Page 79 of As The Shifter World Turns

Micah put both hands on his hips. “Do I look like a jogger? Unicorns don’t jog. They just don’t.”

I poked out my tongue. “Wolves don’t either.”

Pfft, my wolf replied whenever I mentioned jogging. He didn’t see the point of it.

Oh, shush you.

But my beast had taken a liking to Patch. He waited and watched the first few days after the puppy arrived in my life. Now he was a fan.

Our park had a running track around the small lake in the middle. It was more like a big pond, or even a large puddle, but we called it a lake. “Come on, angel,” I said to Patch. “Let’s get moving.” But half way around the circuit, I realized I’d made a mistake. The dizziness and nausea returned, and I stumbled. I wasn’t at home with Micah to look after me but in public and responsible for a puppy.

I held the leash tight but darkness was closing in until it became a pinprick and everything went black.

There was a wet tongue licking my cheek and a familiar aroma, hovering over me. But not Micah. A shifter though.

“Archer.”

“Mmmm.”

“It’s Daire. Don’t sit up. You fainted and I’m worried you might have bumped your head.”

“I have health insurance,” I mumbled.

“I know. Micah told me. Paramedics are on their way.”

My next thought was what had happened to my dog. “Patch.”

“He’s here.” Oh right. That was the wet tongue. “I’ll keep him with me until you get home.”

Micah arrived as the paramedics did and I wished I could wipe away the worry etched on his face. “I’m fine,” I tried to convince him.

“You’re not fine.”

Micah repeated those words to the doctorin the ER. “He’s not fine. He's been running himself ragged with work, volunteering, worrying about his parents plus he has a new puppy.”

After the doctor examined me, he said, “Your friend’s correct. You’re okay and you don’t have a concussion. I suspect you’re exhausted but I would like to run some tests.

“Please not today. I just want to go home.”

The doctor’s eyes darted to Micah. The ER was crowded and I doubted he was in the mood for an argument. “Come back on Monday morning or make an appointment with your own doctor.”

“I will.”

“I’ll make sure of it,” Micah chimed in.

Neil

Can I borrow that detective novel? The one you were talking about last week?

I read Archer’s text and got the book off the shelf. Micah was keeping him home for the rest of the weekend after the fainting incident.

Sure. But can Micah come and get it? I’m about to start work.

I wasn’t shy about showing how I dressed for the clients in front of my friends at Sunshine Manor but I liked quiet time before filming. Though we had a new tenant, Martin and his son Toby and they knew nothing about my job. But they’d been keeping to themselves what with work and school and Toby’s after-school activities. Martin and I hadn’t spoken at soccer since the park incident, merely nodded at one another in passing.

The knock at the door had me hurrying to open it, the book in my hand, and I barely glanced at Micah as I gave it to him and made to close the door and lock it.

“Neil?”

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