Zena Wynn: Tameka's Smile

“You mean that’s it? That’s all you were waiting on?” she exclaimed in shocked disbelief.

Alex slanted a quizzical glance at Chad. “Well, that was my primary concern. As your alpha, it’s my duty to make sure your transition from human to shifter runs smoothly. Overseeing your first change is a large part of it. You shifted, things seemingly went well, and now you can go home.” He said it like he didn’t see what the big deal was.

“And you couldn’t have told me this before?”

“No.”

Meka wanted to push the issue, but Chad was giving her a look that said, “Shut up, woman,” as clearly if he’d shouted it.

She closed her mouth, inwardly fuming. If she’d have known that’s all it took be cleared to leave, she’d have shifted days ago, or least tried. She still wasn’t exactly sure how she’d transformed into her wolf, or if she could do it again.

She gathered her belongings, still seething at the injustice of it all. In the background, Alex asked Chad about her change. Did she do it on her own or did he have to guide her through it? Did she retain consciousness of who and what she was while in wolf form? Was it painful for her? Was Chad able to communicate with her in wolf form? What about the shift back to human, did it leave her weak and drained? By the time Alex finished his inquisition, she was packed and raring to go.

“Meka, I want you to come back in four weeks for a checkup. I’ll have my nurse schedule you an appointment.” She gave a brief nod of acknowledgment, still frowning ferociously.

Chad whispered, “What is wrong with you? Show some respect. He’s the alpha.”

She twirled her finger in a whoop-dee-do motion and rolled her eyes.

Alex caught their little byplay. “I’ll speak to Carol and make sure she schedules your next lesson—the one that deals with pack hierarchy—soon,” he informed her with narrowed eyes.

Meka growled in response and Chad snatched her back against his chest, wrapping both arms around her. “We’d appreciate that.”

Meka bit her lip and looked away.

“While she’s at it, she can teach Meka how to handle the aggressiveness she’s feeling.”

With a start, Meka realized she wasn’t being her normal, peaceful self. She wanted to attack, wanted to challenge Alex’s supposed authority over her. Suddenly, she was confused. She raised a shaky hand and pushed her bang out of her eye. “Alex, what’s wrong with me? I’m not naturally combative, but I wanted to fight you and I’m not sure why.” Actually, she wanted to rip his throat out, but didn’t think confessing that would go over too well.

Alex placed his chart on the table and leaned back against the bed, arms crossed over his chest. “What you’re feeling is natural. You’re a strong wolf. It’s the nature of the beast to pit itself against others to establish pecking order. From what Kiesha told me, Chad already established his dominance over you, so that’s why you’re not feeling the need to confront him.

You still need to find your way with the rest of us. Carol will teach you how to control the urge.”

Knowing why she was behaving the way that she was didn’t make her feel better about.

“Don’t worry. You’re still new at this and have lots to learn.

You’ll adjust. You’ve already made a great start,” Alex assured her.

“Ummm, what happens if I don’t?”

Chad stiffened behind her. The room was so quiet she could have heard a pin drop on carpet.

“I’m going to go sign off on your discharge paperwork. The nurse will bring it in here shortly along with the date of your next appointment.” He collected his clipboard and left the room.

Well, shit. Talk about pressure. She wrapped her arms around Chad’s, gripping him tight as she leaned her head back against his chest and relaxed into the safety his arms represented.

Chad rubbed his chin on the top of her head. “I won’t let anything happen to you, babe.”

“This is going to take some getting used to.” She just prayed she was given enough time to adjust.

“Getting out of here will be a big help. The beast doesn’t like to be caged.”

“I think I figured that one out already.”

On the way home, Rome called and instructed Chad to stop by the station. “And bring Meka. I want to know what she thinks of this.”

As they went inside, Meka looked around with interest. It looked a lot like the various police stations she’d seen in some of her favorite movies, just on a smaller scale. She guessed they really all were the same. Chad walked straight back past a room full of cubicles to a small, glass enclosed conference room near the back. Despite the multitude of keyboards clacking and phones ringing, she could feel the curious stares of the other deputies as they walked through.

Chad escorted her to the table and pulled out a chair. Once she was seated, he settled beside her. “Rome will be here in a minute.”

She hoped he hurried. The place smelled like stale coffee, cigarettes, musk, cologne, and office equipment. Funny how she never knew office machinery had a scent.

A very attractive Latino male with shoulder length, curly black hair and smoldering black eyes came strolling in and closed the door. He smelled…off. “What the hell are you?” she blurted, then slapped a hand over her mouth. “Oh, God. I am so sorry. That was rude.”

“Meka, this is Sheriff Rome Barrio, my boss. Rome, this is my mate, Tameka Jones.”

Rome held out his hand. She sheepishly reached out and shook it.

His eyes twinkled at her. “No apologies necessary. Good nose. I’m a feline shifter. Up until now, you’ve primarily been surrounded by wolves. I can understand your surprise.”

“Feline as in cats?”

“Feline as in lions, tigers, panthers, etc. Not furry little house cats.”

“Big, man-eating kitty cats. Got it.” She winked to show she was just teasing and he laughed.

“What’s up, Rome? Meka just got released from the clinic.

I’m sure she’s ready to go home,” Chad asked shortly as he blatantly placed an arm around the back of her chair and leaned in real close.

She kicked him under the table. “Don’t mind him. I’m in no particular rush to trade one prison for another,” she assured Rome.

He smiled and set the bulging folder in his hands on the table before being seated. Oh my, he has a dimple. She let out a dreamy little sigh.

“Watch it. You’re a happily mated woman, remember?” Chad muttered in her ear.

She patted his knee. “Of course, baby. Doesn’t mean I can’t look.”

He captured her hand and held it tight. “That’s exactly what it means.”

Rome ended their little byplay by getting down to business.

“I want to discuss two things. We found Emily Carstens, but she’s not going to be much help. She was shot, execution style, almost a year ago. Reagan was able to find the birth records.

Emily had a boy named Franklin. He’s wanted for questioning as a person of interest in the death of his mother.”

“A boy? You’re sure?” Chad asked.

“We got a copy of the birth certificate from the Vital Records Unit,” Rome assured him. “The son was in therapy before he went missing. We’re trying to contact his therapist now to see what he can tell us.”

“Not much. It would be a violation of doctor/patient confidentiality,” Tameka informed them.

“That’s where you come in. He might be willing to speak off the record with another professional,” Rome stated.

“I’ll see what I can do,” she hesitantly promised. She’d took a solemn vow when she got her license and wasn’t comfortable with the idea of helping someone else circumvent theirs. “What has this to do with my case? I thought we were looking for a woman?”