Page 24 of Sparks Flying

Experiencing something like that together had brought us closer and for the last two years, we’d practically been inseparable. Everyone thought we were a couple, but we weren’t.

Over the summer, he’d finally come clean about who and what he is, first to his aunt and then to his parents. His Aunt Lily had supported him all the way. Oscar had been on cloud nine that day leaving a family reunion to hang out with me instead.

That night, we’d decided to give things a try and we’d shared our first kiss. I’d been so nervous, but the second his lips had touched mine, I knew it wasn’t right. It had lasted all of two seconds before I burst out laughing. He’d been a little put off at first, but even he had to admit there was nothing more than friendship between us.

Being a tiger in a wolf pack had made him a little paranoid and he kept others at arm’s length, but not me. Neither of us had ever dated anyone before because we had each other. It had been his first kiss too, which sort of made it special for the both of us, but not something we ever intended to repeat.

We’d stayed up late talking that night and he’d made the decision to come out to his parents about being a tiger. I knew how hard it had been for him to do that, so when his parents didn’t exactly take it well, both of us were devastated.

I understood that they weren’t really upset about him being a tiger; they were just hurt that he’d lied by omission for over two years. Still, while he was working to make amends with them, I wasn’t sure I could ever truly forgive them for hurting my best friend.

“Bailey?”

“Yeah?”

“Everything’s going to be okay.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“If not, I’ll risk the caves and shackles.”

“Love you, Oscar.”

“Love you too, Bails.”

Dean

Chapter 7

What the hell was wrong with me?

My raven was losing it. I was losing it. This girl was driving me insane.

She could have suffered serious injuries and been out there all alone where no one would find her. No one would have even considered looking for her until someone reported her missing. And she’d ran so there was no car or obvious trail to lead anyone to know where she was.

I was furious, and I didn’t even know why I cared.

I’d tried to tell myself she was just a kid I felt weirdly responsible for, but seeing her naked had changed everything. She wasn’t a child at all. She was the most gorgeous woman I’d ever had the privilege of laying eyes on. And I knew when I closed my eyes at night, I would remember every inch of her body.

Shit! I was getting hard just thinking about it.

She’d clearly said she’d gone for a run, not a flight, a run. She definitely wasn’t a bird shifter of any kind. Most likely a wolf if she was from Westin Pack, where Westin Force headquarters resided.

I shouldn’t be this attracted to a freaking wolf!

Somehow, I’d managed to make it to my office without raising any suspicions. Once inside, I locked my door and started to pace. Pace! That wasn’t a raven trait, but a wolf one. I really had to ask Patrick if it was possible to inherit the traits of other species when spending time close to them. It soundedridiculous, but something very strange was going on and that’s the best I could think of.

I needed a distraction. I thought about calling Janice. I’d blown her off last night, but she was the perfect distraction to keep my mind off Bailey.

The mere thought of it had another migraine coming on and feeling like my raven was pecking the inside of my head. I sat down, feeling defeated, and closed my eyes.

What was I going to do?

Resigned to my need to find her and confirm she was okay, I got up to leave, but a knock at the door stopped me.

Bernice jiggled the doorknob, finding it locked. I never locked my door.

Cringing, I walked over and unlocked it.

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