Page 79 of Her Males

It’s the least he can do after trying to kill me.

“I’m Charlie. Kato gave me this address,” I say, clearing my throat when my voice comes out croaky.

When the shifter doesn’t respond, I yank up my dress and pull out the note I’ve got stashed in there. The men gasp and turn away as my underwear is exposed, but I can’t bring myself to care about modesty as I step forward and give the paper to the one who spoke.

It’s not signed or anything, but it’s all I’ve got.

There’s a collective sigh when my dress is returned to its usual position, and the shifters turn to the one holding the note. He grunts and runs a hand down the front of his face, his bright-green eyes darting over the numbers.

“You can call me ‘Chev.’ Come.” The man turns before waiting for our response.

The other shifters look wary as they let us through, their narrowed eyes darting between Rock and me. They all have the same bear mark, and I wonder if this is Kato’s pack.

Rock explained during one of my tutoring sessions that the shifters tend to live in large groups with those who share the same animal.

“Shifters don’t take kindly to unwelcome guests,” Rock whispers, angling his face toward mine so he isn’t overheard. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

I gulp. Fingers crossed I don’t get us killed.

My steps are jerky as I try to navigate the ground, but Rock helps to keep me steady. I don’t know what to make of the fact that Kato gave me coordinates to his home, and I hope he intended for me to use it in case I was ever in trouble.

I can’t imagine why else he’d give it to me.

It takes a few minutes of walking before I begin to see some variation in the wilderness. The trees are thinner, and I spot some houses and large communal buildings out of the corner of my eye. I make a pointed effort not to look anywhere near the shorter, feminine bodies that move around, not wanting to offend the shifters.

“Dad!” Chev shouts.

I spot Kato just as he spins and sets down the three children who cling to him. They don’t look like him, their hair stark white, and they latch themselves on to his legs as he approaches.

Kato is Chev’s dad?

“Chev!” Kato pulls Chev into a tight hug before turning to me. “Charlotte,” he says, his eyes wide as he looks me over.

His lips purse as he takes in my lack of shoes and ripped dress, the fabric having torn while Rock dragged me down Mammon’s hallways. His eyes briefly flash to Rock, his expression unreadable.

“Charlotte? Like the Wrath’s Charlotte? Are you kidding me?” Chev snaps, turning his back to us as he faces his father.

Kato frowns, his attention sliding from me to his son.

“She was with Mammon.” Kato shrugs, like that answers everything. He nudges his son aside and turns back to me. “You’re welcome here, although I didn’t anticipate you arriving so quickly and with a demon male.” He waves away the men surrounding us.

The shifters hardly look happy as they return to whatever they were doing before they found Rock and me. Chev is the only one who sticks around, and he stumbles when the children I’ve been doing an excellent job of keeping my eyes away from transition from Kato’s legs to his.

They don’t seem to care that a human female and shadow are infiltrating their land, too busy trying to climb up and knock down the large men.

“This is Chev,” Kato says, gesturing to his son. “He is my oldest baby,” he continues, frowning as he eyes the other man. “Although now you are big. Almost as big as me.”

Kato cups Chev’s head like he’s about to pop it. I stare at the two, shocked. Of all the things I was expecting to encounter here, watching a father have an existential crisis over the adulthood of his son wasn’t one of them.

“Mammon wants to give me to the ogres in order to back Aziel into a corner,” I blurt out, wanting to be upfront.

I like these people, and the last thing I want is for them to be caught off guard if Mammon comes to collect me. Kato releases his son, his lips curling into a snarl. I hope it’s not directed at me, and I press myself further into Rock’s side.

“I knew she was up to something,” he snaps. “Come with me. We’ve got a cabin prepared for you. The shadow can stay, but I don’t want to see him messing around my lands.” He shoots another glance in Rock’s direction before turning and leading us farther into the pack.

Kato had a cabin prepared for me?

Rock tightens his grip on my waist and pulls me along. Thin twigs and rocks burrow into the bottom of my socks and dig painfully into the soles of my feet, but I ignore them.

---