Page 55 of Moon Tamed

I set up a bulk print job, went over my list of contacts to deal with the papers, and made a note for my primary report that Moonriver needed a better emergency management system.

No single faction could handle such a disaster, yet the Hunters of Moonriver did their best to rise to the challenge, refusing to accept defeat.

No wonder Calden wanted his father to retire. The level of work could drive anyone mad, especially without the appropriate support staff and masterful levels of delegation.

I doubted an entire army of helpers could get the job done, but I took the time to text Sila with a recommendation that any faction signing up to serve in such a capacity would have a system in place to handle widespread disasters.

Her reply confirmed things were busy at the temp firm, too, and that the Hunters had gotten to me at a good time. Overtime was plentiful, but stress levels had spiked to an all-time high with no end in sight.

I shook my head, questioned everything, and did my best to restore order in a sea of chaos.

“If I don’t get out of here, I’ll go mad,” Calden announced, poking his head into my office. So absorbed in conquering the thousands of pieces of paper taking over my desk, I hadn’t heard him open the door. He contained the furry beasts with his foot, transforming himself into a toy for their amusement. “The vets are here for the cats, and they have your training schedule with them. Starting tonight, they have their own home in our fledgling menagerie. They finished their habitat ahead of schedule.”

I would miss the furballs, but I also valued everything I owned, and they’d gotten big enough their claws could do some serious damage.

My desk would never be the same, nor would my chair, which had numerous claw and bite marks on the legs.

They particularly enjoyed hunting the wheels.

“Do I have the beleaguered look of a kitten mother yet?” I asked, staring at him with wide eyes.

“Close enough.” Calden got out of the way of the vets, who swooped in and claimed the animals without any fanfare or delays. They even took care of the litter box, taking the whole shebang out with them. It took two trips for them to empty my office of evidence the cheetahs had occupied the space. Once gone, Calden regarded my desk with interest. “It didn’t take long for them to start destroying things.”

“It didn’t take long for them to become a serious concern for any flesh in their reach, and they have not left the playing phase.”

“You weren’t scratched or bitten, were you?”

“No, I wasn’t. I was careful to make sure they assaulted each other rather than me. I value my flesh. I am the apex predator of this office. They’re just secondary predators. Well, for the moment. Give them a few months, and then they will rule the faction.”

“I owe you at least three dinners, by the way.”

“Why?”

“Dad had his pillow in his office, and after Sarai chased me across several floors, I tried to get my hands on it so I could take a nap. Dad stopped me all three times I tried. He did not have his other pillow with him.”

“Obviously, you need to bring your own pillow with you when you’re trying to sleep on the job.” I laughed at the thought of the woman running Calden ragged. “She likes the bunnies?”

“She’s in love with them, and she’s grateful she can have them at work. Her home life wouldn’t let her have any there, apparently.”

“Oh?”

“The few times she babbled semi-coherently, her landlord doesn’t allow animals. He made an exception for cats and dogs from Earth, but it’s only temporary. He considers rabbits and bunnies to be pests, so it wasn’t an option. That’s why she’s extra excited.”

“How did you escape?”

“She went to the grocery store to get a feast for her new bunnies, toys, and everything they might need that we hadn’t provided. She has decided she will be the best bunny mother to walk the planet. Everyone else is laughing at me. Every time I escape her, she finds me after twenty minutes and gushes. Again. The bunnies were a peace offering, but I’m the one who is under fire now.”

“I’m sure she’ll calm down soon. So, your father caught you three times trying to steal his pillow?”

“I was going to sneak into his closet or hide under his desk, but he didn’t let me do that, either. I almost shifted, but then my father reminded me every woman in the office wants to pet the wolves when the wolves come out.”

I thought about it, and after a moment, I had to concede. “If allowed, I definitely would have petted your father while he was a wolf.”

“You’ll get plenty of time to pet wolves when we go camping. Dad and I both escape from the world for a while and hunt while wolves.”

I couldn’t blame them, and I understood why someone might want to become a shapeshifter. If I could become a wolf, I would escape from reality fairly often, retreating to the wild places outside of the city to hunt rabbits, be free, and enjoy ditching the responsibilities humans subjected themselves to. I’d also be able to find out if curling up in front of a fireplace as a wolf was anywhere near as comfortable as it looked.

“That’s something. You should challenge my brother for more time, because I’m not sure the current number of weeks will fill my need to pet furry beings I probably should not be petting.”

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