Page 23 of Primal Bonds 1

“Then it’ll take time to break out of it,” Chase said. “Work on it, and if I were you, I’d eat until Adam is broke.”

I knew he was encouraging me and was joking, so I smiled at him.

Crash!

I gasped and turned, hearing Adam say, “Shit!” as he bent down. When he was up, I saw pieces of a broken plate in his hands.

“You dropped the plate? How clumsy are you, Adam?” Chase asked, chuckling in amusement.

“Shut up, Chase,” Adam grumbled as he put the pieces of china in the trash bin. After washing his hands, he got another plate out from the cabinet and then put the fettuccini and slices of steak onto it. Back at the table, he placed it in front of me and said, as he ruffled my hair, “Eat up.”

“Thanks, Adam,” I said.

I was just popping a forkful of fettuccini into my mouth when Chase said, “Hey, Shiro. Can you smile for me again?”

I blinked. Huh?

“Idiot! Stop joking around,” Adam said.

“Ugh! You’re no fun,” Chase said.

We finished dinner and cleaned up, then a bit later, we headed out the door. Our destination, Chase’s clinic.

I pulled on my hoodie to hide my fox ears before we got into the elevator. Chase must have noticed my discomfort being out in public because he dug his hand into his physician bag as if searching for something.

“Aha!” he said and then pulled out a surgical mask. “Put this on, Shiro.”

Damn grateful, I eagerly took the mask, pulled back my hoodie, and quickly put the mask on over the lower half of my face. Done, I pulled on the hoodie again, feeling more comfortable now that any evidence of me as a beastkin was hidden.

When we arrived on the first-floor foyer, I noticed a few men in black suits watching us. I tensed and automatically moved close to Adam.

Adam clicked his tongue in annoyance and said, “Those idiots.”

Those idiots? Who?

Chase said, “They’re never going to leave you alone, Adam. Just give it up already.”

I looked from Chase to Adam, wondering what Chase was talking about.

Outside, Adam said, “You’re coming with me, Shiro.” He wrapped his arm around me, drawing me to him, which surprised me. Face flushing hot, I nodded.

“Okay,” I said.

Chase was heading over to his car parked on the other side of the parking lot as he said, “Don’t go doing any detour, Adam. I want Shiro at the clinic ASAP.”

“Got it,” Adam said loudly as he unlocked the very fancy-looking car before us.

Wow! It was sleek black, and the interior was all leather, I noticed once I was inside. After putting on my seat belt, Adam started the engine and then maneuvered the car out of the parking space.

I hadn’t been in a car like this one before, and it felt nice. When I had been in cars before, it was to be delivered to clients and then returned to the institute. Andevery time, I had been too tense and paranoid to even enjoy the ride.

The lights along the streets and on buildings, with signs of the establishments flashing, were beautiful. At the back alley, it was always dark, and sometimes, I’d wondered if monsters were lurking about, watching and waiting.

I felt Adam’s hand on my head and turned to him, giving him a smile. He caressed my face for a bit and then moved his hand back to the steering wheel.

I had come to realize now that Adam liked to ruffle my hair and caress my face. Was that… normal? Was he treating me like I was his pet or something? I had fox ears, after all, so…

When we arrived at Chase’s clinic, I got out and eyed the area. This was where Chase’s clinic was located? Not in a fancy place with flashy signs, but rather, a very normal street at the back of the neighborhood. There wasn’t even a sign that says clinic or health center or anything like that. There was just a simple red cross sign at the front above the door, and that was it. How strange. Then how would anyone know this was a clinic?