Page 56 of Rescued By the Beast
I jump back, shaking my saliva-covered paw as he finally manages to back away and break free before chasing me again. We run, we dodge, we roll. Time dissolves around us, meaningless. Until a sound makes us freeze: knocking on the door.
The wolfdog stops instantly, his ears pricking up, he barks one last time before giving me a look... disappointed?
And then, in the blink of an eye, he is no longer a wolf-dog.
Mark stands before me, now in his human form, dressed impeccably, without a single hair out of place.
I am so fascinated, looking at the serious and imposing man who has appeared before me, that I almost don't smell the bear outside.
When the door opens, Ted enters without hesitation. He is not smiling. Not even in his eyes. Something about him seems different from what I remember from the few times I saw him.
"You didn't answer my calls and you didn't show up at the company.
Ah, he's worried, that's why there's no lightness in his gaze.
Mark runs a hand through his hair and curses softly as he closes the door.
"Some emergency? What did I miss?"
Ted crosses his arms, shaking his head.
"No emergency, but you said you'd be back for rookie training this afternoon and you didn't show up. Jack went in your place, and I came to see if you, I don't know, had fallen out of one of the windows at the screen and died."
Mark lets out a low laugh. Ted blinks, looking genuinely surprised.
"You know that's impossible."
"What's gotten into you, Beast?" Ted's dark brown eyes narrow. "Have you been drinking? Or maybe you really did hit your head?"
Mark snorts.
"I was busy and didn't notice the time. It won't happen again. Besides, I trust my team to handle emergencies if I'm not immediately available."
My heart warms at the realisation: Mark didn't go to work because of me. As if I mattered. As if, for him, time had also simply slipped through his fingers without him noticing.
The bear nods, assessing Mark with a lingering look before scanning the room. His eyes land on me, and a smile forms on his face.
"Hi, little one! Has this Beast been treating you well? You know, if you want to escape this grumpy man and come live with me, I can take care of you..."
Mark lets out a threatening growl and advances on him, pointing a finger with a subtly elongated claw at his face.
"She'smine."
Ted lets out a short laugh and pushes his hand away.
"I never imagined you'd be such a possessive pet parent."
Mark just growls in response.
"Relax, I just came to see why you didn't show up. I'm not criticising you, you deserve some time off. I wanted to know if you were okay, and it looks like everything is great."
Mark makes a low sound in his throat and, impatiently, pushes Ted towards the door.
"I'm working from home today."
Ted raises his hands in surrender before leaving.
***
