Chosen Mate (Catamount Lion Shifters #2) by J.H. Croix

The additional complication involved Phoebe’s own mixed feelings. She’d loved Jake for years, but she was finding it confusing and confounding to accept the reality that they might have a chance. She couldn’t quite trust it.
    Phoebe came to a stoplight and glanced at Shana. Shana met her eyes, steady and concerned.
    “Jake and I, uh, I guess we’re kind of in a relationship,” Phoebe blurted out.
    Shana’s eyes widened slightly and then the corner of her mouth tipped up. “You two have been circling each other for years. How long has this been going on?”
    “Not long at all. With everything going on, I guess it just…happened.” Phoebe looked away to check on the light. She drove through the intersection, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. Saying aloud what was happening between her and Jake somehow made it feel more real. She took a shaky breath, trying to gather her wits. “I wasn’t trying to hide anything from you. So much has been going on…”
    Shana interjected. “I’m guessing you’ve got yourself all worked up about it and didn’t know if I could handle hearing two of my best friends finally did something about how they felt. My heart breaks every time I think about Callen dying and the fact that he wasn’t who I thought he was. But I would never begrudge you finding your own happiness. You never said a word about it, but it was obvious to me you’ve loved him for years. What does Jake have to say about all of it?”
    Phoebe turned into the parking lot at the hotel once she saw the sign. She waited until she found a parking spot before turning the car off and looking at Shana. “Jake said he’s wanted me for years. He said he wants us to have a chance.” She paused, her throat tight with tears. She couldn’t sort out why, but somehow experiencing intimacy with Jake had twisted her to knots inside. Because if it didn’t work out for them, she had no idea how her heart could handle it. “When we’re together, it’s amazing. You’re right that I’ve loved him for years. But I never talked about it because he swore for years and years that he’d never be with any woman who wasn’t a shifter. And now, I’m scared because I don’t know if I can take it if things don’t work out for us. What if he changes his mind? What if it is best for him to be with a shifter? I don’t know what I’ll do.”
    Shana’s mouth twisted in a rueful smile. “I may not be the best one to give advice since I hardly trust anyone after what Callen did, but I’ll try. The list of people I trust is super short, but you’re on it and so is Jake. Jake isn’t much of a talker. If he says he wants a chance, he wants a chance. Dane told me years ago that he thought Jake had a thing for you, but he was too stupid to do anything about it. I can see why you might get hung up on the shifter thing because he was so weird about it after what happened with Naomi. I’m not going to be ridiculous and pretend like you should just believe it will be amazing, but I know you shouldn’t try to shut it down because you’re scared. If two people ever should be together, it’s you and Jake.” Shana’s words were strong and confident, an antidote to Phoebe’s swirling confusion and self-doubt.
    Phoebe took a deep breath and met Shana’s eyes. “Have I mentioned you’re the best friend ever?”
    Shana rolled her eyes. “Not always, but I try. As far as friends go, you deserve an award. You’ve been a rock for me since Callen died and reality as I knew it was turned upside down.”
    Phoebe felt tears press behind her eyes. Another deep breath, and she thought she could keep it together. Between her raw feelings for Jake and the weeks of topsy-turvy news that had been so devastating for Shana and Catamount, she needed to pull herself together. They had to sort out their next steps while they waited for Dane and Jake to arrive. “Well, that’s what friends are for. What now?”
    Shana glanced around the parking