Page 15

“I’m sorry, sir.” Which wasn’t the same as agreeing, but it was as close as I could come at the moment. What else was there to say on that one? Nothing, really. It was apologize or get fired.

He took the paperwork from me, grumbling something about maybe next month I’d get it right, and then left. Good riddance. I went back to my room because I wasput a fork in medone. The night had been stressful enough before all of that. Mymate was at Animals, the paperwork was a disaster, and I was exhausted. It wasn’t a good mix.

I wasn’t past the door when I was already resolved to leave.

My mate’s cousin had offered me a job, sight unseen. There was no reason why I shouldn’t take it, sight unseen.

I grabbed my clothes and shoved them in my backpack. That was pretty much all I had, aside from the few toiletries and the hot pot.

I hadn’t even zipped my pack up when I called Dimitri. My plan was to have a nice conversation about accepting his cousin’s offer and asking him to put me up.

Instead, I broke down into tears, sobbing through the story about my asshole boss. “I should have just accepted the offer when you gave it.”

I sniffle-snorted. How disgusting.

“But I-I don’t know. That’s a lie, I do know. I was worried, maybe you weren’t even wanting the job either.” And having him take it for me when he didn’t want it wasn’t the kind of mate I aspired to be.

“I’m already halfway to you.,” His voice cut through my sobs. “And I honestly am not understanding half the words you’re saying, but I know you’re in distress, so put me on speakerphone and then just listen to my voice while I get to you.”

I did as he said, and we didn’t talk about any of the situation for the rest of his trip. I didn’t talk at all.

Instead, I listened as he told me about the first week his beast was in the city and how his bear adjusted to all the concrete and the lack of space. It was filled with silly anecdotes of growls at the coffee shop and cravings for salmon. And he finally had me smiling when he described the events that led him to shifting in his bathroom.

There were no real points to his stories other than to distract me from the asshole who was my boss, and it distracted meenough that when he came through the door, I was no longer crying. Although there was no hiding I had been. My eyes were bloodshot, my face tearstained.

He squatted, his arms open, and I collapsed into them, letting him hold me, letting him tell me we were okay.

“Let’s get you out of here.” He kissed the top of my head.

“Yeah. Okay.”

He took my backpack and my hot pot to the car while I went to drop off my keys at the office, put up the note about ringing the bell, and leave a separate note for my boss, with two words.I quit.

It was far from the most professional thing I had ever done, but then again, the way he treated me was far from professional.

I still couldn’t be mad at having taken the job. This motel led me to Gary, which led me to Animals, which led me to my mate. I’d be forever grateful to this rundown motel, my asshole boss, and even to Bob. But I didn’t belong here anymore, if I ever truly did. Time to move on.

I belonged with Dimitri, and maybe at Animals…that part I wasn’t sure of, but as long as we were together, location didn’t matter.

He was my mate.

He was my home.

He was my everything.

Chapter Twelve

Dimitri

When Karma told me to be patient, I had anticipated a lot longer than a few minutes, but, as my cousin said, she was right. And I was grateful it hadn’t taken that long, but I wondered if even she had realized how soon things would work out.

My bear had some excellent suggestions about how we could make it clear to Tyler’s former boss that people, especially our mate, shouldn’t be treated badly. But, as Karma pointed out when we arrived back at Animals, the other version of karma had a way of seeing to assholes like him. It was an indication of how angry it made her to hear about the situation that she even used that word. Warren looked surprised before bursting into laughter and enfolding her in a big hug.

“Let it go, little cousin. You heard what my mate said, and, as you’re learning, she’s always right.”

Once their hug ended, several minutes later, Karma seemed her cheerful self again, bustling off to get someone to prepare a larger living space for my mate and I. Although neither of us had much with us, we settled into a one bedroom apartment toward the back of the dwelling area with a big bed covered with colorful quilts and even a little kitchen area with a mini fridge, two-burner stove, and microwave oven. She assured us that was not a hint that we should be cooking. We could eat in the big kitchen, grab food to bring back or, if the mood struck, cook for ourselves. The chefs would allow us to shop among the pantry and fridge items as long as we told them what we took.

It was a fair drive to any kind of grocery store, so we appreciated our local options. And our home, which was already cozy, but a trip to the outlet stores where the charcuterie place was allowed us to personalize our space. We were on ourhoneymoon and spent most of our time off work just the two of us. Snuggling in bed, eating meals we did not cook but did fetch, and running free in the desert together. Our animals were as in love as we were, and we let them out at least once a day before or after work.