She’d dropped by the healer’s house on her way home from her shift, hoping to grab a cup of coffee before she crashed for a few hours. It never kept her up, not after a late shift.
As it was, Tamsyn had not only given her coffee but made her scrambled eggs and bacon, then packed the muffins for her to take home. All while cheerfully managing the chaos that came with having to get her twin cubs ready for preschool on her own, since her mate hadn’t yet made it home from a night shift of his own. And that was before another DarkRiver soldier dropped by, a hopeful look on his face.
“Healers are flat-out amazing,” Desiree said to Mercy when the sentinel, who’d popped inside to grab a muffin, returned with one in hand. “She doesn’t blink an eye when we turn up for breakfast without warning, no matter if it’s two people or ten.”
“Healers love looking after and being surrounded by family.” Mercy took a bite, chewed, swallowed. “Remember that time when Nate took the boys out fishing and the pack thought we’d give Tammy a break and not bother her, give her the day to herself?”
“Man, she was mad.” Desiree had never seen Tamsyn so fired up. “I heard her ask Lucas if the pack would like to kick her heart some more.” Wincing, she shook her head. “I never want to make her mad again.”
They ate in companionable silence for several minutes.
“Don’t get me wrong,” Mercy said when Desiree had almost finished her muffin. “I think Felix is gorgeous and sweet, but you thought this through?”
Desiree put aside her near-empty plate, a sudden knot in her stomach. “My leopard likes him. The human half of me likes him just as much.”
“You know that might not be enough. Unless . . . is this a fling for you both? I didn’t get that vibe from Felix, but—”
“No.” Desiree curled her hands tightly over the edge of the porch. “No, he’s not the fling type.” He was too solid, too stable. “This is the start of a relationship.”
Mercy nodded, face solemn. “I’m not going to interfere. I know what it’s like to fall hard for a wolf.” A grin that made her eyes glow golden. “I just wanted you to know I’m here if you need to unload, or if you need to talk about the possible repercussions or road bumps.”
“Thanks.” Desiree appreciated the offer, aware Mercy understood the instincts of the leopard within her better than most. “The pack stuff—”
“Not an issue,” Mercy interrupted. “After me and Riley, Hawke and Lucas both agreed that the packmates in question can choose their allegiance, and that there’s no reason for either one to change packs if he or she doesn’t want to.”
That took one major worry off Desiree’s mind. She couldn’t imagine not being part of DarkRiver, and Felix was as attached to SnowDancer. “I just . . . I have no desire to hurt him. It would crush me if I did. I’m going into this with my heart wide open.”
Mercy didn’t say anything, but they both knew that wasn’t enough. Because they weren’t human, were changeling, their leopards an integral aspect of their nature. And while Desiree’s leopard liked Felix, enjoyed playing with him, for a dominant leopard female to mate, the leopard had to consider the male its match.
It infuriated Desiree that anyone might ever consider Felix “less” in any way, but she knew her leopard might end up being the worst offender. Because sometimes, the human heart didn’t win. Sometimes the untamed animal within made the choice and that choice could be a ruthless one that tore Felix and Desiree apart.
Chapter 5
Felix didn’t linger at the work site for the first time since the replanting had begun. Driving his trusty old truck to the den, one of the lieutenants in the passenger seat, and the flatbed filled with tired but raucous packmates arguing about the plays in a recent football game, he felt cautiously happy, excited.
Desiree had messaged him earlier that day to ask him out to dinner. It was stupid how happy that made him. Part of him had been prepared to hear from her only at night, in the context of intimate skin privileges. It would’ve been a kick to the gut and he’d have ended things then and there, regardless of how much he wanted her, but it would have also been a painfully expected thing.
A dinner invitation wasn’t.
Leopard females of Desiree’s