Page 8 of Billionaire Wolf Needs a Fixer

My breath came in sharp, ragged bursts.The wolf wanted to lash out.To tear something apart.But Krista stood her ground."You don't understand what I am," I snarled.

She stepped closer, forcing me back with sheer will."I don't care.But I won't let you turn into the monster they're painting you as."

A flicker of movement in the trees beyond the property line caught my eye.A glint of glass.A telephoto lens.

Shit.

I dropped her arm like she'd burned me, but it was too late.The damage was done.

Krista followed my gaze, her breath hitching."Oh, you've got to be kidding me."

I grabbed Krista's hand and pulled her back to the kitchen.Garret materialized as soon as we stepped inside."Boss.Security feed showed Troy Mercer skulking near the east gate.He's gone, but it's only a matter of time before he spins something for the tabloids."

The next morning, the photo was everywhere.It was doctored, but convincing and it showed me gripping Krista's forearm, my face twisted in what looked like rage.TMZ's latest headline glared back at me from my phone: STORM'S NEW VICTIM?Leaked Photo Shows Levi Grabbing PR Rep in Violent Altercation.Never mind that she'd been the one pushing me.Never mind that her fingers had curled into my shirt right after.

The world only saw what it wanted to see.

The phone cracked in my fist.

Krista snatched her phone from her back pocket."Zane's already on it.The shelter footage is buying us goodwill, but we need to bury this before it spreads."She exhaled sharply through her nose."Okay.New plan.We lean into the shelter angle hard.Show them the Levi the strays know."

The shelter reeked of antiseptic and wet dogs.Volunteers shuffled around us, throwing wary glances our way until Krista charmed them with a smile and a clipboard like she owned the place.

Then I saw him, a one-eyed Chihuahua mix named Sunny, who'd arrived last week after being dumped on the freeway.The little demon took one look at me, sniffed, and launched himself at my knees.

Krista went preternaturally still beside me as I crouched to scratch behind his torn ear.

"Yeah, yeah," I muttered as Sunny licked my knuckles."You're a menace."

When I glanced up, Krista's lips were parted, her expression caught somewhere between shock and awe.She swallowed."Huh."

The shelter's fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting harsh shadows across the rows of kennels.Sunny wriggled in my arms, his stubby tail vibrating like a hummingbird's wings as I scratched under his chin.His one good eye rolled back in bliss, tongue lolling.

Krista pulled out her phone and aimed the camera at me.

I shot her a glare."You're enjoying this."

She smirked, adjusting the angle."Immensely."

I sighed and set Sunny down, but he immediately flopped onto his back, paws in the air, demanding belly rubs.Traitor.

One of the volunteers, a college kid with a nose ring, nudged a carrier toward me."Mr.Storm, we just got this little guy in last night.Found him in a storm drain.He's skittish."

Inside, a scrawny black kitten hunched in the corner, fur puffed up like a Halloween decoration.His yellow eyes tracked every movement, pupils blown wide with fear.

Krista crouched beside me, her shoulder brushing mine."Think you can work your magic on this one, wolf boy?"

I ignored the jab and reached in slowly, letting the kitten sniff my fingers.His tiny nose twitched.Then, with a hiss that sounded more pathetic than threatening, he swiped at me.

Krista snorted."Oh, you've got the same personality."

I shot her a look."Quiet.You're scaring him."

She rolled her eyes but kept her phone trained on the kitten and me.

I kept my movements slow and deliberate, letting the kitten get comfortable and make the choice to come to me.After a tense minute, the kitten's ears twitched forward.Another minute, and he leaned in, sniffing again.Then, with the grace of a creature who'd decided I wasn't a threat, or at least, not worth the energy to fight, he butted his head against my knuckles.

Krista's breath hitched."Levi," she whispered in amazement.

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