Eight

I set my bag on the floor and walked in. “I know I said I would be here longer, but I need to leave today.”

“I was suspecting as much when you had to go out for your walk.” She gave me a knowing look. But how could she? Mrs. Tyler was human. At least, she scented that way.

“You caught that.” I didn’t want to tell her anything that could give me away in case I was assuming too much.

“Yeah, my Harry used to get like that when he was still alive.” She pulled down the front of her shirt to reveal her mating mark, faded and old and not in the typical location, and very much not in a place I was comfortable looking. “Squirrel.” She let her shirt go.

“He hadn’t meant to do that… best thing that ever happened to me but not intentional at the time. He… it’s a long story, but his family was not approving of me, and for a long time, I thought he was just a tame squirrel. You know, the kind that come up to humans to beg for food at the parks.” She shook her head. “I’d been so oblivious… but regar