Page 52 of Rescued By the Beast
Maybe I should have accepted Ted's help when he offered it, knowing I would be late for work because of it. But, as always, I let my pride get the better of me, accustomed to solving everything on my own.
I start on the second floor before going down to the ground floor windows. When I finally attach the last screen, I run my hand over my face, pushing my hair back, feeling the tension built up in the back of my neck.
I glance atmy smartwatchand am startled to see that it's already past two in the afternoon. My stomach growls, but what really makes me curse under my breath is realising that I forgot to prepare my Kitten's food too.
Damn it!
Speaking of her, she's strangely quiet, and when I turn towards where I last saw her, it looks like she hasn't moved aninch. She's lying in the same position, looking out one of the open windows protected by a screen.
Her energy, which before seemed to pulsate with curiosity or boldness, has simply disappeared. Her gaze seems empty.
I feel a tightness in my chest. What the hell is happening to her? Is she lacking energy because she's starving? Damn, it's my fault, I ly lost track of time. But come to think of it, she's been quieter since last night. Since she tried to escape and I found her.
I walk to the kitchen to prepare our food, casting worried glances at her. But she remains there, curled up, showing no reaction. Lying down, her little face resting on her curled-up paws, her eyes open, just staring into space.
Damn. I think I broke her.
I speed up the food preparation, cutting beef into small pieces and cooking it with a variety of vegetables. I fill one pot with fruit snacks and the other with meat. I crouch down and place the pots in front of her.
She blinks a few times, sniffs the food, but doesn't seem interested. How? She must be hungry! A pang of concern settles in my chest.
"Please, you need to eat."
She meows softly. A reaction. Good sign.
I stand still, watching her, until she finally approaches the meat and eats. I breathe a sigh of relief and go to prepare my plate. As I chew, I watch her from across the room, still too quiet. Each bite I take seems to echo in the silence of the cabin.
Maybe appearing in my hybrid form and roaring like that was a mistake. I think I scared her so much that something in her broke, but damn it, I was just trying to protect her. I felt shewas in danger, and my hybrid form is the most powerful form I have.
I spend the rest of the day watching the cat, increasingly convinced that something is wrong. She doesn't move, she doesn't react to anything. I know she's not sick, the potion worked. I saw her wounds close. But she seems... apathetic. As if she were only there physically, while the rest of her was lost somewhere I can't reach.
I pick up my mobile phone and send a message to Ethan.
Me:I think I broke my Kitten.
It takes him a few minutes to reply. I feel like calling him and ordering him to answer me, but I control myself, knowing he must be busy.
Ethan:What do you mean, you broke her?
Ethan:For God's sake, you don't mean that literally, do you?
I roll my eyes.
Me:Of course not, bloody hell! What I mean is that she's acting strange.
Ethan:Explain that properly.
I run my hand over my face, trying to organise my thoughts.
Me:She seems depressed. At first I thought she was hungry. Out of nowhere, she became very quiet, not reacting to anything. But she ate and is still like this. She hardly moves!
Suddenly, my mobile vibrates with a call.
"I think I've screwed up," I say when I answer.
Ethan sighs on the other end of the line.
"Mark, calm down. She's adjusting. Have you been interacting with her?"
