by Zoe Chant
The man mostly dozing in his seat let out a startled yell at the disturbance, and at the sight of the huge cat looking in at him. Luke mentally grinned even as he dropped back down to the asphalt.
Saul opened the door and stepped out. Saul was a true behemoth of a man, but gentle for all of his size. He also looked around the parking lot for company, before grabbing a duffel bag off the backseat.
“Clothes for you, bro,” he said, and Luke bobbed his head, taking advantage of the car door to shift back to human, quickly pulling on the clothes to block out the chill.
No sooner had he dressed than he was caught up in a tight bear hug. For all his broad frame and muscles, he felt like a kitten in comparison to his older brother.
“Glad to see you back,” Saul rumbled, finally releasing him. Luke gasped in a much-needed breath of air.
“Good to be back. Been waiting here for me long?”
“Just a day or two, spent most of the day sleeping and the nights trying to scent you,” Saul said, and buffeted his shoulder, hard enough to make him stagger. He immediately steadied Luke again. “Let’s get you home, little bro.”
***
After so much time on his own or just with Octavia, Luke felt overwhelmed to be thrust back into the heart of his family. With him having been missing for so long, his family were keen to reunite with him. The family house on the outskirts of Tucson was filled with his family, spilling out into the expansive backyard. His mother was in her element, cooking and hostessing, while his father had broken out the beer and the barbeque. Every room seemed to be filled with family, close relatives, in-laws, and a few friends and neighbors who thought a party was going on.
With a burger in hand and a beer in the other, Luke tried to relax, exchanging banal chat with people he could see desperately wanted to interrogate him, but were put off by the forms of one or other of his hovering family.
It had actually taken him a while to notice his shadows, but wherever he was, there was one of his brothers, or his sister, close behind.
Finally though, the crowd got to be too much for him, and he escaped into the fresh air outside, sliding around the house to the side to lurk behind a bush. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and regarded the black screen thoughtfully.
The screen came to life at a swipe of his thumb, and he pulled up the number he had carefully entered the second his sister had presented him with the phone. He held his breath as he hit the call button. As it started to ring, he sheepishly exhaled as spots started to dance across his vision.
“Hello?” Octavia answered, and her voice was a balm to his jangling nerves.
“Hey,” he said.
“Did you get back home?” she asked.
“I did. Sitting outside now while everyone celebrates my miracle return.”
“Are they overpowering you?” she asked sympathetically.
“Yeah,” he admitted. “I’d rather be down at our beach with you.”
“Our beach?” she asked archly.
“Yep,” he said cheerfully. “Our beach.”
She laughed. “I’d much rather be there with you as well,” she confessed. “Nicodemus has me in a meeting with the board, and one of them has the most boring voice. I asked for a break to try and wake myself up. I should get back.”
“You didn’t have to answer if you were busy.”
“I wanted to. I wanted to hear your voice.”
Luke smiled. “I needed to hear your voice again, too. Been missing you. I won’t keep you back though. Take care, sweetheart.”
“You too,” she said, before hanging up.
Luke smiled again, just as his inner jaguar hissed a warning of someone coming up from the side. He looked up to see the mischievously grinning face of his little sister, Ruth.
“So, who’re you missing?” she asked, settling herself beside him.
“You’ll find out later,” he grinned, knowing this would irritate her.
“Please?” she wheedled, widening her eyes in an attempt to look innocent.
He leaned in, looking about as if checking for others. She smiled, but it turned into a squeal of outrage as he blew a raspberry in her ear. As he took off in a hurry with an irate sister close on his heels, Luke laughed. It was good to be home. All it needed was Octavia to make it perfect.
When all the visitors had left, having satisfied themselves that Luke was indeed back, and was who he said he was, the family gathered on the outside deck. All the children were tucked up, exhausted, all apart from the newest arrival— Saul’s daughter, who blinked in sleepy contentment from her daddy’s arms.
Luke glanced around the table, taking in his family. Ruth, Saul, Tomas and Jacob were all waiting patiently for Luke to start explaining. Saul’s wife, Jenna, was offering parenting tips to Tomas’s wife, the heavily pregnant Iris. Marian, his mom, was whispering quickly to Martin, his dad. When she finished, Martin looked straight at Luke, and he knew the time for an explanation was finally here.
“Last month, when that monstrous wildfire on the border hit, all of us were drafted to try and get it under control,” he began. “I got separated from the rest and ended up being cut off by the flames. There was no way that I was getting out of there as a human, so I shifted to see if I could find a route as a jaguar. I did, but it cost me. I was so hurt, so scared that my jaguar took over. I went wild, my human side tucked away. I knew something wasn’t right, but that encouraged cat-me to keep wandering,” he kept his explanation as dispassionate and short as he could.
“Is this where your girlfriend comes in?” Ruth asked, trying to break the rising tension.
“Exactly. I was lurking up a tree, resting when this woman walks up the trail. At that time, I didn’t care what she looked like, only that she smelled like something I half remembered, that I wanted to remember more. So I followed her and I watched her. And the more I watched her, the closer I felt human-me coming.”
Even though this had happened to him, Luke was trying to find the words to explain it, how the mind of himself the cat and himself the human had been separated by the gulf of pain and fear.
“She brought me back to myself, and when she shifted in front of me for the first time, I realized that was what I was missing My jaguar was fascinated by her, and it was only when she left us that we— I— realized what we needed to be.”
His mom’s eyes were bright. “So when can we meet and thank this nameless angel of yours?”
“Not for a while yet,” Luke said, trying to keep the grin off his face, but failing to keep it out of his voice. Ruth opened her mouth to comment, but subsided at a not-so-subtle elbow from Tomas.
“When I finally managed to shift back to human, I was so relieved, and so worried about shifting back. I didn’t want to lose myself again. It was thoughts of you, and of her, that made me start shifting again,” Luke said,
Jacob looked mildly horrified at the thought of never shifting again, and moved uncomfortably in his seat.
“So any problems now?” Martin asked, and Luke shook his head.
“None.”
“So, what’s her name?” Ruth persisted.
“Octavia Mateo,” and he heard Tomas snicker at the likely love-struck expression he was wearing.
“Mateo...” Saul said thoughtfully. “As in, Cancun? Mateo Industries? Octavia Mateo of Mateo Industries rescued you?”
“We didn’t talk about that,” Luke admitted.
Ruth wolf whistled, and Luke could see a ripple of impressed expressions pass over the faces at the table. But they could tell that he was reluctant to say too much more and the conversation shifted to lighter topics after that.
***
Over the next week, reality and normality began to reassert themselves for Luke. He returned to work to a warm welcome, and found himself settling back into the rhythm. His family were checking up on him more frequently, but he didn’t mind that so much.
He had managed only one long conversation mid-week with Octavia, but he felt be
tter for it. He missed her— not just the sex, but her presence, her vitality. The way she hummed to herself when working on something. The cute little noise she made when dreaming. The ways her eyes lit with laughter. Talking on the phone soothed his need a little, but he wanted to see her.
They arranged their first date for that weekend. With her business connections and her visa, it was easier for Octavia to come to him than the other way round.
One of the other firefighters had been raving about a new restaurant that had just opened, and Luke had been pleased that he managed to get a reservation for it.
Their meeting point was a five star hotel that Octavia was planning to stay in before heading home the next day. Usually, Luke would have not set foot over the threshold, but today was an exception. His suit felt uncomfortable, but he wanted to make the best impression he could.
The second he stepped into the lobby, he saw her. Her hair was down and loose, curled in open waves that almost begged him to touch them. She wore a short-sleeved navy blue sheath dress that fell to her ankles. It was overlaid with a glittering silver and pearl mesh that made her look like a goddess.
Luke felt his jaw drop at the sight of her, and felt the fabric of the suit tighten across his shoulders as he straightened his posture. He hoped that his other reaction wasn’t as obvious.
She looked up, spying him, and smiled in genuine pleasure.
“Good evening, Luke,” she smiled as he approached her.
“Wow,” he replied.
“Wow?”
“You look… stunning.”
She brushed a lock of hair back from her face. “Thank you,” she said softly.
Luke offered her his arm. “Shall we?”
“We shall.” She hooked her arm through his, and he wished for a second that there wasn’t so much fabric between them. But this was their first date, and he didn’t want to push her.
The restaurant was barely half a block away, and took no time at all to reach. Its facade was discreet and understated, with only a menu board outside to indicate that it was indeed a restaurant. The menu had no prices on it. If you had to ask, you couldn’t afford it.
It had come highly recommended by his colleagues, but as he stared at the menu, Luke wondered if this had been their idea of a joke. He had wanted to take her somewhere nicer than his usual eating spots, but this place… this was leagues and worlds away from what he had thought when he had made the booking. But the way that Octavia’s eyes gleamed as she studied the menu decided him. Time to give it his best shot.
He held the door open for Octavia, and got a good look at the hosts face as he watched the vision approach him. His expression was warm and welcoming as he saw her, but the second that he caught sight of Luke, his face cooled. Luke tried not to bristle.
“We have a reservation for two, under the name of Covas,” Luke said politely.
The host looked down at the podium, and nodded.
“Indeed you do, ma’am, sir,” he said, and Luke heard a wealth of difference in the last two words. “This way, please.”
He led them into the restaurant, past the other diners, towards a table that was somewhat out of the way. It certainly was not the best table in the house— but it wasn’t the worst, either. He held out the chair for Octavia, and waited till she seated herself before bringing the menus.
Luke settled himself, unsure whether to bristle at the hosts overt appreciation of Octavia, or to laugh at the situation.
“What’s got you so amused?” Octavia asked as the host finally left them in peace.
“I don’t think he approves of me,” Luke said, tilting his head in the direction of the retreating back of the host.
“I didn’t notice,” she admitted. “He seemed nice enough.”
“That’s because you’re beautiful, and look like you belong here,” he said, with a shrug. The fabric of his suit ripped right across his broad shoulders.
Octavia giggled. “I didn’t like to say anything, but…”
“Yeah, it’s a borrowed suit. Matty offered, and I didn’t have anything myself, so…”
Octavia leaned over and rested her hand on his arm.
“I think you look wonderful, whatever you choose to wear,” she said, and then lowered her voice. “Especially in nothing at all,” she whispered huskily.
Luke felt tension that he hadn’t noticed before melt away. “Really?”
“Truly. Now, what sounds good on this menu?”
Luke grinned, and lowered his eyes. He stared for a moment, blinking, then turned the menu around. It still made no sense, whichever way up it was. He heard the warm giggle of Octavia, and sighed.
“Where am I going wrong, sweet?” he asked, resigning himself to feeling mortified again.
“You didn’t study French in school, did you?”
“I always was more of a practical sort,” he sighed. “This is really not going as well as I’d hoped.”
“Poor Luke,” Octavia said, sympathetically.
“I just wanted you to have the first date that you deserved,” he said, frustration leaking into his tone.
Octavia set down the menu, and looked at him.
“So long as I’m with you, then it’s the date that I deserve,” she said decisively. “Forget this place. Let’s go somewhere you feel comfortable.”
He looked at the menu, looked around at all the men in their suits and the women in their expensive dresses. He looked at the waiters with their upturned noses.
“You are really one of a kind,” he said fervently.
They stepped out into the night air, and Luke pantomimed wiping the sweat off his brow, which raised another laugh from Octavia.
“You looked so uncomfortable in there, Luke,” she said.
“I was,” he admitted. “I’m usually a fast food or diner guy. That sort of fancy eating has never been my thing.”
“Then show me what your thing is,” she encouraged. “I want to get to know you, not get to know the man that you think I want to know.”
Luke crossed his eyes comically. “Could you have made that more confusing?”
Octavia grinned, and Luke just knew that she was contemplating just how to do that, so he hastily took her arm and escorted her away from the restaurant.
“Nights like this, I wouldn’t usually bother sitting in anywhere.” He spoke his thoughts aloud as they walked. “Seems a shame to waste fresh air, clear skies and warmth sitting in a building.”
“Mm,” Octavia agreed, sounding interested.
“Do you mind a bit of a walk?” he asked. “There’s a place I know about seven blocks away.”
“I don’t mind at all. Lead on, good sir,” she said, fisting one hand in her skirt and hitching it up a little.
“Your wish is my command,” he said, and promptly lead the way.
Thankfully when they arrived at his favored hole in the wall, there wasn’t a large queue. Octavia got some peculiar looks in her evening gown, but she either didn’t notice them, or pretended not to. Luke nudged her gently.
“You okay?” he asked, as they joined the end of the queue.
“Just feeling overdressed. It’s not something that I’m used to,” she admitted.
“I should have asked you if you wanted to go back to the hotel to change, shouldn’t I?” Luke realized.
“I never thought of that,” Octavia said sheepishly.
Luke laughed as they took another step towards the window. “It seems like this night just isn’t our night, is it?” he asked.
“Seems not,” Octavia agreed, before leaning in to kiss him on the cheek. “But so long as I have you, I’m happy.”
“Let’s make the best of it,” he agreed, as they reached the window. “Evening, Sam. Two of the usual, and some of your sweet tea, please.”
“On duty tonight, Luke?” Sam asked. He was an older gentleman, white haired and bearded, with blue eyes set in a maze of wrinkles. The apron he was wearing was still spotless.
“Not tonigh
t,” Luke replied. “Other plans.”
Octavia playfully nudged him. “He means he’s on a date,” she clarified.
Sam drew his breath in on a pleased whistle, and grinned, his eyes glinting mischievously. “Well, I never thought that I’d see the day,” he said. “Our Lukie, all grown up.”
Luke grimaced playfully. “You only love me because I pay you,” he said.
Octavia leaned forward. “I bet you could tell me some interesting stories about Luke, right?”
“One or two, ma’am, one or two.”
“But we don’t have time for that, do we?” Luke said hastily. “Isn’t that our order sitting behind you, Sam?”
“It is indeed, Luke. Enjoy your meal, enjoy your evening, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, and come back soon.”
Luke handed over the money, accepted the brown paper bag, and stepped away from the window before Sam decided to start telling stories, or saying something embarrassing.
“Does everyone know you?” Octavia asked.
“Sam’s a special case. All the firefighters at the station come here off duty. He delivers to us to, if we’re needing him to. He’s been running that place for years now.”
“He seems nice.”
“He’d give you the coat off his back if you needed it, but don’t think that he’s soft. Do right by him and he’ll do right by you. Do wrong by him, and that’s any chance of pleasantness from him, gone.”
Luke could see that Octavia was dying to ask where he was taking them next, but he held his tongue as they walked through the ornate iron gates of one of the local parks. There were several benches that he could choose for seating, but he decided on the one right next to a calm, still pond.
At their approach, a convoy of ducks emerged from the reeds, quacking hopefully. Octavia laughed as one of the ducks braved the land to stare at her hopefully.
Luke unfastened his jacket and slung it over the bench for Octavia to sit on, settling himself behind it. Octavia sat, and the duck followed, sitting by her foot and looking up, still hopeful.