Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 116662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Havana gaped. “Oh my God, that’s ludicrous.”
Bailey nodded, her brows drawn together. “I usually admire brutal, but no, not in this case.”
Quinley gave a loose shrug. “It’s our normal, we don’t think much of it. But when new unranked members join, they’re toyed with by the ranked until boredom kicks in.”
Aspen squinted. “Because they want to get across exactly where you stand in the hierarchy—which is nowhere.”
Quinley dipped her chin. “I knew other breeds of shifter were protective of submissives. I wasn’t looking for protection, just peace, you know? So when I was filling in my FindYourMatch questionnaire, I made sure to note that I didn’t want to be paired with another black-foot. My preference was some kind of feline, but it wasn’t a necessity.”
Havana’s mouth curled. “Bet you didn’t have a pallas cat in mind.”
“They’ve been called everything from demonic to psychotic, but I always thought it was unfair. They don’t go looking for trouble, they’re just set on being the ones to end it. I can respect that.” Quinley chomped down another chip. “Ruthlessness is fine so long as there’s no targeting those who are vulnerable. Pallas cats don’t do that.”
“They’re very protective of their own, particularly the vulnerable—whether that’s children, the elderly, healers, omegas, or submissives,” said Havana. “It’s how it should be.”
“But the vulnerable often struggle majorly as loners,” Aspen cut in, “so I’m glad you didn’t go down that route, Quinley. Most especially because you really do suit Isaiah. Far more than I thought you would, actually. That website really does its job well. I’m glad it exists, because it’s a real good option for those in your position.”
Chewing on the last of her chips, Quinley balled up the packet. “Suiting on paper isn’t always mutually exclusive with suiting in real life—you see that all the time with dating sites. But things are going really well with me and Isaiah.”
Havana set her glass on the coffee table. “I saw his cat watching yours play—yes, I was nosing out of the window; go sue me. Anyway, I know it might have seemed sad that he didn’t interact much with her. But it’s a good sign that he wanted to be in her company and watch over her.”
“Does he ever play with her?” Aspen asked.
Quinley shook her head, hiding her disappointment. “There’s rarely any physical contact between them at all. She leaves him be, sensing that he needs to be the one to close the distance.” She rose, plopped her empty chip bag in the trash can, and took a napkin from the table.
Bailey tipped her head to the side. “Does he let you stroke him?”
“No,” replied Quinley, wiping the salt from her hands. “He’s never mean or snarly, though. I’ll take what I can get. Though I doubt I’d get any of it if it wasn’t for the brand.”
Aspen gave a slow shake of the head. “It’s amazing how much power a claiming brand can have over the mental dynamics of shifters, isn’t it?” she marveled. “It takes whatever you’re feeling toward a person to entirely new levels. Especially emotions like protectiveness and possessiveness.”
“They automatically kicked in once Isaiah and I claimed each other.” Quinley threw the napkin in the trash. “To be truthful, it can be kind of a pain.”
Havana smiled. “Isaiah does not like you being away from him—it’s this elemental thing he can’t control.”
“I’m in the same boat, so I get it.” Quinley returned to her seat. “Things will eventually settle.”
“I’m surprised he hasn’t at least asked you to cut back on your work hours,” said Aspen.
Quinley crossed one leg over the other. “The thought has probably crossed his mind, especially since he doesn’t particularly like my job. But if so, he’s fought the temptation to ask.”
Havana’s mouth curved again. “Yeah, I heard about the pamper day package. I must admit, I’m seriously tempted to try it.”
“You should,” Quinley told her. “The salon isn’t exclusive to my old pride. Any shifter can enter. Lots do. The scents, smells, and lighting are designed to accommodate our enhanced senses, so it really is relaxing.” She hoped to eventually treat Isaiah’s cat to her usual pampering treatment, but she knew it wouldn’t happen in a hurry.
Aspen stretched her legs out. “Surely there are some shifter species where you’re like, hell no, I’m not touching their animal.”
Quinley had occasionally considered it, but … “I’ve never turned anyone down.”
“What breeds have you groomed?” asked Havana.
There were too many to count. “Everything from minks and badgers to lions and hyenas.”
Aspen blinked. “So you don’t have a sentimental attachment to your hands, then?”
Quinley snickered. “Honestly, the animals most likely to get nippy or scratchy are the smaller ones.”
Bailey cocked her head. “Would you turn away a snake?”
“Nope.” They rarely got fang-y. “I mean, most don’t require me to groom them in any way. But they like to sit in the mini hot tub with the heated lamps bearing down on them.”