Page 29 of Accidentally on Purr-pose

As they drew closer, Freesia spotted a black SUV parked in the circular drive. A small jaguar pride emblem was etched discreetly into the rear window—confirmation that Angus had indeed kept his word.

"That's his vehicle," Luka confirmed, though his voice carried an undertone of tension. "But something feels..."

"Off," Izei finished, bringing their SUV to a stop approximately fifty yards from the safehouse entrance.

His panther's instincts were clearly on high alert, and through their mate bond, Freesia felt his hyperawareness of every sight, sound, and scent that might indicate danger.

"Could be nerves," she offered, though her own tigress was pacing restlessly. "Meeting with the last Keeper and the Alpha of the Callel pride isn't exactly a casual morning for a Vael Gamma."

"Maybe." Luka unbuckled his seatbelt and reached for the door handle. "I should go in first. Make sure everything's secure and that Angus isn't wired or under surveillance."

Izei's authority flooded the vehicle like a physical presence. "Absolutely. We'll wait for your signal before approaching."

"If I'm not back in five minutes, assume something went wrong and get the hell out of here."

"Luka—" she started.

"Hey." He reached forward to squeeze her shoulder, his expression growing serious. "I'll be fine."

Before she could formulate a response or protest, Luka had already slipped out of the SUV and was striding toward the safehouse with the confident gait of someone who belonged there. Freesia watched him closely, her heart hammering against her ribs as every protective instinct she possessed screamed at her to follow him.

Three months of partnership had created bonds that went deeper than species or circumstance—Luka was family in every way that mattered and letting him walk into potential danger alone felt like betrayal.

But this is what partnerships mean, she reminded herself. Trusting each other.

Still, as Luka's figure disappeared through the safehouse's front entrance, Freesia couldn't shake the feeling that they were about to learn truths that would change everything. And she wasn't sure any of them were prepared for what those truths might cost.

Three agonizing minutes stretched into eternity before Luka emerged from the safehouse's entrance, his familiar silhouette cutting a reassuring figure against the colonial mansion's faded grandeur. The thumbs up he flashed toward their SUV was barely visible through the tinted windows, but Freesia felt her tigress settle with relief.

"All clear," Izei murmured. He twisted in the driver's seat to address his enforcers. "Zachary, Jason—maintain perimeter security. Anything moves in those treelines that doesn't belong, you notify me immediately."

"Copy that, Alpha." Zachary's linebacker frame leaned forward as he scanned the dense jungle canopy surrounding the safehouse grounds.

Izei exited the SUV and moved around the armored bulk to help her out of the passenger seat. When his hand finally connected with hers, the simple touch sent electricity racing up her arm. The mate bond thrummed between them, both their nervous systems spiking with anticipation and shared concern around this meeting.

Danger could emerge from any shadow, any window, any blind spot in the surrounding jungle. The attack at Aldric's cottage had proven that their enemies possessed patience, resources, and the willingness to wait for the perfect moment to strike. Freesia's fingers found the leather satchel's familiar weight, pressing it protectively against her hip as Luka held the front door open for them.

"Welcome to the circus," he said with that dry humor that had kept her sane. "Fair warning—we've got an audience."

The safehouse's interior hit her like a gut punch. Huddled throughout the main room were faces that reflected her own story—hollow-eyed families clutching meager possessions, elderly couples who moved with the careful wariness of people who had learned that safety was always temporary, burly men whose protective stances spoke to months of running and hiding.

This is what I looked like, she realized with a sharp pang of recognition. This is what survival does to people.

Another elderly woman sat in the corner with two small children pressed against her sides, their wide eyes tracking every movement with the hypervigilance of prey animals. A family of four occupied the threadbare sofa, their belongings packed into worn duffel bags that never left their immediate reach. Two broad-shouldered men flanked the room's main window, their positions chosen for quick escape rather than comfort.

Every face turned toward her and Izei with the same mixture of hope and suspicion that had defined her own interactions with strangers for months. These were her kind of people now, people she hoped she could save some day.

Her attention soon landed on the man seated at the small wooden table near the room's center. Even seated, his height was obvious, and the breadth of his shoulders spoke to the same warrior build that marked his younger brother. Dark brown hair. Sun-bronzed skin that suggested years spent outdoors rather than behind a desk. Green eyes that carried Luka's warmth but with an added weight of responsibility.

This has to be Angus.

He rose from his chair as they entered, his movements carrying the controlled grace of someone accustomed to command but humble enough not to demand attention. Everything about his bearing suggested quiet strength—the kind of leader who earned loyalty through service rather than dominance.

Izei stepped forward, extending his hand with confident authority. "Angus Vael, I presume. Thank you for agreeing to meet with us. I understand the risks you're taking."

"Alpha Callel." Angus clasped Izei's hand firmly. "The risk is worth it if we can prevent more bloodshed."

His gaze shifted to Freesia, and she watched shock ripple across his features—the same expression everyone wore when they realized the last Waverly royal was still breathing.