Page 17

Theo

“Curiosity killed the cat.”

Theodore Bailey cringed at the deep voice coming behind him. In his short twenty years on earth, Theo had been scared countless times, but he knew this was one of the times he’d feel pain physically, not just emotionally or mentally.

“Here, kitty, kitty, kitty.”

Instincts throbbed, urging Theo into running, but it was too late for that. For him. He tried to fight his terror, but it was no good. Fighting never worked, and most of the time it just made the pain last longer. He let his shoulders fall as he accepted his fate. Tightening his hold on the strap of his worn backpack, Theo turned to press his shoulders against damp brick, the liberal arts building he’d been trying to get to.

Three dark forms materialized from the shadows. Theo kept his eyes downcast, hoping not to incite any further anger. He sniffed. Canine. Dogs, just his luck.

“He’s a pretty one,” a southern-accented voice practically purred.

“I told you,” the first voice, deep and dark, responded.

“What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue?” the southern voice taunted.

Theo wanted to roll his eyes at the ridiculous cat jokes, but he wouldn’t dare do so where he might be seen.

“He’s already trembling.” The new voice sent a shiver of dread down Theo’s spine. The tone sounded conversational, but the evil undertone was unmistakable. This one was going to enjoy hurting him.

“Yeah, Chris,” the first voice, the one Theo recognized as belonging to Mike, an asshole in his English class, said with a laugh. “He’s not going to put up a fight. Are you, kitten?” He stopped in front of Theo and reached out a hand to caress Theo’s cheek.

“Pity,” Chris replied. “I like a little fight in my prey. What about you, Bry?”

Southern twang hummed. “Sometimes I don’t mind a submissive boy. Especially one who knows what to do with his mouth. Do you know what to do with your mouth, pussy boy?”

The words were harsh against Theo’s right ear.

Theo shook his head. He wanted to beg to be left alone but knew that wouldn’t do him any good.

Mike’s hand dropped from his cheek to close around Theo’s throat. Theo gasped, but the fingers tightened quickly.

“I wonder,” Chris mused as he crowded against Theo’s front. “Maybe this little puss puss is lying.” He shoved three fingers into Theo’s mouth and down his throat.

Theo bucked. Even knowing any fight would cause him more pain, but his attackers weren’t going to give him much mercy anyway. He tried to push the men away from him but even as he struggled, laughter wrapped around him as tightly as hard arms. Screaming didn’t help. Chris shoved his fingers deeper down Theo’s throat as Mike’s fingers cut off his air supply.

Pure panic filled him. He’d always managed to keep one thing as his very own. He’d never been violated! Theo wasn’t sure he would be able to fight off these three men. They were much bigger than him, stinking of alcohol and evil. They laughed as Theo struggled as hard as he could.

Life had never been fair. Since he was two years old, dropped into the cold and heartless foster system, Theo had to rely on his own self to survive. Some days all he managed to do was barely exist, but it was getting harder and harder to come up with reasons to fight any longer.

His backpack was yanked from his arm and pain shot through him. The back of his head slammed against the hard brick before he was flung around. Throwing his hands out in front of him didn’t stop his face from smashing against the brick.

Three bodies covered him, one right behind him and two bracketing his sides.

Theo closed his eyes as he considered his options. He wasn’t a physical fighter—at barely five foot four, he was small, underweight, and skinny. He only had one real option, but running wasn’t the smartest idea. These monsters would follow him. He would have to be quick and smart.

Hard fingers gripped his hips as the body at his back leaned into him.

“I’m going to make you scream, kitten,” Mike vowed.

It was now or never. Theo threw his head back and his skull connected with Mike’s nose. Mike screeched and his hold loosened. It was just enough.

Calling on the magic of his kind, Theo allowed the shift to take him over.

“Shit! Grab him!” Mike’s voice was hoarse as he reached for Theo again.

It was too late. Theo was already transforming. His body shrank as fur sprouted along his skin.

“Hey! What’s going on down there?” a new voice yelled.

In the middle of his shift, Theo couldn’t have stopped it if he tried. He completed the transformation, his feline body falling into the old jeans and T-shirt he’d been wearing when human.

“What the fuck! Get off him!” his would-be savior called. He was coming closer. Running fast, feet slapping against the pavement.

Theo was not going to wait around to see who had tried to come to his rescue. Theo pushed his nose from under the bundle of clothing before darting off to the side.

His attackers jumped away from him as they were joined. Chris’s head snapped back after the rescuer punched him hard in the face. Blood spurted from Chris’s nose as the other two attackers turned on the newcomer. The hero hit Chris two more times before Chris was down and out.

Theo caught light brown hair and a flash of soft brown eyes under the dim yellow light before his rescuer threw himself toward the two attackers. There was a scar on the right side of his face but that didn’t take away the attractiveness of the stranger. Instead, Theo had the unexplainable desire to lick at the puckered flesh.

He shook his head, getting his mind back on the danger in front of him.

Theo’s protector was taking on both men with fast, effective moves, which had Theo stopping to appreciate the sight. He didn’t recognize this man. Theo sniffed—human—but he could fight. Mentally he wished his knight in ripped jeans and a tank top good luck before he slunk into the shadows and away. Once he was at the side of the building, Theo picked up pace and ran like his life depended on it. It was cowardly, but that was Theo. He wasn’t a fighter. He wasn’t a hero. He was a victim, had always been a victim.

Theo ran as fast as his four little paws could carry him back toward his dorm. Not that he knew what to do once he got there. He was in his shifter form, his clothes and backpack left behind—he didn’t have his electronic ID card, or his keys.

His dorm building came into sight.

Theo sprinted across the lit sidewalk to the bushes that bordered the concrete steps leading into the building. He buried his small body in the middle of the shrubs and dropped down. His heart beat fast, his head pounded, and fear trickled through his body.

It wasn’t supposed to be this way!

He’d worked so hard to get into the state college, to work enough hours for money, that he deserved to be just another twenty-year-old student. Just like the ones he saw walking around campus in groups, laughing and enjoying life.

Theo didn’t laugh. He didn’t enjoy life. He’d watched so many shows, read many books, but college wasn’t anything like he’d imagined. No, instead of falling into a group of friends that he’d keep for life, instead of meeting the professor that would see his hidden potential and take him under his wing, instead of finding the boy that caught his eye, Theo was as alone on campus as he’d been his entire life.

Students came and went as the night grew later and darker. Theo remained hidden under the bushes as everyone around went on with life as if nothing was wrong. And for them nothing was. They hadn’t almost been assaulted heading into one of the buildings. They called out greetings to friends and people they knew. They laughed and joked, talking about what party they’d go to that weekend.

Burying his nose under his paws, Theo let out the softest of whines before he swallowed it down.

Ears perked and alert, Theo closed his eyes as his heart rate slowed and the adrenaline gradually seeped from his body.

He must have dozed off.

Theo blinked open his eyes, the world around him remained quiet and still. He twitched his whiskers, searching for trouble, for danger, but there was nothing…no one around. He crept cautiously out of his hiding spot. He couldn’t stay in the bushes forever. Theo needed a plan. He’d loop around the liberal arts building and just check things out. Maybe his backpack, and hopefully his clothes, had been forgotten in the fight. He needed his jeans where he’d stuck his ID card. That card got him into buildings, held his funds for the dining hall, and was basically his life as a student. If he had to replace it…Theo didn’t even know how to get a replacement.

It must be late. There were no students milling around, and the campus was dark and eerie. Theo couldn’t pick up on any lingering malevolence, but he was still careful and kept to the shadows.

It seemed to take forever to get back to the building he’d run from only hours before. Of course, he was already exhausted. He hadn’t had dinner. Hellcats, Theo hadn’t even had lunch, and only a granola bar for breakfast. He’d been planning on grabbing a quick bite in the dining hall after he’d picked up a book from his philosophy professor. Theo had promised Professor Blake that he would meet him after the professor’s last class. Professor Blake would be angry with him for missing their appointment.

Professor Blake wasn’t a bad guy, but he was stern and had no time for nonsense. Being able to borrow the book had been a privilege and he was screwed. Theo didn’t have the money to purchase the book and now the professor was probably going to be so mad that he wouldn’t let Theo borrow what he needed for his next assignment.

It just wasn’t fair!

It wasn’t like Theo had wanted to get caught unawares behind the building. He knew better than to be out and walking the campus when others weren’t around for him to blend into. Theo didn’t like attracting trouble. He just couldn’t help it. Had it always been this way? Theo didn’t know. It must have been. Theo had no memories from his childhood when he’d just been safe and secure. This must be why his parents had abandoned him. Trouble. It should have been his middle name.

Finally, finally, reaching the liberal arts building, Theo stopped while sniffing the air. The scent of his attackers had faded. He also couldn’t hear anyone else around. It had to be safe.

Crouching, he carefully, slowly, crept forward until he could peek around the building.

He almost yelped when he spotted the lone figure sitting with his back to the brick wall that Theo’s face had been smashed against earlier.

Thanks to Theo’s shifted form, his night vision was sharp and precise. He recognized the ripped jeans and tank top of his would-be savior. Or was he an actual savior? The canine shifters hadn’t come after him. Still, Theo didn’t know if he should consider the human male propped up against the building a real savior or not. Why had he run in and helped Theo? It just didn’t make sense. No one had ever cared to help him in the past. It was a lot to think about. His head throbbed even harder. He was never going to be able to get rid of his headache.

And why was the guy still in the alley?

He didn’t look injured as he sat, legs bent to rest his elbows on his knees, fiddling with something in his hand. Theo perked up his ear…was the guy playing a game on his phone? What the heck?

Curious—he was feline after all, a shifter cat—Theo skulked forward. He inched forward one small step at a time. He could hear the chirps from the game, Angry Birds, and snorted. Really? This guy came along, beat up Theo’s attackers, then sat down to play a game? What a weirdo!

Keeping to the shadows, Theo watched the strange human until finally the guy sighed and put his phone away. He rubbed the back of his head, his brown hair falling through his thick fingers, as he peered around.

When his gaze swept over Theo’s hiding spot, he paused.

Theo froze. There was no way that a human would be able to see him.

“Well, hello there,” the human cooed.

No. Freaking. Way!

“I’m not going to hurt you.” The human chuckled. “Come here.”

Maybe he just thought that Theo was an average cat. Maybe this guy was an animal lover or something.

“I promise I’m not here to hurt you. I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I figured you’d have to come back for these.” He picked up Theo’s clothes that had been folded on top of Theo’s backpack.

Crap! What was happening right now?

“Are you okay?”

This…this human was speaking to him like…like he knew what Theo was. And he wasn’t freaking out. Even if he saw Theo shift, shouldn’t this guy be afraid?

“I chased those guys off. I don’t know who they are, but I warned them not to mess with you again,” the human said.

Theo sneezed. He didn’t think that Mike was going to give up that easily. He’d leered at Theo since classes began a month ago.

The human smiled. “I can be very convincing when I need to be. They won’t mess with you again.”

Who did this human think he was? Mike and his buddies were shifters—they were not going to take orders, or be afraid, of one human. Even if it did appear that the human had chased them off. Maybe they were looking for Theo at this very moment. Theo was the prize they wanted, not this human.

Frowning, the human placed Theo’s clothes down on his backpack. He rose and Theo had to strain his neck to keep the human’s face in view. It was a pretty face after all. Theo was small in human form but as a cat, yeah, he was practically tiny to this tall human. Even if he was the biggest of the house cats.

The human brushed dirt from his backside as he continued to watch Theo. Theo was certain the human could see him, even if that shouldn’t have been possible.

“My name is Wylder. Wylder Carter. If you…if you need anything…if those guys come back or mess with you again, I’m in Foster Hall. I could…I could help you again. If you need me.”

This was all too bizarre for Theo. Still there was something about the human, about the softness in his eyes, that made Theo want to be brave, to get closer to him.

He stepped forward then froze as he tried to gather his courage.

The human—no, Wylder— didn’t move. He didn’t do anything but smile at Theo.

Theo took another step.

His back was arched, his hair stood on end, but the human just waited. Even when it started to mist, Wylder didn’t try to hurry Theo. Theo, on the other hand, hated rain. He hated being wet. Even in September the weather could be unpredictable and rain showers could catch him by surprise. Of course, he wouldn’t normally be out this late either.

The rain began to fall harder. The wetness running into his thick fur. Yuck.

Darting forward, between Wylder’s legs, Theo yowled his displeasure.

“What’s wrong?” Wylder crouched down. He trailed his hand down Theo’s back, wiping away the moisture. “Not a fan of the rain?”

Theo batted a paw and hissed. Of course he wasn’t a fan of the rain! He was a cat!

“I don’t…” Wylder shook his head. “Look, little dude, I don’t have, like, an umbrella or anything.”

Theo sighed. He knew that. He did have eyes, after all. ‘Meow’ he offered.

“Uh, okay.” Wylder ran his hand over the back of his hair again.

The rain was soaking him down, not that Theo really wanted to complain about that. He might not like being wet, but the drenched material of the thin tank top clung to the muscles of Wylder’s chest. Theo could follow every ridge and bulge. And speaking of bulges, oh goodness, the sodden jeans hugged Wylder’s lower body so tight, showing Theo just a taste of what the human was packing.

Holy Hellcats. Theo couldn’t look away.

“Well…” Wylder tapped the toe of his tennis shoe. “I’m guessing that you aren’t going to shift in front of me and we’re both getting soaked.” He waved toward Theo’s belongings. “All your stuff is there.”

‘Meow.’ Yeah, that was helpful, so he gave his thanks.

“I’ll go now so you can get dressed and get inside.”

Theo would appreciate it.

“I guess I’ll see you around.” Wylder took a step away from Theo. “It was good to sort of meet you, Theo Bailey.”

Theo stopped mid-step. He turned to glower at Wylder. How did the human know his name? ‘Mer.’

“I wasn’t sure if you would come back. I looked at your ID so I could get your name.”

He went through Theo’s stuff? Rude! Theo hissed.

“Yeah.” Wylder held his hands up in a peace gesture. “Probably overstepped there. Sorry.”

‘Mer. Mer. Me-ow.’ Theo told him off.

Wylder grimaced. “That didn’t sound complimentary.” He stepped back. “I’ll go.”

Theo sneezed. Good!

“See you around, Theo,” Wylder said with a soft smile.

No, Wylder was not going to see him around. Theo would avoid him at all costs. Yes, that was what he would do. Wylder knew what—who—Theo was. That was bad, bad, bad.

He waited until Wylder had disappeared around the corner before he moved to the pile of his stuff. He didn’t look forward to having to put wet clothes on. Oh well, he’d better get it over with.

Just before he started his shift, Theo caught the most alluring scent in the entire world. It was a mix of Wylder and something else, something dark, but enchanting, like hot chocolate on a cold winter night.

Theo buried his face in his own jeans and inhaled deeply.

He’d never detected such an alluring scent in his entire life. A scent that affected his entire body. Theo wanted to roll around in it like it was a handful of catnip. Wow, he must be more exhausted than he thought.

Forcing himself to pull away, Theo called on his shift.

Even crouched, naked, back in his human form, Theo could still catch faint traces of that captivating aroma. He breathed in deeply one last time before he rose and dressed. He didn’t know what that scent was but something inside told him that it was connected to Wylder. Just another reason for Theo to stay clear of the attractive human.

He tugged his backpack on before he scurried away from the building that would house both sickening and fascinating memories for the rest of his life. Theo could have been seriously hurt, violated, even killed, but a human that Theo had never met had rushed to his aid. Sure, by the time Wylder had hollered, Theo had already been attempting his escape, but Theo was going to give himself credit for his own efforts.

Keeping his head down, Theo hurried through the rain and straight to his dorm room. As he passed Foster Hall, he could have sworn that he caught sight of ripped jeans and a wet tank top, but that was silly. Wylder should be inside and tucked away in his room by now. At least Theo knew one place he needed to avoid.

His own dorm building came into view and Theo sighed in relief. He pulled his ID from his back pocket before rushing up the steps. He scanned and was admitted into the building with three quick beeps. Finally!