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MATURE CONTENT TOWARD THE END

As it turned out, bathing a cat was not as easy as it seemed

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As it turned out, bathing a cat was not as easy as it seemed. Once I got back to Oakwood, I first went home to clean up before going to the pet store and buying a bunch of items I thought the cat would need.

The first thing on my list was a bath. I don't know what I was expecting, but like its human twin, the cat fought me every step of the way. Water splashed everywhere as the cat twisted and squirmed in my grip, its dark blue eyes glaring at me with pure indignation.

"Easy, buddy," I muttered, trying to keep my hold steady. "I know you don't like this, but trust me, you'll feel much better afterward."

The cat hissed and tried to leap out of the tub, but I managed to hold it down just long enough to rinse off the last of the soap. Soaking wet and looking thoroughly miserable, the cat finally calmed down as I wrapped it in a towel.

"See? Not so bad," I said, though I was pretty sure neither of us was convinced.

I never had a pet, so everything I was doing was entirely based on what I presumed was common sense, the internet, and what the people at the pet shop told me to do.

I carried the miserable cat out of the bathroom and took a seat on one of the stools in the kitchen as I tried to dry it off to the best of my abilities. As I did so, I noticed just how malnourished the poor thing was. Even with the mats, I could still feel its skinny body which made me frown.

"You'll be okay, Cronan Jr.," I told the little guy.

As if on cue, the sound of the front door opening had me instantly perking up. My mate's scent found its way to my nose and I smiled as I stood up and made my way to the front door.

His eyes met mine and he opened his mouth to say something, but the words seemed to get stuck in his throat as he sniffed the air and dropped his gaze down to the towel in my hands.

As if sensing that someone was there, the dark-furred feline poked its head out and stared at Cronan with the same unimpressed expression he was giving it.

"Fen, what are you doing with a cat?" He asked with crossed arms.

"Welcome home," I greeted with a warm smile as I approached him and raised one of my hands to pull him closer. I expected him to try and pull away, but he allowed me it to my surprise.

"The cat," he reminded.

Both Cronan and Cronan Jr. stared up at me with the same narrowed expression and I found myself smiling sheepishly at the both of them. I pulled away from Cronan and held the cat out in front of him and gave him the best pleading expression I could manage.

"Can we keep him?"

"No," Cronan immediately responded. "Take him back to wherever you found him."

"I found him in the woods. I can't just dump him again," I explained. "He's bonded with me."

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