Page 2 of Mated to the Pride

Probably.

By the time our lion muscles were as exhausted as our human ones, the sun was just about to come down. I took the lead again as we headed back home, feeling the earth cool underneath our paws, and only shifted back again as we reached the yard.

I opened the door, glancing over my shoulder at the sound of Hale’s yawn. He had already shifted back, stretching his arms with a slight grimace. “Man. Hard work today. I needed that run.”

“I think we all did,” I agreed, holding the door open so that each one of them could pass — first Hale, already yawning again, and then Preston and Stone behind him. “But we’ll be grateful for being in the best possible shape when we’re out there in Sigma territory.”

“Damn right.”

We flopped into the long angular couch, big enough to hold us all with a little extra space… in human form, at least. Even draped over these soft cushions, ready to be lazy for the rest of the day now, I could see the strength in my pride’s arms, and I knew we were ready. I had faith that not only were we likely to succeed in this mission, but we’d do it fast too — and safely.

Still, there was one thing left to discuss before we started our final preparations.

“Guys,” I said, glancing over my shoulder. “This place is a dump.”

I was only barely exaggerating. As we’d been training so hard, the kitchen had been used to prepare several meals that hadn’t quite been cleared away yet, and there were piles of clothes dropped all over the floor from where tired lions had abandoned their human things and never come back for them. Our enhanced shifter senses weren’t much of a good thing when you could smell dust in the air, and see crumbs that needed lifting from the carpet all the way across the other side of the room.

This… would not work for our mission.

“We’ve got time yet to clear it up,” said Stone, smoothing the suede of the couch arm all in the same direction. “Really shouldn’t take that long.”

“Uh-huh,” I said. “But we can’t have the cabin like this in Sigma.”

Preston wrinkled his nose. “Huh. Yeah.”

“It’s a distraction,” I said. “And clearly we’ve been focusing pretty hard on other things the past week or so. The workload isn’t going to be lighter once we’re actually out there. Maybe we need to work something out.”

“What, like a rota?”

“Hale,” said Stone, eyes bright, “we all know you’d never stick to a rota.”

“Actually,” I pressed on, before Hale could bite back, “I was thinking more like external help. Somebody we’d bring along specifically to take care of the cabin for us.”

“A shifter?” said Preston.

I shrugged, considering it. “I don’t know. It could be hard to find somebody in time now. It’s so last-minute. I think we’re going to have to put an ad out in the paper and hope for the best. Maybe go through an agency if we absolutely have to, but… I’d prefer somebody we can approve of ourselves.”

“That would be my concern,” said Hale, wearing his serious hat for once. “We need somebody trustworthy, and also who understands that the place we’re going is not exactly safe. That they need to take any instructions we give them seriously.”

“We could interview for that,” I agreed, nodding. “Stone? Preston? What do you think?”

“The budget allows for it,” confirmed Stone, finally looking up from his cell phone screen. “We have a surplus. I think you’re right; I think it makes sense.”

“We’re going to have to be careful,” said Preston. “If they’re not a shifter. If they don’t know...”

“It wouldn’t be the first time we had to keep the secret,” Hale pointed out. “We could shift back before we got to the cabin every day.”

“Would it be harder to make sure we’re not followed, that way?” Preston folded his arms, brow furrowed in concentration as he tried to answer his own question. “I’m not against it. Just want to make sure we’re doing the right thing here.”

“Let’s think about it,” I suggested. “We can put out the ad and see who shows up to interview. Trust our instincts. If somebody fits, we’ll make it work. If they don’t…”

“We teach Hale how to follow a rota,” said Stone, dodging as Hale tried to swat his arm.

We had a plan. Now, it just remained to be seen whether it would actually work out for us or not — and if this was really a good idea.

Jessica

Isipped my coffee as I headed out of Starbucks, even though it was still a little too hot. The barista was so busy it appeared she would run off her feet, but she seemed to like her job a hell of a lot more than I liked mine. I checked my watch, picking up the pace to make sure I reached the station in time to catch the next train home.

---