Page 75 of As The Shifter World Turns

Martin tore across the road in front of a car that slammed on its brakes and wrapped his arms around his son as he panted. His cheeks were wet with tears and he hugged Toby as Daire came and stood beside me. “What’s our rule?”

Toby hung his head. “You always have to know where I am.”

“Right.” Martin closed his eyes and then kissed the top of his son’s head. “Daire, can you walk Toby home, please.”

What had I done? I was so wrapt up in Archer’s new puppy and myself, I hadn’t thought to find out if Toby had asked his dad’s permission. And now Martin was going to shout at me. And maybe forbid me from seeing Toby. My world was crashing down around me as the bubble of anxiety exploded.

“And Patch. Patch can come too, right, Dad?”

“Yes.” Martin waited until they’d crossed the road. “He’s a kid, Neil, but you’re the adult.” This was worse than shouting.

The disappointment in his voice stabbed at me. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t think.”

“You have no idea what ran through my head when I couldn’t find him.” His voice had a hint of steel to it. “He is my everything,” and he strode off.

I collapsed onto the bench howling, withno Patch to comfort me. Just me in the big open space. Alone. But Daire must have told Ivor and Archer because they arrived and held me until the tears stopped flowing.

28

AND ALPHAHOLE OF THE WEEK GOES TO…

Micah

I’d wanted Archer to stay with me, but I didn’t want it to be because Daire had company, which the grizzly did this evening. I wanted it to be so he could be close to me or because he wanted my face to be the first thing he saw in the morning. Basically, I wanted everything even though I couldn’t give him everything.

Which made me the alphahole.

And I hated it. But also, I was too weak to do anything different.

“Come in.” I called from the kitchen sink where I was cleaning some veggies for dinner. I’d have offered to go on a date had it not been for Patch. The little pup might be the cutest thing ever, but he was like that cartoon character that twirled around really fast and next thing you knew the room was a mess. There was no way I would leave him in the apartment alone for even half a second.

“Can you get it?” Archer called from the other side.

I turned off the water and grabbed the towel on my way to the door. Archer was standing there, the dog in a carrier, a dog bed under one arm and a huge bag of I didn’t know what in the other.

“Did you remember your clothes?” I teased, grabbing the bed from him.

“Shit.” He held out the bag. “Here. I’ll be back.”

I left the door open for him and brought the dog things inside… after I watched his sexy ass walking away.

No part of me was thrilled with the whole dog thing. Part of me said it wasn’t my business. He didn’t live in my apartment and if he wanted a pet, heshould have one. But then that turned into a he-isn’t-planning-to-live-with-me-ever kind of scenario.

I set the bed down near the couch and put the bag of toys beside it.

They say you should wash your veggies after you cut them when making a stir fry but I’d never been able to bring myself to do that. Once they were washed I began the task of cutting them. I figured stir fry would be a good option because I could make one with meat and one without.

“Clothes!” He came back in victorious and shut the door behind him. “Do you mind if I let Patch down?”

Did I? Sort of, but also he couldn’t carry him around all the time. I didn’t know a lot about dogs, I got the impression from the little guy's paws that he wasn’t going to be little for long.

“That’s fine. Dinner will be ready soon,” I promised. “Stir Fry.”

“I can help.” He unclipped the dog carrier.

“You're full of dog fur.” I made a face. That was one of the many reasons I wasn’t a huge dog fan. “I’ve got it.”

I chopped away pulling out my best chef techniques which were basically equivalent to don’t cut off your finger.

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