Page 47 of Assisting the Alpha
“You never do. Maybe a few fireballs to the fur will teach you to think things through next time.”
“Pfft, as if he’ll get me. I’m like lightning.”
“Yeah, yeah. They’re waiting for you. Shift.”
The moment Jet shifts into his jaguar form and bounds towards Ayo, my sorcerer’s scent changes from anticipation to outright fear.
“Jet! Hold!” I rush forward. Ayo has never had that reaction before.
Fortunately, Jet stops, or tries to, although he does skid a few feet before actually coming to a halt. Cal puts himself between Ayo and Jet.
A moment later I have my sorcerer in my arms, his small body trembling. “Hey, shh, it’s okay. It’s just Jet. He’s a friend. He won’t hurt you.”
Ayo grips me tightly, rumpling my T-shirt, his eyes locked on Jet. “They looked like that.”
My heart stops. “The shifter who attacked you?”
Ayo nods. “Black fur, yellow eyes. Those little round ears. I’d forgotten the ears before. And the shape of the eyes. And the smooth tail. It was him.”
Jet shifts back immediately, eyes wide. “I swear, boss, it wasn’t me. Ayo, it wasn’t me.”
Ayo shakes himself, his grip on me tightening. “Sorry, no, I didn’t mean you. I know it wasn’t. I meant they looked exactly like you.”
If I remember rightly, Jet was in the middle of a hookup when it happened. Even if he hadn’t been, I’ve known him for years. He’d never do something like that.
Jet looks crestfallen, so I gesture him forward. Cal steps aside but hovers close. As soon as Jet is within reach, I grip the back of his neck, keeping Ayo pressed against me.
“We know it wasn’t you,compa.You’d never do that.”
It takes a few minutes for everyone to calm down. When Ayo finally unclenches his fingers from my T-shirt, he squares his shoulders and approaches Jet, who has put his trousers back on and stayed mostly on the far side of the room. I don’t think I’ll be needed, but I stay close anyway and I’m not surprised when Cal does the same.
Ayo’s scent is full of determination. “Will you do something for me? Will you shift?”
Jet glances at me, then back to Ayo, eyes full of an unusual level of caution. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? I don’t want to scare you again.”
Ayo nods sharply. “I’m sure. I don’t want to be scared of you. I refuse to be like the rest of my people, judging every member of a species negatively—especially based on the actions of one person.”
Jet’s scent fills with fondness before he shoves down his trousers and shifts. I pull Ayo back quickly to avoid him getting accidentally hit, because Jet didn’t account for how much bigger his animal is, the muppet.
Jet sits on his hindquarters and waits patiently, his tail flicking back and forth.
Cal and I stay close while Ayo takes a step forward. He stops. There’s still a hint of fear in his scent.
Jet lowers his head to the floor and looks up at Ayo. I’ll say this for the man; he knows how to look adorable in both his forms.
Ayo obviously agrees, because the fear dissipates and he crouches down in front of Jet. “Can I stroke you?”
Jet licks his hand, making Ayo grin and his scent fill with happiness and affection. If I didn’t like Jet so much I might be jealous of the effect his animal form has on Ayo. Jet chuffs happily as Ayo rubs his head first, then scratches behind his ears.
Okay, fine. My wolf is a little jealous.
“I really don’t think it’s Xana,” Ayo says as he and I close the door to my flat and head for the kitchen. We’re both starving and it’s been a long day. Dinner is definitely top priority.
“Based on what? She’s the only one on the suspect list with black fur.” It doesn’t rule out it being someone we’ve not identified as a suspect yet, but right now she’s the one we’relooking at. She’s also the woman from the meeting with Teo who was glaring at Ayo.
Ayo opens the fridge and considers the options. “Teo vouched for his people. He wouldn’t have someone in his inner circle who would do something as cold-blooded as murder.”
I toss my keys and phone onto the island before tugging Ayo into my arms. He comes willingly, something that never fails to please me.
