“It’s been really nice,” Seneca said.
“I brought food and a change of clothes for Sunny.”Jupiter handed the bag to Seneca.
“Thanks, man, that’s awesome.”
“The park is open, so when she’s ready to turn back, make sure you’re in the maintenance shed just to be safe.”
“Everything’s cleaned up?”
“Yep.Your dad is running the lunch shift at the burger stall for you.”
“I hadn’t even thought about it.The morning is a blur.”
“I bet.You guys did awesome, though, and I’m very thankful you’re both safe.If you need anything, holler.I’ve gotta get back to checking out the perimeter.I’m pissed as hell we had an issue and no one realized it.But I wanted to personally thank Sunny for saving you and also taking out that asshole.”
She lifted her whiskers like she was smiling.
Jupiter said goodbye and left.Seneca opened the bag and found a box lunch and a raw steak in a bag.Her eyes went wide when he lifted the steak from the plastic bag and she snatched it with a growling purr.
When they were both finished eating, she looked up at him and nuzzled her face against his side.“Ready to come back?”
She rose onto her paws and shook herself out.“Let’s get to the maintenance shed so it’s safe to shift.”
They moved across the paddock and he opened the door to the shed, letting her in and closing it behind them.“Just relax,” he said.“Which is funny because I said that stressed me out.But it’s easier to just let go of our shifts and kind of… just yawn maybe or sigh?I think I’m rambling.”
She let out a tigress sort of chuckle and yawned, her neck stretching as she tilted her head, her jaws wide.And then she shifted.Bones changed.Fur disappeared.Her beautiful tigress became a beautiful female.
The very center of his world.
“You shifted!You’re a rockstar, sweetheart.”He hugged her tightly and she hugged him back.
“I was scared that I wouldn’t be able to shift back.”
“Now you know that yawning is a great way to relax.”
She laughed.And then she started to cry.“I thought you were going to die.”
“I know.”He kissed her forehead.
“I…killed him.I don’t regret it, but I kind of do?I don’t know how I feel.”
He held her close.“You feel everything all at once and it’s normal.You were protecting me, and Fallon too.It wasn’t murder, it was survival.And I’m forever grateful to you for it.”
He held her until she stopped crying, and then he dried her tears.She dressed in the clothes Jupiter had brought, and they went down into the private living area and told Fallon what had happened.
“Marcus came to talk to me,” Fallon said, hugging Sunny and then Seneca.“I can’t believe you shifted and I missed it!I’m so glad you’re both okay.”
He gave Sunny’s arm a gentle squeeze.“For now, we’ll keep things locked down, so you’ll stay put down here, Fallon.The alphas will tighten security and repair the issue with the fencing that the jaguars got through.It won’t happen again.”
Fallon didn’t argue.“Okay.”
Damn he was exhausted.But he was so fucking glad to be alive thanks to his fierce mate.
His beautiful tigress soulmate.
Wednesday morning, Seneca walked with Sunny and Fallon to the underground market for breakfast.It had been a day since the attack, but the stress for his mate and her friend was still palpable.
There was too much that was unknown.
