“I hold grudges against anyone that eats my salmon rolls,” I huff.
But that’s not true. If the sushi-stealing cat hadn’t easily found a home, I would have made sure the little gremlin went viral, using his tale of mischief to get him adopted.
I didn’t even realize I was a cat lover until I started volunteering here.
My brother, Avery, is packmates with Piper, and when I heard my brother finally found his Omega, I practically barrel-rolled into Luna County with the sole purpose of making Piper my best friend. And to do that? I would volunteer at the shelter. I wouldmakeher like me. If she’s important to Avery, she’s important to me.
It was just a happy accident that I fell in love with cats in the process.
“Anyway,” Blair continues, “I wanted to let you know Piper is coming in early. So, if you want to leave?—”
Bean sneezes, interrupting Blair.
It’s adorable the way his little face twists and he sniffles.
But then he sneezes again, and again.
“Bless you,” I murmur, moving the wand away.
The kitten stands and trots his way to a beige cat tree, unbothered. He stretches on his back legs to scratch the carpeted post, sharpening his claws.
“Anyway,” Blair continues. “You don’t have to stay?—”
More sneezes from Bean, who looks very confused.
I count six in total.
Blair frowns at him. “Bless you, buddy,” she says. She looks at me and shrugs. “He was sneezing before you came in.”
A tiny flare of worry spikes in my stomach. “Really? What does that mean?”
“Probably some dust in his nose. It could even be a dried particle of pâté.”
Bean sneezesagain, another set of three, and my worry turns to creeping dread.
“What if he’s sick?” I ask softly.
Blair lets out a long sigh. “We don’t have any reason to believe that just yet,” she says gently, talking to me as if I’m a child. “Based on what I’ve seen, it’s likely dust.”
But the bubble of panic doesn’t stop, even though I try to stuff it down.
Clicking my tongue to call Bean over, I scoop the latte-colored kitten into my arms. His black nose is wet, but cold.
If it was warm, it could be a sign of a fever.
Even imagining it makes my stomach sour.
“Maeve,” Blair adds. “Bean will be fine. If you’re worried, why don’t you go ask Ivan?”
My face flushes when she mentions the vet tech at the clinic next door, who happens to be myotherbest friend. “I mean, I don’t want to bother him,” I stammer, my cheeks burning at the mention of the Alpha.
Blair snorts. “You and I both know you are notbotheringhim,” she says knowingly, arching a brow.
I can’t fight my smile, and shrug innocently. “Iguess,” I say, even though I know my face is turning redder by the second.
Bean sneezesagain, spraying the contents of his nose all over my black shirt.
My smile fades.
