I swallowed hard now. My heart pounded. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Victor shook his head. “The act might get you past the other guys, but not me. I know what you are.”
His words pierced me like an arrow. He knew. A human knew what I was.
“Please don’t tell anyone,” I begged softly.
His eyes widened, as if in surprise, then the gruff yet gentle expression returned to his face. He nodded. “I won’t, don’t worry.”
Victor watched me with his sharp dark eyes. For the first time I noticed how close he was to me. Heat radiated off his body in waves. His scent was strong, like musk and smoky campfire. I wanted to take a deep drag of it.
His large warm hand clapped me on the shoulder, startling me.
“Liam,” Victor’s gruff voice came. “I don’t know what happened to you in the past, and I won’t ask. Just know that you’re safe now.”
I stared at him. A swell of emotion rose in my chest, confusing and irritating me. I wanted to reach out to Victor, pull him closer both emotionally and physically, but at the same time I wanted desperately to push him away. He was a human, and I was a bear shifter. We had no business together.
“I – ”
Dan and Nick burst through the door.
“Vic, Liam, you in here?” Dan asked.
Victor turned and asked gruffly, “What is it?”
“She’s here, she’s asking for Liam!” Nick answered.
“Who?” Victor’s brows furrowed. “The woman at the building?”
As he finished, an elderly woman appeared behind Nick and Dan. My heart leapt.
“Doris!” I exclaimed.
Her eyes lit up as she saw me. I met her halfway so she wouldn’t have to walk all the way over. I couldn’t believe she came all the way to the station to see me.
“Oh, dear, I’m so glad you’re safe,” she said. Tears welled in the corner of her eyes. “I was so worried.”
“So, I’m assuming you know this woman,” Nick said with a grin. Victor shoved him.
“When I saw the fire, I didn’t know where you were,” Doris continued, shaking her head as the memory overwhelmed her. “I called 911, but you know, they don't always get there fast enough, and – oh, no offense, boys, you did an excellent job,” she added to the fire fighters.
Nick waved a hand. “None taken.”
“But where,” Doris said, lowering her voice and looking at me with wide eyes. She took my hands in hers. “Where will you stay now, dear?” She looked guilty, shaking her head. I knew she wanted to offer me a place to stay, but she could get in trouble for housing an unauthorized tenant. One of those weird human society rules.
“I don’t know,” I murmured. I tried to smile, for her sake. “Don’t worry. I’ll find a place just like I did last time.”
“Liam, I don’t want you staying in abandoned buildings anymore,” she said. “It’s just not safe.”
Victor stepped closer to us, scowling. “What’s all this about abandoned buildings?” He turned his fierce gaze on me. “Do you not have a place to stay?”
I opened my mouth to protest but realized it was already too late. I sighed. “No.”
Victor sucked in a deep breath then exhaled. My skin prickled with anxiety. Was he going to turn me in?
“I have no choice, then,” he said with a sigh, looking down at me. “You’re staying with me.”
“What?” I blurted out, but my voice was instantly crowded out by Doris’s cries of delight.
