Shiloh was always up before I was. When I showed him the rooftop garden on the building, he started getting up every morning and heading up there to do his meditations. Usually, when I couldn’t find him, I’d check the rooftop and find him there, running his hands over the plants and whispering to the butterflies that fluttered around the flowers. It was fine. No one else used the rooftop anyhow, unless they were going to have a cocktail party at night.

I was surprised when I got out of the shower and found him sitting in the kitchen, laptop opened on the counter in front of him. I tapped the button on the coffeemaker and rubbed a towel over my head while I was waiting for it to brew. Shiloh hadn’t said anything to me yet.

“What’s going on, sweetie?” I finally asked.

“Good morning, love.” Shiloh beamed up at me briefly before he bent his head back over the laptop. I shook my head and bustled around the kitchen, setting a glass of orange juice and a pre-natal vitamin in front of Shiloh. He didn’t look up from the screen as he reached over and took his morning pill.

“Is there toast?” he asked into the computer screen after he gulped down his juice.

“Shiloh!” My hands landed on the counter with a loud smack. Shiloh didn’t jump, even though the sound cracked through the apartment.

“Yes?” he asked, his voice calm.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“I’m researching.” He beamed at me.

“Researching. Okay.” It was unlikely I was going to get more out of Shiloh until he was ready, so I dropped bread into the toaster and watched Shiloh as I sipped on my coffee. He was so sweet, the kindest soul I’d ever met, and so infuriatingly calm and mellow that it drove me insane sometimes. I’d never met a person who just flowed the way he did. I didn’t even know how to describe it.

Finally, he looked up at me and I could tell he’d finished whatever it was he was doing.

“Here,” he said, and turned the computer around to face me.

I leaned over the counter and looked at what he’d been working on. I was still not sure.

“What’s this?”

“Articles and research from scientific journals and studies that conclusively affirm the existence of psychic abilities in shifters.”

“Okay. Why are showing this to me?”

“You’re a scholarly type of guy—archeology, sociology, and all that. I figured if I presented you with studies and research, you’d be more likely to accept my gifts. Lots of shifters have gifts. It’s really that simple. We aren’t human. We stretch beyond those boundaries.”

I pulled the computer toward me and clicked through a few of the websites, skimming research papers and dissertations and studies. Shiloh munched on a slice of toast, humming as he studied the tiles in the kitchen ceiling. Finally, I closed the laptop.

“I’m sorry,” I said.

“For what, love?” He licked a smear of jam off his thumb.

“For not believing you. I mean, I believed you, but I also didn’t. I saw what you did to Barrett that day. But I figured that was some sort of… I dunno. Barrett believes, so it affects him. Like you have to believe in a curse for it work.” I wasn’t making any sense. “I’m sorry. You’re my mate and one day I’ll claim you. I should take your word when you tell me things.”

“It’s okay.” Shiloh slipped off his stool and rounded the counter. His arms drifted around my waist and he lifted his mouth for a kiss.

“Hey,” I said as I broke away from his lips. “I think it’s time you met my family.”

“Okay,” he agreed. Then, his lips found mine again and he practically purred, rubbing his body against mine. I forgot about families and gifts for the next few hours.

* * *

Shiloh had his face pressed to the window as we wound up the drive to my parents’ home. It was on the edge of the city but had a very rural feel, with the ridge of trees rising behind it and acres of grass and gardens spreading out on either side. It bordered a national park, so there weren’t neighbors nearby. It was the perfect place for my mom and dad to raise a pack of five rambunctious pups.

“I didn’t know it could look like this so close to the city,” Shiloh breathed. “Hurry, Parker, I want to get out of the car.”

I chuckled at him and sped up the drive. The car was barely parked before Shiloh jumped out of his side and was standing barefoot in the grass. He lifted his face to the setting sun and began a low song under his breath. He swayed and moved in the grass and his face was blissful. The he dropped to his knees and bent over, pressing his nose into the grass and inhaling, rubbing his cheeks across the blades of green like a purring kitten.

Behind me, someone cleared their throat.

My entire family was standing on the porch, watching Shiloh roll around on the grass like a puppy.

“Ah, hi.” I gave my family an awkward wave and went to Shiloh, reaching down and helping him stand up. I brushed the grass off his clothes, picked up his shoes, and slipped his arm through mine.

“Shiloh, this is my family. Family, Shiloh.” I gestured between everyone and gave my mom a wan smile.

Rudy, my brother Jason’s mate, was the first one down the steps. He had their son, Liam, propped on his hip. He reached up and gave me a quick hug before turning to Shiloh.

“Hi, I’m Rudy. It’s so nice to finally meet you.” Rudy gave Shiloh’s belly a quick look. “And congratulations. This is Liam. I’m so glad he’s going to have a cousin soon. Come on.” With his free hand, Rudy dragged Shiloh up the steps to the rest of the family.

Jasper and Slate, my twin brothers, were the next to welcome Shiloh with their usual boisterous handshakes and back slaps.

My mother pulled Shiloh to her and enveloped him in a hug that was probably scented with ridiculously expensive perfume.

“I’m Vivian,” she said. “But you can call me Mom. Rudy does.” She laid her hand on Shiloh’s burgeoning belly. “Oh, another grandchild. I’m so excited! I can help you with decorating the nursery.”

All my brothers burst into laughter and I jumped in, extracting my future mate from my mother’s arms.

“Shiloh, this is my dad. And more brothers, uh, Jason, Ollie, and you’ve met Jasper and Slate. You can ignore them now.” Jasper thumped me on the shoulder.

“Okay, come on. Inside,” my mother trilled. “Dinner soon. You boys take Shiloh to the game room. There are appetizers there.”

“Do we have go inside yet?” Shiloh murmured.

“It’s fine. The windows are large and they open. We can come back out anytime you want.”

Shiloh nodded and lets me lead him into my parents’ home. From the outside, it looked like a three-story mountain cabin. The inside, though, was luxurious, decorated with my mom’s questionable choices, but still warm and welcoming.

The game room, where my family spent most of our time together, had a billiards table, large video screen, fireplace, well-stocked bookshelves, and my father’s chess set in one corner. Comfortable sofas flanked the fireplace and there was a table between them with trays of meat, cheese, and nuts, and bottles of wine and sparkling water. My mother might not have been a great decorator, but she could lay out a spread.

I led Shiloh to a sofa and settled him in comfortably before grabbing him a glass of sparkling water. Slipping in beside him, I settled my arm over his shoulder. I knew what was coming next. Sure enough, here came Jasper.

“So, Shiloh, you’re from… where exactly?” Jasper popped a chunk of cheese into his mouth.

“Stell Valley? Just a couple of hours away really, but it might as well be on the moon it’s so different from here.”

“Different how?” Slate wandered over and stood next to Jasper.

“Quieter. Simpler.” Shiloh gave my twin brothers his dreamy smile.

“Oh, I grew up not far from there, in the backlands. Orphanage.” Rudy sat across from Shiloh with baby Liam on his lap. “It’s so different in Stell, but you’ll get used to it. Remind me to give you my number before we leave so you can call if you need anything. Or if you just want another omega to talk to.”

“That’s very kind of you,” Shiloh said, gratitude in his voice.

“Dinner, gentlemen,” my mother said from the doorway.

“Come on. You’ll sit by me.” Rudy handed Liam off to one of the twins and looped his arm through Shiloh’s. Jason gave me a shrug and a grin as we followed them into the dining room.

* * *

“Now, don’t feel like you have to eat anything just because I made it, dear.” My mom bustled around the table with a tray of steaks, doling them out to us with a pair of tongs. She followed up with a tray of twice-baked potatoes.

“It looks lovely, Mrs. Marks.” Shiloh piled a heap of salad onto his plate. I knew he didn’t eat much meat in general, but he’d be polite and try some anyhow.

“Tut tut. Call me Mom.” My mother beamed at Shiloh before she took her seat beside my father.

“Okay.” Shiloh fiddled with his fork and I could tell he was a little uncomfortable, so I turned to Jason.

“How’s the website?” I shoved a forkful of potato into my mouth.

“It’s great. Getting a good response from the public. We’ve got a television ad campaign planned soon.” Jason waved his fork around and I could tell he was getting ready to launch into all the metrics pertaining to the site.

“Hey, Shiloh, so you’re a psychic or something?” Jasper cut in. “Give us a prediction.”

“I’m not exactly psychic,” Shiloh said quietly.

“Parker mentioned something,” my father said. “What was it?”

“A seer,” I said.

“So, yeah, totally psychic,” Jasper said around a mouthful of steak.

“What?” my father boomed.

“I’m the pack seer,” Shiloh said, his voice quiet but powerful.

“What does that mean, dear?” my mother asked, confused.

Shiloh’s eyes were shifting back and forth between my brothers and parents. They were throwing questions at him like arrows and I could tell he’d duck and run if it was an option.

“Shiloh is a seer. He has visions,” I said. “It’s an important and respected position in the backlands packs, the original pack orders. He was chosen as a child and he’s been studying and practicing as a seer for many years. He’s an advisor to his pack Alpha and elders. It’s really a very important position.”

“Oh. My. Sounds exciting,” my mother breathed. I could tell she was feeling a little more charitable towards Shiloh now. Hearing that he held an important position where he was from was all took to impress my mom sometimes. Even my father was nodding his head sagely, like he understood exactly what being a seer entailed.

“So. Can you make predications?” Slate asked.

Shiloh turned to me and gave me a sly wink before turning back to Slate. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes, they’d gone all dreamy and distant, like he was looking out over a sea that never ended.

“You won’t pass your test next week,” Shiloh said softly.

Jasper cawed and elbowed Slate in the ribs. “You better hit those books, bro.”

“The guy at the coffeehouse isn’t the right one for you. In fact, he’s dating someone else.”

“Say what?” Now Shiloh had Slate’s attention.

“You’ll have a baby by the end of the year,” Shiloh intoned.

“Whoa, slow down.” Now Slate looked nervous. Ollie and Jason were starting to catch on. They snickered behind their hands.

“You’re going to be the Mayor of Stelline City.”

“I don’t want to be mayor! I’m never going to run,” Slate huffed.

“Doesn’t matter, you’ll win by write in,” Shiloh deadpanned.

“What?” Now Slate looked confused.

“Then you’re going to give up your alpha status and become a cocktail waiting omega in a strip club in the backlands.” Shiloh gave Slate a slow wink.

Slate started to sputter as the rest of the table erupted into laughter.

“Okay, okay, I had that coming.” Slate grinned.

“Yeah, you did,” I remarked, and leaned over to give Shiloh a kiss on the cheek.

“It’s okay,” Shiloh said shyly. “Most people aren’t really sure what a seer does. And I do have visions sometimes. I just can’t always call them up at will.”

“Fascinating,” Ollie murmured, one eyebrow slanted toward the ceiling.

“That’s enough, boys,” Mom admonished. “Leave Shiloh alone. Let him eat so that baby gets nice and strong. Who’s ready for dessert?”

There was a clamor around the table as my family shifted their plates around, waiting for Mom to bring out dessert. Shiloh was smiling softly, quiet, and peeking at my family from underneath his long lashes. He looked happier than he had since we got to Stell, and that made my heart glad.

* * *

We decided to stay at my parents’ that night, in my old room. Shiloh had really taken to the place. He liked that he could go outside and see the stars instead of the phosphorene shine of the lights in the city. I found him outside after going into the kitchen to get a cup of tea to help him sleep. He was in the backyard, in the far corner near the gazebo, where Jason asked Rudy to marry him. Night insects ticked and chattered from the bushes, and the air was warm and scented with pine. I slipped off my shoes and walked closer to Shiloh, letting the grass tickle up between my toes.

Shiloh sat cross-legged, his face tipped back to the stars, his eyes shut. He was perfectly still. There was a low chant issuing from between his unmoving lips. The music was coming from down inside him, bubbling up from his throat. It was amazing.

I stopped, not wanting to disturb him. He’d handled today amazingly well. He seemed so young sometimes, but he had a wisdom and depth to him most people twice his age in Stell never achieved. Despite my initial reservations about him being a seer, I was beginning to see Shiloh in a new light. My mate was more grounded than my brothers, with all their higher education and opportunities, would ever be.

It seemed like I had a few things to learn from Shiloh, after all.

And I suspected the first was how to slow down and love.