Psychic Moon (The Shifter Chronicles 1)

EXCERPT

Derek pulled up to the Animal Services Center and got out of the car, slamming the door harder than he needed to. He walked around to the back and opened the door. The cat hissed, but Derek knew she had to be in pain, and her terror wasn’t helping.

“Easy there, girl. I’m only doing what’s best for you. Easy.” Derek continued to talk to her as he grabbed a small portable carrier and opened the cage door. He set the carrier on the floor and threw a cat treat into it. The cat, despite her terror, wanted food. She lifted her nose in the air and sniffed before she heaved herself off the floor and waddled to the carrier. Derek closed the small door and gently lifted her. She was much too light for a cat carrying a litter.

After shutting all the doors and locking the car, Derek walked quickly to the main doors of the center. The clinic was in the back, and he hurried past the waiting room and behind the counter through a door that read “Employees Only.”

Derek had been employed with the center for about four years now, beginning right after he finished his certification with the academy for law enforcement and animal handling. This was the only job he had ever wanted to do. The rest of his family either worked in the government to save the environment, or were rangers in wildlife preserves. He’d wanted to do something different, something that would help pets, not wild animals. In his opinion, pets were often the most in danger of human cruelty.

His anger flared once more, and Derek growled.

“I agree,” a voice behind him said.

Without knowing it, Derek had stomped passed the clinic doors. He turned around, and his bad mood vanished almost instantly.

Here, Derek thought. Here is the one exception to the human species. Here is the one human who could restore the honor of the human species with a single gesture.

In his opinion, Brian O’Donogue was the best veterinarian the world had ever seen. Brian had joined the center only two years before, and his presence made a marked improvement in how many animals survived when brought in. He had a gift—it was that simple. The staff had also dubbed him the “animal shrink” because, since he joined, they hadn’t put an animal down for bad temperament. He was somehow able to get into their heads and knew how to heal them, mind and body. Of all the good and dedicated people that worked at the center, Derek considered Brian in a league of his own.

“What have we got here?” Brian came over and took the carrier from Derek.

“Female cat. Pregnant. Abandoned.”

Brian clucked his tongue and gestured for Derek to follow him into the clinic. They walked back to Brian’s workstation, and he put the carrier on the long operating table in the center of the room. He bent down until he was eye-level with the opening of the cage door. The cat hissed.

“Poor thing,” Brian said, so many emotions riding on those two words.

Derek leaned against the wall as Brian tried to coax the cat out of the carrier.

Brian was a cutie. He was older than Derek, but Derek didn’t know by how much. His blond hair was long, coming down to the middle of his back. He wore it either in a braid or a ponytail. He had a thin beard that didn’t do much to detract from his boyish face. Derek figured he grew it to at least look old enough to drink. His eyes were a startling green, and he was fit, and the long white coat didn’t detract much from his rather impressive figure. Derek also couldn’t help noticing his perky butt when the coat was off. He also had a faint, adorable accent that Derek enjoyed.

Despite being fond of Brian for nearly two years, it was only in the last six months that he’d started to desire something more. He’d held back because he wanted more than just a night of pleasure with Brian. He wanted a serious relationship, which was a first. He’d accumulated a few shifter fuck-buddies over the years but they all knew what to expect—no promises. And yet Derek knew, to his core, that if he sought something long-term with Brian that he couldn’t keep the other half of himself secret. He wanted to share all. He wanted Brian to see his wolf, to accept him. But could a normal man do that?

At least he wasn’t in doubt of Brian’s sexuality. While Brian wasn’t exactly “out,” most of the staff knew. And there was no denying the faint scent of arousal when Brian was in his presence. Derek had even caught Brian checking out his ass a dozen or so times since he started working at the center. At least the attraction was mutual.

Brian finally coaxed the cat out of the carrier and gently checked her over.

“Well?” Derek pushed away from the wall.

“She’ll be due soon. We need to get some food and water down her. Not much, though. Too much will make her sick.”

“Right.”

“That pup you brought in this morning is looking well.”

“The Lab from the storm drain? He’s going to live?”

Brian grinned and patted his arm. “I guarantee it. He’s a bit timid with a bump on his head but he’s doing fine. The staff’s already fallen in love with him.”

Derek took a deep breath of relief. “Good. Good.”

Brian considered him a moment before speaking. “You were in a mood when you came back. Wanna talk about it?”

Not only was Brian the animal shrink, he was also the staff’s shrink. If anyone had any problems, personal or professional, he would be the one they went to first. His quiet and nonjudgmental nature made people want to open up to him.

“I hate people,” Derek blurted.

“I know,” Brian said, nodding. He rubbed his hand up and down Derek’s back. It sent shivers of pleasure shooting to his groin.

It’s amazing, Derek thought. This is the only person who can get me out of my bad mood just by looking at me. No one has ever done that.

He eyed Brian when he removed his hand. Derek regretted the loss of contact.

“You should get back out there. I’ll take care of her now.”

“I know you will.”

“Don’t hate everyone, Derek. You only see them at their worst. They have a best. Remember that.”

Derek nodded mutely and walked out of the room.