Page 13 of Hellcat

The main door burst open, and a handful of kids rushed out, laughing as they all ran toward her. A young girl almost as tall as her, wearing boots, tight leather pants, and a shredded t-shirt despite the cool weather, reached her first, and touched her shoulder.

"Tag!" she yelled, before fist-pumping the air. "Oh yeah," she danced around a little. "Got her first."

Another kid, a boy around ten years old, sighed dramatically. "It's not fair. You got longer legs."

"Whatever. I tagged Tania, I get to show her around."

She grinned at her. "Come on in! Ian can't leave the kitchen 'cause he's making cheese soufflés, and no one wants him to mess those up. Wait, is that a cat in your car!"

All the kids surrounded the beetle, peeking through the windows. "Awww, she's adorable."

Tania had set up Princess' litter box in the trunk, and had removed the back seats to give her some room.

"She's an indoor cat," Tania explained. "They're very territorial, and she might freak if we let her out."

"She wouldn't," one of the children stated with a shrug. "Not with Ace around. Ace is a cat whisperer."

"That's because she's a cat," said the youngest, a small, ridiculously adorable girl wearing a pink penguin onesie.

"Enough of that, Lola. Y'all let the poor girl breathe."

The voice had so much authority Tania half considered saluting, bowing, or something. She turned toward the house, to find a short brunette watching her. She had a toddler on her hip and there was absolutely nothing about her that should have seemed threatening.

Tania blinked. Then she lowered her head, staring at her shoes. She couldn't even help herself.

The brunette smirked. "Well, aren't you interesting." The brunette strode forward, crossing the distance between them. Tania wished she didn't. Each time she stepped closer, she felt a little more aware of the woman. Aware that she wasn't...well, normal. Regular. This was a shifter, no doubt, but not like Ian or the other shifters she'd come across in her life.

Tania knew the term. She was in front of a born alpha.

The woman extended her free hand. Tania shook it, still unable to meet her eyes.

"Ace," she said. "Aisling Wayland-Cross."

"Oh. Tania Martin."

"Nice to meet you. And chill, Tania Martin. I only hunt enemies."

That wasn't exactly reassuring, somehow. Tania took it for what it was: a warning. If she proved to be an enemy, this woman wouldn't hesitate to...hunt her.

Holy fuck, she was way over her head.

"My, that is a beauty."

Glancing up, she found the alpha staring at Princess. The Bengal stood on her back legs, paws extended on the window, and stared right back at her. Hell, her cat had more guts than she did. Tania felt even stupider.

"Do you mind if we let her out? She won't run or feel stressed here."

Tania nodded. "Sure, that'd be great. She's used to more space than that."

The alpha female smiled kindly. The moment she opened the door, the traitorous cat leaped in the air to curl up right between the alpha's chest and her baby's. "I can tell she's very spoiled. And she loves you."

Tania chuckled, saying, "Apparently, she loves you more."

The alpha shook her head. "No, that's not love. That's submission. Come on in, everyone. Tania is freezing."

Chapter 10

As promised, the teenager who introduced herself as Niamh showed her around the house. Tania was secretly glad that Ace left them to it, heading to her office once they got inside.

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