Chapter 11

Leo's tail twitched back and forth, while he tried to hold himself still. He'd received a message to come to Reservation, to Justice's office, and when he arrived, the scent of sunshine and raspberries filled his nose.

Petra was here.

He had tried to call her last night, but no one had answered. He hadn't left a message either, having not prepared one. Unable to sit around the house anymore, he found Trouble in the Wild Zone, and roamed his territory. When he returned home, the message light was blinking on his answering machine. After he had listened, he hadn't bothered to change or shower. Now here he stood, a sweaty mess from running with Trouble. He raked a hand through his hair nervously before crossing his arms.

Leo listened hard; he'd been standing outside the office for five minutes, told by Justice's receptionist to wait.

Wait.

His tail whipped back and forth.

Fuck it, he thought. Petra was in there and he was never one to follow rules. The only thing that separated them was a door. He took one step, and then when that turned out to be so easy, another one, before walking into the office.

He was surprised to see Tim Oberto, Justice, Fury, and Tiger all present. The males surrounded Petra, and though their posture was nonaggressive, the sight of so many males was upsetting to him, and he found himself snarling, until Petra's eyes met his.

Her scent was tinged with anxiety, but a wave of happiness floated through the air when she saw him.

Leo watched her hand lift an inch from the arm of her chair, and she waved at him, mouthing the words, "Hi," before blushing.

Leo went right to her, kneeling down beside the chair and examining her face. He couldn't help the smile that overtook his face, "Hi," he said back.

Her hand reached up to tuck her hair behind her ear, and he noticed a bruise on her temple, and frowned.

"Leo," Justice said, "Petra called us for help early this morning."

Leo looked quickly again at Petra, cataloging her features: taking in the dark circles under her eyes and the bruise. He snarled low and long, his voice deepening as he stood and faced Justice, "What happened?"

He placed his hand on Petra's shoulder, and was shocked and elated when she reached up to lightly grasp his hand.

"A man from Mercile, one we believe you know, forced himself into Petra's house and demanded she come to Reservation to get proof that New Species could breed. He told her that one of the men we detained the night of the banquet sent him a message saying he found a baby in the Wild Zone," Justice explained, his voice tight.

The only baby in the Wild Zone was Noble. That meant that the human he had tracked had heard or seen him and passed it onto humans.

"What man from Mercile?" Leo asked gruffly, his anger causing his tail to lash back and forth behind him like a whip.

"Roger Werner," Justice answered.

Leo ripped his hand away from Petra's and paced the room, "He's alive?" Leo snarled, "I thought he was taken to Fuller."

"No," Justice said, "he wasn't. He wasn't there the day your facility was raided."

"No one told me?" Leo asked angrily. He happened to glance down at Petra who watched him concerned.

"Our priority during the raid, as you know, is securing New Species, making sure they are not murdered by the staff at Mercile before they can be set free," Justice reminded him, "If some staff escapes, we track them down. We will catch him, Leo."

"Why would he approach you?" Leo asked Petra.

"He said I cost him money," she said slowly and carefully. Her voice was quiet and slightly distorted. She enunciated each sound carefully, gripping a notebook tightly in her hands. Leo looked down at it and realized that she'd been writing her answers to Justice, but she had chosen to use her voice with him. For some reason, the trust that showed floored him.

"Cost him money, how?" Leo asked, his anger draining away as he knelt next to her again, and covered her hand with his.

"I'm not sure," Petra answered, watching his face, "I think because of the men he lost. He was angry, but very polite. It was frightening."

"He also chloroformed Petra after sending in a strike team to take out both potential exits to her home," Justice added, "She's agreed to stay here on Reservation until we capture Werner."

Leo took a deep breath. He imagined her staying in the hotel, surrounded by other Species males, all of whom would look at her and want to mate her. She smelled like food and freedom. She was soft and round and adorable. Fear made breathing difficult, so he took Valiant's advice and went for direct.

"Will you stay with me? At my home?" Leo asked, watching her pretty blue eyes widen before crinkles appeared by the sides as she smiled.

She nodded quickly, "Yes," she answered.

"That's not a good idea, Leo," Tim interrupted, "I'm afraid sending her into the Wild Zone would be too risky. That's where Werner wants her."

Leo stood, growling deep in his chest his claws curling. His vision tunneled until all he saw was the human who would keep Petra from him. He crouched low, ready to spring, when Justice called out, "LEO!"

Leo blinked, his vision returning to normal.

"If she wishes to go with you to your home, Leo," Justice said to him, while watching Tim, "she may. But we would ask that you do not roam. You keep her in your territory."

"Why do you even bring me to these meetings?" Tim asked, throwing his hands in the air, "Nine times out of ten, no one listens to me, and I inevitably look like an asshole."

"Aww, Tim," Tiger joked, "It's not personal, it's just that you're mostly wrong, and you don't look an asshole, you are an asshole."

"Fuck off, Tiger," Tim snapped, giving him the middle finger.

Leo let out a low and long snarl, "Do not speak like this in front of Petra."

Tiger smiled, "Sorry, Petra," he apologized.

She smiled, "It's okay," she accepted quietly.

Leo held out his hand. Petra stood and quickly put hers in it, squeezing lightly, "Thank you," she said, "I'll try to stay out of your way."

Wait, Leo thought, what?