bringing up the subject after she’d scoffed at moving in just that morning. She needed to relax. She had to have faith that she and Cooper would be able to work anything out. They belonged together. Loving a man who could transform really did bring a lot of unique issues to her dating life. A new worry formed. Would she be able to handle the difficulties Cooper’s abilities attracted?
    She wanted to support him in every way. She knew his life and the decision to become public had to be hard on him. There were rumors that not all the shifters were open about what they were because they feared for their safety. She’d let Cooper down by not being his partner when he’d had to decide. Would she ever be able to make up for her actions and how leaving him had only added to what was going on in his life? Cooper might have been better off if she’d never returned. God , the thought made her heart ache. Maybe she’d been selfish in returning home. But Cooper had welcomed her with open arms. She’d make it up to him.
    “What’s wrong?” Shawn asked. “You turned pale all of a sudden.”
    She shook her head, unsure how to answer. Shawn didn’t know much more about shifters than she did. Plus, he might take her questions the wrong way. He was happy she and Cooper were together, which made her grateful. She knew Shawn, though. He’d tell her not to worry about it. She and Cooper would work it out. And they would, but she really didn’t want to make any more mistakes. She could figure out what she needed to know. Some research would help. She’d already done a bunch when the shifters had come out. She’d collected news articles that that had disproved a lot of old myths, like the full moon shifting, but if she was going to be a true partner to Cooper, she needed to know more.
    “Julie?”
    She jerked her head to the side to look at Shawn. His hand was on the door knob and the engine was off. They were in the parking lot of the coffee shop. She shook herself from her stupor as she popped her door open.
    “You sure you’re okay?” Shawn asked.
    “Yeah, just thinking,” she said. “Let’s get some caffeine.” She followed Shawn inside and got in line behind him.
    She glanced around the crowded shop while wondering how many patrons were human and how many shifter? Wolves weren’t the only shifters out there, although she’d never met any others, at least to her knowledge. The local news station in the corner of the store was giving her an idea. The most popular reporter on the local channel had interviewed several of the shifters around Clear Creek. Julie had watched the broadcast online while she’d lived with her brother, and that reporter was her old college roommate. Julie knew the right person to ask her questions. Shelby would have researched everything she could find about shifters before her filming.
    Julie pulled out her phone and found Shelby’s contact. She sent a quick text about meeting up later. She’d called Shelby to let her know that she was returning to town and they’d promised to get together soon. As busy as her friend was, Julie knew if she didn’t tie Shelby down with a time and date, Shelby’s mind would be on her next assignment. Not that Julie blamed her. Shelby was dedicated and a hardworking woman—sometimes too dedicated. She had been the same in college. It was usually