Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 113406 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 454(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113406 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 454(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
After a quick feline stretch, she opened the venetian blinds, letting rays of sunlight stream into the room. Heading into the tiled bathroom, she glanced at herself in the mirror. No bags or black smudges under her eyes. No paleness of the skin. It was nice not to look at her reflection and wince.
She cringed at the sight of Bracken’s bite, of course. She gently touched the mark, frowning when it tingled. She’d never worn a brand that deep before. It would take a good dose of concealer to hide it. Shifters healed quicker than humans, but it would probably take a couple of days for a mark that distinctive to completely fade. He wouldn’t like that she’d covered it, but she wasn’t ready for the questions it would raise. Not yet.
Reminding herself she had shit to do, Madisyn did her business, brushed her teeth, and took a long shower. The latter was a luxury she’d missed while living at the shelter, where there had always been a queue of people waiting for their own turns. Leaving her hair to dry naturally, she quickly dressed and then headed to the kitchen. By the time she’d finished her breakfast and coffee, her hair was dry, and it was time to leave.
It was a short drive to the shelter. Madisyn parked her car in the lot, walked up the path to the redbrick building, and unlocked the door. As she stepped into the small, bright reception area, the smells of coffee, bleach, and various breeds of shifter swirled around her.
Having so many different kinds of shifter in one place wasn’t easy, and it sometimes led to trouble. It was rare that residents were ejected from the facility, but it happened occasionally.
They rarely received problems from outsiders. A witch had embedded protective wards into the walls, keeping anyone who meant harm out of the building unless they were invited inside. That didn’t mean the place was invulnerable. In fact, an Alpha wolf once had a witch bypass such wards to allow him and his pack inside. A massive fight had occurred, during which Makenna had almost died. Madisyn was still pissed at her for that, which was irrational, but whatever.
“You know the rules, Harrison,” said Shaun, the cheetah shifter manning the desk, who worked there in return for being allowed to stay permanently. “I can’t let you in if you’ve been drinking.”
Harrison, a fox shifter with a scraggly beard, scowled. “I ain’t been drinking.”
Shaun shot him an impatient glance. “I can smell the alcohol on your breath. And we both know how much shit you cause when you’re drunk.”
“I ain’t drunk. I had one whiskey. One.”
Sighing, Madisyn exhaled heavily. “Doesn’t matter how many you’ve had, Harrison, and you know it. You’ve been coming here long enough to know how it works. But just in case you’ve forgotten the rules, they’re on that sign right above your head.” The rules were pretty simple, really. No drugs, alcohol, weapons, violence, theft, or breaking of curfew hours.
Most respected and followed the rules. Others, like Harrison, thought they should be an exception. In fact, the very reason he was banished from his pack was his refusal to respect authority. Not all loners were banished for crimes, though. Others were runaways, homeless, in hiding, or quite simply lost after the death of their mate. In cases where residents wanted to live among humans rather than join other packs, flocks, or various shifter groups, the shelter provided them with whatever education, support, and therapy they needed.
Harrison looked at her, mouth twisted into a bitter pout. “You have no mercy in you.”
“And you’re determined to make life hard for yourself, which is your business. But you’re not allowed to make life hard for others.” They’d had this conversation before. Knowing he’d argue just for the sake of arguing, she turned her back on him and walked off.
As she wandered down the hallways, she heard babies crying, showers running, and residents arguing upstairs. The building was pretty big, especially compared to most shelters.
The first floor featured the common room, communal toilets, cafeteria, and some private bedrooms that were reserved for people with children. Unmated females and males slept on separate floors—the females used the dormitory on the second floor, and the males used the dormitory on the third floor.
Not wishing to be separated, mated couples often slept outside in dome-shaped tents scattered around the back of the shelter beyond the children’s play area. All supplies were kept in the basement, while Dawn lived in the attic.
Madisyn helped in various ways, doing different jobs on different days. Today, she was due to help in the kitchen before doing laundry. First, she needed to speak with Dawn and Makenna.
Reaching Dawn’s office, she rapped her knuckles on the door.
“Come in!” Dawn called out.
Striding inside, Madisyn found Makenna sitting on the desk while Dawn sat in the chair behind it, both drinking Starbucks. “Morning.”