Page 29 of Wedding the Werepanther

An elderly woman on the sidewalk spots us and walks over, her cane thumping against the ground as she speeds up. A poof of silver hair with a pale-purple sheen surrounds her light face, and she wears a bright-yellow tracksuit. A large golden retriever strains at the end of a leash as the tulips run past, snuffling hard to try to scent the flowers. The town’s protection spell makes non-magical humans see them as cats. I wonder what the dog sees and smells.

“Young man, I’ve been meaning to speak with you.” The wrinkles around her eyes deepen as she studies me with cool assessment.

I shoot Kayla a questioning glance.

“Hi, Mrs. Greely,” Kayla says. “Do you know Shadow? He’s a friend of Rune’s.”

“Now there’s a nice young man.” The elderly woman’s voice softens. “He did such a good job with the Fall Festival last year.”

I smirk. Of course she likes the wolf—she’s clearly a dog person.

She thumps the sole of my shoe with her cane. “That, however, does not excuse your actions.”

“I’m sorry,” I say, using my most conciliatory tone. I have no idea what I’m apologizing for, but it doesn’t matter. If Rune can make this matriarch happy, then so can I.

“I’ve seen you streaking across the green several times now. There are children in this town. It’s just not done.”

Ah, the human nudity taboo. To me, my werepanther form is well covered with fur. But for non-magical humans, the protection spell makes them see me as a naked man.

“I’m going to raise the issue at the next town meeting to get an ordinance passed.” Mrs. Greely gives me a disapproving look. “Youwillbe at the town meeting.”

“Wouldn’t miss it.” It’s not a lie. I’ve attended all of the meetings since I moved to Ferndale Falls, because Kayla goes to them.

As the elderly woman moves away, Kayla bites on a knuckle, shoulders shaking. “You’re in for it now,” she gasps in between chuckles. “Shoulda known all that naked was going to get you into trouble one day.”

“You can’t tell me I’m the only person to ever be naked in town.”

“People skinny dip at the waterfall sometimes, but Main Street?” She shrugs and gestures toward me. “That’s all you.”

I extend the bakery box toward her and grin. “I’m one of a kind.”

“You sure aresomething, all right.” Kayla snorts and picks up her second donut.

The last of my jelly donut goes down in a bright burst of delightfully sweet and tart raspberry. Fruit’s yet another thingI’ve recently discovered, pleasantly surprised to find my fae form enjoys it so much after a lifetime of meat.

“We need to talk about Victoria’s behavior.” I bite into my last donut, the sweet maple glaze perfectly offset by the tiny pieces of salty bacon topping.

“I know, right? This marriage thing is bad enough, but now she’s turning off the lights or the hot water to get what she wants.” Kayla shakes her head.

“I think she has the emotional development of a youngling.” At Kayla’s thoughtful frown, I continue. “Victoria might be as intelligent as an adult, but she’s still quite young.”

“Okay.” My wife nibbles on her donut while she thinks, then swallows. “Say you’re right, what does that mean for us?”

“We can’t react like we would with an adult. Getting angry and demanding that she change her behavior will backfire. We have to set firm boundaries and explain why what she did is wrong.”

Shock flickers across Kayla’s pretty face. “How do you know so much about children?”

“Cat sith live in packs. We raise kits communally.” I give a casual shrug and grin. “I am, of course, everyone’s favorite ‘uncle.’”

“You’re a funcle.” She points at me with her donut. “I can totally see it.”

“Funcle?”

“Fun uncle.”

“Sure am. I should get a T-shirt.” I gesture to hers.

She laughs, a sweet chuckle that makes her whole body shake. Goddess, what a delightful sound!