If I thought today was going to be as boring as yesterday I was wrong.

Walking through the park I find Wayne carrying a crate and Sophia carrying a small duffle bag. The weight of the box seems to be heavy as Wayne shifts it when stopping to greet me. “Need some help?” Asking in hopes to tag along. What are they up to? Grunting out a ‘no’ Wayne tries to adjust the balance of the box and failing.

“Come on we have to go, we have to get there asap.” Sophia sounds irritable this morning.

“Yes,” Grunting again under its weight Wayne answers her “Puddin’ ” he tries to breathe but it only makes it worse for him, his face turning a deep shade of red he can hardly stand up as his legs start to wobble.

Grabbing the package from him before he collapses it does have some weight to it, you can hear the shifting of items coming from the inside. “What’s in this?”

Sophia chews her cheek before responding “things.” Soured words from her lips still makes me want a taste.

“Is that all, and where would you like these ′things’ to be brought?” Using the same aggravated tone she used with me. I don’t like how she is speaking to me at the moment. The wolf doesn’t like how I am speaking to her, bristling his dislike to me. He will tolerate no one, myself included, to speak to his Mate in a disrespectful way.

She points to the entrance “There is a white truck.” Telling me before walking towards the direction muttering out “I am not in the mood today.”

Wayne looks at me sympathetically. “Sorry, she had a rough night last night.” He tells me scratching his neck as his skin darkens with a blush. Following after her with long strides I can feel the weight of the box shifting. “What happened?” Trying to sound relaxed. I am anything but relaxed, I want to know who made her so angry and where do they live so I can punch them continuously for it.

Rounding the corner Sophia is throwing the bag in the backseat before trying to fish out some keys. Finding them she climbs in the driver’s side and starts it up, adjusting the seat and the mirrors before irritably tapping her fingers on the window ledge.

Wayne clears his throat next to me, turning he takes the box back from me giving me an apologetic smile. “I can’t tell you if she wants you to know you will know.” He says before heading over to the tailgate and placing the package down, sliding it in and closing it. “Sure you don’t want any help?” He asks her like he is already expecting a no to follow.

She ignores him by rolling up the window and reversing out of the parking spot. He watches her leave before reaching his hands in his jacket pocket to bring out his phone and motioning his head for me to follow him back inside.

“Is she always like that?” Asking but do I really want to know the answer? How can I make a mate like me when she can’t even stand to be around her good friend if she is angry? Sophia doesn’t seem like the type of woman who puts up with bullshit if she doesn’t want to, she has no issue walking away. Worry worms its way through my veins causing my heart to pump it through my body faster in its panicking race.

Giving out a sigh beside me and stuffing the phone back in its place as we make our way to the front to look at the scheduled tours today Wayne is reluctant to answer my question. After a moment he finally speaks. “No, not really. Just depends on what, or rather who pissed her off. It is a touchy subject for her, Sophia just needs her time and space. Don’t worry about it she will cool off eventually. Seems like there is nothing really on the list for today so it’ll mostly be filling time, we walk around, answer questions if asked, make sure people are enjoying themselves, that kind of thing. Otherwise a free day.” He doesn’t skip a beat when it comes to topic changes and being professional.

Great.

A day doing nothing and Sophia isn’t even here. I also have no idea when she will be back or if she will even want to see anyone. I don’t know how I will manage two months of this, something has got to give for me. Dragging my feet I start to roam about, trying to stick around the entryway in case she comes back.

It doesn’t take long as Sophia storms back into the park entryway a short time later seeming even madder than when she left. “Where is Wayne?” She fumes, her eyes swirl and shine with the lightening of her raging storm.

“I don’t know, roaming around?” He went the opposite direction of me and I didn’t want to follow. She stomps past me almost knocking me over in the process and I follow after her. “I know I shouldn’t pry...” I start but she interrupts me seething “then don’t” as she continues in her pursuit to find where Wayne might be. I try and ignore it. She isn’t angry at me I keep reminding myself.

“Are you okay?” I know I shouldn’t ask, I just can’t help it. I could help her, calm her, she just has to let me. She abruptly stops and whirls around. “Do I fucking seem okay to you?” Her voice is steel, calm, unbreakable, but her eyes give it all away. I’d rather be in the ocean during a hurricane than to be the center of her storm. Trying to search for the right words, if I could just touch her. Why did she have to be human? Why does she have the attitude of a caged bull?

Stuffing my hands in my pocket my fingers itch to feel her heated skin. “I only meant to ask if you are alright, you came back sooner than expected, ” trying to sound low, calm. “And angrier.” Mumbling under my breath.

Don’t let her see how she is affecting me. Breathe.

I see her breathe in while I breathe out, closing her eyes. “I forgot my license so I can’t drive.” She tries to answer calmly but it comes out more annoyed.

“Would you like me to help you find him.” Asking in a monotone voice, keep it neutral.

“No.” Is all she tells me before looking over in the distance. “I know where he is.” She looks back to me, her eyes have stopped their storm looking more like an overcast sky over the sea. The sun shines against them lighting them up while she pounders on her thoughts. I don't mind the burn they are raidating on my skin. “I could use some help today though, there’s a lot to do and I was already running behind.” She is asking for my help. I try and hide the smile forcing its way through my muscles.

“Okay.” Is all I can push past my teeth. She just watches with a raised brow, I cough to cover my face.

“You are terrible at hiding it.” She confronts me, a small smile gracing her own lips. There is no hiding mine anymore as the whites of my teeth shine through. “Don’t smile, you are trying to be mad.” I tease and she actually giggles.

Goddess, I need more.

She walks past me towards a niche at the back of the visitors building, “come on, Hotshot.” She calls and I obediently follow. We find Wayne leaning against the building with his back turned and his phone to his ear. He is trying to stay quiet but it’s easy to hear the kind of conversation he is having.

Sophia waits a moment before yelling “What are you doing?” causing him to jump with a yelp. The phone drops to the ground while he leans on the wall to catch his breath from the fright. She is bent over laughing, all signs of her soured mood vanished and I can’t help but to chuckle along “Gosh dang it Soph, stop that.” Wayne’s voice is flustered. He reaches down to check his phone call muttering “I’ll call you back.” Before putting it back in his pocket. He walks to her and tries to push her over into the grass while she is still laughing. “It ain’t funny, you are going to kill me one of these days doing that.” He whines but Sophia laughs harder.

It takes her a moment to right herself although there is still a slight giggle in her voice when she speaks, “you need to drive I can’t, we have to get goin’ I am already way behind schedule.”

“Sounds like a ‘you’ problem.” He deadpans.

Her eyes narrow and her mouth opens to speak but she rights herself before the words tumble out. “Fine.” She tells him with a coy smile. He looks taken aback, expecting her to lash out towards him. She turns to me instead “coming Cage?” Her voice like honey and lips curved so sweet I just nod my head. I feel like a lost puppy. Wayne still stands in his spot dumbfounded before his brain finally starts to work again and he chases behind us.

Sophia pushes the keys into my hand and our fingers lightly touch, enough to send a spark shooting up my arm to rest in my heart.

I’m starting to feel again.

She recoils her fingers and rubs them together, the feel is foreign to her but she apologizes thinking she caused static electricity.

Climbing into the driver’s seat she gets in the passenger side. This feels right. I want to grab her hand and hold it the whole drive but I have to restrain, opting to stick my arm out the window instead so the hand closer to her has to remain on the wheel. Wayne jumps in the back and sits near the middle mumbling and grumbling to himself. “If you weren’t such an ass you wouldn’t be riding bitch” she smirks back at him to which he responds with a middle finger.

“Where am I going?” Starting the engine I steer the truck towards the exit. Sophia punches in an address before mounting the GPS. It doesn’t take long to arrive at our destination. It’s an old ranch with a broken down barn and a few chickens roaming about.

Wayne huffs in the back seat. “Here? Seriously? Why here? You know how these people feel about me.” Wayne voices his concerns but Sophia doesn’t respond to him just keeping her face forward. I see her swallow hard, her vibe has changed to the same discomfort Wayne is putting out.

An elderly woman comes out of the home to greet us with a smile. “Hello dear, so good to see you again. Thank the Lord you are here!” She exclaims. Both Sophia and Wayne shift uncomfortably on their feet before Sophia plasters a smile on her face and returns the greeting. “Yes, it’s nice to see you too, GeeGee, how have you been?”

The old woman pulls her into an awkward hug. “Oh just fine precious, thank you so much for asking! Now come around the back and I’ll show you what I caught.” She pivots on her short heels before marching towards the back of the barn. Small growls and hisses can be heard from inside the closer we get.

Something feels off and the wolf immediately goes on the defence edging his way to get closer to Sophia and protect her. Almost knocking into her when we come to a halt she gives me an odd look, “scared Hotshot?” She teases “I’m not in the habit of holding hands. Try asking Wayne.” She snickers.

“Har har har. No, I just don’t want you getting hurt.”

She snorts at me as if I have made a joke. “Oh, sweety I am not a damsel.”

GeeGee grabs hold of a broom before going to open the door. “Please be very careful, it wasn’t happy I locked it in here.” As soon as it is open a cougar tries to step out. Teeth bared towards us and a deep threatening growl sounds out.

Before I can even blink Sophia has a small handgun gripped and ready to shoot. The girl comes prepared. “Thank you, Gee, we can take it from here. You go back inside.” Never taking her eyes off the target Sophia gives out a command that the elderly woman gladly listens to, handing the broom over to Wayne as she walks past us. The cougar’s eyes land on mine and it immediately takes a threatening stance. It’s ready to pounce, low growls and hisses to intimidate me. It takes everything in me to settle the wolf and hold him back. He knows he can handle this one on his own, we may get some scars but we can take it.

“Wayne, did you grab the catch pole?” Sophia asks with eyes still honed in on the feline, she isn’t nervous at all like I thought she would be. Wayne, however, is. I can feel his fear growing.

“Nope can’t say I did.” His voice squeaks, giving away his feelings easily.

The animal takes a slow measured step towards me. Squaring my shoulders I allow the wolf to rest under the surface and ready myself for the attack. I will not allow this thing to hurt them, need for secrecy be damned.

Sophia steps up, “stop, don’t challenge it,” she warns. “It’s not wild.”

“Does he know he isn’t wild? Soph that thing is gonna shred us.” Wayne’s voice trembles as he grips the broom closer.

“It’s a she and you can see she has been caged and chained, besides, how do you think grandma back there got it in there with a broom. It’s terrified of us.” Her voice lowers but her gun stays trained on the target.

“Where are we going to even put it, we don’t have a space for cats.” Wayne is trying every angle he can to get out of this.

“Take it back to the clinic so I can check her, we will figure it out from there. Now I want you to go back to the truck and get the tranquillizer and the pole.” She starts with her orders and Wayne doesn’t hesitate or argue just happy to be out of here even for a moment.

“I want you, ” she steps closer to my radius, “to grab that material there to put over her head when I say so.” She points to a large fabric tarp resting on the ground near the entrance of the barn. “Don’t worry if she eats you we will get a new volunteer.” She smiles coyly like I’m bothered by the situation.

Easing my way towards the tarp, it snarls and swipes with its claws but it doesn’t advance on me and I don’t think it will. Picking up the material and readying it, Wayne comes back trying to hand over the pole to Sophia. “You are going to be the one to get closer to it with the restraints.” She declares not bothering to trade her firearm for the stick. He looks to me for help instead but I shake my head. “You have to stand here to do this,” I tell him nodding to the close proximity between me and the monster cat. Poor Wayne is terrified, I can see why he rather stay back on the grounds.

Hanging his head muttering “I don’t want to do this, ” he takes in deep breaths to calm his rising nerves. “Anytime today would be nice.” Sophia snarks and with one last breath Wayne slowly approaches the large cat.

The first time the animal gives out a small roaring voice Wayne drops the pole and begs for us to do it. Sophia reluctantly holsters her firearm before grabbing the pole. She takes carefully measured steps, never taking her eyes off the cougar only stopping her advance when it lunges forward. Cooing softly telling the animal it is alright, she gets the pole close enough but it moves fast and backs up to get away. Keeping her patience Sophia once again moves forward although this time her steps are more aggressive when she gets close enough she motions to catch it on the noose. Waiting for it to jerk away Sophia anticipates the move and quickly rotates her body managing to just barely catch the rope over its head.

It’s a struggle of strength and I move to help but she tells me “don’t”, letting the cat wear itself out with the struggle she holds on steady. The beast shortly lays motionless huffing and growling low. Throwing the tarp over its head it springs up again but Sophia easily pins it to the ground once again too tired to continue fighting.

“Okay bitch, your turn.” She turns to Wayne displaying a full smile of teeth. He doesn’t look pleased with the newfound nickname. “One of these days. Keep it up, Sophia.” He points towards her ass.

“Now now no need to get sexual.” She wiggles her eyebrows. I look away awkwardly, I know Wayne said he isn’t like that but I can’t help how uncomfortable I am getting with their closeness.

Wayne shakes his head handing the syringe to me. “Here, I ain’t getting near that thing.”

Sitting on its back I push my body weight to hold it still enough to inject its shoulder. It doesn’t take long to take effect. Wayne and I are made to carry it back to the truck while Sophia lets the old woman know its been taken care of. Heading back Sophia sits in the back to keep an eye on it out the back window. She takes notes in a small notebook looking to it before scribbling on the page.

Back in the clinic, she puts on her lab coat and gloves, making sure it’s chained down before starting to do a check on its health and status. She writes a few things down and when finished we are made to carry it to a cage in the back.

Sophia looks beside herself. “What’s wrong?” Wayne asks. She looks distracted when she glances over before her facial features harden. “I’m not going to find the owners, I will have to call around and see if I can find someplace to take her.” pulling out her chair she sits at her desk and begins to look through her notebook and phone book.

“Is it that bad?” Asking, I had noticed what she was talking about before, the burn marks from ropes and chains along the cougar's front and back paws. A sore spot around its neck from a heavy and tight-fitting collar. The signs of abuse. Strange for an animal like that to be restrained to that point.

“Yes, it is.” Her voice breaks before she clears her throat. “I won’t be going back out today we will have to do the tagging and other stuff another day. I’ll see you guys later. Thank you for all the help today, Hotshot.” She dismisses us.

The day is pretty much over and Wayne tells me I can head home, no point in sticking around. Making plans to do the other half of her job on Thursday when I’m in next. I can't help but to linger just a bit longer but it seems she won't be leaving anytime soon. I will just have to wait until next time.