She sprints toward the kitchen, leans over the sink, and retches. Neil makes a disgusted face and rests a hand on top of my head, gently running his fingers through my fur.
“I think that is what they call ‘morning sickness’.” Wrinkling his nose in disgust, he shudders. “Good thing I’m not a sympathetic vomiter.” He blows out a breath and glances around the room, then grabs a ratty blanket off the couch and walks over to the body, covering it with the fabric. “Out of sight, out ofmind, right?”
I nuzzle my nose against his side. My mate is a good friend.
After a couple minutes of helplessly listening to Raquel get sick, Neil walks to where she’s still huddled over the sink, making choked noises. Somewhere along the line, the gagging turns to sobs and he pulls her into his arms, gently running a hand up and down her back.
“I know I’m better off without him, but…” She lets her words trail off, shaking her head.
“It’s still a shock,” he replies. “I get it.”
She takes a deep breath, then lets it out in a huff, wiping at her eyes. “I’m going to brush my teeth and splash a little water on my face.” She sniffles. “Pull myself together.”
“Good idea.” Neil’s gaze strays to the body again. “And then we should get out of here. I don’t want to hang around too long in case someone heard the gunshot.”
“We don’t need to worry about that. Nobody around here calls the cops,” says Raquel.
“Still.” Neil shakes his head. “Better not to risk it. Staying at the scene of a crime is never a good idea.”
“You’re probably right.”
“Probably?” Neil raises his brows and she shoves his shoulder.
“Okay, fine, you’re right.” She looks my mate up and down. “But before we go, you could do with some cleaning up as well.” Her gaze moves to me and her eyes soften. “And Wolfie too.”
She disappears into the back bedroom, and Neil tilts his head toward the hallway. “It might be a tight squeeze, but how about a bath?”
I stand up and pad over to stand next to him, pressing my nose against his hand.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” he says, heading down the hall with me trailing along behind… like a puppy.
He wasn’t kidding about it being a squeeze. The bathroom is tiny with barely enough space for both me and Neil to stand inside. There’s not even enough room for him to close the door until I hop into the tub to get out of the way. I sit down, the plastic cold against my hindquarters, as Neil eyeballs the single rusty shower head.
“I’ll be right back,” he says, darting out of the bathroom and returning less than a minute later with a big plastic cup. He holds up the cup. “Not ideal, but easier than trying to use a nondetachable showerhead.”
I simply stare at him, unsure how to convey that a cup is still better than a hose, so I’m not complaining.
Neil smiles and nods to himself before kneeling next to the tub and turning the water on. He holds his fingers under the stream until he’s satisfied with the temperature, then fills up the cup and uses it to wet my back and sides as best he can given the thickness of my fur. Gently tilting my head back, he places his hand above my eyes, then pours the warm water over my head.
Rivulets of water stream down my head and the side of my face, but my mate’s hand keeps it from my eyes. That tiny gesture of care is nearly enough to make me cry. That’s not something I can do in this form, but the emotion still creates a lump in my throat and a burning in my eyes that I so desperately want to let out with a good sob. Of all the horrors I’ve suffered since this collar, I never truly realized how awful it is to not be able to have the release of tears.
Shoving the uncomfortable feeling away, I close my eyes and lean into Neil’s touch, reveling in the soothing sensation of his presence as he washes the blood from my fur. This is the first time I’ve had alone with my mate, and after everything that’s happened, it’s almost a relief, this little slice of peace, of quiet care, and closeness.
“This has been a hell of a night,” he says half to himself, rubbing at a particularity stubborn spot near my ear. “With everything… I can’t believe we made it out of there in one piece.”
He goes silent and returns to his task, the process taking longer than it should because of the inadequate size of the cup. I let my mind drift as he carefully cleans as much of the blood from my fur as he can. There’s no way he’ll get all of it out, not like this, but it’s better than nothing. The process, despite my form, makes me feel almost human again, a feeling I haven’t had in a very long time.
Smiling softly, he brushes his thumb over the side of my face as he pours more water over my back. “And you… I never expected to find my fated mate, and I have no idea how I got so lucky—relatively speaking—but I’m glad I did.” He strokes my face again. “I hope you are too even though things are kind of awkward right now.”
I lean forward and lick his cheek and he laughs.
“Good. I’m glad we’re on the same page then.”
Affection warms my chest. I don’t know what the future holds for Neil and I, but I silently thank fate for the gift of this moment.
He hums under his breath as washes my legs one by one. The tune is unfamiliar, but there’s something about this experience that reminds me of my childhood. Of when my mom used to give me baths and when I used to help my little brother.
I’m only four years older than Ollie, but I was always his caretaker, his protector. When mom died, I was the only one to watchover Ollie, the only one who cared enough to make sure he was fed and clothed and happy.
