The Cat Shifter (Book 1 of Shifter Series)

Chapter 6

"Kat, I think that it is the best time for you to shift," Kaden said. He raised an eyebrow when I grumbled and gave me a look that I was... all too familiar with. It was a look that parents gave their children, as if it was in their best interest to do what they were told.

I flicked my eyes and looked at Trevor to see him all ready looking at me. I was glad that I remembered my best friend from when I was younger, the male that helped me play pranks on others and became my big brother.

A smile was on his face, but I could tell that he was trying not to cry. He cleared his throat and moved a hand through his hair. "We will talk later, Bumble," he said, using the old nickname he had given me.

"Bumble?" Brody asked looking at me before looking at Trevor. Jealousy flickered through his eyes, and that caused me to snort. He thought that Trevor was going to take me away from him, but I knew that wasn't true because he had a mate.

I nudged Katie to the side before shifting into my human form, glancing at the people in front of me. "When I was younger, I used to have so much energy that Trevor and his dad used to call me "Bumble"," I explained. I grunted when Katie jumped onto me, hiding back a wince of my wounds.

"You are pretty," Katie whispered in my ear. "Are you going to stay here with me?"

"Why don't we talk about that later, ya?" I asked. I looked at the kids behind me to see that they were looking at their parents, and I could tell that the parents were watching me, warily. "Go to your parents," I said, offering them a small smile. I set down Katie and ran a hand through her hair. "You too. We can talk later."

Katie and the kids that I had protected ran to their parents. Katie was jabbering about something to her father, and I couldn't help but smile at the way that she was acting.

A pang of jealousy and sadness filtered through my system while I watched as they, the children, were carted away from the area by their parents. I shook my head and sighed, moving a hand through my brown hair. I remembered everything that had happened from when I was younger until my birthday when the attack happened, and I couldn't help but miss my parents.

Trevor made his way over to me and stood at my side. His whole body was relaxed, but I could tell that he was still on edge. His blue eyes looked this way and that before he glanced at me out of the corner of his eye. "What do you remember?" he asked.

I smacked him on the back of his head, glad that I was taller than I had been at seven. I was able to reach him, even though he was a foot taller. "That is for stealing my crown," I said with a pout. I shrugged when he just chuckled. "I, honestly, think that that might've saved my life."

Trevor grumbled something under his breath before humming. "You didn't need that birthday crown," he replied. "I mean, you are already a princess," he added, his voice getting softer.

I pursed my lips and rubbed my hands together. I remembered that my parents had been the High King and High Queen of all cats, and I remembered that my uncle had been jealous of them. "Who knew family can turn against each other," I said, causing him to hum agreement. "I need to take back the crown."

"But you are mates with a Wolf. Do you think that they would accept that?"

"They didn't mind your mother being in the close circle," I reminded him. "And, if they did, then my father did something." I looked up at him, folding my arms across my chest. Pain went through my body, and I was sure that I needed stitches for some of the cuts that I had received. "Besides, you are my second."

Trevor stiffened and looked down at me. Relief, nervousness, fear, and hope filled his eyes as he looked at me. He studied me, trying to tell if I was joking or not. "You're serious, right?" Hope filled his voice, and it shook a bit. He wanted the position because he had seen what his father had to do long before I was able to learn what I needed.

I shrugged my shoulder, keeping my face blank. "Well, it has been in your family about for generations as long as we had been in the kingdom. I trust in your judgment that you will help me lead the kingdom."

Kaden walked over to us, clutching his daughter to him. Respect filled his eyes as he looked at me and then Trevor, and I could see the faintest bit of trust in them. "What are you two doing over here by yourselves?"

"Reminiscing of old times," I replied, shrugging my shoulder. I glanced at Brody when he came over to us and bit back a snort when he there was a scowl on his face because Trevor and I were sort of close. "And, trying to see if he wants to still be my second."

"What do you mean by second?" Brody asked. "He is already my Beta."

"You are not the Alpha yet, Brody," Kaden said. He looked at me. "What do you mean by him being your second?"

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. My whole body tense and looked around as I tried to see who was watching me. My whole body tensed automatically, and I knew that it was because I wanted to protect these people. "Can we talk about this from later?" I asked. "I think that it would be in our best interest to get inside."

Kaden frowned but nodded. His whole body was tense as he looked around the area. "We can talk in my office. Shall we go now?"

I nodded my head and followed Kaden back to the house. I looked at Brody when he touched my elbow and raised an eyebrow. Sparks went up and down my arm, causing my whole body to shiver and the thing in my head to purr.

"Can we... talk later?" He glanced at Trevor when he moved closer to me. Conflict filled his eyes, and I could tell that he thought Trevor was trying to take me away from him. "Alone?"

I hesitated but nodded. "After the meeting," I replied. "Then we can talk." With that, I let myself out of his grasp and caught up with Kaden, just so I didn't have to talk to him. I was nervous, and scared, of what he wanted to talk to me about. Was he going to reject me because I was different? Or... would I be accepted by him?