Chapter five

Ronny

Istare at the road ahead of me, doing my best to actually focus on driving. It's hard though when JJ is sitting in the seat next to me sleeping with his dad laying in his lap.

How did I accidentally pick up two shifters? What kinda luck is that?

I've listened to Cooper talk in depth about a deity that supernatural beings worship. Her name is Lady Fate. It's believed that she pushes those who belong together into crossing paths, one way or another. There's a tiny voice inside me whispering that just maybe, that's exactly what's happening here.

That can't be right, can it? I'm a human.

Maybe it's destiny that my place is to help these two. That must be it. Lady Fate saw two of her children were hurt and in danger and that's why our paths crossed.

I'm really glad that I was in the right place at the right time.

Without thinking, I reach over and pet the cat's head but immediately pull my hand back. I look over at him and give him a look of apology. "Sorry. That's probably weird now, huh? Like you're not just a cat. You're a whole ass person." My eyes dart up to JJ's, finding him still sleeping. It seems like most kids, car rides put him to sleep. "Sorry. I mean a whole person. I'm not used to being around kids, I have to be careful what I say."

The cat--wait, I really need to stop calling him that. Zander looks at me with bright green eyes, blinking slowly as I talk.

"Is it weird that I still want to chat while I drive? Do you wanna hear me ramble?"

Zander gives me a nod. He carefully stands up in JJ's lap, stepping over his legs and getting into my lap. My chest constricts with something I've let remain unnamed. He gets comfortable and looks up at me expectantly.

That's how we spend the rest of the drive, with me telling Zander about myself, about life on the road, about being a hunter. I even tell him about my video games filled with building random worlds. He lays there content, letting out the most peaceful purr I've ever experienced. It's a sound that lulls me and fills my chest with warmth. I know I've only just met JJ and Zander, but already I wonder what life would be like going back to not having them here.

I hope I won't have to find out anytime soon.

***

"So you're really a hunter?"

I look over at JJ, giving him a tentative smile. "I am."

"I've heard about hunters before," JJ says, picking up the bologna sandwich I've just made him and taking a big bite. "My dad used to tell me and Papa about hunters all the time but you don't seem like you're going to murder me."

Zander lets out a pained meow as I let out a surprised cough, not expecting something like to come from such a little kid. I rub my fingers through my hair, trying to not let my shock show. "Well, I can tell you with certainty that me and the other members of my team have no plans to hurt you."

"But you're a hunter and I'm a shifter," JJ says, looking at me like I've gained an extra head. "Dad says we're mortal enemies."

Zander puts his paws over his face, no doubt because he's embarrassed by the conversation, but I can't help but find the gesture incredibly endearing. "Hunters don't hurt shifters for no reason," I say slowly, wanting JJ to understand. "Our job is to protect innocent humans from supernatural beings and supernatural occurrences that try to hurt them."

JJ takes another big bite, his mouth completely full as he continues talking. "So if I don't hurt anyone you won't hurt me?"

"That's the gist of it, yeah. Does that make sense?"

He gives me a big nod. Then he looks over at Zander. "Can I play outside? Pretty please? I'll stay near Ronny's camper I promise!"

Zander looks over at me. "It's okay with me if it's okay with you. Carlos and Cooper are out there so they'll keep an extra eye on him."

Zander looks back at JJ, giving him a nod. JJ lets out an excited noise, shoving the rest of his sandwich in his mouth before running outside. I overhear him yelling at Carlos, telling him to watch him do a cartwheel. Affection floods through my core. The feeling hits me by surprise. I wasn't expecting to grow so fond of this kid in such a short amount of time.

"So your ex tried to scare you both with tall tales of rogue hunters? Is that right?"

Those big, bright green eyes meet mine. They're filled with sadness and hurt. I wish Zander would shift into his human form so I could hold him. I want to pull him into my lap and cradle him with softness and kindness. I don't know everything but I can piece a few things together. I have my theories and if they're correct, then Zander and JJ both deserve stability and kindness and so much more than I could ever give them.

Zander nods his head, giving me a little sad meow. My heart clenches for him.

"I promise you that you're not in danger with us. Jeff has some history with rogue hunters and would never allow any of his team to act like that. You're safe here."

Zander leaps from the table to my lap, bumping his head into my stomach. I run my hand over his back and he leans into the touch. It should be strange, petting someone I know is a man rather than just a cat, but I can't find it in myself to actually find it weird. I love this easy touch he lets us share.

Every hour I'm with Zander, I grow more and more fond of him. I long for the day he's able to shift. Will he be taller than me? Will he have gray tones in his hair like he does in his fur? Will he be flexible and lithe just like his cat form? My mind fills with images and ideas without my permission and I do my best to keep them PG. It would be strange to picture a man I haven't even met yet in various sexy positions, right?

I twist around in my chair, pulling myself over to my computer. I pet Zander one more time before getting to work, trying to find everything I need to know about this new case. I find out when these wishes started to happen, who was affected, where the wishing well is located, anything that'll help the people going into town to investigate. I lose myself in the familiar work, my eyes moving over my screen as I read the articles and random blog posts of the locals.

A questioning meow pulls me from my inner thoughts. I look down at Zander, finding him watching me with curious eyes. His green eyes dart between the computer screen and me, silently asking me what I'm doing.

"I'm making sure I have all the information I can find about the case we've taken. There was a wishing well that's basically come to life." I tilt my head to the side, doing my best not to think about my father. Magic like this can grant you what you'd like but at what cost? "Which is all fine and dandy until someone wishes for something terrible, like for their boss to stop coming into work, or for the lady who cut you off in traffic to get righteous justice."

Zander nods along in understanding. I find that I like talking to him. I can say whatever I want without being judged or misunderstood. I wonder if I'll feel the same way when he finally shifts.

"Tomorrow morning the guys will head into town and check it out. Cooper is our lore expert. He has a book for literally everything. He seems to think it could either be someone with magic doing a ritual to make the well magical, or possibly a corrupted mage who's using the well as their home. Or in all honesty, it could be something completely unexpected. We won't know for sure until we start investigating."

I look down at Zander, finding those wide, green eyes still trained on me. I feel my cheeks heat with embarrassment. "Sorry. I could ramble all day about this stuff."

Zander meows at me and for some reason, I can just tell he's telling me that it's okay, that he doesn't mind listening to me. I smile down at him.

"How're you feeling?" I ask gently, my thumb running over his paw. "Do you think you'll be able to shift soon?"

I get a nod in response and my stomach swoops with excitement. "If I'm being honest," I say carefully, my voice soft, "I'm really looking forward to meeting you in person. I'm not sure why but there's just something about you. I umm, don't really have the words to describe it."

Zander paws at my thigh before shifting so he can bump my stomach with his head. It can't just be my imagination telling me this is his way of saying he feels the same way. Gods, communicating with a cat shifter is hard. I can't wait until he shifts into a form that allows us to talk together instead of me just talking to him.

"Tomorrow they'll head into town but tonight we'll spend some time around the fire. Which leads me to a very, very important question," I say, waiting for Zander's eyes to meet mine. "Can JJ have s'mores?"