Free To Have A Human by Amber Kell Page A

shifter. “Don’t you feel cannibalistic when eating something with wings?”
    Eaton laughed. “I think I can overcome any kind of wingy taboo. Besides, you’ve seen me eat chicken before not to mention eagles hunt smaller birds.”
    “True.” Carey plopped down beside Eaton. “And each time it freaks me out a little bit.”
    Denton and Harris laughed while Eaton shook his head.
    “Did you secure the house like I told you to?” Aden asked the shifters.
    “Yes, sir,” they said simultaneously.
    “The windows are triggered,” Denton said.
    “The garden has traps,” Harris added.
    “And I re-calibrated the security cameras,” Eaton spoke up.
    “Good. My being here won’t do anything but draw more attention to you. I’m going to go, but I’ll still be keeping an eye on you. You know how to contact me if there are any further problems. You guys can always go to the cabin if you need to get away. I’ve added a little money to your account, Care, I noticed it was getting a bit low,” his father said.
    “Thanks, Dad.” Some people might think Aden Gale was a strange parent who taught his son dangerous things, but Carey knew his father only wanted to prepare him for a world where Carey wouldn’t be the biggest, baddest thing around. Aden’s goal was for Carey to at least be the last man standing. Aden’s motto was even the toughest guy will fall if you shoot him in the balls.
    His father gave Carey a manly clap on the shoulder before showing himself out. As soon as the door closed behind him, his roommates started talking.
    “Your dad freaks me out,” Eaton confessed.
    Carey laughed as the other two shifters nodded their agreement.
    “You didn’t have to come home early,” Denton said. “You knew your dad was looking out for us. Why leave your kitty friend?”
    Humiliation burned through Carey as he remembered Broden’s attitude. He’d been halfway to falling for the guy when he learned how Broden really felt about humans. Carey felt like an idiot.
    “Because when Dad came over with his news, Broden told me he doesn’t think I can handle myself because I’m human,” Carey confessed.
    “Oooh no.”
    “Idiot!”
    “Crap!”
    Carey nodded. “I’m apparently quite unable to take care of myself and need my big manly shifter to look out for me.”
    “Well, to give him credit he’s probably not used to humans like you. I mean if he’s only dealt with shifters in the past, he might not realize that some people, some humans are more than capable of taking care of themselves,” Eaton offered.
    “Always the peacekeeper,” Carey patted Eaton on the leg.
    “No, he has a point,” Harris agreed. “You are exceptional. Not every human can take down shifters. I don’t think you should give up on your cat man yet.”
    Carey let out a long sigh. “Is it wrong that I’m looking for reasons to break up with him?”
    “Why?” Denton asked. “If he’s that much of an asshole, I can take care of him for you.”
    Carey pulled down his shirt to show the mark. “He marked me.”
    “Ooh,” Eaton leaned over to check it out closer. “He’s bitey. I thought you smelled weird but I thought it was because you spend the day with all those other shifters.”
    Carey shoved Eaton away. “He thinks I’m his mate.”
    Denton frowned. “Cat shifters don’t think they have mates, you’re either a mate or not. If Broden says you’re his, he’s never going to let you go.”
    “Unless we kill him!” Eaton said cheerily. “That would end the whole thing.”
    “No killing!” Carey snapped. “I don’t want him dead.”
    The thought of Broden being harmed made Carey’s heart beat faster in a panicky rhythm.
    “You really like him,” Harris said with the wonder of a child discovering a new toy.
    “Yes. I really like the idiot,” Carey grudgingly admitted.
    “Carey’s in loooveee,” Denton sang.
    “Shut up,” Carey threw a chicken wing at him.
    Denton snagged the food out of the air and bit into