Page 70 of Shifter Marked and Claimed

“Yeah. Did you see his eyes? He’s even more beautiful close up.”

“He didn’t look beautiful,” I lied. “He looked angry enough to rip your head off. He kicks puppies, Zoe. Don’t forget that part.”

She smooched the puppy’s head, and it looked like it was in complete heaven.

“I won’t ever forget that again,” she promised.

“I guess asking to keep it could be considered an invitation. Adira thought it might be a babezling, which is a caretaker. You need to put it back on the bed so we can check.”

“Now what?” she asked, setting it down.

“Now we leave the room.”

We shut the door behind us, and I waited a minute before we opened the door again.

On the bed sat the rock our neighbor loved to yell at.

CHAPTERFIVE

I rolledto my side and watched my sleeping sister. She had her arms wrapped around the puppy-turned-rock-turned-puppy. Even in her sleep she was smiling. The puppy, who she’d dubbed Sir Cuddles, opened its eyes to look at me before giving a cute puppy yawn and curling in closer to her.

“Please don’t hurt her,” I said softly. “She’s been hurt so much already.”

It didn’t respond.

Closing my eyes, I tried to sleep as well. My thoughts kept whirling around how good Sir Cuddles had already been for Zoe. They’d played chase throughout the house. She’d taught him a handful of tricks much too easily. They’d cuddled on the couch and watched a few movies together. Her interests had solely revolved around her new friend, and she hadn’t glanced once at the window even though I’d freed her from her punishment earlier than I’d said I would.

Zoe was content. She had an answer to her boredom. But for how long?

I drifted off, worried I’d made a mistake in letting her keep Sir Cuddles.

My worry didn’t stand a chance against wake-up puppy kisses. The little charmer licked my nose and cheeks until I woke with a smile.

“I’m up. I’m up. Call off the hound.”

“Come here, Sir Cuddles,” Zoe called. “Who’s a good boy? Yes, you are. Yes, you are.”

I rolled my eyes and sat up.

“Did you let him out yet?”

“No. I was waiting for you.”

The day before, she’d been terrified he wouldn’t come back. Then she’d worried that our neighbor would demand his return if he saw the puppy. It’d taken threats and a lot of guilting to get her to open the door.

“How about I let him out, and you make him breakfast?” I asked.

She reluctantly agreed and hugged him all the way to the living room.

“I’ll make you a berry yogurt parfait with honey. Doesn’t that sound good?” she whispered.

“If you had to choose between an owner who yelled and kicked you or one who hugged you and let you sleep in bed with her at night, which would you prefer?”

“I know. I just don’t want to lose him.”

Sir Cuddles whined and assaulted her with enthusiastic face licks.

“I think he’s saying he’ll come back.”

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