The Feline Gaze

“We can do that without this project.”

“No,” I shake my head. “We can’t. Your dad is scrapping this project and he’s setting a precedent that he doesn’t care about other shifters. He doesn’t care about getting rabbits and birds and frogs and owls their own spaces. He’s telling the world that Lyon County is just for cats, and that’s unacceptable.”

Without another word, I shift, tearing my clothes in the process. It’s fine because I didn’t really like my outfit that much, anyway. The fabric shreds as my tigress body comes into view and both Melanie and Alastair look surprised, if not entirely shocked.

“Is that true?” Melanie looks to Alastair. “Those things she said. Are they true?”

“I...uh...I...” Alastair hangs his head. “It’s complicated,” he tells her.

“No,” Melanie says. She cups his face and looks at him. “It’s not, sweetie. It doesn’t have to be. If your dad really did this, then we need to change it. We need to fix it, okay?”

I realize this is sort of a private moment between the two of them, so I turn and leave through the open door. Nobody seems to notice or even bat an eye as I strut through the real estate building, go down the stairs, and then leave the office entirely.

As soon as I’m outside, I start to run.

I run, and I run, and I run.

When I’m in my tiger form, I’m free. The entire world seems to fade away as I focus only on the sound of my own breathing. I don’t go to my aunt’s house first. I have another stop to make before I go see her. I run quickly, swiftly, and silently. I move around cars that are stopped for traffic lights and I’m careful to dodge a mom with a baby stroller. I hurry, scurrying through the city, until I reach the building I’ve been carefully avoiding until now.

Launching myself up the stairs, I shift just outside of the building so I can open the door. I’m totally naked, but I try not to feel embarrassed or uncomfortable with this as I march up to the receptionist’s desk. She looks surprised to see a fully nude woman in the office, but I’ll give props to the girl because she is still totally polite to me.

“Hello, miss. What can I do for you today?”

“I need to see Mr. Ridge, please. It’s urgent.”

Chapter 13

Matthew

I’ve been on the phone all morning trying to deal with clients who are freaking out, tenants who are worried they won’t be able to move in, and investors who want to know if I’m making a run with their money. Everything I’ve worked for up to this moment is on the line and all because of a bitter old man who hates me.

Why?

Because I was a piece of shit in high school and I stole his son’s date.

Either that, or the guy’s just a bigot.

I don’t know.

What I do know is that I’m up to my elbows in paperwork and stress and threats and the only thing I want to do is call Cassidy and talk to her about what’s happening. I want to ask her to help me. I want to ask her to guide me through this. Something tells me that she’ll have the answers because somehow, she always does. Cassidy always seems to know just the right thing to say.

She always manages to help me calm down.

I haven’t known her long, but something tells me that this thing between me and Cassidy is special. Maybe we’re true mates. Soul mates. Shifter mates. I don’t know the right term for what we are. What I do know is that one night was not enough and I want so much more. I want to spend the rest of my life worshipping her. Forget a wedding date. I want forever.

But first I have to deal with the mess in front of me.

Then I can call and talk to my girlfriend.

Well, she’s not my girlfriend. She’s...

Mine.

My inner-lion knows just as much as my outer-man when it comes to this sort of thing. Both my body and my soul want Cassidy as my mate: as our mate, because when it comes to my lion, I really am two different and distinct beings all rolled into one.

“Um, sir?” A knock at the door.

“What is it, Alice?” My receptionist rarely comes back here on her own. Usually, she just calls me on the phone.