Page 54 of Purrfectly Trapped

Her Tiger roared ferociously, and Gretchen let go of her grip on that plane of reality. Fire burned through her veins, the sounds of bones cracking and muscles stretching then reknitting filled her oh-so-sensitive ears.

It felt like an eternity, but it was only minutes until she went from lying on her back to wobbling on four paws. She blinked slowly through her new eyes. The world seemed different, askew, but clear. Very clear.

Oh shit. I’m a Tiger. I’m a fucking Tiger! Hear me ROAR!

Gretchen turned to her mate and hissed. Did she hear him right? Did that fucker say he would leave her if she wanted?

Hell to the no. He was not going anywhere, certainly not away from her. Not now. She didn’t want him gone. Not at all. The man deserved a little ass kicking, but she would save that for later. Just then, her paws itched to run.

She hissed and chuffed at him, flicking him in the face with her tail before bounding over to the backdoor that Uncle Uzzi was currently holding wide open.

She stopped and blinked slowly at the sly old man. No,sniff,not just an old man. Uncle Uzzi was something else, something magical or so her new senses told her.

The white haired man who was a friend simply smiled and winked at Gretchen. The feline growled lightly before taking off down the street, and into the forest that waited just beyond an old church off the main stretch of road.

She didn’t have to use her new senses to know it was her mate who stalked behind her. Gretchen felt it,felt him, deep inside her heart. A growl began in her chest, but it sounded more like a purr to her.

Reggie.

Her mind reached out for him, searching past the gold and silver tendrils of magic that seemed interwoven between this plane and the next.

Pride bonds, her instincts told her. She found one thin silvery one and followed it. She wondered why it was so warm and bright, growing brighter still as she watched and traced it until, suddenly, Reg was there.

Mate. His deep gravelly voice replied, echoing in her head and filling Gretchen’s heart with joy.

She stilled, watching him step forward through the darkness to where she waited in a small grassy clearing. His Tiger was truly a magnificent specimen. Regal and proud, double the size of her own beast.

Still, he proceeded with caution. Unsure of his welcome. That was not okay with her beast. Her Tiger stretched her neck, assuming a haughty pose and watched him go still before she pounced.

She might be new to being a Tiger, but some things were pure instinct. Right now, she wanted him to chase her. After she’d leapt onto his back, she bounded off, hissing and chuffing at him. Gretchen ran away from him in circles and zigzags.

So, you want to play?Alright little she-Cat, but I’m warning you, I always win.

Her mate’s voice spoke clearly in her head, and she laughed at the wonder and magic of it all.

You wish, pal. You’re not catching this Tiger by the tail.

Gretchen growled at him before racing off into the woods, but not before she heard his reply.

Challenge accepted, shona. Come here kitty, kitty.

ChapterSeventeen

After an hour of running about the forest, chasing his fiery little mate, Reg had to admit defeat.

“Whoalways wins?” she asked.

Gretchen came out of her bathroom still damp from the quick shower she took. She was wearing nothing but a bath sheet, but suddenly, she appeared very conscious of that fact.

Must be the way Reg was staring at her. Like if he looked hard enough, he could see right through the thing.

He fucking wished.

She gulped and pulled it tighter. Fuck. He knew they needed to talk, even though all he wanted was to jump on her and have her ride him till the sun came up.

His chest rumbled as he watched her from his position on her couch, wearing the jeans he’d left behind in her salon. Nerves on edge, he’d stopped breathing the second she entered the room.

Holy fuck.

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