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“I used to hope you’d come back for me.”

Her eyes widened, and she shook her head. “How did you escape?” She stared at Kass with the same clear, sharp gaze that Bailey had. “Did you help him?”

Kass nodded but didn’t get the chance to answer.

“I was set up and went to jail because I wouldn’t do what I was told.” Bailey’s voice held an edge.

“Yes, punishment…except I wasn’t sent to jail.”

Bailey frowned. “What did they do to you?”

She swallowed and studied the ground for several heartbeats. “They gave me a baby to make sure I’d stay.”

Bailey rocked back into Kass. Kass held him. He hadn’t needed to hear that. He wanted to hate her for causing Bailey more pain, but she’d been damaged by the same family and she had no one to help her and hold her.

“We’re heading to a shack, I found. Let’s have some coffee and get warm.” Kass was already freezing his ass off.

“You were the one in my winter house?” She looked at him, lip drawn back as though to snarl, but she sniffed and stepped closer.

Bailey took a step forward as though to protect him.

“I thought it was abandoned, I’m sorry. I was taking Bailey there. I thought it would be a good place to shift from.” Clearly it was since it was already in use.

“I don’t have coffee,” she said.

“I do. In my bag.” And he also had snacks and a book to read. This wasn’t his first time out with Bailey, and sometimes Bailey lost track of time. One hour accidentally became four and then it was a long walk and then drive back home. He made sure to never have a place to be after shifting-in-the-wild day.

She handed the coat back to Bailey, then shifted into a snow leopard. Kass wasn’t quick enough when looking away. The half-shifted form still left him with a primitive urge to run.

Then Bailey’s mum was bounding through the trees and gone.

Bailey glanced at Kass.

Kass sighed. “Go. I’m sure you’ll be able to find me and the cabin.”

Bailey stripped fast, handing Kass his bag and clothes. He pressed in close for a kiss. His mouth was cold, and he tasted like frost, but he wanted to run with his mother.

“Are you going to be okay?”

“Yeah, I want to get to know her.”

“You aren’t going to go feral?”

“You don’t want to drop off the grid and live wild with me?”

Kass glanced up at the crystal blue sky. “No.” But he would, if that’s the way it had to be. “But we can come up here more often, and she can come and see us in the city.”

“I don’t think she’s seen the city in a very long time.”

“Yeah…be careful.” He gave Bailey a last kiss then stepped back to repack the bags into something easier to carry. He waited until the popping of bones was done, then glanced up. Bailey swished his tail, then bounded off into the bush.

As always, the lingering fear that someone would see a leopard and shoot was there. But he didn’t let it trouble him—Bailey was damn good at deflecting objects by borrowing Kass’s magic—instead he let Bailey’s enjoyment tumble through him as he slogged his way to the cabin.

He’d get a fire going and make it cozy, ready for when the shifters came back hungry and in need of warming up. By the time he reached the cabin, he was sweating under the layers. A ‘B’ had been marked in the snow. Bailey had already been here. Kass let him know that he’d gotten the message and that he was at the cabin. It looked no more stable than it had when he’d found it three months ago, but it was better than waiting outside.

He went in cautiously and checked for traps, but the single room was clear. A small fireplace and a wide bench that could be used as a seat or a bed was all that was inside. He dropped the bags, lit the fire, poured himself a drink of thermos coffee and sat to read and wait.

When Bailey came back, shouldering through the door in leopard form, the cabin was suddenly crowded and smelled like damp fur. Bailey put his paws on Kass’s shoulders and licked his face before ducking back out to shift and shake off the snow.