Page 1 of Pack Scratch Fever
1
PIPER
I’m late today.
My alarm didn’t go off, so I didn’t have much time to get ready. I threw on an old sweatshirt, made a crappy cup of coffee, and headed half-asleep to the building I stay in more than my own apartment.
I push open the front door to our rescue with one shoulder, my purse slung on the other and my tumbler of iced coffee in my hand. The little bell above the door jingles, and Alvin, our resident tabby cat, perks up his head from the front counter when he sees me.
“You’re late,” Blair, my coworker and best friend comments, raising an eyebrow. She absentmindedly pets Alvin, who nuzzles his head into her palm.
“Sure am,” I confirm, heading behind the reception desk to drop my purse next to the computer. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me, honestly.”
I usually don’t have problems waking up, but recently, I’ve been sleeping through my alarms.
Blair grumbles to herself while scratching Alvin’s ear. “And you’re super minty, too,” she sighs.
I grimace and log into my computer. “Yeah. I know.”
As if on cue, Alvin rushes from Blair to me, managing to squish all twenty pounds of himself into my lap.
There could be worse things than smelling like catmint, I suppose. The combination of lemon and mint blends well with most environments and isn’t as jarring as some of the powderier aromas.
I’m perfuming like crazy this morning, my Omega scent wafting throughout the building.
At least all the cats will be in a good mood.
“You can’t be mad at me,” I insist, shooting her a smirk. “I’m your favorite.”
She rolls her eyes. “Yeah, yeah,” she says. She’s not really mad; I can tell.
It’s hard to stay annoyed at each other here, when there are four-legged creatures always demanding love and attention.
Furs and Purrs Rescueis one of the most popular cat rescues in the country, thanks to my and Blair’s constant social media updates. Video edits of our kittens have gone viral numerous times, and we do our best to stay connected to the local community.
Alvin is also a fan favorite, and we have locals come in just to say hello to him and give him a pet.
Also, it doesn’t hurt that the organization is run by two Omegas.
It’s both a blessing and a curse.
Blair and I are the faces of the rescue, and most of our volunteers happen to be Omegas, as well.
We didn’t even mean for it to happen—it justdid, and suddenly, we’re having adoptions and donations from all over the world.
We also have our fair share of pests, and by pests, I mean Alphas that have no intention of adopting kittens and want to just come in and chat.
But once Alvin hisses at them, they get the hint and go on their way.
“You’re going to attract themalltoday,” Blair groans. “Seriously, have you taken your suppressants?”
I gape at her. “Of course I did.”
She looks around, her blue eyes surveying the building, then lowers her voice, even though it’s just us. “And your last Heat?”
I scowl. “You already know.” My face burns with shame.
Why would she ask such a ridiculous question?
