Page 3 of Briggs
I took another deep breath, getting a whiff of the scents of the reopened bakery. I liked a good cookie every now and then, and pie was my absolute favorite, but I wasn’t like some of the enforcers who could eat entire meals full of sweets. Give me a good slab of meat, followed up with half of a pie for dessert, and I was a happy wolf.
As I walked around the council building, I caught the scent of something I’d smelled before. I wasn’t sure what it was, but every time I’d scented it, my wolf had taken notice. He verymuch enjoyed whatever it was, but I’d never been able to find it. Every time I’d come back after work in my wolf form, the scent had always been gone. It wasn’t that I was terrible at tracking, but the scent was simply gone by then.
It didn’t take long to get to my place since I was in the front row of houses on the far left. The scents inside my place were different than outside, and familiar. I had collected some things since joining the council, but I didn’t have a whole lot when compared to others. I didn’t need much. I had a place to sleep, somewhere to eat, and was able to watch television. Not that I did a whole lot of that. I spent a lot of my free time in my wolf form, exploring the mountain. It was something that my wolf enjoyed, and overall, it made me happier. It wasn’t like I had anything else to do.
It only took ten or so minutes for me to transfer the items from my small bag to the larger one and add enough stuff for the rest of the trip. Of course, now that I was bringing enough for two weeks, we would only be gone for a few days. It wasn’t as if it made any difference for Carrington. Or Damien, for that matter. Either one of them could handle the entire team, as well as all of our luggage. I slung my bag over my shoulder and headed back to the council building.
Once outside and partway to the council building again, I picked up on that other scent that always caught my wolf’s attention. I would be long gone this afternoon, just as I knew the scent would be. Perhaps at some point, my wolf and I would discover what exactly it was that kept grabbing his attention. Not today though.
After signing back in with Slater, who just shook his head at me, I went to the cafeteria, where I found Carrington sitting with Felix. The two seemed to be deep in conversation, and I didn’t want to interrupt whatever they were discussing. Although I tried to go to the other side of the cafeteria to wait, it was too lateas the warlock had seen me. He waved me over, which grabbed Felix’s attention as well.
I nodded at Carrington, and after I crossed the cafeteria, I heard what they were talking about: magical abilities. I couldn’t really contribute to that conversation, but I could certainly listen. I sat beside Felix, who offered me a beaming smile. Whatever had been discussed since I’d seen him not long ago seemed to have improved his mood.
“Since we’re the only ones that are single, you might as well join us,” Carrington said. “The others are probably going to be a bit longer since they have someone to say goodbye to. Not that I’m begrudging them their time with their mates. I’m not.”
I nodded in agreement. “There always has to be a last one. Which of us do you think will find our mate first?” I asked Felix. We were the last two on our team to find mates, and although I wouldn’t say no to one, I honestly wasn’t expecting to be that lucky.
“Yeah, not me. I’m not really looking for a mate,” Felix said. “I’m not sure I want everything that goes with that. I don’t have anywhere to go if I do, and I don’t have a whole lot of money saved up just yet.”
Carrington and I looked at Felix like he had two heads. “You do know you can live in mated enforcer housing as well, right?” he asked.
“Yeah, sure. But I don’t have a whole lot of funds. I get it, I have magic to provide, but that’s not the same. I’m only twenty-two. And although I’m getting up there in years when it comes to fae finding their mates, I’m not nearly ready for the responsibilities that come with it.”
Carrington stared at Felix for a moment before he turned his eyes my way. I shrugged. When exactly did fae mate? I’d never really thought to ask, but if twenty-two was getting up there, then did they all find their mates right after they came of age?
Chapter 2
Todd
Ididn’t know if or when I would ever get used to sleeping in a house that was my own—well, on loan to me for as long as I wanted. But it was certainly a far cry from the cage I’d spent several years in. Although, sadly, even that cage had been a welcome sight at times.
I sat up in my bed and looked over toward the door, then over at the dresser that was on the other side of the room. That was a new thing for me. Living on my own had provided a measure of relief that I hadn’t realized I needed. Gone was the fear that I would inadvertently cause harm to one of my housemates. I couldn’t harm them if I no longer lived with them.
I understood the need for us all to be together in the same house when we all first arrived, but when I’d been offered a place of my own, I was more than ready to take it. Only Banner ever knew that I felt the need to barricade myself in my room and often did. Well, and Dr. Swift. He had started working on that with me during therapy sessions a little over six months ago, and I finally felt comfortable enough to not have to block myself inside my bedroom at night.
I still woke up in my cheetah form sometimes but always curled up on my bed. That in itself was an improvement thateven Dr. Swift said wasn’t anything to worry about too much. I would probably always worry about how I was doing when I woke up not in the form I went to bed in. This morning was a good morning, though, because here I was: two legs and feet and arms and hands.
I tossed the covers back and headed for the bathroom across the hall. First stop, the shower to turn the water on so it could warm up. After that was accomplished, I emptied my bladder and brushed my teeth. I missed my morning runs with Banner, but with him working in the bakery now, he was already at work by the time I needed to be at work.
I sighed. I was surprised that Dr. King hadn’t booted me from my job. I knew he adored Cecil, and I didn’t blame him. Cecil was amazing at the job, and he ran the omega clinic like it was a breeze. I didn’t blame him for not coming back to work though. He had enough going on with his new mate and twins. Well, they’d been mated for almost a year now, and their twins were going to be turning one later this fall. They were the cutest, and I couldn’t help but smile when Cecil stopped into the clinic to say hello.
Not wanting to go too far down that path of thoughts this morning, I shook my head and stepped into the shower. After spending so much time in a cage without even the basic amenities, I tended to take too long in the shower. I couldn’t help it; the water felt too amazing.
After spending more time than I really had, I finally turned off the water and climbed out of the shower. The clock on the wall told me I had to be at work in twenty minutes, so that meant I needed to hurry my behind along.
I finger combed my hair, then went back to my bedroom and threw on a polo and a pair of clean jeans. Luckily for me, Dr. King didn’t mind if I wore jeans or slacks. He just wanted me to look like I at least tried to look put together. I shoved my feetinto my shoes, reaching down to pull the heels out after they folded down. I knew better, but I’d taken too long in the shower, and now I was going to have to rush.
I grabbed my phone, then left the bedroom. I groaned when I saw that my coffeepot hadn’t brewed. That was my fault, and I knew it. I’d forgotten to set it up last night. I’d spent too much time running in my cheetah form, and when I’d gotten home, I was simply too tired. I’d showered and then fallen into bed face-first.
I pulled my phone out of my pocket and fired off a text to Banner. Hopefully, he could hook me up.
Me: I messed up. I forgot to set up my coffeepot. Can you make me up a coffee and throw something to eat in a bag for me? I’m way late for work.
Banner:
Me: Really? Never mind. I’ll ask Dr. King if I can run to the cafeteria.
My phone pinged again before I could put it back in my pocket.
