I reeled back.“Don’t do anything stupid.I mean it, Lucian.Men like Marcus love to drag people down to their level, and he’s not worth losing your freedom over.You aren’t the law; I am.And if you do something foolish, my hands will be tied.”I tossed my bloody blouse into the trash can.“I’ll be outside.Whatever you do, don’t open the door.Even if I meow and scratch on it,” I quipped.
Still rattled, I crossed the living room and went out back.I waited for the sound of the garage door closing in front.The new back door was thick steel, and Lucian had bought a custom-made one with beautiful wood designs on the exterior shell so it wouldn’t look like I was living inside a bank vault.Unlike my last door, it didn’t have a window I could see through.
Since my cat was large enough to rip through my clothes during the shift, I took off my skirt, underwear, and shoes and set them on a chair.When my bare feet touched the warm grass and earth, I summoned her with a calming surrender.
Sliding into the background, I watched my tiger burst free.She roared, fury pulsing in her veins.I let her know that everything was fine and I needed her to go back in for now.I flashed images in my mind of taking care of my father so she would understand—visions of me curled up beside him while he slept.After a few puffs of night air, she surrendered control.
I ran my fingers over the wound and realized it hadn’t fully healed, so I shifted once more and back.The process wore me out quickly.
Instead of putting my clothes back on, I headed inside and changed into an oversized T-shirt and panties.
“Are you okay?”Lucian asked from my bedroom door.
“I’m tired.Tired of people acting a fool.”
He took my hand and led me into the living room, where a tray of food was sitting on my couch.“Eat something.”
“I need to take my father his dinner first.”
“He already ate an hour ago.”
My eyebrows popped up in surprise.“What?”
Lucian stuffed his hands in his pockets.“I know how you like to feed him as soon as you get home, but you were running late.I rummaged around in the fridge and made chicken quesadillas and rice.No big deal.”
No big deal?
I sat in stunned silence that Lucian had fed my father.Stopped his work, prepared a meal, and carried it down to him.
“He didn’t have any complaints,” Lucian added while putting the tray on my lap.“I went down to check on him and he’d practically licked his plate clean, so I guess he liked it.”
“I appreciate that so much.I’ve never made him those before.”
Even though I usually ate at the dining table, I devoured the delicious meat loaf from the sofa.Having someone take care of me was a nice change.After I finished, Lucian collected the tray and then covered me with a thin blanket.
I curled up at the end of the couch with my feet on the cushions.
“You have a big pussy,” Lucian said dryly as he handed me a steaming cup.“I saw her through the window.”
I laughed and smelled the tea.“My tiger really wants out, but it’s not good to let her roam around when she’s still angry.”
He nodded and sat on the other end.“Tak’s the same way.He usually waits until he calms down to heal himself.”
“Doesn’t he have full control as an alpha?”
“I guess you only have so much control over a pissed-off wolf.”
The evening’s events occupied my thoughts.“I’m going to go downstairs in a while and let her out.She loves my father, and I think she’d feel more useful protecting him.”
Lucian studied me closely but didn’t say a word.
“What’s on your mind?”I asked.
“Things I shouldn’t say out loud.”
I sipped the tea.“Aren’t we past that?One of your best qualities is your honesty.”
“I thought it was my big dick.”
