Chasing Tail [Rᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ x Sʜɪꜰᴛᴇʀs Rᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ]

Part 4

You're heading home in the dark again after your bartending shift that night. As you walk, you suddenly hear a commotion around the corner. Boyish voices are yelling and laughing cruelly.

You'd rather not attract their attention, so you start to walk by quickly, until you see what the commotion is about. A group of high school boys have trapped a black cat on top of a dumpster. They're poking at the cat with sticks and throwing empty cans. One of them is waving a lighter by its paws, the flame barely missing its fur. The poor thing hisses and its tail stands straight up.

The few other people walking on the streets go by and ignore the boys, but you feel compelled to stop. You can't just stand by and watch an innocent animal get bullied like that.

"Hey!" You yell at the boys, breaking up their group. "Leave him alone!"

"Or what?" The kids laugh, but when they see the fierce look on your face, they start to retreat.

"Or I call the cops on you. I bet your parents wouldn't be too happy about getting a call from the police." It's an empty threat; the police probably wouldn't care about a group of kids harassing an animal. But these boys seem to believe you. They back up and run down the street, leaving you alone with the cat.

As soon as the coast is clear, he jumps down from the dumpster and approaches you. With his black fur, he blends perfectly into the night. The cat weaves between your legs, brushing up against you. He lets you pick him up, purring as you stroke his soft ears.

"You okay, kitty?" You check him quickly for any injuries but he seems unhurt. You put him back down and give him one last pet. "Hurry on home. It's not safe out here."

—------------

When you get home, Cody is waiting for you. The two of you have dinner. He turns up his nose at the kibble you got him, so you let him have some of your food instead.

As you clean up, you tell him about your day, and he listens intently, wagging his tail and perking up his ears. It's kind of nice to have someone to talk to, even if he doesn't understand and can't answer. It's been so quiet in the apartment ever since you kicked Gareth out. And it's not like you've ever wanted him back; but it's been lonely anyway.

You've got readings to do for class, but you're tired, so you climb into bed with the textbook. A gentle breeze comes in from the open window; it's unusually warm tonight, which is nice. Hopefully, the black cat found a warm safe place to spend the night too, you think to yourself.

Cody follows after you, curling up at your side and putting his head in your lap. You chuckle as you settle in, patting his head.

"You're affectionate today. Then again, you're always affectionate. Has anyone ever told you you're a bit on the clingy side?"

Cody barks once in response. His tail thumps against the covers.

"I'll take that as a yes," you say as you open your textbook for the last class you took earlier that day. That reminds you suddenly of the student in the black hoodie.

"That's reminds me, there was this new student in one of my classes today. There was something really interesting about him. I don't even know how to explain it... Lexi thinks he's hot, so maybe it's just that."

Suddenly, you're interrupted by a snarl. You look up to find Cody standing on your bed, growling at the open window.

"What the hell...?"

When you try to peer around him, he backs up, trying to shield you with his body and effectively blocking your view. So you get up to see what's got him all riled up.

The black cat you met earlier that night is sitting on the windowsill, licking his paw. He looks totally unfazed by the dog growling menacingly at him.

When you step closer, he meows and jumps into the room, circling between your legs and purring.

"Hello again, kitty... how did you find me?" you ask, puzzled as to how these pets keep finding you at home or on campus. Are you accidentally putting out some kind of pet signal?

Cody is now barking at full volume and he jumps off the bed to stalk toward the cat. You quickly lift the cat up and out of the way of the golden retriever. "Cody, stop it! He's not your enemy, geez!"

Still unperturbed, the kitty purrs in your arms. His dirty paws leave black marks all over your PJs. "Aw, fuck, you need a bath." You set him back down, shooting Cody a warning look to make sure he doesn't try and attack the newcomer. "Hang on, I'll start running the water and get you a towel."

—------------

Ash POV

The second she leaves the room, the dog shifter changes forms, taking on the shape of a man in his early twenties with messy blond hair. "What the fuck are you doing?" he snarls at me.

I jump up on the bed then take on my human form, as well. I take my time answering, looking around the room at the cute decorations.

I'm not scared of this "Cody". I knew what he was the second I saw him on campus today. In fact, I could smell him on Y/N as soon as I walked into the class we share. He's rubbed himself all over her, marking her with his scent.

He's missing a pack; maybe the local wolf pack exiled him, the way my pride has exiled me recently.

The dog shifter is clearly young and wet behind the ears, but he's solidly built and in his prime. Still, I'm confident I could take him in a fight. If nothing else, I can outwit him. Dog shifters all have shit for brains.

"I like this place," I finally answer, smirking at his outraged expression. "And I like Y/N."

"She's mine," he growls. "This place is taken. Find somewhere else to spread your dirty cat scent."

"No, I don't think I will. It's nice and warm in here. Plus, Y/N likes me too. She saved me in my cat form earlier tonight, and I just heard her talking about my human form." I grin as Cody stalks closer, chest heaving with anger. "She thinks I'm hot."

"She does not," he snaps. "And she's already got a pet to take care of—me. So get out."

Both our heads turn to the door as we hear Y/N's footsteps approach. I quickly shift back into my cat form and jump down. Cody quickly shifts, too. I figured that Y/N doesn't know he's a shifter. If she found out, she'd probably kick him out. He needs her to stay in the dark, which is great for me. I can use that against him if he tries to make me leave the apartment. I meant what I said—I like this place. I'm planning on staying for as long as I can.

When Y/N comes in, I greet her with a meow that instantly makes me smile. "How's my sweet kitty? You must have been lonely out there on the streets. Is that why you came to find me?"

She picks me up and strokes my fur. A purr rumbles my chest as I breathe in her scent. Even when it's tainted by that idiot dog, she smells absolutely delicious. She's beautiful, too—I couldn't take my eyes off her in lecture today. And she looked even more gorgeous coming to my rescue in the alleyway tonight.

Cody growls at me while I purr in her arms. Y/N shushes him, and he whines miserably. Ha. Serves him right. I send him a victorious cat smirk, which only makes him growl more.

I think I'm going to like living here.

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soooooo what do we think so far? Lots of developments in this chapter! Hope you like where the story's going. Let me know your thoughts please <33333