‘She’s not dead. You just checked and she’s breathing.’
‘We gave her a heart attack!’
‘She fainted. There’s a difference.’
‘Should we call 911 anyway?’
‘And say what? “Hi, yes, our elderly owner walked in on us having shifter sex and now she’s passed out?” That’ll go great.’
‘We can’t just leave her on the floor!’
‘I’m not suggesting we leave her! I’m suggesting we—’He pauses.‘Wait. Do you hear that?’
I listen. Bea’s breathing is getting stronger. More even.
‘She’s waking up,’I think at him, my panic ratcheting up another notch.‘Oh god, she’s waking up. What do we do?’
‘Stay in animal form. Don’t move. Maybe she’ll think she imagined it.’
‘She didn’t imagine it! She saw your DICK!’
‘Everyone sees my dick eventually. It’s quite impressive.’
‘THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR YOUR EGO!’
Bea groans softly, her eyes fluttering.
We both freeze, sitting perfectly still beside her like the good pets we’re supposed to be.
Her eyes open slowly. She blinks at the ceiling. Then her gaze slides to me.
I meow softly, trying to sound concerned and innocent and definitely not like someone who was just getting railed on her couch.
She stares at me for a long moment. Then, in a voice that’s quiet and surprisingly steady, she asks:
“Whiskers? Are you… are you human in there?”
My entire body goes rigid.
‘Don’t answer,’ Jasper warns. ‘Don’t you dare.’
But I can’t not respond. She’s looking right at me with those kind, gray eyes, and I can see she’s not angry. She’s not scared.
She’s hopeful.
“I know this sounds crazy,” Bea continues, pushing herself up to sit against the doorframe. “But I saw... I saw two people. A man and a woman. Right here. Then you and Sox.” She lets out a shaky laugh. “I must have hit my head. But if I didn’t... if you really are...”
She pauses, then smiles—actually smiles.
“It would be nice, you know. To have someone to talk to. Someone who could answer back. I love you, Whiskers. I love having you here. But sometimes...” Her voice gets softer. “Sometimes I get so lonely. It’s been years since Harold died, and most days, you’re the only one I talk to.”
My heart cracks in my chest.
‘Tabitha,’ Jasper’s voice is warning.‘Think about this.’
‘I’m going to shift,’I tell him.
‘Don’t do it.’
