Page 13 of Deadly Panther's Fake Fiancée

And then what?

Is the relationship over at that point? It’s difficult to believe it wouldn’t be. Katrina is a beautiful young woman and more than that, she’s a very talented architect, and although I possess substantial wealth when it comes to my royal family’s assets, she makes far more than I do in terms of salary. She doesn’t need me. I don’t bring anything to the relationship she can’t get without me except a panther shifter.

And there are dating sites now for humans who want to date shifters. There’s an extraordinarily difficult vetting process for humans but she’ll have no trouble getting through it. So, she doesn’t even need me for that. She could date a number of different types of shifters. In the shifter world, you won’t find the same stigma over a woman with multiple men in her history.

You’ll find shifters far more territorial and aggressively protective once they’re in a relationship but in terms of judging a woman for having a lot of men in her past; it just doesn’t happen. So, if she’d like, Katrina can sign up for a few of the sites and enjoy as many shifters as she likes.

Damn, I’m just obsessing over her and not thinking as clearly as I should. It’s just after midnight. With an early day at work tomorrow, Katrina didn’t spend the night but left an hour or so ago. I sit here on my back porch sipping bourbon I don’t really need to drink and watching the night sky.

How did I go from thinking the girl next door was nice to feeling distraught at the thought of losing her? And our relationship is fake in the first place! How in the world am I afraid to lose something that doesn’t even really exist? Panthers are given to more introspection than most shifters.This is crazy, though.

I imagine only dragons are more introspective. Since they can live for a thousand years or more, it seems to me there’s really no option other than introspection. Other than dragons, the only ones who can come close to us are bear shifters but it’s difficult to tell if there’s any introspection at all. The thing about bears, though, is you don’t know if they’re introspective or just living in the moment more effectively than any other creature possibly could.

Who knows?

In any case, I’m so wrapped up in this girl that I just can’t think clearly at all. I’m stressed out about losing something Idon’t even have. It’s a strange set of circumstances and all I can really think about at the moment is how much fucking sense it makes that leopards are solitary creatures. Life would be a hell of a lot less complicated if I were alone except to mate!

All right. That’s enough bullshit. Time for me to wake the hell up. Shut up, grow up, and show up. Well, in this case, I guess it’s time for me to get the hell to sleep and not to wake the hell up but the point is I need to stop moping. I finish the bourbon and walk back into the house.

As I set my glass on the kitchen counter, I hear a knock at the door. My body tenses, but not from fear. Nope. I stupidly hope that it’s Katrina and she came back because she just can’t handle not being near me and ...

Cue the fucking romcom movie music.

Still, I head to the door really hoping it could be her even if it’s probably not. It could be my parents, but they’re sticklers for routine and, unless it’s an emergency, they’d be sleeping right now.

I get to the door and swing it open.

And ... “Delilah?”

Definitely not at all on my radar for possible house guests right now. We haven’t really talked much since I sent a brief message detailing how I managed to get out of the marriage.

She looks at me and tries to smile but instantly breaks down crying instead.

“Honey, Delilah, what’s happening? Here, come in.”

I usher her into the house, walk her to the couch and seat her. I go to the kitchen and get two new glasses and an unopened bottle of bourbon.

I get back to the living room. She hasn’t stopped crying.

So, I give her time, opening the bourbon and pouring each of us two fingers. She takes the glass, immediately downs it and, eventually, she calms enough to start talking.

“They’re planning another marriage for me.”

“What?”

“My parents. They’re pressuring me to agree to another marriage.” Her eyes flash up angrily. “But I told them I’d rather abdicate than accept another arranged marriage!”

“Whoa, Delilah, I’m sure they’ll change their minds if you just talk to them. Explain how ...”

“Has that ever worked?”

The desperation in her voice makes me pause. She has had a similar childhood to mine, a child of a royal house expected to obey the family dictates without question. I think about the ruse with Katrina and how desperate a move it really was, pretending to be marrying someone else just to get my parents off my back.

But I think of my father’s apology and acceptance of Katrina and I feel some hope for change. “Delilah, I know this seems like a no-win situation, but my parents have come around to accepting Katrina and our fake marriage. They’ve changed their views. I think your parents might be willing to also listen if you were to ...”

“Stop it, Isaac, just stop!”

I sit there and wait for her to let her anger settle down again. I’m confused at the viciousness in her tone, but I know Delilah will explain.

---