Page 7 of Tiger's Little Waif
“I don’t like doctors,” she whispered, sounding as if that would stop what was coming. “I just need a day or two of rest and I’ll be fine.”
“Why don’t you let me decide that, sweetheart,” Kevin said as he stepped up to stand beside him.
Marshall’s tiger was not pleased with the endearment. Marshall looked at the EMT and growled, “Mine.”
The other man nodded. “I understand, Chef. The sleepy princess is spoken for.”
Marshall nodded before reluctantly taking a step back and allowing Kevin to examine his mate. He growled at every sound Shaw made in response to Kevin’s examination. By the end of it, all he wanted to do was to sweep Shaw up and carry her off so they could be alone.
Finally, Kevin stepped back and turned to him. “I don’t see any broken bones. Just a lot of bruises and soreness. She’s exhausted and needs a lot of rest, good food, and TLC.”
“When can I start working?” Shaw asked before Marshall could respond.
“At least two weeks,” Kevin shot her a look before turning back to Marshall. “If OTC painkillers don’t work, let me know and I can get you something stronger. I want to see her in my office in two weeks to determine whether she’s up to working or not.”
Marshall nodded. “Thanks, Kevin. Now get out.”
The panther shifter left quickly, and Marshall was able to turn his attention to his mate. “Ready to see your new home now?”
Chapter Four
Shaw clutched Gio tight to her chest as she followed Marshall out the back door of the dining hall.
“You didn’t lock the door,” she commented as he slipped her backpack over one shoulder and started walking down a path that led into the darkness.
“No reason to. The resident shifters know if they’re caught stealing food from the kitchen, I won’t cook for them. There have been isolated incidents of the Littles sneaking in and stealing cookies, but I leave their punishments to their Daddies,” Marshall said.
Shifters? Well, that would certainly explain his hair, but she wondered what species he was.
“What about the trainees?” Shaw asked, assuming the Littles he talked about were not in the same category as the trainees who came to Bratburg for a month before returning to human society.
“They won’t take anything without permission for fear of being sent back before the Council.”
“Uh-huh. I suppose that makes sense.”
It wasn’t until the conversation lagged that Shaw realized how dark it was getting. Looking around, she did not see any lights ahead to signify there was a house nearby. “Um, Chef?”
“Yes?”
“Where are we going?
She tried not to let her fear color her tone, but heard the shiver in her words. She knew he heard it as well when he stepped closer and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
“We’re going home. Tiger shifters are more solitary than other shifters,” he said as if that was why they were walking through the dark.
A tiger, like Gio, her plushie and best friend. Despite her uncertainties, she felt herself relax under his protective arm.
“I love tigers,” she murmured.
“Then it’s a good thing you’re my mate, isn’t it?”
“Uh-huh. It’s very dark,” Shaw said as she leaned ever so slightly into the big man’s side.
“Are you afraid of the dark, Little one?”
“Uh-huh. Bad things happen in the dark.” She did not say anything further, so she did not remember the things that happened in the dark.
“I’ll talk to Jaxon about getting some of those solar lights to put out so it’s not so dark for you. Until then, you don’t leave the house without me. Okay?”