Page 47 of Mike's Assistant

“Is it okay they know?” He asked, biting his lip.

I rose to my feet. “It’s fine. They would’ve found out, eventually. I wouldn’t keep it a secret from them. They are important to my lion, just like you are.” I smiled. “Besides, it went better than I expected.”

Jake laughed. “Yeah, they didn’t freak out like their big brother. Oh, to have the mind of a child.”

“You handled it fine. Kids often can adjust to the supernatural more easily than adults. If I didn’t know about shifters, I think I’d have acted like you,” I said.

“Thanks for saying that,” Jake replied. “We better get ready to swim, Scruffy.”

Laughing, I hugged Jake. “I’ll let you change first. You already got a free show.”

Jake joined in and laughed. “How about we change together?”

I nodded in agreement. Today was going to turn out to be a great day.

Swimming with Lions

Jake

Watching Mike, a blend of awe and amusement washed over me. Sam playfully tugged on his tail while Abel, in his typical fearless fashion, rode triumphantly atop Mike's broad back. Their infectious laughter echoed around Hayden’s pool, harmonizing with the rhythmic splash of water. At that moment, the massive, majestic lion before me was more lamb than predator, and the surreal, heartwarming scene tugged at my heartstrings.

“God, it’s been years since I’ve seen Mike this way.”

Startled, I looked up to find Vanessa approaching. “What brings you here?”

She flashed a familiar smile, settling onto the lounger beside me. “Dad mentioned you and Mike were taking a break today. Thought I’d offer to babysit the boys again.”

Raising an eyebrow, I retorted, “By babysitting, you mean have them babysit you, right? Last night, you crashed while they binged on video games.”

Rolling her eyes, she replied, “That’s different. I had a long day.”

Chuckling, I nodded towards the pool, where another burst of laughter erupted. “No worries. Seems they’ve found entertainment with our life-sized Scruffy.”

“That's adorable. Bet Abel loves him,” she remarked, her eyes following the boys.

I was about to reply but paused. The light atmosphere shifted, and the laughter and splashing abruptly ceased. Following the boys' gaze, I saw them looking at Vanessa, fear clear in their wide eyes. Sam quickly moved, shielding Mike with his body. “You won’t tell!” he shouted defiantly with arms spread wide. Abel quickly echoed his brother's sentiment. “Leave Scruffy alone, Nessa.”

Realizing their fear, I tried to reassure them. “It’s okay. Vanessa knows about Mike. She won’t harm him.”

Both boys hesitated, their eyes darting between Vanessa and me. “You promise?” Sam's voice quivered.

But before I could reply, Vanessa interrupted, “Not just Mike.” With that, she sprinted towards the pool. Mid-leap, her clothes seemed to dissolve as she transformed seamlessly into a lioness, her transition even more fluid than Mike's.

The boys' reactions were instantaneous. Their earlier fear was replaced by pure awe. “Look, it's Nala from The Lion King!” Sam cheered, diving into the water towards her.

While Sam and Abel excitedly swam around Vanessa, captivated by her lioness form, I watched with a smile, relieved by their quick acceptance. But out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Mike's large frame climbing out of the pool. He moved with the quiet grace that only a predator could possess. Even in his lion form, every step, every motion, was a testament to his controlled power.

I sensed his approach, and just as I was about to greet him, he gave a mighty shake, sending droplets of water flying in every direction. I was instantly drenched, water dripping down my face and clothes.

Mike seemed to find it extremely amusing, letting out a deep, throaty chuff that I recognized as his version of a chuckle. "Really, Mike?" I exclaimed, brushing water out of my eyes.

His eyes twinkled with mischief as he sat down, appearing all too pleased with himself. For a moment, he looked like an overgrown cat that had just knocked a vase off a shelf–utterly unapologetic.

Chuckling, I said, "You realize I'll get you back for that, right?"

Mike responded with another chuff, nudging me gently with his nose, his whiskers tickling my skin.

Another laugh from the pool sounded. Vanessa played chase with the boys, darting in and out of the water. Her lioness form was a perfect contrast of ferocity and tenderness. Their shrieks of laughter filled the air, punctuated by her playful growls.

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