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Keelie was prepping for the morning regulars and paused. “Why are you so subdued, Renner?”
“Ah. My friends are sending a bunch of possible boyfriends around ten in the morning.”
Keelie stared. “What?”
“You heard me. Get water, fruit juice, and whatever else you can think of. Some might drink coffee; some might just glare at me for not dressing up. They all expect anyone close to a mate to be pretty.”
Keelie stared at her. “But you are.”
“Overtly sexy then. The job of an alpha’s mate is to keep the alpha satisfied and happy. Being cute and cuddly activates their caretaking hormones and keeps them in that state. It makes mated alphas better to deal with, work with, and socialize with.”
“If they are getting laid?”
“If they are protecting a partner. Male or female alpha, they get a solid hit to the emotional centre.” Renner smiled. “But it starts as lust. So, I am stalling the lust to get to know them a little, and then, one hour from when they arrive, they are out the door.”
“You are letting the cats choose, aren’t you?”
Renner went to get herself a coffee. “Of course. My judgment can’t be trusted, but Achilles has never steered me wrong.”
Keelie sighed. “He won’t be around forever.”
“I know, but he is here now.” Renner finished the morning cleaning in the café and took Ursa and Rigor to the shelter, their white collars gleaming. “Here are the two babies for adoption. Thera and Thanatos are coming in in the next hour.”
“Do you want to be called when they are?”
“Yup. They are both in great moods today, so keep them in the quiet room and keep an eye on them.”
“Got it.” Toby smiled. “These two are extra special?”
“Ursa lost her owner to leukemia, and Rigor is going to a cousin of a friend. You know his story. I think they are both going to have a good life.” She took them to the quiet room, which was actually full of stimulating toys so they could play or nap on cat trees while they waited for their collection. This was the part that was agonizing joy. She wanted them to have bright lives, but she hated to let them go. She would miss them.
She set up her workstation in the café and waited for doomsday. The foundation emails were answered, and a few check-ins with Rhymbia got more interviews and talk shows booked to talk about her experience on the reality show. The two mates she had attracted at that show were also being asked to accompany her to the talk shows. Magnus was a lawyer, which made for an easier schedule, but Vasuki’s shifts at the firehouse were harder to work around, but Renner figured it out.
She got a call at nine-thirty, and it was the shelter. She turned her laptop off, closed it, and carried it with her.
Thera and a woman who had to be her mother stood and talked with Toby. “Hiya, Thera.”
“Miss Renner, this is my mom. She brought me here to get Ursa because my uncle has an appointment later. He promises that Rigor will go home with him before lunch.”
Dark blonde hair with deep blue eyes, Thera’s mom was a standard five foot six with a very sharp business suit. Her makeup was exact and stunning.
Renner smiled. “Are you eager to have a pet?”
The woman stepped toward her with her hand out. “I am Calliope Gaian.”
She blinked. “Oh. Right. Your last names are choose-your-own-adventure.” Renner shook her hand. “People just call me Renner.”
Calliope ran her thumb over Renner’s hand. Renner smiled. She got that reaction a lot when she didn’t use a glamour.
“Renner. It is good to meet you. You have caused a bit of a stir in our family.”
“Change can be refreshing.”
Calliope laughed. “So, you have met Lady Fen.”
“I knowofher.” Renner smiled.
“Right. You are an omega?”
