“Your landlord’s an arsehole,” Alice said, puffing out a breath. “I said this when we first moved in, but I can’t just leave this here where you can see it every day.”
“Aye, he is an arsehole, but there isn’t anything I can do about it. Not without a pack, and even then it wouldn’t be worth it.” Poe stretched in his lap, drawing his attention. “No, it’s not worth it, is it my little poet?” he said in a high-pitched voice. The little bundle of black fur had gotten fatter, his mismatched eyes blinking up at Sam expectantly.
“Don’t talk to him like he’s a baby,” Alice said, rolling her eyes. “If we have joint custody, you can at least talk to him normally.”
“I gave you full custody because shifters don’t keep pets,” he said, his voice still high-pitched. They thought it was cruel, being they were part animal themselves.
“Oh, so we should release him?”
“No!” Sam pulled Poe closer to his chest, replicating a purr. “He’s an idiot, he would never survive on the streets.”
Alice shook her head, wiping the rag against the wall before she jumped back with a squeak. Sam was up, Poe on the floor before the thought even registered.
“What happened?” He gently touched Alice, rubbing his hands across her shoulders and down her arms while she stared at the wall. “Alice?”
“There’s something in the paint,” she said, eyes widening. “Magic.”
“Magic?” he repeated. “What kind of magic? Can’t you just throw salt at it or something?”
Alice frowned, a crease between her brows. “That’s not how it works.”
Sam shrugged. “What? That’s how you usually deal with stuff, I’ve watched you for years just throwing salt at things that have gone wrong, hoping it’ll fix it.”
Alice shot him a look before she returned to the wall, her hand hesitant as she held it out. “I don’t think this is paint.”
“Then what the fuck is it?” He moved closer, his nose unable to pick up anything.
“I’m not sure, and I don’t recognise the magic either.” Hand closing, she pulled it back to her chest, frown deepening. “You can’t stay here.”
“Like fuck I can’t. My father isn’t going to do anything.”
Alice ignored him as she headed towards the stairs, going up to his bedroom.
“Baby girl, stop. I’m not leaving.”
“You’re coming home with me.” Alice pulled open his wardrobe, finding a rucksack at the bottom.
“Alice, I’m not leaving.”
“That house is a fortress.” She began pulling t-shirts out and stuffing them in the bag. “You kept saying you wanted a sleepover.”
“Alice –”
“We could watch those horror movies you love, like we used to,” she continued without a pause. “And go shopping for some more of your silly t-shirts.”
“Alice –”
“Or we can –”
“I’m not leaving my home.” Sam pulled the bag from the bed, ignoring Axel’s scent on the rumpled sheets.
A single blink before Alice said, “Then I’ll stay here with you.”
Sam tightened his grip on the bag. “What will Riley say about that? I don’t fancy taking on an angry druid because his mate has decided to sleep over at a friend’s house.”
Alice dismissed the comment with a single look. “Don’t be an idiot, you know Riley loves you almost as much as I do.”
“Aye, he said so last time I threatened to remove his bowels with my claws if he ever hurt you.”
