Page 31 of Mike's Assistant

What the hell? “Mike,” I whispered. “Are you okay?”

“Everything’s fine, my mate, don’t be afraid,” he replied, his voice sounding not his own but rough and wild. Even though he said not to be afraid, my heart raced. I didn’t know what was going on.

Mike squeezed his eyes close and shook his head. With a sound somewhere between a growl and a roar, Mike’s body began to change. Mike’s muscles expanded, clothes ripped apart, and in mere seconds, where the man I’d spent an unforgettable weekend with once stood, a massive African lion with a lush black-brown mane took his place.

Panic surged through me. I dropped my phone, the sound echoing loudly in the tense silence. That creature was undoubtedly majestic, gorgeous even, but also undeniably dangerous. Its large teeth gleamed menacingly, and those golden eyes were fixed intently on me.

Mike—or what used to be Mike—shook his massive head, his thick mane flowing in a wild cascade of lustrous black and brown hair. He let loose another roar, the sound echoing throughout the room, sending vibrations through my very core. I trembled, understanding now what truly made the lion the king of the beasts.

The lion’s muscles flexed beneath a tawny fur, shimmering from the room’s ambient light. Its eyes, once familiar, now bore into me with a golden intensity that was both captivating and terrifying. Its tail flicked, thumping rhythmically against the floor. Each of the lion’s paws was larger than my hand. I knew all it had to do was slash at me, and I’d be done for under those massive claws.

The lion took a step forward, and I instinctively stepped back. My eyes darted around the room, frantically searching for an escape. But the lion, in its immense size and newfound dominance, blocked the main exit. As it took another deliberate step, the gravity of my situation became all too clear.

Driven by pure adrenaline and survival instinct, I turned and bolted for the nearest escape—the executive bathroom. Slamming the door behind me and locking it as quickly as my trembling hands would allow, I pressed myself against the sturdy barrier, my heart pounding loudly.

A heavy thump against the door jolted me from my thoughts. The lion was outside, threatening to shatter the thin barrier between us. My breath caught in my throat, and for a moment, the room seemed to close in on me.

Tears streamed down my face as the crushing weight of reality bore down. I was trapped, and the fear that this could be my end overpowered me. I was helpless to do anything.

With my back against the door, I tried to grasp the reality of the situation. Mike—or the man I thought I knew as Mike—was now a colossal lion, a force of nature, just beyond this fragile barrier. The weight of fear pressed down on me, but amidst that fear, a burning need to understand gnawed at my mind.

Locked Doors and Broken Hearts

Mike

The chill of the air conditioning against my exposed skin replaced the thick fur of my lion. With every labored breath, the realization of my transformation and what had just happened smacked me in the face.

I sat up, feeling the coldness of the room. The remnants of my shredded clothes were scattered around the office, and I trembled, knowing what I’d done.

The naked truth of my existence was out. Jake now knew I wasn’t human. I ran a shaky hand through my now human hair, trying to calm the frantic beating of my heart.

“What have I done?” The words were a whisper, a plea, and a lament. They escaped my lips, bearing the weight of all the secrets I’d kept hidden.

The pained cries echoing from the other side of the bathroom door pierced through my chest sharper than any claw or knife ever could. Jake, the one with whom I was meant to be, was now trapped in fear—of me.

I pushed myself up, and my mind raced. How had I let this happen? The bond, connection, and feelings had all been so powerful, so overwhelmingly intense. I’d lost myself in it, allowing the lion within to break free, and in the process, I’d shattered the fragile trust that had been building between Jake and myself.

Tears stung my eyes, but I blinked them back. I had to make things right, to explain, to apologize… to hope that Jake might somehow, someday, understand.

Drawing a deep breath, I slowly approached the bathroom door. “Jake?” My voice was choked with emotion. “It’s me, Mike. Please, let me explain.” I prayed he would listen.

“Leave me alone! Go away,” came Jake’s fragile cry.

It broke my heart. I placed my hand on the wooden door and bowed my head as tears streaked down my cheeks.

Heaving a deep breath, I turned toward my desk and picked up my phone. I needed help. If Jake wouldn’t listen to me, hopefully, he’d listen to someone else. I quickly dialed the number.

“Hi, Mike! Got you on speaker. I’m with Hayden,” Vanessa’s cheery voice answered.

“Hey, Bro. Vanessa’s catching us up on you and your mate. Heard you guys had a great weekend,” Hayden said.

The weekend. It felt like millennia ago. If only I could go back in time to the weekend.

“What plans do you have tonight? Are you going to see my little men? I love Abel and Sam. They’re great,” Vanessa said.

“I need… help.” The words barely passed my lips. My tears were coming hard now.

“Mike,” Hayden and Vanessa said simultaneously. “What’s wrong?”

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