All Chapters of Freakn' Shifters: Chapter 221 - Chapter 230

Whistling and on top the world, Stu had exited the cabin, feeling like the world's luckiest wolf. As he trudged around the cabin in fluffy snow, he couldn't help but grin in remembrance of the previous night. What a night. Patricia might not have claimed him or Ricky as mates yet, but she was close. So close. As a matter of fact, given the way she'd eyed them both over breakfast-like juicy steaks she couldn't wait to take a bite from-Stu had to wonder if by lunchtime today he wouldn't be a mated man. Hot damn, he hoped so. Forget the single life. He was ready to start something new. Leave the den he'd grown up in and share his future with the hottest cougar around. Heck, he'd even come to enjoy the company of the mangy cat he'd have to share her with. His computer programming business could be done from anywhere. So moving out wouldn't prove a chore, although, if her apartment was small, they might have to get a bigger- His wolf growled inside his head, and he p

Sunday night dinner was more crowded and chaotic than ever, especially now that his brothers had someone new to pick on. Not that Ricky let them get away with it. The panther knew how to give as good as he got and fit in quite well with the Graysons. Despite his statement that he'd not let Ma fuss over him, Ricky never did manage to use the word no around her. The bafflement on his face when she managed to get him to wear the hand-knitted wool sweater-blue and green with a big majestic moose on the chest-was priceless. Stu naturally got a picture and couldn't wait to hear his bellow of rage when he saw the posters he had done up with them for the youth center Ricky managed. The kids had helped in designing them, so like it or not, Ricky would have to smile and bear it. Oh, the fireworks it would create at home. Home. Now there was a word he'd had to redefine. No longer did he live with his parents. Nope. After discussing it at length, they'd vetoed suburbia and upgraded Pat

The surprise in his eyes was quickly masked, but at least she managed to catch his attention. Good, because she needed to set the tone early. But Derrick wasn't done posturing for dominance. Janine's newest patient leaned back in his wheelchair and folded his hands over his flat stomach as he perused her, his glance taking in her appearance from her hair, simply brushed and pinned back with a barrette, her clothing-ill fitting due to a mishap with her luggage-and her face bare of makeup. He stared at it all, especially where a button threatened to pop at the top of the straining blouse. If he thought to intimidate, he'd have to do better. She took stock right back. A big man, his shoulders stretched wide while his arms were corded with muscles. Despite his infirmity, Derrick kept himself fit. According to the verbal summary she'd received, Derrick spent several hours a day working out, keeping his upper body in shape. As for his lower body?her gaze went to the legs that onl

Expecting Derrick to duck out on their session meant Janine was ready and waiting for him the next morning. She stood outside of the building he was housed in and kept watch. Sure enough, about a half-hour before their session was set to start, the front doors to the building opened with an electric whine as someone pressed the automated button. Derrick emerged, hands wielding the grips of his wheelchair, pushing himself along at a quick clip, so quick she practically had to trot to keep him in sight. She knew better than to confront him in the open. Besides, she wanted to see where he went. The rehab center grounds housed numerous buildings, most of them for rehabilitation of some sort. While they offered an in-house program for people like Derrick, they also took those who had adapted enough to function in the outside world but still needed a place they could exercise. Derrick bypassed the gym facility nearby and followed the road, never once peering behind. His rou

Watching Derrick flee, Janine didn't give chase. Sometimes, a good therapist had to let a patient get angry. Anger was better than complacency, unless the anger turned destructive. In Derrick's case, she didn't think he would harm himself or others. Not intentionally at least. His decision to avoid his family might seem selfish, on the surface at least, but she was trained to look past the words to the cause. Derrick is afraid of hurting his family. Not physically, but emotionally. Within close-knit families, if one person hurt, they all hurt. Derrick understood his family would grieve his loss of mobility with him. Understood they'd do anything to make him feel as if nothing had changed. Would give up their lives to help him. He didn't want them to do that. Add to that the shame he felt, a shame that people could tell him he shouldn't feel but still did. You couldn't ask a man who'd spent thirty years of his life with vitality and an active lifestyle to sudden