Page 23 of Gavin

She rubbed her cheek on his biceps, which she was using for a pillow. “Do tigers fight for ranks like wolves do?”

“Only males are ranked,” he said, stifling a yawn. “After their first shift as a teen, they join as the lowest rank and learn to fight in their shift. When Midas thinks they’re ready, he’ll observe their training and decide where they would be a good fit and have them fight for a rank position. When I shifted at sixteen, it was a year before I was ready to rank fight, and I fought about ten positions up from the bottom. I moved up a few positions each full moon. I got to where I am now a few years ago and I’m happy. Enough responsibility to keep me busy but not so much that I’m constantly dealing with pride issues.”

“That sounds perfect.”

“You looked a little sad when I was telling you about my life. What were you thinking?”

“You might think I’m nuts.”

“Never.”

She pressed her lips together and stared at him in the darkness of the master bedroom. They’d already shared the most intimate of things, so why was she so worried to give him a peek into her mind?

“I’ve been told for years that I’m a walking curse. I don’t feel sorry for myself because you had a great family life and childhood, I just…wish things had been different for me.”

His face softened and he gave her a gentle kiss. “I don’t think you’re cursed, and I don’t understand an alpha who would believe that either. Fur color is genetic and out of our controlanyway, it’s like holding someone accountable for having blue eyes instead of brown. I know you’ve got a history of being told you’re bad luck, but I think you’re perfect. I love your fur color and you’re gorgeous in your human form. The silver lining of your alpha being an asshole is that it brought us together.”

“That’s a good point,” she said.

“Hell yeah, it is. I do make them from time to time.”

She grinned.

There was a loud knock at the front door followed by, “Hello! It’s me, Alli.”

They slipped from the bed and dressed, her in the borrowed T-shirt, which was just long enough to cover her butt, and hurried to the front door.

Gavin opened the door and Sadie smiled at the angel. “Hey, thanks for coming.”

“You bet,” she said, stepping inside. “Sorry it took me so long. I stopped at my apartment to get the rest of your things.”

She handed over her purse and bag, where she’d stashed the clothes she’d left at the alphas’ house. “Oh, thank you! You didn’t have to do that.”

“I figured you wouldn’t want to have make a trip to my place right now, so it was no big deal, I promise.”

Gavin grabbed her things from Alli and carried them into the bedroom. Sadie and Alli sat in the family room.

“Can I borrow your phone? I need to write down Mom’s number and yours too, of course.”

“Sure thing,” she said.

Gavin walked into the room and handed his phone to Sadie. “I’ll take you out later today and get you a phone of your own.”

“That would be great, thanks.”

“You want anything to drink, Alli?”

“I’m good.”

Gavin leaned over and kissed Sadie on the cheek. “I’ll be in the bedroom so you two can talk.”

She smiled at him and watched him leave, then turned to Alli with a grin.

“Holy shit, girl,” Alli whispered. “A tiger for a truemate! Be still my beating heart. How the hell did you even find him?”

Sadie told her the whole story, except for the part where they’d had sex on the chair because they couldn’t keep their hands off each other.

“That’s so awesome, I’m happy for you. Your mom will be too.”

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