A Time for Change by Marquaylla Lorette Read Free Book Online Page B

kick and was stopping it just before it connected with Charity’s head. Chelsea, Charity, and Jadelyn went blow for blow, holding back their strength from the punches and kicks they were throwing at each other. They went on like this for another thirty minutes, each holding their strength back.
    For over an hour after Chelsea’s practice was called, she and her mates battled against the other two couples all together. They would have still been going if both Chelsea’s and Ace’s parents hadn’t stopped them.
    Chelsea, Ace, and James were heading out to dinner with Chelsea’s and Ace’s parents. They were going to catch a late show alone after the dinner ended. They wanted as much time alone as they could before opening the school. Ace and his mates knew it was only a matter of time before they started receiving threats because of the school, and James being part lion shifter as well.
    Chelsea slipped on her one shoulder, black, knee length dress and silver heels. Ace and James both dressed in a silk black button up, the only difference was Ace’s slacks were black and James wore gray. They had all gone to different showers in the house but came back to their bedroom to get ready.
    Just as Chelsea was slipping on her dress and earrings, her father yelled up the stairs for them to hurry before they missed their reservation. All three of them quickly rushed down the stairs, out the door, and onto James’s trike. Chelsea sat on the side where the golden-brown wolf was painted and Ace sat where the dark-brown wolf was painted. James waited until they both clicked on their seat belts before pulling off. Thirty minutes later, they were pulling up to Paradise Cuisine.
    Chelsea had helped her family’s construction company design and build the restaurant after the old one had suddenly burn down.
    The restaurant was a one story square building painted burgundy on the outside. The inside had gold pillars throughout the entire restaurant. The bar was located on the right side of the restaurant with oak wood floors and a matching bar and barstools. On the left side was the dining area; their tables were lined with white tablecloths laced with gold trim, which matched the chairs’ gold upholstery.
    They had just made it in time for their reservations. They took one of the square tables at the back of the restaurant. Chelsea’s and Ace’s parents, as well as their parents’ tri-mates, all had come to meet James.
    Ace’s father, Cornelius, who was also the First Beta, was the first to speak. “As you already know, I am Cornelius and this is Ace’s mother, Grace, and our tri-mate, Leslie.”
    James stood, hugged Ace’s mothers, and shook his father’s hand.
    Chelsea’s father, Gabe, who James had already met the first day, introduced Chelsea’s mother, Faith, and their tri-mate, Serenity. James greeted them the same way he did Ace’s parents.
    “James, I want you to know we are all your parents now. You can come to any of us, just as Ace and Chelsea always does. Jadelyn’s and Eli’s mothers, as well as the women at this table, were best friends with your mother. When she mated with your father, we all accepted him into our circle of best friends, including our mates. Anytime you or Charity would like stories or pictures of your parents back then, don’t be afraid to ask any of us,” Serenity said as they waited for their food,
    “Thank you,” James said. He knew Serenity was welcoming him into their family in her own way. He could tell the others wanted to say something similar by the look in their eyes, but Serenity beat them to it.
    “Your father and mother were two of the strongest shifters I had the pleasure of knowing. When the other shifters on the Isle started harassing them, we all invited them to stay at the Alpha or Beta house with us. Needless to say, they refused and your father said they wouldn’t let anyone run them out of their home,” Cornelius said just as they food arrived.
    Ace, James, and