by Chris T. Kat
“Because that worked so well for you?”
“It might work better for you. The kid’s stealing lovesick glances at you whenever he can.”
“I don’t mix work and my private life. You know that,” I answered.
“Just because Taylor screwed you over doesn’t mean Nicky’s going to be the same.”
I slashed my hand through the air, annoyance bubbling up inside me. “Leave it, Jesse. Work is work, and that’s all there is. You already see how much trouble getting involved—or trying to get involved—with a team member is accumulating. Things are fine the way they are.”
Jesse slid from the desk surface into his chair. Before he turned his back to me, he muttered, “Things aren’t fine the way they are.”
I didn’t bother reacting. He was right, though.
Chapter Seven
Nick
WHEN WE came back from lunch, Annie and Jake were gone, Jesse was keeping his back to everyone, and Sam… Sam smiled at me. I reciprocated in kind—I couldn’t help myself. I wanted so badly to sit on his lap, feel his muscular thighs underneath me and his strong arms wrapped around me. It would be like a cocoon, wonderful, warm, safe, and—
“Nick? Are you all right?” Sam rose from his chair, concern written all over his face.
“What? Yes, of course.”
“Are you sure? You look a bit flushed, and it took you forever to react to what I said.”
What he said? What had he said? I only recalled thoughts of safety and warmth. Oh shit! I’d totally spaced out into dreamland.
Before I could come up with anything to say, Connor came over and wrapped an arm around my shoulder. “Maybe we’re all coming down with something,” he mused. “I don’t feel all that great either. Maybe that’s why Annie’s suppressants didn’t work properly?”
Sam’s frown deepened. For a moment, I thought he wanted to reach out to me, to… what? Hug me? Comfort me? Geez, I wanted that so badly my gums were starting to ache.
My gums? Oh, no, no, no. My upper canines pushed outward, and I was bordering on a panic attack. Surely Sam could smell that? How would I explain having such an intense scent?
I slapped my hands over my mouth, hiding the evidence and trying to come up with some sort of explanation when Connor beat me to it. “You feel like throwing up?”
I grabbed on to his excuse and nodded vigorously.
“You better go home, kid,” Sam said. “You should probably have someone drive you.”
“Ah, I’ll do that.” Connor all but shoved me in the direction of the door. “Taking him home on your bike wouldn’t be the best idea, you know?”
Bike? Oh right, that freakishly huge rocket Sam rode every day. Hmm, how would that feel? To sit behind him on such a big, vibrating machine.
“Stop it!” Connor hissed into my ear. “You’re giving away way too much.”
Giving away too much? What did he mean? Was he onto me? Geez, what was wrong with me? Why wasn’t I able to control myself? Soft fur grew on my back, and my nose twitched.
“When was the last time you shifted?” Connor whispered as he hustled me out of the building and into his car.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I replied, though it sounded rather garbled since my teeth didn’t fit my human mouth anymore.
“Yeah, right. Look, I’ll drive you home, then you can shift. You’ve probably suppressed your shifter side for too long. Can you hold on for another ten minutes?”
Panic seized me and caused me to wheeze. He knew. Connor fucking knew.
He didn’t wait for a reply. Instead, he peeled out of the underground garage and drove as fast as he could. When we pulled up in front of my apartment complex, he cut the engine and held out his hand. “Give me your keys.”
“Why? I’m perfectly capable of—” I cut myself off. My hands were covered in a soft light fur, totally not human anymore. Another surge of panic ran through my body, making it increasingly difficult to breathe or stop myself from giving in completely.
Connor shook his head, stuck his hand in my jeans pocket, and fished out my keys. He helped me out of the car and hurried me inside. As soon as the front door to my apartment was unlocked, he thrust me forward, then kicked the door shut.
“Okay, you can let go now. It’s safe.”
I backed away from him, still holding on to my human side with everything I had. Speaking was out of the question by this point, so I pointed at the door, hoping he’d get the hint and leave.
“Oh no. I’m not leaving. I wanna know what you are.”
Tears welled up too quickly for me to push them back. Defeated, I allowed them to flow down my cheeks. Everything I’d worked for was for nothing.
“Nick, don’t cry. It’s okay.”
No. No, it wasn’t okay. Nothing would ever be okay.
My other side demanded that I let go of my human skin with more snarls than usual. How could I convince Connor to leave? That way I might have a chance to salvage my job—just a miniscule chance, but I’d take it.
Connor sighed. “Fine. I’ll go first so you know you don’t have to be afraid.”
Confused, I stared at Connor as he took off his gun, shield, and belt buckle. He shrugged and grinned. “I can shift easier when I don’t have so much metal on me.”
Shift? Connor was human. He smelled human. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and within a blink Connor had shifted into a diminutive polar fox kit. He was all bright white fur, with black eyes and a tiny black nose.
My mouth opened in surprise, and that’s all it took for my inner feline to roar to the forefront. The shift tore through me, leaving me dazed for a few seconds afterward.
Connor tilted his head to the side and let out a weird sound, not really a bark, but not really a meow either. A fox sound, obviously. Are you okay?
I started so badly when the telepathic connection clicked into place that I toppled backward. Hastily rolling back onto my belly, I bared my teeth at him. How is that possible? You’re human. And… and how can you talk to me? You’re not a cat!
Aren’t you supposed to be human as well? Because right now you look like a heavily disgruntled kitten. Connor rose on all fours and ambled over to me. He was smaller than me, which said something, because my shifted form was already small.
I’m not a kitten.
You totally are. Snow leopard baby, right?
The tip of Connor’s tail swished back and forth, drawing me closer like a beacon. I belly-crawled forward, gaze locked on to his tail. Connor glanced from me to his tail, then deliberately slowly moved it from one side to the other.
I had prepared for the pounce, muscles bunched, when I heard Connor laughing in my head. Catch me if you can, kitty.
I pounced but missed. Hissing, I whirled around, looking for Connor. He peeked from behind my sofa, his tongue lolling out. Here, kitty, kitty.
You’re dead.
Nope. You’re too slow.
I chased him. Right through my apartment, not caring about the noise and chaos we left in our wake as we played. Eventually, I pinned him underneath me and gnawed at his right ear.
Stop chewing, you freak.
Hmm, no. He still didn’t have an intense scent, but when I was close enough, I could get a whiff of his baby smell. But sure, he knew my secret now, so maybe I shouldn’t chew on him quite so much? I opted for grooming him instead.
Connor yelped and tried to push me away. His small paws dug into my chest, but I just batted them away with one of my forepaws. Your tongue feels like sandpaper.
I’m a cat, what do you expect?
For you to stop licking me?
I shook my head before I proceeded with my grooming. This is great. My paws are bigger than yours.
Connor gave that foxy sound, which reminded me of laughter. Seriously? We find out about our true identities, and your main concern is that you’re bigger than me?
I’m usually the smallest.
Yeah, you do look small for a snow
leopard cub. How old would you be compared to a real one?
About three months—the time when they leave their den for the first time and get weaned.
Aw, you’re such a baby! Connor snapped at my muzzle, effectively dislodging me from on top of him. He jumped onto the sofa, waiting for me.
I followed immediately. Once on the sofa, I went into the corner, snatched my favorite pillow and made myself comfortable on it. I yawned. Man, I could do with a nap about now.
You’re such a kitty.
Yeah, yeah. Tired kitty, though. Want to nap together? Or would that be weird? I bet it wouldn’t be weird at all to nap with Sam. Although… nope, better not think about it. Sam couldn’t find out about me.
Connor hopped onto the pillow and nestled up against me. Sure. We need to talk after our nap.
Yeah. I really want to know why you smelled human.
You didn’t smell like shifter either.
I was too comfortable for heavy conversation right now. Talk later. Sleep now.
Connor draped his tail around himself and closed his eyes. His warmth and steady breathing lulled me to sleep.
Chapter Eight
Sam
THE OFFICE felt empty after Connor left with Nick. The poor guy had looked seriously sick, though he hadn’t smelled sick, just panicked. I frowned. Why had I smelled him at all? To no one in particular, I said, “Did any of you smell Nick become really anxious?”
Julie stared at me from halfway across the office. “Nick’s human—you can’t have smelled him. Besides, he looked ready to throw up. Anyone would become anxious about that.”
“Yeah, but I could swear I smelled it on him.”
“Now that you mention it….” Jesse turned in his chair, a look of concentration on his face. “I did smell that too. Come to think of it, I think I smelled him a couple of times before. That’s really odd, because it was usually anxiety I smelled.”
“We shouldn’t smell that on him at all,” I said. “At least not unless the anxiety is extreme, and then there would be visible signs too.” Anger started to burn deep inside me. Not again. I didn’t want to have another drugged shifter on my team pretending to be human just to get in. “He’s human. Or at least he’s supposed to be.”
“For God’s sake, Sam!” Julie threw her hands into the air. “Are you so hung up on Taylor that you see deceit and secrecy everywhere? Maybe he’s just high-strung and that’s why you get a whiff of anxiety from him. He seems to be especially nervous around you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I growled.
“It means that you’re a huge guy, a lion shifter, who often scowls for no apparent reason. You’re Nick’s team leader. You’re fifteen years his senior, and he seems to be rather awestruck by you. I’d say his reaction’s understandable.” Julie didn’t back down. She never did. That’s why she fit so well into the team. She was never intimidated by any shifter, demanding respect but also giving it.
“I didn’t know I scared him that much.”
Roland’s gravel voice put me on edge even more when he said, “He’s into you, Sam. That alone’s enough to scare someone.”
I raised an eyebrow, contemplating my teammate’s words. Everyone told me Nick showed interest in me, so what was holding me back? He smelled like my mate. At least whenever I could smell enough of him, which was getting increasingly difficult with the amount of cologne he wore.
The other three kept staring at me. I shifted my weight in my chair, wondering what to do. I didn’t want to have a mate, especially not someone so much younger than myself, and not someone on my team. That would never work. I hardened my heart and said, “Guess he’ll have to learn to adjust, then.”
Roland’s eyes narrowed before he turned around, merging with the shadows in his corner. Julie opened her mouth, then closed it with a snap. White-hot anger spiced the air, strong enough for any shifter to smell. Even Roland winced.
For a while silence reigned; not even the usual clacking on keyboards could be heard. I stared at my computer screen, reading a file for the sixth or seventh time. My concentration was shot to hell.
I knew the others meant well. Finding your mate was a dream come true for every shifter, but… yeah, Taylor had done a real number on me. He’d swept me off my feet, courted me, and he’d smelled so great….
But in the end he hadn’t been human, and he hadn’t been my mate. Just a shifter who’d been a creep. Someone who’d wanted to be mated to an alpha and was ready to use all means necessary. He’d taken a drug that imitated a mate scent, which was why he’d smelled good to me—but not irresistible. That had been my luck. Otherwise, I’d have been bound forever to someone who only ever saw me as some kind of trophy.
Some shifters still believed an alpha would do anything for his or her mate, which wasn’t so far wrong. Taylor, however, thought he could control me. Get me to serve him anything he wanted on a silver platter and altogether give him a plushy, comfortable life with all the luxury he could imagine.
Cops, especially in an Alpha Unit, earned a great deal of money nowadays. Taylor hadn’t been a cop, just someone helping us out with paperwork and administration, and he’d obviously wanted to secure a cozy future for himself—at my expense.
I sighed, shutting the computer down. “Didn’t Nick say something about a connection he found?”
“Yeah, he did. Want me to call him?” Jesse asked.
No. If anyone called him, it would be me. I realized I’d lifted my upper lip as if I intended to snarl at Jesse and quickly breathed in deeply. I shook my head. “No, let him recover. It’s not like it’s a life or death situation. I’ll see if I can find anything on his desk.”
“You’re snooping in his stuff?” Jesse unfolded himself from the weird knot he liked to bend himself into. “Does that mean I’m allowed to snoop in Connor’s stuff as well?”
“If you do, I’ll tell Connor. I’m sure he’d love that.” Julie held up a finger in warning. “If you want to call me a bitch, you better only do it in your head.”
Jesse’s beast sprang to the forefront without warning. In one big leap, he landed right in front of Julie. A deep growl reverberated through him. Roland bounced out of his seat, shifting midjump. He pushed between Julie and Jesse’s jaguar. He did all that without a sound, which was way more dangerous than if he’d growled.
“Guys, what the hell is wrong with all of you today?” I asked.
Julie’s carotid artery beat wildly, visible against the skin of her throat, giving away her agitation even though she didn’t move a muscle. Suddenly, surprise flickered over her face. “Out. We have to get out of the office. Now.”
“What? Why?”
She tried to stand, but Jesse crouched low, his eyes never leaving Julie. Roland’s ears flattened against his head. I could see his muscles bunch underneath his fur, ready to counter an attack from Jesse.
Julie pointed upward to the ventilation system. “Remember the attack on the Chicago Alpha Unit? They pumped an airborne drug into their ventilation system that made them aggressive and made them lose control over their beasts.”
“It also counteracts heat suppressants,” I remembered, my eyes widening with realization. All Alpha Units had a separate ventilation system, computer system, et cetera, so they remained self-sustaining in case of a direct attack. “Fuck.”
Julie stood, very slowly and carefully. For a split second, I believed she’d gotten through to Jesse. Then he pounced.
Julie screamed. She fell back into her chair while I unleashed my lion. When I stood on my large paws, Roland and Jesse were rolling on the floor, both snarling and fighting to the death. I roared so loudly the mugs on the tables rattled. That was enough for Julie to seize the moment and bolt toward the door.
Jesse whirled around, intent on chasing her. Roland snatched the tip of Jesse’s tail in his jaws and gave a sharp tug. Jesse’s paws slid out from under him, but not for long. Roland backed off, trying to follow Julie, who I could hear screaming
for help outside.
Jesse was utterly and completely feral. He also had Roland pinned underneath him, his eyes gleaming with victory as he opened his snout to snap Roland’s neck.
Chapter Nine
Nick
MAN, YOU’RE purring like a chainsaw. Connor lay next to me, yawning and showing rows of perfect foxy teeth.
It’s cozy.
You’re such a kitten.
I swiped my tongue over his head, which was conveniently resting underneath my chin.
Stop that! He rolled away from me, almost toppling off the nice pillow. It was one of my softest and biggest ones, perfect for a little snooze. How’d you like if I licked you?
Connor climbed on top and started grooming me. If he thought that would offend me, he had another think coming. I closed my eyes, snuggled deeper into my pillow, and purred.
You’re a perv, Connor complained after a while.
Am not.
Fine, you’re not.
You liked me grooming you, I said smugly.
I totally didn’t.
Methinks you’re complaining too much. I bet you wouldn’t complain if Jesse did the grooming.
A shudder ran through Connor. Subdued, he said, He’d never do that. I’m just a fox kit. He’s not exactly keen on smaller shifters.
That’s why you’re keeping him away, huh?
That and the fact that baby shifters aren’t supposed to be cops. Can you imagine what would happen if they ever found out? Connor climbed down from me, his ears drooping.
It’s not forbidden for us to become regular cops. I looked that up before I went to the academy, I said.
So? You’re still lying about who you really are.
I know. We lapsed into silence.
Connor glanced around my living room. We made a mess.
I glanced up and huffed. That we did. But it was fun.
Connor laughed in my head. It totally was! The most fun I’ve had in a long time.
Same here, I said softly. It had been so long since I’d simply let go and played. Especially with another baby shifter. The last time had been with my sister, who’d been a snow leopard baby shifter as well. I squeezed my eyes shut, willing the memories to stay buried so they couldn’t hurt me anymore. A soft mewl escaped me nonetheless.