Chapter two

Zander

Iwatch as the human who found us places us gently on his bed. I heard his friend call him Ronny. My true mate's name is Ronny. I'm still having a hard time wrapping my head around this whole situation.

He's brought us to an RV, which is a strange way to live. Though, I can't really judge, thinking back to what I've just escaped from. This is a vast improvement.

JJ stretches out beside me, letting out the most adorable yawn. More and more I'm glad I finally made that decision to get the fuck out.

I take in a deep breath, getting hit full force with Ronny's scent while we're laying in his bed. Fuck. It's the most perfect scent that I've ever experienced. It's lemony and bright and all things good in the world. I take a step out of his hoodie just so I can bury my face in his sheets, rubbing myself against his scent to let it wash all over me. I should be embarrassed but there's something about being in this form that lets my inhibitions be more carefree. Ronny thinks I'm a cat and a cat would rub themselves against these soft sheets.

"Make yourself at home," he says with a wide smile, rubbing the top of my head. I lean into his touch, wishing I could shift into my human form and hug him tight. But I stop myself from thinking about that too hard.

Ronny's a human. Sure, he seems to be friends with some vampires and that guy who smells like a wet dog who I'm pretty sure is a type of canine shifter, but that doesn't mean he's okay with other supernatural creatures. It doesn't mean he won't freak out when he finds out the cat he's been taking care of is actually a man.

I'll wait just a little while longer. Ronny mentioned taking a drive to a new location. Plus, my paw needs to finish healing. I'll just wait until I'm feeling better and then I'll shift. It'll be fine.

That'll give me time to sit and see what kind of people these guys are. It'll give me time to see what kind of person Ronny is.

My eyes widen as Ronny pulls off his shirt. Oh my gods. I greedily take him in. He's lean but strong with the smallest spattering of chest hair in the center of his chest. There's a fine line of hair that leads from his belly button down into his jeans. His eyes are a rich, dark color that matches his dark hair. My stomach squirms in the most pleasant way at the sight. My true mate is hot.

The thought stops me in my tracks. My true mate. I can't believe I've found my true mate.

John used to say so many things to keep me under his thumb. One of them was that he was my true mate and that to leave him would be going against Lady Fate herself. Now that I've found Ronny, I can't help but feel even more bitter towards John. He was never my true mate. He never smelled like home the way this man does. Gods, I wish I could go back and get the years back that John stole from me but I can't, all I can do is live the best life now that I have freedom.

I'm allowed to make choices now. I'm allowed to decide what's best for me and JJ without someone breathing down my neck telling me I can't trust myself.

I decide to stay right where I am. This feels right. I might not be able to rely on Ronny. For all I know he's a mass murderer who's taking us across the country to find his next victim. But now I have the ability to run away if push comes to shove. I'm not stuck. And now that I'm more attuned with my instincts, I trust that Lady Fate wouldn't push me from one douche to another. Ronny feels different.

Ronny starts to hum a soft song as he throws on some sweatpants and a hoodie. My eyes follow him as he steps out of his bedroom. In this form, I'm allowed to stare from my place on the bed as he sits down at a computer, his fingers flying faster than I thought possible across the keys. I lay my head on JJ's, snuggling close and letting his warmth sink into my skin. I lick his ear, letting him know I'm here and that we're safe. He nuzzles me right back.

JJ is the one good thing that John gave me. I'm thankful for my little boy every single day that we're both alive. We're free.

As my eyes grow heavy, soothed by the sound of Ronny typing on his keyboard, I can't help but think about the future. Now that I'm away from John, the future is a mass space of opportunity. I could quite literally do anything. It's overwhelming. It's exhilarating. But my mind continues to drift back to Ronny and this crew. They all seem so good at first glance. I hope I'm not wrong about them.

And Ronny. Handsome, caring Ronny who found a hurt cat and immediately picked them up, promising to take care of them. I want his gentle hands on me again, running through my hair. I want those full lips against my own. I want him to form a relationship with JJ. Oh gods, I hate how drawn I am already, but that's having true mate I suppose. A supernatural tug towards that person.

Hopefully Ronny will be okay that I have a kid. Gods, what am I even thinking? Can I really tell this human that I'm his true mate? Would he even want a true mate? Is he even attracted to other men?

Instead of letting all these worries wash me away, I shake them away. I can worry about them tomorrow. For now, I'm going to rest and regain my strength. I'm going to trust that this is truly the hand of Lady Fate, guiding me to where I'm supposed to be. I close my eyes and for the first time in years, I sleep without a shadow of doom hovering over me. I sleep peacefully.