That Shifter Love

When Austin had regained his feet, he glared at Nathan. “What the hell? Who are you?”

“Forgot me? I’m Lucy’s friend. You yelled at me last night, remember? Called me a prick,” Nathan reminded him.

Austin’s eyes widened, and before he could prevent it, he stepped back from Nathan in a defensive gesture. He looked around for an escape route, but Nathan was leaning against the only door that led out. He put on his bravado and said, “What the hell do you want?”

“I saw your little news report this morning,” Nathan told him. “I didn’t like it much.”

“I told the truth,” Austin defended himself.

Nathan stood up from his relaxed position and stepped further into the apartment. “The truth?” he asked with a lifted eyebrow. Austin nodded but didn’t speak. Nathan looked around the room before his eyes resettled on Austin’s. “Your skewed version of the truth is going to get you in a lot of trouble with the wrong people, Austin.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“I’m glad you caught that veiled threat. I wasn’t sure you were smart enough,” Nathan replied sarcastically.

“You can’t hurt me. I have protection,” Austin told him, although his voice shook.

“Who is going to protect you from the weres? That reporter? I don’t think so,” Nathan replied with a grin.

“No, the lady who gave me the reporter’s name. She’s powerful. She said Lucy was a bad person and had attacked people before,” Austin said.

Nathan’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, but he quickly recovered his stoic expression. “A lady, huh? Want to tell me her name?”

“No.”

Nathan lunged forward and grabbed Austin by the neck. He swung him around with supernatural strength and slammed him into the front door of the apartment. “How about now?”

“Marissa,” Austin choked out.

Nathan released him as shock shot through his body. He looked Austin up and down, for the first time realizing the man wasn’t dressed. “Go put your clothes on. We’re going for a little trip.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you,” Austin tried to sound brave, but Nathan looked down at him and he scrambled up to run to his bedroom and change.

Five minutes later, they were in Nathan’s car and on their way to the Guard’s headquarters.

*****

Marissa sat in the Head’s office, discussing budget issues with him, when Nathan walked in without knocking, dragging Austin behind him. She jumped to her feet when she saw him, her eyes wide for only a moment before she schooled her expression into nothing but outrage at having been interrupted.

“Nathan! Don’t you know how to knock?” she asked haughtily as if she couldn’t see the human behind him.

“Nathan, what the hell is going on?” the Head asked. He didn’t care for humans in his office, never had.

“My apologies, boss, but this human has some very interesting information about the werewolf attack report this morning.”

“Isn’t that your problem to handle?” Marissa asked scathingly. She had been furious when she realized that Austin hadn’t revealed Lucy’s name but had decided that would come soon. Right now, she chose to play stupid.

“Yes, Marissa, it is. It is also my responsibility to handle internal issues, should they arise,” Nathan told her, glaring at her and waiting for a response. When none came, not even a flicker of change on her face, he looked at the Head and continued. “This human claims that a woman named Marissa told him he should go to the press with his story. He told lies to the reporter to make him look like the victim, but we’ve already heard and confirmed Lucy’s side of the story.”

The Head, when he’d heard Marissa’s name, had looked at her with raised eyebrows. His eyes didn’t leave her face as Nathan spoke.

Nathan pushed Austin forward. “Austin, would you please tell my boss what you told me earlier?”

Austin looked from Nathan to Marissa, who very minutely shook her head at him, to the Head. He didn’t know what to do; confusion was plain on his face. When he looked at Nathan again, he made his decision; Nathan was the most frightening.

“Marissa told me to go to the reporter, gave me a card with his name on it,” he said, looking at his feet.

“And is the woman in this room the Marissa you are referring to?” Nathan asked.

Austin sighed and nodded his head. “Yes, that’s her.” He looked at the Head. “Please don’t kill me. I’m sorry.”

The Head rolled his eyes. “We aren’t going to kill you, you idiot. We ask that you keep your damn mouth shut or there will be consequences, however.”

Austin nodded vigorously. “I won’t tell a soul, I swear.”

The Head pressed an intercom button and called his secretary in. “Please have Austin driven home.” He indicated to Austin to follow the woman, and they left. His eyes moved to Marissa. “So Marissa, do you have anything to say about all this?”

“I do not.”

“Are you maintaining that you did not speak to this human? That you didn’t jeopardize the weres with your jealous vindictiveness?” the Head asked pointedly.

Marissa remained silent, refusing through her silence to either condemn or defend herself. She glared at Nathan, her eyes not leaving his. He looked back at her blandly.

“Marissa, do you have anything to say?” the Head asked again. When Marissa ignored him and only stared at Nathan, he pressed the intercom button again. “Send in security.” He released the button and looked at her again. “Marissa, for your own safety and that of other weres, you will remain in custody until an investigation has been completed. You are relieved of all your duties as second in command of the Guard.”

Two beefy security guards walked into the office and awaited orders. The Head looked at them and pointed at Marissa. They looked at her, then back at him, astonishment on their faces. She was their boss. The Head spoke. “Gentlemen, take Marissa to the detention center and show her to her private cell. Marissa, I’ll have your things brought to you.” He handed her a pen and notepad. “Write down anything you need and give it to the guard.”

Marissa did not accept the pen and notepad; her arms remained at her sides. One of the security guards took it for her in one hand. He and the other guard took her arms and led her out the door.