Primals (Reverse Harem 1)

“That’s good. I guess you don’t have to use my phone now.”

“No.” I sh

ake my head. “But I might still need your help.”

“How?”

I run my fingers across the collar of my jacket. It feels tight, like I can’t breathe. “I need a place to stay. Without any ID getting anything from the bank is next to impossible though they’re ‘working through the problem’ and should have available funds to me tomorrow. In the meantime, I’m ‘sorry outta luck.’ I tried calling a friend, asking if he’d wire me some money so I can stay at a hotel but he’s not answering.” I throw up my hands, absolutely beyond frustrated. “They pointed me at a shelter, but I’d seriously rather not go there. I was wondering if maybe you can lend me something. Enough for tonight.” I take a deep breath. “I know it’s too much to ask. You’ve already done so much for me and I know money matters can be tricky, but I promise I’ll pay you before I leave town.”

“Why don’t you stay at my place?” Theo suggests, cutting me off. “I’ve got an apartment.”

Of course. He did say he lives in Anchorage. I’m not sure how I feel about that.

“I don’t know.” I shrug as I slip my hands into my pockets. “Like I said, you’ve already done so much...”

“So it shouldn’t be a problem if I do just a bit more,” Theo finishes my sentence for me. “And really, this is nothing. And I kind of owe you. I know you didn’t sleep well last night. Give me a chance to redeem myself. Accommodations fit for a queen! Or at least for her minions.”

I smile. But he has a point.

Still, living with someone requires a certain degree of trust and after what happened with Sebastian, I can’t help but feel a slight apprehension about the notion of staying under the same roof with a man, especially one I don’t know.

He rubs the back of his neck, maybe picking up my unease. “My apartment isn’t that big or that fancy but it’s cozy. And it’s home. Though of course, if you prefer something better, I’ll see what I can do to help...”

“That’s fine,” I cut him off this time, smiling. It would be foolish to ask him to spend his money on a hotel for me when he’s got a perfectly good place for me to sleep. And it’s only for one night. “I’ll be happy to stay at your place if you’ll let me.”

Screw Sebastian. Theo is nothing like him. He’s a gentleman with a heart big enough for his body.

“Really?” His pinecone-colored eyes widen.

I nod. “You had me at ‘cozy.’ But it’s only temporary. Just until the people from the company come to get me. Or until the bank can release my funds. Whichever comes first.”

“Alright. Let me go tell the police you’re staying at my place and give them my number so they can contact you if anyone comes looking for you or anything comes up.”

“Good idea.”

He disappears back into the police station and I rub my gloved hands, blowing warm air on them as I watch a group of teenagers laughing and eating burgers in the McDonalds across the street.

I used to be annoyed by kids like them, noisy and boisterous, especially if I was eating alone near them, trying to read some papers from work or get something done on my laptop. But now, I’m engulfed with a sense of comfort. I’m back in civilization now. Back in the world.

I draw in a deep breath.

Everything is back to normal.

Normal? The word sits uneasily on the tip of my tongue.

So far, I haven’t been able to read anyone’s minds. But I’m still well aware that my wounds have healed, a fact that has surprised even the police officers I was just talking to. I’d had to lie a little, telling them I’d gotten lucky, that I’d only thought I’d been injured because there was no rational way to explain any of this. I can still clearly remember how I broke out of that cabin.

I gaze at my hands. Am I normal?

“Is everything okay?” Theo asks me the same question he asked earlier as he appears behind me.

“Yeah.” I slip my hands back inside my pockets. “What did the officers say?”

“All’s good.” He gives me a thumbs up. “Shall we go to my apartment?”

THEO’S APARTMENT IS everything he said it would be.

Or so I think as I take off my boots and hang my coat on one of the wooden pegs behind his door.