ROYAL
HE CARES
“Kerrianne really lovesthis little guy, doesn’t she?” Leticia is in the tortoise enclosure, bending over and feeding Captain a piece of kale.
And I’m the pervert staring at the way my friend’s skirt hugs her ass.I’m going to hell for thinking thoughts like wanting to fuck her in the tortoise room.
No hell for wanting to fuck your mate.My wolf corrects me.
But as much as I feel a mate bond toward her, the logic of it all still stands. I don’t know how she feels about me, if she likes me how I love her —Love? When did we get to that?It feels right though, and that means we’re star-crossed lovers, and I don’t know a way not to draw a plague on both our houses.
Yet.My wolf is drooling over her.We don’t know how to keep her yet.
Concerning, but comforting.
Should we worry about how well she took us being a wolf?I avert my gaze back to the feeding chart and measure out the recommended amount of food so Captain doesn’t get overweight.
Our mate is smart. She believes what she sees. What more do you want from her? Screaming, crying, running for the city to get pitchforks would be a bad reaction.My wolf sighs and makes me look back at Leticia. She’s close, looking over my arm at the food chart.
“Wow. Did Kerrianne do all this?” Leticia tilts her head to read the text better.
“I mean, I helped her run the program to make the charts, but she’s the one who knows how to care for Captain best. She watched all sorts of videos about caring for these kinds of tortoises and gave Valor a complex about how much knowledge is too much for a kid to know about something.” I laugh, remembering the way he panicked and ran to Mom and Dad because Kerrianne had hyperfixated on the new family pet.
“She’s so smart.” Leticia places her hand on my forearm.
I freeze, and my wolf fixates on that spot just as much as I do. Her skin is cool compared to mine, but her touch is so delicate.Gentle.
“Toni would know more about what is too much knowledge, so if she’s not concerned about Kerrianne, then I’d trust that everything’s just fine.” Leticia shrugs and smiles up at me. “We’ve got a younger cousin who pretty much planned a whole family vacation when he was her age. Like down to the best days of the week to do things. Sometimes kids are just extraordinary.”
“True.” I nod and have to clear my throat to talk. “I can adjust Captain’s lighting remotely, so we don’t have to hang out here since we’re leaving him enough food.”
“Sure.” Leticia gestures to the door. “Lead the way.”
I hate having her follow me down the hallway. I try to shore up my steps, but the wound in my leg is still fresh and tender. Shifting definitely didn’t help, and I can smell blood.
“Do you need to use the bathroom before we head back to my place for lunch?” I look over my shoulder at her.
“If you don’t mind.” She steps into the powder room by the garage.
I rush to the kitchen, where I know Valor keeps a box of first aid supplies. Without much time, I grab a self-adhesive gauze pad and push my pants down.Why didn’t this heal more while I shifted?The wound has definitely reopened, and I seal it with the gauze pad. It’ll be good enough until I can get home and re-wrap it.
I’m put back together and tucking the first aid supplies away when Leticia comes into the kitchen.
“So, this is awkward.” Leticia doesn’t look at me as she fiddleswith the belt hugging her waist. “I’m out of tampons and just got my period.”
My brain slowly catches up with what’s happening. “Oh. I don’t know if Antonella would have any. Their bathroom is on the second floor. Want me to take you there? I mean, I assume she has some since she was human.”
“Toni uses the cup. So that’s out. I just need to stop by a gas station or something. They normally have some boxes.” Leticia looks uncomfortable, and it’s more than whatever embarrassment she’s trying to hide.
“That’s hardly an inconvenience.” I brush it off. “We’ll go back out to the shops and then home. We can even get lunch while we’re out if you’d like. There are fewer choices out here than in the city, but ninety percent of the options here have really good food.”
“I’m sorry.” Leticia pulls her hair over her shoulder and plays with the ends. “I feel so —”
“Don’t berate yourself over something your body does naturally. Mine turns into a wolf. A period is hardly abnormal.” I’m assuming, since I only remember like four things they taught us about human women’s periods in high school.
Thankfully the internet exists.My wolf, for once, sees the merit of the online world for more than just stalking.
“Can I get you anything else before we leave? Hot water bottle? Chocolate? Water? Soda?” I’m listing off random things I generally like with the hope something sticks.
