That was like telling someone on a tightrope not to look down. Of course he was going to fucking freak out when someone told him not to. It was human nature.
When Gabe opened the door and stepped back, giving Keeland enough room to enter, he couldn’t make his feet move. He couldn’t breathe. He could barely speak as he stared at the jet-black panther panting heavily on the bed.
“Is…is he real?”
“He’s very real,” Gabe replied.
“It’s true,” Keeland whispered as his knees went weak. He grabbed onto the doorframe to keep himself from crashing to the floor. “Everything he told me. It’s all true.”
“Yes, it’s all true, Keeland,” Gabe agreed. “We’re shape-shifters.”
Keeland stared, mesmerized. “Ca-can he understand me?”
“He can understand you just fine. We’re sentient in whatever form we’re in.”
Keeland carefully scanned every inch of fur visible, cataloging the injuries he could see. There were several spots matted with blood, some deep gouges, and one paw that looked as if it might be broken. This poor panther had definitely seen better days. His natural instinct to care for a helpless animal went into overdrive.
“He ran into a bit of trouble on his run last night,” Gabe said.
“Will he attack me if I get closer?” Keeland asked.
Gabe snorted. “You’re probably the safest one in the whole house right now.”
Keeland had no idea what that statement meant, and he was in too much shock to ask. His entire world had narrowed down to the furry creature staring back at him from the bed. Keeland swallowed tightly before slowly approaching the bed. He set his bag down on the floor, just then realizing he still had it in his hand.
“So I guess you weren’t crazy after all, huh?”
The look the panther gave him made him wonder if they weren’t both crazy.
“Sorry I didn’t believe you,” he continued, “but you have to admit, this is a lot to take in.”
Huh. Large predator cats could roll their eyes.
Who knew?
“I’d really like to get a look at you.” Keeland bit his lower lip as he glanced down Dom’s furry body. He really hoped there were no internal injuries or broken bones. “You’re bleeding in a couple of places.”
Keeland had moved to the edge of the bed, so when Dom began to shimmer and his fur receded, Keeland stepped back hastily before tripping and landing on the floor on his butt. He missed seeing Dom shift, but there was no way he could have overlooked the man’s deep chuckle as he peered over the side of the bed.
“You okay?” Dom asked. “Did you hurt anything?”
Keeland felt like the comic relief as he stood and rubbed his butt. “Only my pride.”
“Too bad.” Dom’s eyebrow lifted with the wicked grin that crossed his lips. “I would have loved to kiss your boo-boos better.”
For just a moment, Keeland considered complaining that there were several parts of his anatomy that were paining him, but a not-so-subtle cough from behind him reminded him where he was and that he and Dom were not alone.
“I’m good, thanks.” Keeland’s brows drew together as he moved back to the edge of the bed and got a good look at Dom’s body. His very naked body. He had to swallow hard—twice—before he was able to ask, “Are you okay?”
“A little sore,” Dom replied. “Nothing another shift won’t fix.”
“But your injuries…” Keeland trailed off when he realized the open wounds he'd seen before were now just puckered pink flesh. Yes, Dom had been injured, but it looked as if those injuries were over a week old. “How?”
He didn’t realize he was stroking his fingers over Dom’s skin until the man inhaled. His face flushed with embarrassment as he jerked his hand back. “Sorry.”
“I wasn’t complaining.”
Keeland gave Dom a weak smile. He was fascinated by this new world he had found himself in. He had a hundred million questions. “Shifting helps heal the wounds?”
