Page 27 of Shifter Marked and Claimed

It felt as if I had awoken to some sort of alternate universe. This was most definitely not my life.

I headed back to the kitchen and called Micah while I attempted to make coffee only then realizing I was out of filters.

“Did you do this?” I asked the second the phone connected. “Because if not, then I’m probably going to freak out.”

“Well, good morning to you too.”

“Did you do this?”

“Do what, Luce?”

No one ever called me that, but it made me feel all warm and fuzzy to hear the shortened version of my name on his lips.

“Lucy? You still there?”

“Oh, yeah, sorry. My house is clean. I know it wasn’t when I went to bed.”

“It was nothing. I just straightened up a little. I guess I have a bit of a nightly routine too.”

“I cannot stand waking up to a sink full of dirty dishes,” I blurted out. “You couldn’t possibly know that about me, but it’s true, so thank you.”

I could hear the smile on his face. “You’re welcome, and I too can’t stand to wake to a dirty or unkempt house. Everything was already tidy, there were just a few toys and our dishes from dinner. It was no big deal.”

“It was to me,” I whispered.

“It was the least I could do for you letting me crash your evening.”

I snorted. “Really? You brought dinner to us. You put Vada to bed in record time, and then me too.” I wanted to ask why he hadn’t tried to stay the night, but I bit my tongue. “And seriously, what did you do to my daughter? Did you drug her or something Doc?” I teased.

“What? No. I would never.”

I laughed. “I was only teasing you. I know you would never hurt her, or me.”

It was true too. My brain said I shouldn’t let him in, but my heart overrode that. I trusted him completely.

“I’m glad she’s giving you a break. And I’m glad you called. It took a lot not to just show back up with a cup of hot coffee and beg you to let me stay.”

CHAPTER 8

MICAH

I had just laidmy cards out on the table and waited with bated breath for her to respond.

“I certainly wouldn’t have minded that this morning. I’m out of coffee filters,” she said with a yawn.

I grinned to myself. “I’m on my way.”

I was still lying in bed naked and hard from thinking of her. I was just about to take care of that when Lucy called. Seeing her would be even better.

I quickly put on a fresh pot of coffee unsure of how she took it but figured she’d have what she needed at her house anyway. While it was brewing, I got dressed, and filled a large thermos, grabbed half a pack of filters and made my way to Lucy’s house as quickly as possible.

I was just about to knock on the door when I heard a scream followed by a loud bang. I practically knocked the door off its hinges as I burst into the room. My wolf was on edge but was going into a fury when I smelled blood.

“Lucy? Lucy, where are you?”

“Dammit. We’re back here.”

I could barely hear anything over the roaring in my ears, but as I walked down the hall still clenching the thermos that probably had claw prints in it, I could hear Vada’s sobs.

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