Page 124 of Dominion

Margot narrowed her eyes. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes, I’ll get it straightened out. I’m really sorry about yesterday.” Melissa gave the girl an awkward hug.

Margot stiffened under the hug and ducked her head, so Melissa pulled quickly away. After an awkward goodbye, the door shut and he eyed Melissa, trying to get a read on how she thought it had gone.

She tilted her head up to meet his gaze. “Thanks.”

Warmth seeped through his chest. It was just one word, but it shivered in the air between them, bare and exposed. She’d shown him her real self today—the one underneath the haughty exterior, and he didn’t take the honor lightly.

He hooked an arm around her waist and started to pull her toward him, when a scent caught his notice. Whirling, his eyes came to rest on the female pup from the mall.

Cody had been aboutto kiss her, but he stopped and turned. The girl they’d seen at the mall stood behind him, frozen, her green eyes wide.

“Hey.” Cody’s voice was kind—nothing like his usual gruff tones. “Where’s your mom?”

The girl sucked her lower lip into her mouth and didn’t answer.

“Will you tell her I’m here?”

Eyes still glued to Cody, she nodded and backed away from them, running to the end of the hall, where she pushed the last door open and disappeared inside.

Cody exchanged a look with her and set off down the hall, following. Melissa hurried to catch up, but then halted, wondering if she was intruding.

“Should I—? Maybe I’ll wait down in the truck?”

Cody stopped and frowned. “Not safe.” He held out his arm and when she arrived at his side, he tucked her in against him. It seemed so natural, she almost forgot how strange it was to have the tension between them eased. She knew she’d thrown him for a loop when she’d lost it back at his place, but forgetting Margot’s birthday had been unforgivable. She’d worked for months just to get a rapport going with the girl, and to lose it all because she’d been so self-absorbed just killed her.

But Cody had been amazing. She really hadn’t expected him to comfort her or even to take her dilemma seriously. She definitely hadn’t expected him to help her fix things. Maybe she’d misjudged him.

They stood outside the apartment door, but Cody didn’t knock. Instead he leaned a shoulder against the wall, keeping her nestled against his other side.

The door opened as far as the chain lock would allow and the pale, gaunt face of the shifter female peered out. Her gaze swiveled from Cody to her and back to Cody. Her nostrils flared and Melissa knew she must be scenting them.

“Lived here long?” Cody asked when she didn’t speak.

She shook her head rapidly, causing her blond hair to fall in her eyes. “Just a few weeks. We’re new to town.”

Cody waited again, but she didn’t elaborate. When he spoke again, he adopted a tone she hadn’t heard from him before. It was slow, patient. Like he knew the female would spook if he showed too much aggression. “I’m Cody. This is my friend Melissa. We aren’t here to hurt you.”

The woman studied them both a moment longer, then, looking as if it was against her better judgement, slid the lock on the door and let it swing open. “Would you like to come in?” She sounded resigned, tired.

Melissa hid her shock as they stepped into the dingy apartment. There was no furniture in the tiny studio, save a single mattress with a quilt pulled over it. Both children sat on it, watching the newcomers.

“Are you the alpha?” the woman demanded. She sounded slightly bitter rather than submissive, but she didn’t meet Cody’s eye with any kind of challenge.

Cody nodded once and shoved his hands in his pockets. Melissa marveled at how much less intimidating it made him look. Rather than pulling the alpha domination bullshit he’d laid on her, he’d reeled it way in with this woman, which warmed Melissa to him even more. Based on her pinched, nervous expression, the woman was already afraid enough. She looked like a cornered animal. Which made her possibly dangerous, considering she had pups to protect.

“I’m not staying long,” she bit out. “That’s why I didn’t come to see you.” Her skin had a grayish, malnourished pallor and she was missing two teeth on the top.

Cody gave a nod, which could’ve meant anything. “Where are you from?”

Her shoulders rode closer to her ears. “Here and there.”

“Name?”

The woman hesitated. “Colleen.”

Cody pulled his hand out of his pocket and produced his wad of bills. Without unrolling them, he held them out to her. “Looks like you could use a little help getting on your feet, Colleen.”