Jupiter (Were Zoo Book 2) by R. E. Butler

down at her with the golden eyes of his
beast. “My life was empty until I had you in my arms. Whatever the
future holds for us, I’m grateful to have you as my
mate.”
    “ Sorry to interrupt, but
Zane and his mate are on their way,” Javan said from the
doorway.
    Jupiter kissed her once more and said,
“Thanks. Let’s go meet your bestie’s soulmate.”
    “ And then later, we can do
that idea with the nakedness and lack of sleep,” she
added.
    He purred, and Javan muttered, “I hope
I find my soulmate soon.”
    Celeste saw Adriana walking with a
man, and she rushed out of the office and embraced her bestie.
Jupiter growled in annoyance; she knew it was because she hadn’t
waited for him.
    Adriana looked happier than she’d ever
seen her, and Celeste knew that she looked the same. As they
embraced, Celeste felt like laughing and crying at the same
time.
    “ It feels like a week since
I saw you. Are you okay?” Celeste asked.
    “ I’m great now. How are
you?”
    “ Having the adventure of a
lifetime!”
    Adriana held out her hand to her mate
and said, “Zane, come and meet my best friend.”
    Celeste motioned for
Jupiter, who stalked out of the office looking disgruntled. He
caught Celeste around the waist and spun her away from the others.
“Would you please not run off like that? It makes my lion tense.”
    She snuggled into his embrace,
grinning up at him.
    He grunted. “If you want to play chase
later, we can do it at home. For now…just don’t do that.
Please.”
    “ Chase?”
    He purred, and she shivered. “You, and
me in my shift,” he whispered, “after the park is closed. Then you
can run all you like.”
    She rolled her eyes and gave him a
playful swat on his shoulder. “Sorry, I was just excited to see
Adriana.”
    They moved closer to her friend and
Jupiter extended his hand to Adriana. “It’s nice to meet you. If
you’re ready, we have reservations.”
    It hadn’t escaped Celeste’s notice
that Jupiter had not let go of her. When Adriana raised her eyebrow
in question, she shrugged. “He’s an overprotective nutcase. Ignore
him.”
    Jupiter growled. “My wife thinks I worry too
much.”
    “ Wife?” Adriana
asked.
    “ It’s better than the ‘m’
word out in public,” Celeste explained.
    Their small group left the park in an
SUV. Jupiter drove and Zane sat in the passenger seat, while
Celeste sat on the second-row bench seat with Adriana. They both
talked at the same time, their words blending together. Adriana was
happy for Celeste, and Celeste was happy for her bestie. She
couldn’t believe how strange it was that both of them had come to
the park and wound up with mates.
    “ Have you thought about
doing nails here?” Celeste asked.
    “ Like in the
park?”
    “ No, I mean like setting up
shop down in the market. Although there are only four unmated
females, there are over a dozen mated females here in the park. I
bet they’d enjoy not having to leave for manis. Eventually there
will be more mates, anyway.”
    “ Would you work with me on
scheduling and supplies?”
    “ Of course!”
    Jupiter cleared his throat and said to
Zane, “Celeste would like to have lunch twice a week with
Adriana.”
    Celeste winked at Adriana, who was
grinning.
    “ In the market? That’s
totally doable. Is Celeste going to work security with you?” Zane
asked.
    He shook his head. “I’d be too
distracted.”
    Celeste giggled. “I am hot.”
    Jupiter’s cheeks turned
pink, and Zane looked like he was trying hard not to laugh. “I
meant, little love, that I’d be too worried about your safety to do
my job correctly. But you are hot.”
    Celeste clicked her tongue and started
to laugh, Adriana joining in. When they’d both settled down,
Adriana explained to Zane about the idea of setting up a nail salon
in the market.
    “ What do you think?” she
asked Zane, reaching forward and putting her hand on his
shoulder.
    “ I think it’s a great idea.
I know you wouldn’t want to