Nora rushed over to them. “What happened?”
My eyes met Holden’s and our stares locked. My stomach flipped over and I almost burst into tears. Months of avoiding him and it had not done one damn thing to make me stop loving him.
Goddammit!
I took a breath, dug down deep into any last resolve I had inside of me, and broke his stare. I jumped into action.
“He fell off a ladder, hit his head on the concrete. I think he needs stitches.”
“Bring him to the back room,” I commanded, indicating for them to follow me. Thankfully, the clinic wasn’t busy, and Aunt Nora and I were the only ones here. The receptionist was out to lunch at the moment.
I led them to the biggest room in the back and instructed his friend to place Holden on the bed in the center of the room. Holden sat down and I immediately slapped on some gloves and went over to assess his injuries. When I got close to his face to examine the gash on his head where his forehead met his hairline, he reached up with lightning-quick speed, grabbed my face in his hands, and kissed me. At first, I let him, for just a few seconds, then I came to my senses and pushed him off me, angry.
“What do you think you’re—”
“I’m sorry, Emory. But I have to do this.”
Holden
Drake grabbed Nora by her arms and dragged her backward out of the room. Before she was even out of the room, I got down on all fours.
Emory stared at me in confusion. “What are you doing, Holden? You need to leave—”
As soon as I morphed into the cat, my clothes exploding off my body, she screamed so loud, I was sure the police were going to be called.
I watched as she backed away from me, tears spilling down her face as confusion and fear colored her features. Nora came back into the room, followed by a stressed-looking Drake.
I expected Nora to scream, but she didn’t, she just stared at me wide-eyed and curiously. Then, she smiled. She fucking smiled and looked at her niece.
“Sorry, I tried to keep her out of the room. She scratched and bit me.” Drake pointed to Nora.
“I knew it!” Nora said, pointing at me. “He’s a shifter, Emory!”
“Yeah… no… no shit, Sherlock. I… I don’t…” Emory couldn’t speak, she just stuttered as I stood there while she kept staring at me in abject horror.
Ignoring the fact that Nora knew about us, as I would deal with that later—even though I knew that would be a huge advantage to me—I walked slowly over to Emory, who was backed up against a wall. I nudged her hip with my head and purred before sitting down on my haunches, my tail swishing back and forth.
She stared down at me and very cautiously put her hand on the top of my head.
I purred louder and nudged her hand with my head once more.
She eventually stroked her fingers between my ears and then looked at her aunt. “What in the fucking hell is going on here? Am I dreaming?”
“No, honey,” Nora said, coming over to me and petting me also. “Holden’s not crazy. He’s just a shifter. When you told me he healed quickly, I knew exactly what you were going to say until we were so rudely interrupted.” She glared at Drake.
He chuckled and looked embarrassed. “Sorry, ma’am.”
“No, you’re not.” She stared at him.
“I know Holden’s not,” he replied, grinning at me.
“Are you a shifter, too?” Nora asked Drake.
He nodded. “Yup. Wanna see?” He began toeing off his shoes.
Nora put her hand up. “No! I think we’ve had enough excitement for the day. You boys are damn lucky Katrina’s at lunch, or I would have whooped both your asses for scaring my receptionist.” Nora pointed at me. “Change back. Now.”
I nodded and slunk backward, hoping she was prepared for a very naked me. Concentrating on the magic inside of me, I forced my body to return to its human form. I was still crouched down, knowing I couldn’t stand because I had no pants on. Nora snatched a towel off a nearby tray and tossed it at me. I caught it and stood up, covering up my man parts.
Emory looked right at me, and with hands shaking and voice trembling, said, “You’re an asshole.” Then, she stormed out of the room.
Fuck.
125
Emory
I was so confused, terrified, and sick, I ran out of the room and locked myself in the bathroom until I could catch my breath. I turned on the taps and splashed my face with cold water, and then slapped my cheeks for good measure.
What in the hell is going on?
Grown men turning into cats? How was this possible? This was the stuff of fairytales and horror. Not that I had ever really been into either—but still, completely unbelievable if I hadn’t seen it with my own two eyes. Bracing myself against the sink and staring into the mirror, I asked my reflection, “Come on, Emory. You don’t actually believe this, do you?”
You just saw it with your own two eyes, dumbass! chuckled the devil on my left shoulder.
He’s right, shifters exist, sweetheart, agreed the angel on my right shoulder.
Since when did those little jerks ever agree on anything?
It took a few minutes, but my breathing and heartrate eventually evened out. I grabbed a paper towel from the dispenser, dried off my face and hands, and took in a big breath before opening the door.
Once I exited, the three of them were standing there. Holden must have brought a change of clothes because he wore a pair of jeans and a T-shirt and was barefoot.
“Sit down, sweetie,” Nora said, indicating a chair in the lobby. She went over to the front door, locked
