Page 3 of A Home for Tyler (Omegas of Animals #14)

Dimitri

My apartment was nice, considering how little time I spent there.

Between long working hours, business dinners, visits to the gym for my human form and occasional weekends in the country to let my bear free, I spent almost no time at home.

My furnishings were like new, and I’d never gotten around to hanging anything on the walls.

It pretty much looked like a hotel suite, all dressed up with few signs of inhabitation.

How long would I have been able to maintain the lifestyle I had without causing serious harm to my bear?

When I let him out in the state park, he sucked in air as if he’d been suffocated, and the thought made me ache.

I had to do better for him, which meant that even if I did stay in the human business world it wouldn’t be here in the city.

My lease wasn’t up for a year, but I would look into subletting the place when I got back from the desert. My life lay elsewhere. At the den? In a smaller town? I wasn’t sure, but here was not the answer. Not anymore.

I spent a few days taking care of business and, as I visited the management office to let them know I’d be away for a while, I lucked onto a tenant to sublet my unit for the remainder of my lease.

I hadn’t been into the office since I signed my lease, but the same woman sat behind the counter, and if I didn’t know better I’d swear she wore the same suit.

Eggplant slacks and blazer over a white blouse with one of those deep, fluffy ruffles like I’d seen in pictures of the 1980s.

Shoulder pads. Actually it had to be the same outfit.

There couldn’t be two like that in modern times.

She was speaking to a young man in his early twenties who was definitely dressed for business and in the current decade. Neat slacks, a white button-down shirt open at the collar and running shoes. “I wish we could help you, sir,” the management lady said. “But we don’t do short-term rentals here.”

“My boss is looking for somewhere to rent for a year or so while we are building the new arena. He will be in town about three days a week, and he hates hotels. Everything else I’ve looked at has been either overpriced for what they offer, unattractively furnished, or not conveniently located.

This complex is just blocks away from our location.

” He shrugged. “Let me leave you a card in case you change your mind or anything comes up.”

“Hi, Marie.” I entered the conversation. “I am sorry to interrupt, but I was just stopping by to tell you I was going to be away for a while.”

“Dimitri, right?” She held up one finger. “As soon as I finish with this gentleman, I’ll be right with you.”

“We’re done.” He passed her the card and turned to go.

“No, wait, please? I might be able to help you out. I’ve just left my position here in town and am considering taking one in another area.” Den beta, but no need to explain that now. “And I was considering subletting my unit for the rest of the lease.”

“Really?” The young man turned to face me. “How long is that?”

“About a year.”

His smile transformed his face, stress easing. “I’ve been hunting for a week. Can I see the place?”

Marie jumped to her feet. “Wait. You can’t just sublet to anyone you want.”

“I beg your pardon?” I had liked that feature of the lease to start with, so I knew that wasn’t strictly true. “I can sublet according to my contract with you. I presume your boss or the company has good credit?”

“Of course.” He sounded insulted.

“Then nobody can object if I sublet to you.” I cast a glare at the manager and headed for the door. “Come and see if it’s a good fit for your boss.”

I had to put off my trip for a couple of days to pack up all my personal items and put them in the storage area that came with the apartment, but when I left, I was going to not only not have to worry about the rent but would be making a small profit every month.

And I had nowhere to go back to. Only the future ahead of me.

So I drove out of the city and down the highway feeling adventurous and a little nervous.

But I was only going to take a break from working, visit my family, and then decide what to do next.

I missed den life, spending time with others of my kind, but I also liked the work I did for my former company.

If my department hadn’t been shut down, I’d have likely stayed for the rest of my working career.

But that was a done deal, and it was an opportunity for a reset.

I had to look at it that way for my sanity’s sake.

After telling us that everything was great and we were not in any trouble, they’d turned right around and let us go.

And our department wasn’t the only one. I had heard from a coworker and from Bonnie. It seemed we’d just been the first.

But none of that was problem anymore. I was driving south, leaving the foggy climes behind in favor of the Sonoran Desert. I’d never been to Animals, although our den wasn’t very far away. But when I left home, I was underage.

So, I only knew Warren from some family get-togethers and his mate, Karma, not at all.

She was legendary, though, and my cousins all insisted I needed to meet her.

It was nice to drive along, stopping where I wanted to, seeing the sights and letting my bear be free whenever he chose.

He’d been patient with me while I worked in an office that suffocated him, accepting his rare times of freedom, and did not make any demands.

It was time I changed my life so we both had what we wanted and needed. Past time.

I’m so sorry. As I crossed the border into Arizona, I promised myself and him not to be so selfish again. I had needs, but so did he. And whatever he needed, I’d be listening to make sure I didn’t leave him in the background again.

It’s all right.

No, it’s not, but it will be. Starting today.

The mountains in the distance sometime later were very different from the green or snow-capped peaks we’d left behind.

Their reddish slopes were a sign that I was getting close to my cousin’s club.

Nestled in the Superstition Mountains, the club was at the front of a series of cliff dwellings that our den had occupied over hundreds of years.

It had been abandoned for some time, but Warren had made it a refuge for not only bears but other shifters and, since Karma arrived, all sorts of other people.

I couldn’t wait to see it.