I Turned Into a Cat

When I woke again, I was still in Liam’s room.

Unfortunately.

Fortunately?

No, unfortunately.

I was wrapped in one of his jackets, sitting on the edge of his bed while he stood by the door.

“Want me to take you home?” he asked.

I shook my head immediately.

“What if my parents see me and think I’m a monster?”

“You want to stay at my place?”

His expression said: unbelievable.

I pulled his oversized jacket tighter around myself and lowered my head.

“It’s fine. You don’t have to care. If I get captured, just remember to burn paper offerings for me every year.”

“Mia.”

“I’m only a monster. It’s fine. I’ll wander the streets. Alone. Cold. Hunted.”

“Wait.”

Perfect.

I raised my face with the most pitiful expression I had.

Liam pointed behind me.

“My front door is that way.”

“…”

I clenched my fists.

“Liam Blackwood, I hate you.”

Outside, rain poured so heavily it looked like the sky was reenacting a tragic drama.

I wrapped the jacket tighter and tried to run home.

Halfway across the courtyard, my body grew hotter.

My breathing became heavy.

The world tilted.

Right before my face met the ground, I thought I saw Liam running toward me.

When I woke, everything was huge.

The ceiling.

The bed.

The chair legs.

My own paws.

Wait.

Paws?

I tried to call out.

“Meow.”

My heart stopped.

I tried again.

“Meow! Meow meow meow!”

A pair of large hands scooped me up.

Liam’s sleepy voice rumbled above me.

“Stop yelling. You’re loud.”

I twisted in his arms.

And immediately discovered that Liam Blackwood was not wearing a shirt.

My tiny cat brain short-circuited.

Pink.

Skin.

Chest.

Too close.

I panicked and smacked him with one paw.

Right on a place I definitely should not have touched.

Liam opened his eyes.

Slowly, he lifted me until we were face to face.

“Pervert cat.”

I exploded.

“Meow meow meow meow!”

Translation: Liam, you slander me!

He clearly understood the tone, because he pinched the loose fur at the back of my neck and carried me to the kitchen.

My body betrayed me instantly.

Apparently, cats go limp when held like that.

Traitorous body.

Liam set me on the counter and opened the refrigerator.

He took out a bottle of water and drank too quickly. A drop slid down his throat.

I turned around at once and covered my eyes with my paws.

Liam laughed under his breath and flicked one of my ears.

I flicked my tail at him in outrage.

Then I noticed the cup on the counter.

A glass of water.

Unattended.

Beautiful.

My paw itched.

I glanced at Liam.

He was on the phone now.

Good.

I slowly placed one paw into the cup.

Cool.

Excellent.

I pulled it out and licked it.

Then I looked up.

Liam was watching me.

I froze.

The urge to push the entire cup off the counter became overwhelming.

His eyes narrowed in warning.

I stared back.

Very slowly, I pushed the cup an inch toward the edge.

Liam lifted one eyebrow.

Fine.

I pushed it back.

For now.

He ended the call, walked over, and picked me up.

“That was your parents,” he said.

My ears perked.

“They’re traveling.”

Of course they were.

“Apparently, your mother and grandmother are both cat shifters.”

I stared.

“They forgot to tell you.”

I stared harder.

Liam scratched under my chin.

I meant to remain angry.

Instead, my body started vibrating.

Purr.

Purr.

Purr.

Liam smiled.

“Traitor.”

I closed my eyes.

Fine.

Maybe being a cat had one advantage.

Liam Blackwood knew exactly where to scratch.