Chapter 36

• His heart was pounding in his chest, his cat was losing his mind. He’d checked most of the building and hadn’t found Journee yet. Asher flung the exit door open and stood there. He looked in one direction of the yard, then the other. With a soft growl, he started for the far end of the building. The nearest exit to the cafeteria brought you out here. Mid-step, his cat stopped him. Asher grit his teeth. As soon as he had a moment, his cat and he were going to do some serious communication. He couldn’t have him overriding him without warning and doing shit like this. His animal settled, and Asher inhaled deeply. Journee’s scent filled the air. That tangy, sweet smell that was only hers. He turned, looked back the other way, and then looked up. She wouldn’t be on the roof—he backtracked to where the ladder was. She may not be, but he could see better from up there. He only hoped she didn’t shift without Shaelan present to make sure things went well. What if she was out in the bush, unable to return?
• As he reached the top of the ladder, he heard sobbing, and he was sure his heart stopped completely at that moment. Forcing air into his lungs, he stepped onto the roof and looked to see Journee sitting near the back of the building. He didn’t want to startle her, so he made sure he made enough noise walking across the roof.
• He went over and squatted beside her. “Hey,” she turned to look at him, and it felt like something was stabbed into his chest to see the tears coming from her beautiful eyes, “what’s wrong?” He glanced at her leg and wondered if that was it.