Page 2 of Cats and Dogs

Donna screeched, "You're gonna pay for that, you weakling."

She might have been a little more impressed if something like that didn't happen every other day; and it always ended the same way. Donna attacked, Christine defended herself, only hitting when the girl entered her personal space. Then, eventually, the others would approach and Christine would just run. She was no coward; she just didn't see the logic in attempting to win a five-against-one fight.

That behavior did show that the diagnostic of the Elders was right: she truly was a submissive, because she never had actually attacked first, and probably never would. She had no problem with anyone, as long as they left her alone. And because she also had nothing to prove. They all went to the same combat classes, and they knew that in a one-on-one fair fight, she could take any of them. She had, numerous times.

Come to think of it, that probably was the reason why they wouldn't leave her alone.

What Donna and the others seemed to ignore was the fact that, dominant or submissive, they were all big-cat shifters. That meant that, if someone messed with them, her response was scratching the bitch to shreds. She just didn't see the point in going looking for trouble.

Someone chuckled behind her; a boy, not quite a man. Donna looked shocked and turned ashen. When Christine turned, she was only mildly surprised to see Rygan and Colter Wayland standing there.

The two sons of Byron, king of all feline shifters.

The boys weren't often seen around the other kids of the pride. Colter had joined the ranks of his father's enforcers when he'd turned eighteen, and, while Rygan wasn't yet officially included in the pack authority, he hung out with the grownups.

"That was one nice punch, Red," said Rygan, extending his hand to greet her.

Her. Little Christine Taylor, daughter to an accountant and a school teacher, and a submissive. A nobody. She took it and shook it cautiously, half expecting him to punch her instead.

"You know, me, Coveney, Ian, and Ola are sparring later. Ola always says there's too much testosterone in the air. You should come hang out."

Hanging out with the prince. She gulped. "Really?"

Rygan shrugged. "If you wanna."

She did want to go with him. And, years later, when he left the pack with a handful of young shifters and not many prospects, she still wanted to tag along with him. There was just something about Rygan Wayland that demanded respect and loyalty.

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