Chapter 4

N oah was feeling fantastic when we got home from the Rabbit Lounge. I, on the other hand, was as steady as a pinball getting knocked around in a machine. Not because of our date, but on the way home, Noah mentioned that the wolf who ran up to our car had invited him over to work out.

Invited him!

After that stunt, I knew with absolute certainty that the wolf didn't remember me. Why would he? He'd been drinking that night and had probably consumed more afterward to block me out. Now I was completely on edge about the whole thing.

And what did I always do when I was anxious? Clean. Noah liked a clean house. Nothing triggered him like a stain or a candy wrapper on the floor.

At sunset, he carried a six-pack into the yard and sat under the stars. Noah avoided me, which piled on the guilt about the book fiasco.

I read for a spell but couldn't concentrate. Not because I'd read the book nine million times already but because I couldn't stop thinking about the wolf. Noah hadn't mentioned the man's name, only his animal.

Why was I attracted to predators? People had kinks and curiosities, but when it came to settling down, Shifters preferred the same animal. My father told me stories about how all Shifters were once purebloods, but over the years, everyone's family tree had eventually crossed with other animal types. Supposedly it had changed our powers, but my father's stories were anecdotal and not based on people he knew. I guessed the reasons most stuck with their own animal were the instinctual and customary differences.

No wonder my mare was so spooked all the time.

The front door slammed. When I heard glass break, I jumped out of bed and found Noah leaning against the fridge with a busted cardboard beer carrier in his hands.

He kicked one of the bottles, and it pinwheeled across the tile. "Nothing ever goes right," he muttered.

I knelt to pick up the glass. "What do you think about renting one of those empty buildings on Juniper Road?"

"For what?"

"Selling the books. It would give me a chance to go through them all and see what we have. There aren't any libraries around here, and people need books. We could also rent them out for money. Think of how that could help us."

He cackled. "You can barely walk into a bar without pissing your panties. And now you want to run a bookstore?" Noah's smile felt predatory.

I gritted my teeth as I stood and dropped the glass into the trash can. "You know I hate it when you drink."

Noah grabbed me by the hair and turned me around. Then he gripped my face with one hand. "And you know I hate it when you lie and steal. What do you think drives me to drink? Your conniving little ways, that's what. Do I have to sleep with my phone now? Huh?"

"It was only that once."

"Are you goading me?" He walked me in a circle, glass crunching beneath his shoes, and backed me up to the fridge. "Quit doing things that bring out my temper. You do not want to meet my tiger." The alcohol on his breath turned my stomach. "How am I supposed to trust you if you won't behave? You keep disrespecting me, and I'm working more hours than ever. We've barely had sex in months, and I'm all wound up. Goddammit!" He let go, his long hair falling in front of his eyes. "It's so fucking tedious!"

"I shouldn't have to ask permission to make a call," I argued, hoping he would understand. "These were my father's books. You know how much I loved him." Tears welled in my eyes as the thought of his loss crushed me, and I stepped forward. "It hasn't been easy."

With lightning speed, Noah struck me hard with the back of his hand.

I stumbled to the left and doubled over.

"You're gonna get rid of all these fucking books," he snarled. "You're not the one who calls the shots, and you need to realize when you're under my roof, you have to obey my rules. Your father fucking spoiled you, Cecilia. You don't even realize how much, and all I've wanted to do is help you. If you had been raised in a herd, you would have learned how to follow rules." He kicked a bottle across the kitchen, and it struck the washer. "I've never had to deal with a woman who stole from me behind my back!"

I winced when he gripped my hair again and shoved me to the floor. Palms flat, I stared at the broken glass and didn't move an inch.

"Don't you ever do anything like this again. Do you hear me? The world doesn't revolve around you. Now clean up this mess, you lazy fucking cow." After pushing my head, he stalked off.

The bedroom door slammed.

I peered up to make sure he wasn't still there and then stood. As I opened the freezer, my nerves rattled. I pulled out the ice tray, puzzled by how an innocuous remark could have set him off so quickly.

It's the alcohol.

It's the lying.

It's me.

Tender kisses to my cheek woke me up.

"Hey, baby." Noah was sitting on the bed, dressed in a black T-shirt and jeans. His eyes had dark circles beneath them, and he looked remorseful. "I made you breakfast in bed."

I glanced at the tray on the bedside table. "Where did that come from?"

"I got up early and drove all the way to that diner a town over. It's been reheating in the oven, but I don't know how to use that thing." He lifted a piece of bacon and tapped it against my lips. "Open up."

After taking a bite, I forced myself to a sitting position and then propped the pillow behind me.

Noah put the bacon back on the plate. While he rubbed my thigh, he soothed me with his gentle touch and his soft cadence. "I'm sorry about last night. All that beer from the bar stayed in my system, and I thought I'd be okay to drink more later on. I guess it hadn't worn off." He caressed my tender cheek. "That doesn't look so bad. Does it hurt?"

I shrugged, not wanting him to know my heart hurt more.

He leaned in and kissed it. "All better." Noah placed the tray on my lap and proudly presented his burnt bacon and overcooked eggs. "It's been a while since I shifted. My animal starts to pace inside me, and sometimes his anger comes out unexpectedly. That wasn't me last night. That was too much alcohol and stress getting to my tiger. I promise that won't ever happen again."

He always says that.

"But I need you to trust me, baby. If you have something you want, we need to talk about it."

"You always shut me down."

"When have I ever shut you down? Telling you why something is unnecessary is not shutting you down. You're not remembering those conversations right." He braced his left hand on the mattress and leaned in front of me. "I don't always have a choice when it involves money. You know that. Taking money without asking could mean the difference between having electricity or not. Let's not talk about this anymore. It's in the past." Noah stroked my knee with his free hand. "I have a surprise for you."

I chewed on another bite of bacon, still upset about last night. Now I was feeling guilty on top of it. "What?"

"I made a few calls this morning and rented a building for you."

My gaze flicked up in surprise.

"I figured after what you said last night, it would be a good idea. Unless you want me to call the junkman."

"No! No, I want to do this."

He gave a satisfied smile. "It's just temporary. I don't want these books in my house, and you can keep them there and try to sell what you can. No one around here reads that shit. You'll see."

"Then why did you rent it?"

"Because I knew it would make you happy, and that's all I'm trying to do. Besides, having a temporary job will be a good learning experience. Then you can see what hard work really is and appreciate what I do for you." He patted my knee and straightened. "I can only afford a month, so that's all you'll get. After that, I'm boxing the rest up and selling them to a collector. They'll make a cash offer for the whole thing, but if I can't get a decent price, I'll be out money on the lease. That'll be your fault, and you'll owe me."

I flung my arms around him, relieved that the books weren't going to a dumpster or thrift store. "I promise that won't happen. You'll see. I'll sell the heck out of those books."

He stroked my back softly and laughed into the crook of my neck. "You know I'd do anything for my girl. I was having a shitty night after that stunt you pulled. You can't invite strangers inside when I'm not here to protect you. Just thinking about that had me rattled all night. What if something had happened to you?"

I leaned back and tucked my hair behind my ear. Suddenly the reality of sitting in a store by myself and dealing with customers gnawed the pit of my stomach. "What about the store? I'll be alone."

"I can't babysit you, Cecilia. But I asked around, and there's a guy who does security work. He's coming out later to install cameras and link them to my phone. I'll be able to check in on you whenever I want. You have to promise me you won't leave the shop."

"I won't. But will the local Council allow it? You know they don't like cameras in Breed places."

"My name's on the lease. If they have a problem with it, they can come see me. We'll hang a sign so everyone knows they're being watched. Anyhow, it's only an issue if we're recording. This is a live feed that goes to my phone." He looked toward the window. "I just need to find someone to move those boxes in the next couple of days. What about the guys who brought them here?"

I shook my head. "They work out of town. You have to schedule an appointment way out. "

He met my eyes. "I'll worry about the hard stuff. Promise me you won't go behind my back anymore."

I nodded.

"Good girl. Stay inside today. My animal wants out, so don't cook any meat. My tiger prefers prey, but in case the hunt is unsuccessful, don't entice him."

"Okay."

Noah gently turned my chin to face him. "I'm serious. If you get spooked and shift out of fear, how do you think your mare will react inside the house? And if she's outside and runs… well, you know the worst mistake is to run from a predator."

"You don't eat Shifters, do you?"

Noah rocked with laughter. "You're adorable. No, Cecilia. Shifters don't eat each other. Not unless we're battling or there's a food shortage. So you better be good, or I just might eat you ." He playfully lunged for my neck and snarled.

I smiled until he bit my shoulder a little too hard. "Ouch. That hurts."

Noah rose from the bed. "Can I get you anything else? Let me see if there's any orange juice left." He shuffled out of the room.

Perhaps Noah was right about the books. Most of the people I'd seen around here didn't seem like the literary type. Milly might buy a few, but would it be enough to recoup Noah's expenses? I desperately wanted to prove him wrong and also honor my father by showing that his life's work had value.

Noah returned with a juice glass. "If you want to know how you can make it up to me, I have an idea." He took the tray off my lap and set it on the bedside table with the juice. Then he leaned in and kissed my neck. "Lie down, Cecilia. This won't take long."