Southern Shifters: Purred Promises (Kindle Worlds Novella) by R. E. Butler Read Free Book Online

toilet. After washing her hands, she peeked into the bedroom and saw that Jair was still sleeping. Tiptoeing to the pile of clothes on the floor, she lifted her panties and stifled a groan to see that they were torn. She picked up his t-shirt and tugged it on instead of her own clothes, since the shirt was long enough to cover her butt. She didn’t plan to be gone from bed too long, anyway.
    Hurrying to the kitchen, she found it entirely lacking of anything except a microwave and fridge. No coffee pot or toaster sat on the yellow counter . Guessing that he didn’t do much cooking, she opened the fridge and found it to be very typically male: stocked with mostly beer and meat.
    Digging through a drawer, she found a package of steaks and pulled it out, along with some bottled water. A well-used cast iron pan sat on the stove, and she turned the burner on underneath it and waited for it to heat up. When the steaks were sizzling and the scent of roasting meat filled the air, she twisted the top off a bottle of water and drank half without stopping.
    Poking at the steaks , she turned them and then walked through the kitchen into the family room. She lifted the blinds from the large front window and saw that the sun was rising. She couldn’t believe how her life had changed in just a single moment.
    Going to the bar with Mona and Dillon had started off straightforwardly enough. She met Bhric, keenly aware that he studied her closely, his gaze flitting down to her wrist and then up to her eyes.
    “It’s pretty simple here. Stay in our territory. If you go into the wolf or cougar territories, you could be hurt or killed, so don’t do it. Mona said you’ll be staying with them for a while. I’m arranging for you to have a place of your own, but at the moment we’re short on available homes. Don’t cause trouble, and if you need anything or if anyone gives you a hard time, come to me or Greer, my right hand.”
    She nodded at the big male. He looked scary – he was huge and muscular, with a scowl that looked like it could melt paint off the walls – but her cat was glad that someone so fierce had her back.
    Mona and Dillon led her to a table and they all sat down. She could feel everyone’s eyes on her. Her cat was curious and wary of being near all these different types of shifters. Her normal had been all lynxes , all the time. The bar had so many varieties, though she hadn’t scented any other lynxes.
    “Do you want to dance?” Mona asked, patting her hand.
    “Not really. But you should.”
    Dillon stood and held his hand out to Mona. He glanced at Genesis and said, “Don’t let anyone hassle you. Just because you’re new and a purebred doesn’t mean that there’s something wrong with you.”
    “Why would people care that I’m a purebred?”
    His brow arched. “This is the land of misfit creatures. Being one sin gle type of animal is unusual. But don’t worry. They can see you’re with us . I just want you to be aware that you’re new, and new people are a curiosity.”
    Trying to smile but grimacing instead, she waved Mona and Dillon away. A waitress, scenting of both wolf and cougar, came up and dropped off three beers.
    “I didn’t order anything,” Genesis said.
    The waitress winked. “On the house , from the boss.”
    She wasn’t much of a drinker, but she took a sip anyway, the cold brew making her shiver. It was warm outside, but it was cool in the b ar. She shimmied from the table and walked toward the door. The moment she stepped outside, she’d met Jair and the world changed for her yet again . She’d had less than nothing before she wal ked out the door – no family, few friends, no money, no job – but in Jair’s arms she felt like she had everything she could ever want.
    Turning her attention back to the kitchen, she checked on the steaks and removed them from the heat. She placed them on a plate, grabbed utensils from a drawer, and tucked the water bottles under her arm, carrying