Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

T here were moments in a man's life when he knew he'd made exactly the right choices. Elliott had felt that way about coming to Ireland for the first time. It was exciting, it was new, it was different, but even more than that, it was right . He'd felt that way about volunteering for a week at the Shamrock Safari Wildlife Park, too. It was a great program, designed to raise awareness about endangered species, give them a safe haven for breeding—the re-introduction to the wild process was terrific—and also a genuinely fun day out for anybody who liked zoos. Having an African lion on display for a week or so was a solid fundraiser, and Elliott was happy to help. Especially because it saved on hotel costs for that week.

It had also been unquestionably right to hop out of the enclosure he was lounging in to follow the woman who'd stopped there. It would not, he knew, cause panic amongst the park's visitors. Mostly because the gates weren't open yet, it was true, but also because he had a man's mind in his big lion body and had the good sense to look around and make sure there weren't any park employees in eyesight, either. So a graceful leap out of the enclosure, risking nothing, had been right .

The woman was also right. Elliott knew it instantly, totally, and deeply. With confidence and conviction, he bounced over the enclosure wall, shifted to human, and ambled after her. She'd moved with a purposeful stride that gave her hips an enticing sway, and he'd followed far enough behind to go unnoticed.

Even from the distance, she was solidly built, with thick thighs that looked like they were all muscle. She was definitely short: short legs, short waist, short hair. Strong shoulders, big ribs, wide hips. Possibly she hated being called cute. A lot of short women did. But he'd gotten a glimpse of a pug nose and a square jaw and great huge dark eyes, and suspected that she probably was cute. He couldn't wait to get a better look at her to see for sure. That felt right, too.

She marched herself across the park and straight into the administrative area. Elliott had been there earlier, introducing himself before he went to check out his digs for the week. If he'd known she was heading there, he never would have left. Then again, if he hadn't been in an enclosure obviously unsuitable for a lion—he had, after all, actually jumped out of it, which would be a real problem if he wasn't a shifter—then probably she wouldn't now be bearing down on the director of the park's office. So even that had been right .

All of it had been right . Definitely, purely, fully right .

The expression currently on Dr. Maureen Kelly's face right now, the expression that directly followed his cheerful explanation that he was the lion on loan…

…was not right.

In fact, if Elliott had to put a single word to the look on Dr. Kelly's face, it would be 'despair.' If he had some extra words to apply, 'horrified, appalled,' and 'distressed' would probably come into play. And, gradually turning his attention to Aoife Gallagher's expression, which could best be described as 'bewildered,' Elliott began to understand.

Aoife had no idea shifters existed. And he'd just opened his big mouth and told her.

Not in a way that made sense, obviously. 'I'm the lion on loan' was a truly baffling sentence, to someone who wasn't in the know.

Elliott had just sort of assumed everybody at the park was in the know. He'd been careful leaving the enclosure anyway, of course, but that was a matter of long-term personal safety. There always might have been some random kid who snuck into the park early or something, after all.

Aoife finally managed to say, "The what ?" and jerked her gaze toward Dr. Kelly. "Is this the guy who's brought the lion in? How are you doing this? There was no notification, there haven't been any preparations made, do you have food for that poor beast? Are you some kind of animal trafficker? Oh, God, are you a billionaire who thinks hauling a wild animal around from country to country is some kind of power move? Do you think you're super hot and sexy?—"

Her green gaze went dark as it raked him from head to toe and back up again. If her lip hadn't curled disdainfully at the end of it, Elliott might have thought he'd come out of that furious examination well. Unfortunately for him, she spat, "—because you can flout international law with your money ? Well, let me tell you, mister, you won't be pulling that shite around me ?—"

"Aoife," Dr Kelly said in a gently despairing voice.

Aoife , Elliott's lion said in an awe-stricken purr. Our fierce lioness.

Their fierce lioness, Elliott thought, was going to punch him right in the face if he didn't figure out a good way to explain this, and fast.

So he shifted into a lion, and sat down in the middle of the office.