Page 73 of Fastlander Fighter

Captain, Silver, and Corey had all taken the week off work to focus on her Turn and transition, and even Hallie had trained a new hire to take some of her shifts at Moosey’s so she could be here more.

The Fastlanders were circling the wagons, so to speak. They had all made plans to be in the trailer park the majority of this week to support Sloane and whatever her new lioness would require.

She adored each and every one of them for that.

Captain pushed off the door, locked his arms on either side of her, kissed her neck, and murmured, “Get ready. Something is happening outside.”

As she giggled at the tickle his facial scruff created on the sensitive part of her neck, he pushed back and gestured to Ruger. “Brush your teeth and put on the clothes you picked out. You’re going to meet a dragon today.”

Ruger gasped. “Damon? Or Diem? Or Vyr? Or Rowan? Or Dark Kane? Or Harper?”

Captain winked at Sloane before he said, “Maybe bring all of their cards just in case.”

Another gasp escaped Ruger, and then he bolted up and ran for his room across the trailer. Captain and Ruger had fixed it all up just like Ruger wanted. It was race-cars and bear themed.

“Brush your teeth first,” she called, and hid her laugh as he veered off into the bathroom.

Captain made sure Ruger was all the way in the bathroom before he leaned down again and kissed her deeply, and then he sank down onto the mattress and hugged her close. “Are you sure?”

“Sure about what?”

“Taking on the lion?”

“Lucia saw it.”

“I don’t care about the visions, Sloane. I care about you. I want you to be happy.”

She ran her nails gently down his facial scruff and locked her eyes on his so he could see the truth on her face as she said, “I’m ridiculously happy.”

“Are you nervous?”

She swallowed before she answered. “Nervous about the pain, but I know in a month I’ll look back and be happy with my choice. I was nervous to have Ruger, but now I look back and I wouldn’t change a moment of it.”

“I’ll take care of him, you know,” he murmured, drawing her hand to his lips. “I’ll take care of you both.”

“I know,” she whispered. The girls had explained the mating bond he had formed with her. He and his animal were both devoted, and she understood. She would do a silly amount to make him happy, too.

That was love, right? Caring so much about someone outside of yourself that you feel happiness and joy if they feel happiness and joy? The fuel was different when you were in love. In actual, healthy love. The fuel was watching your person smile and feeling that smile in your heart.

Truth be told, she was nervous about the pain of being Turned, but more than that, she was excited about their budding life together. And her growing friendships with the women of the Fastlanders. She was excited about the animal, and meeting her, and figuring her out. Would she be submissive? Dominant? Would she be a brawler, or only fight when she needed to? Would she be a natural hunter? No matter what, she knew she would be accepted by the Fastlanders. By the end of today, she would begin to figure all of that out.

Captain left to get ready, and she had a few minutes to get up, get dressed, and make her way into his master bathroom to fix her hair and makeup. She didn’t know why, but she wanted to be all done up for when she met her animal.

“How do I look?” she asked as she did a little twirl for Captain when he made his way into the bathroom.

“Like a million bucks. Do you need anything?” he asked softly.

She frowned at the seriousness in his voice. “I’m okay. Are you okay?”

“Worried a little.”

She pursed her lips against a smile as she slid into his embrace and hugged him up tight. “I wouldn’t want to do this with anyone else.”

He clenched her hair gently in the back and kissed the top of her head, and she looked up at him. “Today, I’m going to be a badass.”

A handsome smile consumed his face. “You’re always a badass. And here in a few hours, you’ll be able to hear the sincerity in my voice when I say stuff like that.”

“Are you sure?” she asked suddenly. “About me, I mean? And Ruger?”