Page 3 of Briggs (Paranormal Council Enforcers #16)

Todd

I didn’t know if or when I would ever get used to sleeping in a house that was my own—well, on loan to me for as long as I wanted. But it was certainly a far cry from the cage I’d spent several years in. Although, sadly, even that cage had been a welcome sight at times.

I sat up in my bed and looked over toward the door, then over at the dresser that was on the other side of the room.

That was a new thing for me. Living on my own had provided a measure of relief that I hadn’t realized I needed.

Gone was the fear that I would inadvertently cause harm to one of my housemates.

I couldn’t harm them if I no longer lived with them.

I understood the need for us all to be together in the same house when we all first arrived, but when I’d been offered a place of my own, I was more than ready to take it.

Only Banner ever knew that I felt the need to barricade myself in my room and often did.

Well, and Dr. Swift. He had started working on that with me during therapy sessions a little over six months ago, and I finally felt comfortable enough to not have to block myself inside my bedroom at night.

I still woke up in my cheetah form sometimes but always curled up on my bed.

That in itself was an improvement that even Dr. Swift said wasn’t anything to worry about too much.

I would probably always worry about how I was doing when I woke up not in the form I went to bed in.

This morning was a good morning, though, because here I was: two legs and feet and arms and hands.

I tossed the covers back and headed for the bathroom across the hall.

First stop, the shower to turn the water on so it could warm up.

After that was accomplished, I emptied my bladder and brushed my teeth.

I missed my morning runs with Banner, but with him working in the bakery now, he was already at work by the time I needed to be at work.

I sighed. I was surprised that Dr. King hadn’t booted me from my job.

I knew he adored Cecil, and I didn’t blame him.

Cecil was amazing at the job, and he ran the omega clinic like it was a breeze.

I didn’t blame him for not coming back to work though.

He had enough going on with his new mate and twins.

Well, they’d been mated for almost a year now, and their twins were going to be turning one later this fall.

They were the cutest, and I couldn’t help but smile when Cecil stopped into the clinic to say hello.

Not wanting to go too far down that path of thoughts this morning, I shook my head and stepped into the shower. After spending so much time in a cage without even the basic amenities, I tended to take too long in the shower. I couldn’t help it; the water felt too amazing.

After spending more time than I really had, I finally turned off the water and climbed out of the shower. The clock on the wall told me I had to be at work in twenty minutes, so that meant I needed to hurry my behind along.

I finger combed my hair, then went back to my bedroom and threw on a polo and a pair of clean jeans.

Luckily for me, Dr. King didn’t mind if I wore jeans or slacks.

He just wanted me to look like I at least tried to look put together.

I shoved my feet into my shoes, reaching down to pull the heels out after they folded down.

I knew better, but I’d taken too long in the shower, and now I was going to have to rush.

I grabbed my phone, then left the bedroom.

I groaned when I saw that my coffeepot hadn’t brewed.

That was my fault, and I knew it. I’d forgotten to set it up last night.

I’d spent too much time running in my cheetah form, and when I’d gotten home, I was simply too tired.

I’d showered and then fallen into bed face-first.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and fired off a text to Banner. Hopefully, he could hook me up.

Me: I messed up. I forgot to set up my coffeepot. Can you make me up a coffee and throw something to eat in a bag for me? I’m way late for work.

Banner:

Me: Really? Never mind. I’ll ask Dr. King if I can run to the cafeteria.

My phone pinged again before I could put it back in my pocket.

Banner: I was only laughing because I was late too. Luckily for me, I work in the bakery. Yes, I’ll put something together for you. Just come to the side and grab it.

I smiled. Banner had been with me in that jungle, and it probably wasn’t completely healthy with how close we still were, but we had found that it helped both of us when it came to dealing with everything we’d gone through.

Me: Thanks. I’ll leave money on the counter for it. I really appreciate it.

I slid my phone into my pocket and left the house.

I was only about a ten-minute jog from the council building, and the omega clinic was directly behind it, with the bakery just off to the side.

It would only take a few extra minutes to swing by the bakery, and I knew that Banner wouldn’t be upset that I didn’t have time to hang out and chat.

We spent a lot of time together in the evenings anyway, so I’d make sure I did something nice in return.

As I was hurrying along, I thought of my new worry: John and Tracy. I owed it to my siblings to be the one raising them. They’d been found, and thankfully, they hadn’t suffered the same fate I had. If there was anything to be thankful for, that was it.

I had tried when they’d first been brought here, I honestly did, but my demons still had too much control over me, and after I had woken up in my cheetah form swiping at John one morning, I had asked that the council find somewhere else for them to stay.

At least for a bit. Thankfully, John had seemed to understand, and Tracy honestly barely remembered me and seemed to enjoy staying with Alpha Babak and Alpha Mate Mina.

Yes, my siblings were staying with the created cheetah and his mate. How was this my life?

It hurt that I wasn’t the one taking care of my siblings, and I knew I was letting my parents down.

But I needed them to be safe more than for them to be with me.

I spent time with them almost daily, and now that John was shifting, he and I would often go running with Banner in the evenings before I returned him to Alpha Babak’s house.

Somehow, my life was a mess, and I didn’t know how to fix it.

I glanced down at my phone and realized I’d been so lost in thought that I’d slowed down on my trek to the bakery, and I was really short on time before I needed to be at work.

I took off, all but running the rest of the way to Council Square.

I could smell the bakery from the other side of the council building, but that wasn’t anything new.

Not all shifters had a super sniffer, but I happened to be one who did.

It had been somewhat of an asset while held captive, but in the end, it didn’t help me too much.

I could evade them for a bit, but they always cheated and would use tranquilizer guns when they couldn’t catch us.

I shook my head, trying to keep it here in the present.

Dwelling on my years spent in a cage never brought about good days, and I wanted today to be a good one.

It was Monday, and those always seemed to be overly hectic.

From outside, I could see all the people inside the bakery and wondered just how Banner had time to reply to me if they were that busy.

When I opened the door, there were at least fifteen, if not more, people waiting.

Some were standing in line to place their orders at the counter, while others were off to the side waiting.

Banner happened to see me, pointed toward the far wall, and I quickly crossed the room. I smiled at Tate, who was standing at the end of the counter while pulling out several pastries and donuts for one of the enforcers.

“It’s back here,” Tate said. “Just crouch under and grab it.”

“Thanks,” I said. I did as told and found my coffee and a small box. I wanted to moan at what I was sure was pure bliss in that box, but I didn’t. Instead, I pulled out the twenty I had in my pocket and placed it on the counter where the box and cup had been.

“Thanks, Tate. If you guys calm down, tell Banner thanks for me too.”

“I will. Give us an hour though,” he said while chuckling.

I grinned back at him while ducking under the end of the counter.

A glance in Banner’s direction showed him talking to two others, completely occupied with what he was doing, so I left the bakery.

I received a few glances on my way out, but I ignored them because I wasn’t going to let anything get to me today.

I needed to have a good week because lately things had been extra rough.

It was probably time to schedule another appointment with Dr. Swift, one that was beyond my normal monthly appointment.

Thankfully, I was able to recognize that.

There were many different things that could cause it, and despite my trying to focus on myself and see if I could pinpoint what exactly the issue was, I was coming up with nothing.

I assumed it was most likely all of the stress of trying to do everything I felt I needed to do, but I didn’t know how to not worry about it.

I walked around to the back of the omega clinic, staring off at the enforcer housing that was off in the distance behind it.

At times, I wondered what happened with the enforcers who got us out of there.

I knew they were here somewhere, at least I thought they were.

I, like many others, had been so out of it when we’d been rescued that I didn’t really know up from down at that time.

It had been a while for me to even shift back into my human form, and when I had, it had taken me a bit to trust those who were trying to help us.