Page 26 of Cats and Dogs

Chapter 12

The Cabin

Everyone was watching her closely and it was annoying as fuck, but she knew they meant well.

Every shifter knew that death was a very real possibility any day. Would it be because a nearby pack, pride, or horde felt like pushing through to their territory because of a hex, or a terrorist human with a bomb? They'd all seen stuff like that happen to people they knew, friends, even family.

Then there were the occasional challenges gone wrong. Felines from the same pride could challenge each other, but it was never meant to be to the death. The problem was, it happened, more often than it should. Dominant shifters couldn't easily stop once they got going.

Growing up in the biggest and most powerful pride of shifters, the royal pride, hadn't sheltered them from such things. They'd seen death on a monthly basis.

The Wyvern Pride had been lucky, all things considered. They'd only lost one member in years, mostly thanks to Hsu's visions.

The knowledge that something might have gone wrong, and that she could have lost a friend, had been a heavy burden for years, and now, she had. Tracey was gone.

The others felt the loss, she knew, but not like her. She was the weakest among them that way. The one who didn't have blood and war in her soul. Others could get angry, want revenge, kick something and feel better after some time. Not her, the submissive. She didn't want revenge, she just wanted Tracey back.

That was why she'd asked for time off from the kids, to get her head right. That was why Rye had granted it, and that was why Vi and Rain were acting like she might explode at any moment.

It didn't explain why Hunter's eyes trailed her, though.

"Stripping walls sucks balls," she said out loud, in case people didn't know it.

"Big, hairy, smelly balls," Vi emphasized.

"I can't say I have much experience with big, hairy, smelly balls," Hunter said, all the while ripping a half-log off the wall, "but given a choice between this and ball-sucking, I'd pick the balls."

He definitely, definitely didn't sound like a Vergas bigot.

"Wait, can't you just like, huff and puff and blow the house down, guy? I feel I've been lied to in my childhood."

"It's all boar shifter propaganda," the guy replied, all the while removing his shirt and using it to dry his sweaty forehead.

Christine stared, and she wasn't the only one. She was part of the Wyvern, which meant seeing a bunch of hot guys in various stages of undress on a regular basis, but none of them looked quite like that.

Hunter had the physique of a freaking god, with his large, thick shoulders, a golden tan, and a set of sexy abs. His waist was thinner, and that mouth-watering V leading inside his pants was making it hard to concentrate. Hunter didn't miss leg day either; his thighs were thick and hard.

Was she licking her lips?

From the corner of her eye, she could see Vi fanning herself and Rain nodding appreciatively, but Hunter's eyes were on her.

"Hey, looks like you wanna take a bite, and I might just let you, Red."

He was flirting with her, the only submissive in the pride. That made no sense. When they were outside in the world, Christine got just as much attention as any of the women of the pride from regulars. She had her pick of guys. But sups paid her little attention. Submissives weren't sexy; they were immediately friend-zoned. The members of the pride really didn't mess with each other, in general, but the two newcomers, Theo and Luke, were flirting with the single females, trying to get their attention. Not with her, though. She knew the deal. Dominants were attracted to women just as strong as them. When she paired up some day, it would be with a submissive guy.

But Hunter Force exuded dominance, just like Rye, and yet he was flirting with her, not Vi, the dominant werewolf, or Rain, the strong and sexy witch.

Hey, that was a serious confidence boost.

"Ask me again later," she replied with a wink, congratulating herself for not stammering on each word. "Work to do."

She was pretty sure he wouldn't ask later; he was just being nice. But still.

Christine's arms were in serious danger of falling off when Hunter stopped and sniffed.

"Do you smell that?"

The others looked at each other in confusion; Vi shrugged to show she had no clue what he was talking about.

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