Chapter 1

ONE

T he cacophony of honking horns and screeching tires assaulted Kira Cress’s ears as she deftly wove her sleek black Mustang through the congested city streets. The morning sun’s rays danced across her auburn hair tied back in a tight ponytail that swayed with each turn of the wheel. Kira’s amber eyes, as sharp as a lioness stalking her prey, scanned the road ahead, her mind already dissecting the details of her latest surveillance case.

As a seasoned private investigator, Kira had long ago learned to navigate the treacherous waters of her profession. From cheating spouses to embezzling employees, she had seen it all. But the one challenge that continued to elude her was the sense of belonging she so desperately craved. Born to a human mother and a lion shifter father, Kira had always felt like a misfit, trapped between two worlds but never truly a part of either. She yearned for the unbreakable bonds of a pride, the comfort of knowing she had a place where she truly fit. But her mixed heritage had made that dream feel as distant as the stars in the night sky.

With a sharp turn of the wheel, Kira maneuvered her car into a narrow alley, coming to a stop in the shadows of a towering office building. She reached for her camera, the weight of it familiar in her hands, and began the methodical process of setting up for a long day of surveillance. Her client, a wealthy woman, suspected her businessman husband of infidelity, and it was Kira’s job to uncover the truth.

Sitting and waiting at the café’s outside table, Kira’s mind drifted to the countless hours she had spent on stakeouts just like this one. Through the detached lens of her camera, she had watched as marriages crumbled and lives fell apart. It was a lonely existence, spending her days in the shadows, but it was a life that suited her independent nature.

Suddenly, movement caught her eye. The target, a middle-aged man in a perfectly tailored suit, emerged from the office building, his eyes darting nervously from side to side. With bated breath, Kira watched as he crossed the street, his polished shoes clicking against the pavement, and entered the café.

Inside, a young woman with flowing blonde hair and a dazzling smile greeted him, her face lighting up like the sun at his arrival. Kira’s camera whirred to life, capturing every intimate moment as the man pulled the woman into a tight embrace, his hands roaming across her back with a familiarity that spoke of countless secret rendezvous.

As Kira snapped photo after photo, her mind wandered to her own solitary life. Growing up, she had always been the odd one out, the girl who never quite fit in. While her classmates had gone to sleepovers and birthday parties, Kira had spent her nights curled up with her mother’s old mystery novels, dreaming of a life of adventure and purpose.

Her mother, bless her soul, had loved Kira with a fierceness that knew no bounds. But as much as she tried, she could never quite understand the wild, untamed part of Kira that longed to run free under the moon’s watchful gaze. And the shifter community, while outwardly welcoming, had always kept Kira at a distance, unsure of how to reconcile her dual nature.

A sudden commotion from inside the café jolted Kira back to the present. She watched, her heart pounding, as another man burst through the doors, his face contorted with rage. With a sinking feeling, Kira realized this might be the other cheating half of the equation.

The man stormed up to the table where Kira’s target sat, his jaw stiff. “I knew it!” he growled, his fists clenched at his sides. “I knew you were cheating on me, you bitch!”

The woman leaped to her feet, her face pale with shock. “Sam,” she stammered, “it’s not what it looks like. I can explain!”

But Sam was having none of it. He grabbed her target by the shirt and lifted him to his feet, then punched him in the face. The café erupted into chaos, patrons gawking and scattering as the drama unfolded before their very eyes.

Kira, her finger still poised on the shutter button, captured every moment of the unfolding scene. It was a stark reminder of the ugly realities she dealt with every day, the broken promises and shattered dreams that left families in ruins.

As the scorned man stormed out of the café, the woman in hot pursuit, Kira lowered her camera with a heavy sigh. She had all the evidence she needed for both sides now, but the weight of it sat heavily on her shoulders.

With a sigh, Kira packed up her equipment and headed back to her car. Another case closed, another mystery solved. But the emptiness in her heart remained, a constant companion on the long drive back to her office.

Kira had barely settled into her office chair when her phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID and raised an eyebrow. Gerri Wilder, the infamous matchmaker known for her uncanny ability to find perfect matches for even the most difficult cases.

“Kira Cress speaking,” she answered, her curiosity piqued.

“Kira, darling!” Gerri’s voice was a mix of exasperation and humor. “I need your help. Some fraudster has been impersonating me and setting up the most disastrous matches. It’s chaos!”

Kira couldn’t help but chuckle at Gerri’s dramatic tone. “Fraudster, huh? Sounds like quite the character.”

“Oh, you have no idea,” Gerri lamented. “Just last week, they set up a mermaid with a desert-dwelling shifter. Can you imagine?”

As Gerri regaled her with tales of mismatched couples and the havoc the fraudster had wreaked on her business, Kira found herself intrigued. It was a unique case, far from the cheating spouses and insurance scams that typically crossed her desk.

“All right, Gerri,” Kira said finally, a smile tugging at her lips. “I’ll take the case. Let’s catch this fraudster and save your matchmaking empire.”

Gerri’s sigh of relief was audible. “Oh, thank you, darling. You’re a lifesaver. Literally. I think some of these mismatches might have ended in bloodshed if they’d gone on much longer.”

That evening, Kira’s apartment door swung open to reveal her sister, Maggie, armed with a six-pack of beer and a large pizza. Maggie’s blonde hair was piled atop her head in a messy bun, and her blue eyes sparkled with mischief.

“I come bearing gifts,” she announced, waving the beer and pizza. “And by gifts, I mean the essentials for a sisterly bonding night.”

Kira laughed, stepping aside to let Maggie in. Their evenings together were a cherished tradition, a bright spot in Kira’s often solitary life.

As they settled onto the couch with pizza slices in hand, Maggie turned to Kira with a curious grin. “So, what’s new in the world of private investigation? Any juicy cases?”

Kira swallowed a bite of pizza and chuckled. “Actually, I just got a call from Gerri Wilder. Apparently, some fraudster has been impersonating her and setting up the most hilarious mismatches.”

Maggie’s eyes widened. “No way! Like what?”

“Well,” Kira said, reaching for a beer, “according to Gerri, they set up a mermaid with a desert shifter. The poor mermaid nearly became fish jerky before she could escape back to the ocean.”

Maggie burst out laughing, nearly choking on her pizza. “Oh my god, that’s priceless. Gerri must be losing her mind.”

As their laughter died down, Kira noticed a flicker of nervousness cross Maggie’s face. Her sister was usually an open book, her emotions written plainly across her expressive features.

“Hey,” Kira said, nudging Maggie with her elbow. “What’s up? You look like you’ve got something on your mind.”

Maggie hesitated, her fingers picking at the beer label. “It’s nothing, really. I was just wondering...are you seeing anyone?”

Kira blinked, taken aback by the sudden change of topic. “Seeing anyone? Since this afternoon when we last spoke?”

Maggie laughed and shook her head and raised her brows suggestively. “No, you goof. You know what I mean. Anyone you haven’t told me about.”

Kira sighed. “Maggie, you know my work doesn’t leave much time for dating.”

Maggie leaned forward, her blue eyes intense. “But if you were going to date someone, what would you look for? What’s your ideal partner?”

At Maggie’s raised eyebrow, Kira sighed and set down her beer. “ I guess I’d want someone who’s strong and commanding, you know? A real go-getter who can keep up with me. But at the same time, I want someone who’s sweet and kind, someone who’s romantic and caring.”

Maggie nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. “Sounds like a tall order.”

Kira laughed, shaking her head. “Honestly, I’d probably need two different guys to meet all my requirements.”

“Probably,” Maggie giggled. “Can you imagine two hot guys after you?”

“Sure,” Kira snorted. “I might as well be asking for a unicorn shifter.”

As the evening wound down, Maggie pulled Kira into a tight hug. “You deserve all so much love, sis.”

“Hey,” Kira hugged her back. “Where’s this coming from?”

“I just want you to know that you’re a loveable person. You’re kind and sweet and any man would be lucky to have you.”

Kira nodded when Maggie pulled back. “Okay. That’s really nice of you to say.”

“I’m not just saying it, you know,” she whispered. “Don’t settle for anything less.”

Kira shrugged. “It’s not like I have a bunch of men knocking down my door.”

Maggie’s eyes lit up. “But what if you did? What if you had those two guys with all those qualities at the door?”

Kira did a quick glance at the door but there was no knocking. Thank god, she got scared there for a second. “Maggie, fantasies are nice. But most women can barely handle or tolerate one guy. I can’t imagine dealing with two.”

Maggie rolled her eyes. “Okaaaay, but whether it’s one or two, imagine getting exactly the right men for you.”

Kira did laugh then. Hard. “You spent too much time with Gerri when we went to her charity auction, sis. There’s no such thing as the perfect man or men. Not really. There’s just a bunch of imperfect people trying to make someone else who they want them to be and then getting upset and disappointed when that person doesn’t change for them.”

Maggie’s eyes dimmed. “Wow. You sound so bitter, Kira.”

“I’m not bitter.” She let out a loud sigh. “I’m not. I guess this job has really opened my eyes when it comes to people’s expectations and romance.”

“Or this job has ruined your romantic side.”

Kira frowned. “No, I think I have it correct.”

“All right. I’m not gonna argue with you when you’re being pig-headed.”

“Hey, I resent that. I know when I’m being pig-headed. Realistic is not pig-headed.”

“Fine. Then that means if you meet a man or men that are your perfect someones, you will see where things go, right?”

Kira opened her eyes wide at Maggie’s words. “You mean me and two guys?”

Maggie gave an unapologetic grin. “Yeah. You and two hot dudes.”

“Um. That’s out of every woman’s fantasy.”

“But you’ll do it, right? Give them a chance? You have to promise.”

“Sure,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “If the universe sends me two hot men that are exactly right for me, I will for sure get my freak on and do the horizontal polka for as long as they’ll have me.”

“Kira!” Maggie snorted a giggled.

“What? It’s what you wanted me to say, isn’t it?”

“You promised. You can’t go back on your word.”

Kira eyed her sister curiously. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

Maggie laughed. “Just that the universe usually gives us what we ask for.”

Sure it did. Kira really wanted the universe to send her an unlimited supply of orgasms and love but that had yet to happen. Could it? Sure, but she could also win the lottery. She wasn’t counting on it though.