Ah! They know each other. It is just friends being friends, Kassur thought.

  

  The hyena’s mouth curved into something friendly. “Clem. You look like you wrestled a dumpster and lost.”

  “Won,” Clem corrected, dryly. “Barely. Can you blame me? After you got your sorry ass kicked to the curb, they needed a real man in the field cleaning up the mess you guys left behind.”

  The three of them had a chuckle, forced smiles all around. Then, the lion swept the lobby with his gaze

  Kassur met his eyes.

  Pressure settled at the back of his neck. Like standing in the shadow of a mountain. Then that predatory stare moved back to Clem, and the lion’s lips parted in a smile filled with sharp teeth.

  “At least it is you and not that jaguar,” the lion asked. “So. Who are you here for?”

  “Raye. There was an explosion, and she lost her hand this morning. My team’s a mess. Jocasta’s gonna tear someone’s head off.”

  The lion, this Captain, stilled completely.

  No comment. No joke. Just a subtle tightening in his shoulders.

  The big feline took one step closer and placed a hand on Clem’s back. The badger sagged, letting out a breath he’d been holding.

  The hyena gave a short nod, as if he’d heard that before. “Sounds like her, Jocasta pretends to be an evil bitch. But she cares. And I know you do too.”

  “Oh, no. She does not pretend. She’s an evil bitch. But yeah. I guess our rookie will have to go with prosthetics, or move to an inside position.”

  “I think we need a new secretary back at our unit for night shifts,” Juno said.

  Clem went quiet, then he lunged and hugged the hyena. Juno patting his back.

  Kassur felt like an interloper. keeping an ear to their conversations despite himself. But he wasn’t the only one. The trio wasn’t being quiet or discreet.

  It felt… good. Seeing the guys in uniform act like people.

  It didn’t erase all the stuff that he went through in his life. But maybe it helped to see it with a new light. He wondered if that was because of Morty. The events of the day replayed in fragments. What a mess.

  That cat had told him to run and then jumped against three predators, ready to die so that he could escape.

  

Stupid cat.

  

  A timid smile tugged at Kassur’s mouth. His tail wagged before he could stop it, the memory of that stolen kiss flashing through him.

  Then he noticed the three had stopped talking.

  Glancing in their direction, he saw that their attention shifted. They were staring at him.

  “Are you Kassur Ferros?” the hyena asked in a way that made Kassur’s instincts sit up straight.

  Kassur set the paper cup down carefully and stood, slow and deliberate, as if sudden movement might count against him.

  “Yes,” he answered. “Kassur Ferros.”

  Clem’s head turned between them, catching on to the shift. The badger’s expression sobered.

  “We have been talking to one another for a while now,” he offered, trying to keep it casual. “He’s also waiting for a friend.”

  “Waiting for Morty,” Juno corrected, eyes never leaving Kassur.

  Kassur nodded once.

  “Agent Mortimer Roitman. Yes. Did the front desk tell you that?”

  Kassur’s mind was racing, trying to come up with reasons they were talking to him.

  “Do you guys need any testimony about what happened at the stockyard? Or about that giant moose?” he asked

  At the mention of the moose, he could see that the lion grimaced. The hyena balled his fist into a tight knuckle. Both exchanged a look.

  Kassur felt the silent communication going on, giving away how familiar those two were with one another.

  “Why are you here?” the lion demanded.

  Kassur hesitated, scrambling for an answer. He must have looked guilty, because the lion continued before he could speak.

  “I’ve got a friend,” the lion said calmly, “and she’s very good and very fast at pulling records.” His gaze pinned Kassur in place. “You’ve lived an interesting life, Kassur Ferros. So I’ll ask again.”

  The captain looked down at him coldly, like he was considering the most efficient way to crush a bug underfoot.

  “Why are you here waiting for him?”

  

Because I want to?

  Because you have no right to forbid me, or tell me where to stand.

  Because I liked that kiss, and I want to see where this goes.

  Because he jumped in front of three predators for me.

  Because I didn’t do anything wrong.

  And none of this is your fucking business.

  

  He shook his head. None of that would help him

  “Because he got hurt!” he gritted his teeth and forced back the indignation he was feeling. “And I want to make sure he is ok when he wakes up,” he said, squaring his shoulders and not shrinking down this time. “He proved to me that the DAIR isn’t just a bunch of thugs like you.”

  There were several sharp inhales around them. Clem visibly winced. The hyena’s mouth curled into something predatory, and it took Kassur a second to realize he’d crossed a line.

  The lion let out a low growl, stepping forward.

  It felt like an avalanche approaching to squish him down.

  

Crap!

  I’m going to die tonight.

  

  Then the lion extended a massive hand for a handshake.

  “Glad to meet you.”

  The lion waited a second, then tipped his head toward the offered hand.

  Kassur gulped and let his hand be engulfed by the lion’s in an almost bone-crushing handshake.

  “I’m Captain Leonardo,” the lion said. His voice was calm, dangerously so. “Leonardo Roitman. And that hyena there is my husband. Lieutenant Juno Roitman.”

  

Roitman... Mortimer Roitman.

  Family?

  

  Kassur dared a glance at Juno, then back at the wide predatory smirk Captain Leonardo had.

  Kassur felt like he was about to head into battle unarmed and unarmoured.

  =================================

  “So,” Juno said, voice casual but attentive, “tell me what happened today. Nigel here said you were one of the Stockyard evacs.”

  He gestured toward the front desk worker, who was doing his best to look like part of the wall.

  It took Kassur some coaxing to start, but eventually he did.

  The jackal talked about his shop, about working as a general repairman. How it had been a normal afternoon when Morty walked in. First, he was anxious because he didn’t have good experiences with DAIR agents. But the cat had been polite. Easy to talk to. Genuinely nice.

  Juno held a chuckle as he considered how the jackal started to smile, describing his conversation with Morty. Leo glanced his way, equally amused by the repairman’s demeanor.

  It checked out with what Ava had told them. About Morty having been brought to the Borough to assist with an investigation while most enforcers were tied up dealing with the Alpha. As Kassur recounted their visit to the Public Market and their descent into the stockyard, the mood grew darker, and an angry expression filled his features.

  Clem nodded along, eyes closed. Apparently, they had talked about this while Leo and Juno were outside for the triage.

  He’d made a mental note to reach out to the badger and the rookie who got injured later.

  Jocasta’s unit and theirs operated on the outskirts of the borough, often supporting each other when doing any operation in the small villages around Endon. Their teams were very familiar with one another and their gossip. Juno knew Clem had his eye on the girl, just waiting for her rookie status to wear off before making a move.

  Shifting back to Kassur's narration, he could appreciate the jackal.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Both he and Leo had read the file that Ava had hastily dug up about him. And he had wondered why the man was here, and what his goal was. But, he couldn’t feel anything nefarious. He only hoped that Leo hadn’t intimidated him too much. However, the way that the jackal looked at the lion in defiance as he finished telling his story showed he had some spine.

  “So that is all that happened,” Kassur said as he finished his story. “Do you know how Morty is?”

  Nigel cleared his throat. “As I told them earlier, Agent Mortimer is currently awake and going through final evaluation by The Healer.”

  “By who?” Kassur asked.

  Leo waved his hand.

  “Cassandra. She’s really good. Best regeneration factor on record. She practically lives in the hospital, handling the worst injuries and worst cases.”

  The jackal tilted his head.

  “Then, why do you say it like that?” he asked carefully. “As if it's a bad thing. If she’s a healer… that’s… good, right?”

  Leo’s mouth curled, more like a tired smile.

  “She’s excellent. No arguing there. Lots of people are alive just because of her intervention,” Leo said, almost grudgingly. “Fast. Smart. The kind of person you want to be around when someone you care about is injured.”

  “However…” Juno added, casting a glance to Nigel. “She’s also someone you don’t want near a friend when she’s in a curious mood.”

  “How dare you!” Nigel snapped, clutching his clipboard.

  “You work here,” Juno replied evenly. “You know exactly what I mean.”

  Nigel's lips compressed into a thin line and he said nothing.

  Clem rubbed the bridge of his snout. “Are you guys going to kick down a hospital door?”

  “What do you mea…” The front desk worker started, just to be shushed by Juno.

  “We’re going to be a little more civilized.”

  As if on cue, a bear in DAIR uniform jogged into the lobby, skidding to a stop when she spotted them.

  “Captain,” she said, breathless. “Lieutenant. I came as fast as I could.”

  Leo patted her shoulder. “Good work, Vanessa. Everything okay back at base?”

  She smiled and nodded.

  “Yes. No one went home after last night. So the dormitories are almost full. Neville and Tamara are doing a grocery haul. Marguille is complaining that he got the spare parts to fix the cruisers, but the mechanic from central won’t show up for another two days.”

  “We’ll release Ava on Logistics tomorrow,” Leo said. “Did you bring it?”

  “Yes!” Vanessa leaned forward and pulled a bag from her pack. “Do you guys need help? Should I put on armor?”

  “It won’t be necessary,” Leo said, opening the bag and pulling out a rebreather.

  Most DAIR helmets had sealed ventilation systems tied to compressed oxygen tanks, but they were temperamental at best. Meaning that they broke more than they worked.

  The rebreathers were simpler. Adjustable masks able to fit most snouts and human faces. Compact and made of rubberized composite with a yellowed matte finish with a stamped DAIR logo and serial number. Four egg-shaped filters jutted out front, designed to stop toxins… and pheromones.

  “Everything looks ok, Vanessa,” Leo said. “Wait for us in the cruiser. And adjust the rear bay for me.”

  She nodded and jogged off.

  “What’s that?” Kassur asked, seeing that there were four more rebreathers inside the bag.

  “Come with us and I’ll explain,” Juno said

  Bewildered, Kassur followed them without arguing.

  “Nigel,” Juno said as they moved toward the treatment wing, “do you know whether Agent Raye is being treated by Cassandra, or if she’ll need her care?”

  “I… uh…” Nigel stammered. “Sorry, I didn’t see her file. And what do you think you’re doing with those devices? You can’t just …”

  “I’m going to check out our friend,” Juno said, matter-of-factly. But there was a challenge on his tone, and that gave Nigel pause. “Now go back to your station and get that information for us.”

  The nurse hesitated, then nodded and made his way back through the corridor they had taken

  Clem, watching it, took a step closer.

  “Uh. I should probably…”

  Leo stopped him with a hand to the shoulder. “Go and hover that guy. He's not bad, but loose lips won’t help. Meet us as soon as you can, or message us if you need.”

  “Message me,” Juno added. “This big idiot forgot his terminal.”

  “Yes. Message him,” Leo said, quieter. “Now go. Find your teammate. Be useful.”

  Clem gave them a thumbs-up and bolted after the nurse.

  “Are we in danger?” Kassur asked. “Is Morty in danger?”

  Juno felt a warmth in his chest, seeing the determination in the jackal’s face.

  “The healer’s name is Cassandra. She’s a predator. Didn’t get big or anything. But she has an extreme regeneration power. So she lives in the hospital,” Juno started, as they went into the treatment wing of the hospital.

  “You guys said that before. So why do you sound so worried?” Kassur asked.

  “She’s an ambitious bitch. She doesn’t do this because she’s caring,” Leo said with a snarl.

  Juno nodded.

  “She plays a political game. With the destruction that the alpha brought to the city, there are always some vultures trying to get their share of the spoils left behind. If you guys saw the alpha, even if you don’t have any information, she’s probably going to try to dig it anyway.”

  “And what is the big deal of her asking a few questions?” the jackal pressed, glancing at the masks.

  “She’s a musk-type predator,” Juno said flatly. “There were multiple times when she tried to dig up information on people she should only be healing and they needed weeks of recovery just to stop being a drooling mess.”

  Kassur’s eyes went wide and then his face steeled.

  The jackal reached into the bag and grabbed one of the rebreathers.

  “How the fuck do I use this?”

  Leo snorted and gave Juno a wink.

  “That’s adorable,” the hyena said.

  They rounded the corridor, reaching the big elevator doors.

  Ava was there, this time not with her mobile terminal station. She was pacing around and waved as soon as she saw them.

  “Wait. Isn’t he the guy that…”

  “Yes! He is,” Juno cut in. “We are bringing him home.”

  “What?” Ava and Kassur said in unison, then stared at each other.

  “Explain later. Is everything ready?”

  Ava sighed.

  “Do you doubt me, you foolish mortal?” she said with a smirk. “I filled the forms flagging this as a . It’s bullshit, sure, but it’s bullshit. Cassandra can complain all she wants later. It won’t stick, and it won’t land on us.”

  Leo smiled. “Perfect. Now where are t…”

  “Room 412. Fourth floor. The door has a lock that works with a numeric code. 555781 should work.” she said, handing the numbers written on a piece of paper.

  “Amazing work,” Leo said, praising her.

  “Yet, no salary bump.”

  “That is up to city hall. But if Kai ends up replacing Chief Helena, then maybe…”

  Leo stopped speaking as Ava lifted her hand, index and middle fingers opening and closing like scissors, aimed squarely at his mane.

  Juno chuckled at that.

  “One more thing, Ava,” the hyena said

  “I swear to the gods, Lieutenant. If this is about more paperwork, I’m going to fake my death and live under a bridge.”

  “Tempting,” Juno said. “But we need you to make the unit work. Vanessa will be waiting for us outside. Are you ready to go?”

  “Yes. I already loaded my station back in my car. I’m taking off.”

  They exchanged a few final words before she left.

  Leo exhaled as the three of them stood in front of the elevators.

  “See you guys upstairs,” then he pushed open the door to the stairs and climbed.

  Seeing the curious expression on Kassur's face, the hyena pointed to the stairs.

  “He’s too big and heavy to use most elevators.”

  Kassur nodded absently.

  “I thought he was an alpha when he marched in the lobby.”

  “I can see why you would think like that. But with size there is an increase in consumption rate. There is no way someone would legally become an alpha. He only got to this size because they give us tons of extra duty on the outskirts of town.”

  The elevator arrived and they had a quiet ride.

  Leo was already waiting, looking thoroughly undignified.

  “I had to crawl,” he mumbled.

  It didn’t take long to find the door to the room where Morty was being treated. The keypad beside the door glowed faintly under a sodium lamp.

  They took a moment to put the rebreathers on. Juno made sure everyone’s was properly sealed, and then he input the code Ava had given them.

  As the door unlocked, Leo pushed it open with enough force to make the hinges complain, and rushed inside.

  Juno felt a tug at the corner of his lips, remembering how the lion chastised him for just rushing into places. But he couldn’t fault him now.

  Juno followed a step behind, taking a deep breath through the rebreather, eyes already moving and cataloguing the room. It was a weird mix of living space with a medical room.

  Morty was sitting on a bed, next to The Healer. The expression of relief that flashed on his face as his body relaxed all at once, shoulders sagging against the mattress. A tired smile spread across his face.

  Cassandra looked startled as well.

  She rose halfway from the recliner in a jump. Expression twisted by the irritation flashing across her face before it hardened into anger.

  

I bet my furry ass that this wasn’t part of her script, Juno thought.

  

  Her gaze snapped from Leo to Juno, sharp and assessing, then back to Morty, taking in his reaction with visible displeasure. Whatever professional mask she’d been wearing cracked just enough to show teeth.

  Kassur lingered at the threshold, half-visible, then stilled when Juno lifted a hand.

  “Stay there,” Juno said

  Kassur hesitated, searching Juno’s face, then agreed and stepped back into the corridor.

  Leo crossed the room in three strides.

  Then Morty was gone, completely eclipsed as Leo folded over the bed and pulled the black cat into him for a hug.

  It wasn’t careful. But Juno knew that was the gentlest the giant could manage. Arms locking around Morty like he might vanish if released.

  “You look like hell,” Leo said. Failing in his attempt to sound serious.

  “I probably do. Two doses,” Morty muttered, voice muffled against fur. “Wouldn’t recommend.”

  Juno felt the knot in his chest loosen. Just a little. Then he looked at the machinery and to Cassandra’s irritated expression.

  “Thank you for the medical intervention,” he said. “We appreciate that you stabilized him.”

  Cassandra slumped back into the recliner.

  She looked like a child whose toy had been snatched away mid-game. A dramatic sigh followed, then she reset herself, slipping back into that polished, clinical calm.

  “Then maybe, you shouldn’t interfere,” she said. “I’m still evaluating him. He’s not cleared for transport. He suffered vascular trauma and …”

  “We’re aware,” Juno cut in mildly, already stepping closer to Morty’s bedside.

  Now he and Leo stood between Morty and Cassandra.

  “Come on,” Juno coaxed. “You’re the best. And I know you wouldn’t have woken him unless he was stable.”

  “Still, stimulants might cause unpredictable effects,” Cassandra shot back. “Especially in regulars.”

  Leo turned his head slightly, voice carrying just enough to make it clear this wasn’t a discussion.

  “Agent Mortimer Roitman is being called into my unit’s custody for post-incident evaluation.”

  Cassandra let out a short, humorless breath.

  “That’s not how this works, Captain. He’s my patient.”

  “And I’m a unit captain in the middle of a city crisis,” Leo replied. “The paperwork is filed. We’re taking him now.”

  He didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t need to. He simply straightened and loomed.

  Juno frowned.

  Most people flinched when Leo did that. He’d seen a man piss himself once.

  Cassandra didn’t.

  She just clicked her tongue and sighed.

  She looked away, clearly weighing something, then shook her head.

  “You’re right,” she said at last. “There is too much happening today, and I’m already running on fumes with all the crap since last night.”

  She stood and stretched, long and unbothered. She was nearly as tall as Juno.

  “You, Mortimer...” There was a faint lilt in her voice now. “If you feel anything unusual. If you have questions…” She opened a narrow drawer and handed him a business card. “Call me.”

  Morty took it and managed a small smile. “Count on it, Doctor

  Cassandra turned back to Leo and Juno, her finger stopping just short of Juno’s chest.

  “Lieutenant,” she warned. “Don’t interfere with my medical practice again. I’ll be speaking to the precinct about today.”

  “Feel free,” Juno replied calmly. “Log whatever complaint you think is appropriate.”

  For a heartbeat, the room held its breath.

  “Well, he’s going to need follow-ups,” she said stiffly. “And rest. And if he collapses on your watch…”

  “We’ll keep an eye on him,” Leo said.

  The lion slid one arm behind Morty’s back, careful despite his size, lifting him just enough for Juno to help swing his legs over the side of the bed. Morty winced but stayed upright, leaning instinctively into Leo’s support.

  The cat stood, a bit wobbly first, and then firmer.

  “Your belongings are in the cabinet next to the door. Suit yourself.” Cassandra said.

  She finally left them alone, going through one of the doors on the other side of the room.

  As she left, Morty walked toward the cabinet she pointed, Leo close behind him like a shadow. The lion’s posture radiated equal parts protection and concern.

  Juno stepped to the corridor, to an awaiting Kassur.

  “You can come in now,” he said. “We’re leaving soon.”

  Kassur nodded and smiled as he entered, just as Morty finished pulling on his shirt.

  “We found this guy waiting for you in the lobby,” Juno said.

  Morty turned.

  His eyes went wide.

  “Hey…” Kassur said.

  =================================

  Kassur froze in place.

  He’d rehearsed a dozen things to say while waiting downstairs. Meeting Morty’s family had scrambled all of them.

  Morty also froze, then blinked rapidly, like he was forcing the room into focus.

  “Are you feeling ok?” Kassur asked.

  For half a second, Morty just stared.

  Kassur’s ears dipped. Maybe he’d misread everything. Maybe that was just it, the heat of the moment back there. Maybe, now that things had quieted down, the cat wouldn’t want to talk to him. Who was him anyway? Just a guy with a shop.

  Then the cat moved.

  Morty crossed the room in a straight line, barely giving Kassur time to react.

  “Kassur…” Morty’s voice cracked on the first syllable, raw in a way Kassur hadn’t heard before.

  The cat grabbed his forearms, then his hands were ghosting everywhere, checking shoulders, ribs, the side of Kassur’s neck as if he expected to find a torn throat or a puncture wound that would suddenly start bleeding again. It was honestly an odd and good feeling.

  “Are you… are you hurt?” Morty asked, swallowing hard. “Did they…” Morty swallowed hard, eyes shiny and wide.

  Kassur took a second to get used to the sudden closeness. He raised his hands, unsure of what to do. Then he pulled Morty into a tight hug.

  “I’m fine,” he blurted.

  Then he started laughing. It bubbled up, uncontrolled, turning into a cackle. “You’re the one who fainted and had to be dragged off in an ambulance.”

  Morty let out a strangled laugh that didn’t carry any humor.

  “One stimulant was bad enough,” he said. “The second one… yeah. I was fully expecting to not make it out of there.”

  

This guy told me to run and jumped the predators.

  

  “Stupid!” shouted Captain Leonardo.

  

His dad? Relative?

  

  Morty shrugged. “I woke up and…” His voice softened. “I was worried about you.”

  “I was downstairs,” Kassur said quietly. “Waiting for you to wake up.”

  Kassur’s ears flattened. He leaned down, pressing his forehead to Morty’s, like it was the only thing holding him together. His breath hitched through the rebreather.

  “Don’t do that to me,” he whispered. “Don’t look at me and decide you’re the one who gets left behind.”

  His arms tightened around Morty like he needed proof the cat was real.

  “When you told me to run… ” He swallowed hard. “I don’t want to be the guy who survives because someone decided to play hero.”

  Morty’s hands slid up to cup Kassur’s face, thumbs brushing under the jackal’s eyes with a gentleness that made Kassur’s knees want to fold.

  “Okay,” the cat said. “Let’s hope that the next time we go on a date, things work out better.”

  Kassur broke out with laughter again. “God, you’re an idiot.”

  Morty's mouth twitched. “Yeah. Takes one to know one.”

  They hugged again.

  Juno cleared his throat, loud enough to cut through the moment.

  “Alright,” the hyena said. “Touching. Heartwarming. Everyone is alive. We’re still leaving.”

  Morty didn’t let go of Kassur, but he pulled back just enough to look at Juno. “You’re a terrible person.”

  “I need to be sometimes,” the hyena said. “We’re not doing a dramatic fainting sequel in the hallway.”

  Then Juno pointed to the door.

  “We walk and talk.”

  As they moved toward the door, Kassur caught it, just for a heartbeat. The lion’s head was turned away, but his eyes were wet, glassed over in a way that didn’t match his size or his presence.

  The moment Leo realized he was being watched, the softness vanished. His jaw set. His gaze snapped back, sharp and warning, daring Kassur to say something about it. Kassur just smiled.