That Shifter Love

Chapter 2

After a shower to wash away the day’s grime as well as the feel of Austin on her skin, Lucy threw herself on her bed and called Kayla. On the third ring, she answered.

“Hey, Luce, what’s up?”

“You will not believe what happened to me!”

“Are you ok? You sound really weird,” Kayla asked, her attention caught. She listened attentively. When Lucy told her about Austin slamming her into the wall and groping her, she erupted in fury. “That son of a bi*ch! Did you call the police? He should go to jail for that sh*t!”

“No. Wh—”

Kayla interrupted. “No? Are you crazy? You need to call the police! Or I’ll get a cab and we’ll go to the station!”

“Kayla, just listen. I can’t go to the police.”

“Why not?”

“I shifted,” Lucy said quietly and heard Kayla gasp, then giggle. “It’s not funny!”

“Whatever! It’s hilarious! I bet that asshole nearly sh*t his pants!”

“Well, he did piss his pants,” Lucy said, the fear and loathing finally beginning to melt as she giggled along with her friend. This is why she loved Kayla.

Their laughter mixed a few moments longer before Lucy continued. “I’m worried, though. I think some man saw me shift.”

“Is that a big deal?”

“I’m not sure. I know we’re not supposed to shift in the city. That was the big warning I got from everyone when I told them I was moving here.”

“Huh. Probably because humans are stupid,” Kayla replied thoughtfully. “I mean, seriously, so many people pretend y’all don’t even exist.”

“Yeah, that’s why I’m worried. I’m not positive he saw me shift, but he saw me scare Austin away for sure. I went into the park for a while so he could leave before I went to my apartment. I didn’t want him to know where I live.”

“Smart move,” Kayla answered, and Lucy could picture her nodding her head. “I think walking to your apartment isn’t safe, especially if this stranger saw you.”

“And what’s more, what if Austin gets all vindictive or something when he sobers up tomorrow morning?” Lucy asked, gnawing at her thumbnail. “I mean, he was drunk, but he wasn’t blackout drunk.”

“Do you think he realized what happened?”

“I’m really not sure. I slipped under him and moved around, and his face hit the wall. So he was holding his face when I shifted.”

“I bet he doesn’t realize what happened. And maybe he’ll never come back to the café! That would be so freaking awesome I can’t even begin to describe it!”

Lucy laughed in agreement. “You’re so right!”

“I’ve got an early audition. What’s your shift tomorrow?”

“Five to close. You?”

“Same. Let’s plan on sharing a cab, or maybe I’ll just stay at your place or you can stay at mine. Safety first, friend,” Kayla offered.

“Sounds good. We can decide tomorrow. Bye.” Lucy ended the call, thinking. Kayla had lucked out; one of the other waitresses lived in the same building as her, so often she had someone to walk home with. But Lucy was the only one who lived in this direction. She always walked alone.

She reached for the light and turned it off, musing over a handful of solutions to this problem. She didn’t relish the idea of moving; she loved her apartment as well as her neighbors. This had always been a safe neighborhood, and the park was just across the street. She had some serious thinking to do.

*****

Nathan located the entrance to the underground headquarters of the Guard quickly; he’d grown up in the city and knew the passages well. He’d worked for them for the past ten years, investigating sightings of weres and other supernatural creatures who roamed the city. Part of his job was to make sure the new weres didn’t expose them to the humans. Which is stupid, he thought, because they know we exist. But those were the rules, and part of his job was to enforce them.

He headed straight for the Head Guard’s office. The Head, as he was more commonly referred as, had been the Head for two decades, having succeeded the were before him. The Head had reached the age of sixty and was considering handing the reins over to someone else. He’d spoken to Nathan about it many times; he’d also spoken to Marissa about it. He shook his head, rearranging his thoughts so that Marissa was not in them. However, when he entered the Head’s office, she was there as if waiting for his report.

“Ah, good morning, Nathan,” the Head spoke, his slightly accented voice quiet and unassuming, a voice that comforted or put fear into your soul, whichever he felt you needed. “Marissa and I were just saying you hadn’t checked in lately.”

“I’m sure my whereabouts isn’t top news,” Nathan commented dryly, looking at Marissa, who sniffed and looked away.

Marissa was another wearcat, like Nathan, and the relationship they’d shared had run hot and fiery for about a year, then cooled quickly as she rose in the ranks of the Guard while he remained a scout by his own preference. She couldn’t understand why he wanted to remain on the streets when he could be the Head’s right hand man, but that wasn’t the life he’d wanted. So, she’d stepped into that slot and left him behind, desiring a man with more ambition than him.

The Head chuckled at his response. “Nathan, no one ever knows your whereabouts unless you come out of hiding.”

“And that’s exactly how I like it,” Nathan replied with a grin for his boss and friend as he took the chair next to Marissa.

“I assume you have something to report?” Marissa asked, a bite in her tone.

Nathan spared her a brief glance. He didn’t report to her, he reported directly to the Head. He was the only one who did, which was another thorn in Marissa’s side. She sneered at him, but his grin remained in place.

“I saw a new were shift in public,” Nathan began. The pair sat up a little straighter at the news, but Nathan lifted a hand to halt their questions. “She’s a wolf. I’ve never seen her before, bet she hasn’t been here long. I saw her at a café where she works and followed her home. On the way, one of her customers attacked her, with nefarious intentions in mind, I’m sure. She shifted to protect herself.”

“In front of this human?” Marissa asked, her eyebrow raised. “That’s forbidden.”

“Thank you, Marissa, for the reminder,” Nathan drawled. She glared at him, and the Head hid his grin behind his hand. “She is unaware of the rules, I’m sure. And she only shifted to defend herself.”

“Doesn’t matter. She shouldn’t have shifted,” Marissa maintained. “There are other ways to prevent an assault. Human women have to do it all the time.”

“Have you ever had to do it? No? Then you really have no room to speak,” Nathan griped.

The Head interrupted before their bickering became a full-blown fight. “Do you know her name? Where she lives?”

Nathan cleared his throat of anger and answered his boss. “I know where she lives and where she works. With a little research, I’ll know her name.”

“You need to contact her, see if she’ll come talk to us on her own,” the Head mused. “That’s always easier. So many of the new ones get it in their heads that we’re some kind of cult.” He rolled his eyes slowly, his bushy brows wiggling.

“Once they learn we’re here to protect them as well as the humans, most of them fall in line,” Nathan reminded him.

“You’re right,” the Head murmured quietly. He was tired of dealing with this. Retirement to the mountains was just over the horizon. “Anyway, chat with her tomorrow, as soon as possible.”

“Will do,” Nathan said, rising to take his leave. Marissa also rose to leave, following Nathan out the door after they’d both said their good byes.

“Let us know immediately if she refuses to come in,” Marissa ordered.

Nathan raised an eyebrow at her. “Again, thank you, Marissa. I know the protocol, but a little reminder. Every. Single. Time. I come in is so helpful.”

“Why are you such an asshole?”

“Why are you such a bi*ch?”

“You are so childish.”

Nathan’s smile widened. “Thanks!” He turned to walk away and could feel her eyes trying to kill him. “Stop looking at my ass, Marissa.”

He heard her growl a warning. “I’m imagining a target on your back for my bullet.”

With his back to her, he continued walking away and called back, “Threats are so unbecoming of a lady, Marissa.”

He chuckled when she growled again.