Chapter 5
Sunny walked beside Seneca and Jupiter as they made their way through the closed park. Overhead lights illuminated the pathways, but the only thing Sunny really cared about was checking out Seneca.
He was larger than life—tall, broad, stacked with yummy muscles.
And she could feel his bear, all warmth and protectiveness.
All she could think about was being in his arms again, but she didn’t want to rush things. She needed time to sort through how quickly her life had changed in less than a day.
And she couldn’t get over how many shifters were at this safari park, hiding in plain sight of humans.
Gorillas and elephants on top of lions, wolves, and bears.
She’d never met any shifters but big cats, and while she’d been aware of a few other types like wolves and bears, that was the extent of her knowledge of shifters. She wondered what else was out there.
Shaking her thoughts to the present and the sexy fellow beside her, she said, “Do you have an apartment of your own in the complex?”
Seneca cleared his throat. “I have a place of my own like the others who live and work here, but the apartments are for visitors or when a shifter has a soulmate who can’t know the truth.”
“Ah. That makes sense,” she said. “So how long have you been here at the park?”
“Since I was a kid. My dad and I left our sleuth when I was young after his mate, my mom, passed away from an illness.”
“I’m sorry you lost your mom,” she said, her tigress letting out a soft, sad purr.
“I’m sorry you lost your parents too,” he said. “I’ve never met a tiger shifter before, and I didn’t know they could be so vicious as to attack one of their own for being soulmates with a human.”
“I’m thankful they didn’t care enough about me to track me down.”
He let out a low growl. “You were safe with the jaguars until the new alpha took over?”
“Yeah, Dario always was a jackass. I was a little surprised to be exiled so fast after he took over, but I’m just glad I had the opportunity to leave and he didn’t just try to kill me as a warning to the prowl about taking in outsiders.
” He had warned her he’d kill her if he ever saw her again, and what bothered her most about that was not getting to see Fallon and Sera again.
Jupiter snarled. “Alphas like him believe fear is the best way to lead. They move people around like pawns because it suits them. Our alphas aren’t like that. But we’ve certainly run into people like him in the past.”
She shivered. “I hope I never see him again.”
“He’ll be sorry if he shows up,” Seneca said.
She peeked at him. Was she blushing again? Her cheeks were hot.
Damn he was sexy, all growly and protective.
Down, girl.
Was it supposed to be like this? She felt like she couldn’t stop thinking about how sexy he was and how attracted to him she was, but maybe it was because they were soulmates.
She’d honestly never thought she’d have a soulmate. Who would want a half-human soulmate who couldn’t shift? Not any male she’d ever met. But Seneca didn’t seem to care and that endeared her to him even more.
The two-story apartment complex came into view, surrounded by trees and well-lit by security lights. A large male stood by one of the doors with her bags.
“Hey, Zane,” Seneca said, then introduced her to him.
“My dad sent me with your bag,” he said. “The car is in our employee lot and the keys are in the lot’s guard station. Welcome to the park.”
“Thank you,” Sunny said.
Zane left, and Jupiter opened the door to an apartment on the first floor using a keypad. He pushed it open and flipped on a light that illuminated the living room, but didn’t walk inside.
“You’re not under house arrest or anything, but don’t leave the apartment without an escort.
It’s just for safety’s sake. You can obviously talk to Seneca about anything you need, but there’s also a list of inter-park numbers next to the phone in the kitchen so you can call the security office and other staffed areas in the park.
” Jupiter paused and then said, “I’m sorry for what you endured, but I’m glad you made it here safely. Rest well, you’re safe here.”
He nodded at Seneca and then left. Seneca made a you first gesture and she walked into the apartment. He lifted her bag and followed, but before the apartment door closed behind him, another male appeared.
“Hey, Fell,” Seneca said. “This is Sunny, my soulmate. Sweetheart, this is Fell, one of the bears in our sleuth.”
The male held a large cardboard box filled with paper bags. “Nice to meet you, Sunny. Marcus sent me with food and drinks. You can do a real stock of the kitchen tomorrow, but this will get you through until morning.”
“It’s nice to meet you too, Fell,” Sunny said as her stomach growled. “Thank you so much for bringing that here.”
Seneca let out a low grumble, his upper lip curling, and it was one hundred percent adorable.
Fell grinned. “Sorry, he must think I’m being too cute.”
Sunny chuckled.
“Keep those dimples to yourself,” Seneca said, giving him a gentle shove toward the small kitchen and following him.
Sunny turned in a small circle to look around the living room. It was decorated in dark green, with a sectional sofa, coffee table, and flat-screen hanging over an electric fireplace. A small desk in the corner held a desktop computer, and there was a bookshelf with a few books.
“Are you hungry, sweetheart?” Seneca called. “There’s sandwiches and amazing potato salad.”
“Definitely,” she said as she walked into the kitchen, which had small appliances and a café table with two chairs.
“I’m heading out,” Fell said. “If you guys need anything, holler. Welcome to the park, Sunny.”
“Thanks,” she said.
When the front door shut and it was just her and Seneca, she was suddenly nervous, but she shook it off. She was with her soulmate, and she was safe. Although to be fair, she hadn’t been in danger, just exiled.
She sat at the table and opened a can of ginger ale while Seneca plated ham and cheese hoagies and potato salad.
While they ate, they talked about themselves, sharing their pasts, and marveling that while their pasts were different, they were also similar: marred with loss and finding new people to care for.
He was a strong male who clearly cared about the park and the shifters who lived and worked there, and he was sexy to boot.
Her tigress was writhing under her skin, and she kept having to mentally push her away so she didn’t purr or say something inappropriate like Can I see you naked? or Would you like to see me naked?
“You’re right, the potato salad is amazing,” she said, deftly avoiding mentioning being naked again, which was just about the only thing she could think about clearly.
He had the best smile. “I’m glad you liked it.”
They cleaned up the tiny kitchen, and then he said, “I think I’m going to take off. And don’t take this the wrong way, because I think you’re beautiful, but you look like you’re about to drop.”
She stared up at him, taking in his hazel eyes, stubble-covered jaw, and perfectly kissable lips. She thought about how strange fate was. If the old alpha hadn’t gotten ill and Dario hadn’t taken over, then Sunny might never have left Tennessee..
“Fate’s funny.”
“Yeah,” he said. “I was just thinking about the twist of fate that brought you here. One thing different and you and I might never have met. I fucking hate thinking about that.”
She chuckled. “Me too. I am really tired, and I’m so thankful to be here and to have met you.
But would you…would you feel weird if I asked you to stay here in the apartment, but maybe sleep on the couch?
I don’t really want to be alone, but I also am afraid I’m not going to be able to keep my hands off you if we’re in the same bed. ”
She pursed her lips at the blatant admission and he grinned.
“Oh yeah? I think you’re pretty irresistible too.
” He hooked his arm around her waist and drew her close, his face going serious.
“I’ll sleep on the couch. I was hoping you’d ask me to stay with you.
I’m not sure my bear would let me actually walk away.
I might have just stood outside the apartment all night keeping watch. ”
“Do you have to work tomorrow? Can we spend time together?” she asked.
“I’m not working tomorrow, and yes, we sure can.”
He lowered his head and kissed her.
And it was the sweetest and best kiss she’d ever had in her life.
Of course it was. He was her forever guy.
This sweet, big bear was the silver lining in the bad luck story of her life.
When the kiss ended, she smiled at him.
“Good night, Seneca.”
“Good night, Sunny. Sleep well.”
Although she didn’t want to leave his embrace, she knew it was smart.
Or stupid.
But either way, she grabbed her bag and carried it to the bedroom to take a shower and get into bed.
Tomorrow, they would spend time together. She wanted to get to know her sexy bear mate.
Suddenly, morning couldn’t come fast enough.