Reese (Pack of Misfits #2) - Raven Kennedy Page 0,8

handiwork, I see.”

I stare at him unblinkingly, trying to gauge his mood. My rat watches him with wariness. I just got caught red-handed. If he’s a territorial shifter, this could get ugly. But luckily, he’s not squeezing me or growling or yelling. In fact, his mouth kicks up on one side like he’s trying to suppress a smile.

“You know, if you were hard up for lug nuts, you could’ve just asked,” he says as he lifts up the empty chain in his other hand.

He eyes the lug nut where it’s gripped in my hands and shoved partway into my mouth. I accidentally drool a little since it’s pressing hard against my tongue. My drool lands on his palm. Dude doesn’t even flinch.

“Can I have that back?” he asks with a smirk.

I startle at that question. Have it back? Yeah, that’s not happening. It’s in my mouth. On my tongue, covered in my spit. That’s basically the same thing as licking it, so that makes it mine. I have it on good authority that’s how things work.

The man has three other lug nuts. Surely he doesn’t need to be greedy?

As if he’s taking my stillness for a yes, he opens his palm, letting me stand freely on it, and then starts reaching for the metal with his other hand.

Finally shocked out of my stupor enough to listen to my flee instincts, I squeak in alarm and scramble away. Before he can grab a hold of me again, I go racing up his arm and shoulder, and then jump off, all four limbs out in full flying squirrel mode again.

I do a very impressive tuck and roll and land very nicely on my feet, but unfortunately, I drop my lug nut.

I race for it as it rolls beneath the couch, catching it once more. I clamp the thing in my mouth. Damn, it’s heavier than I realized.

But I will not be deterred.

Creeping out from under the couch, I spot the male shifter standing there with his arms crossed, smirking at me.

Slowly, he kneels down and holds out his hand. “You gonna give that to me now?”

I blink at him—all innocent like. Like I’ve suddenly changed my ways. My rat puts on her whole Oh, I’m just a sweet rat, look at my cute whiskers and my adorable eyes act.

“That’s it,” he coos as I start to slowly pad over to him, the lug nut still secure in my mouth. “Good girl.” I want to snort, but I manage to suppress it.

Right as I make it to the edge of his outstretched fingertips, he thinks he’s got me. I can see it in the satisfied gleam in his brown eyes.

But that’s when I make my move. Turning a sharp ninety-degree angle on my hind legs, I zoom past him, faster than he can react.

I run across the floor towards the stairs, the lug nut dragging slightly. “Hey! Get back here!”

Haha, sucker!

I sprint towards the stairs and up the little ramp as fast as my legs will carry me.

I make it all the way up to the top without his pursuit, but I swear, I hear him laugh quietly. By the time I’m back in Addie’s room, I’m panting like a dog in the summer heat. I race over to my cage and bury myself under the wood shavings inside.

Son of a nest breaker, that was intense.

I inwardly berate myself. I shouldn’t have done that. I just broke apart his necklace and stole from him. A male shifter, no less. Rick Dick would’ve skinned me alive for that.

I drop the lug nut and stare at it, running my hands over it lovingly. I wait a few more minutes, hiding, just to make sure the male shifter won’t come up here and try to take it back from me. To my shock and luck, he never comes, and I’m able to relax.

When I’m calmed down enough, I roll it over to the end of my cage, where I’ve already stacked some other pieces that I managed to chew off my toys. I put my treasure right in the center, and it damn well gleams. My nose twitches in satisfaction.

That male shifter might be totally pissed, but damn, this lug nut looks amazing in my nest.

Worth it.

4

Reese

That male is strange.

For the last five nights, I’ve snuck out of Addie’s room when everyone is asleep and gone downstairs. And every single time, there’s been something waiting for me on the top of the coffee table. I know