(I have a new book... that I've been addicted to writing lol. You guys should check it out. Called Homeless.)

Sam-

Stepping inside carefully, I looked around at the large living room. To the direct left was a giant spiral staircase that lead up to the second floor. In front of me was the living room, beyond that, the dining room. To the right of that was an open kitchen with just a counter separating the rooms. It made them all look more open, and of course, they were huge by themselves.

The rooms were nice, but what drew me fully inside was the delicious smell coming from the kitchen. For once, my boy was following me and not running about, so I quickly made my way to the kitchen and sat down by the door. A woman who couldn't have been older than forty bustled around cooking all sorts of random things. I could already smell bacon, and perhaps sausage and pancakes?

"Oh my goodness!"

The sudden squeal had my hackles rising, but as the woman rushed over to scoop up my boy, I could tell that she wasn't going to hurt him. At least that's what I had to tell myself in order to not guard my boy. She was a lion, after all.

"What a cute little puppy! Awww, you're all covered in pasta sauce. I'm glad you enjoyed dinner, little cutie. Now let's just get your face cleaned up, hm?"

Watching closely, I followed the woman over to the sink, where she set Coda down and began filling the other side with warm water. I sat down, not daring to take my eyes from my son as the woman lifted him over to the warm water. The pup squirmed at first, but when Jordan's wife began scrubbing the matting pasta sauce from his fur he quickly calmed down.

"Yes, I know baths are evil, but you're doing so well. Yes you are."

Coda straightened a little sitting in the water, looking almost smug at the woman's praise.

You are such a dork puppy.

I grunted, garnering the attention of my son and the woman. My boy starting panted and I had no doubt that his tail was swishing around in the water. The woman offered me a warm smile and a gentle pat on the head.  

"You have an adorable son, Sam. I hope you don't mind if I spoil him?"

Coda's ears perked up and I rolled my eyes. That's just what I needed, a spoiled puppy. Glancing back up at my son, I saw the curious excitement in his eyes and sighed. He deserves some spoiling. Heck, he probably doesn't even understand what that word really entails.

I remained seated quietly until the woman drained the water and after a quick drying with a clean dish towel, Coda was back on the tile floor with me, wiggling excitedly.

"We're not quite done yet, little guy. You still need a diaper."

Knowing that Coda was going to bolt at the sound of the uncomfortable apparatus, I quickly grabbed his scruff and held him until the woman could get a hole cut into a diaper and maneuver his squirming backside into it. Coda seemed to pout, frustrated that he'd lost The Great Diaper Battle, but he soon turned his attention to the stove after I let him go and lifted onto his hind legs to sniff at the food situated on the burners.

"Oh yes, there's plenty of breakfast. Let me make you boys plates." The woman said as she hurried about loading up a ton of bacon, sausage, pancakes, and eggs. Sam waited patiently as she set down one plate, which his son attacked. His own was stacked a bit higher when it was finally set down. He slowly ate, keeping an eye on the woman and his son, still not completely trusting her. He likely never would, but the food did give her a point.

"If you'd like, there's a few extra rooms upstairs. Our second eldest is likely not going to be around much, either, so the only lions you're likely to encounter are myself and my husband, along with Jared and Jamie, our soon-to-be sixteen year old twins in high school."

Oh great. More teenage boys.

I'd had more than enough of those for my entire life... yet, if I wanted to get any kind of good job to raise my son the right way, I was likely going to have to go back. I'm only eighteen, but I really wasn't ready to try just yet. Not even with the pheromone collar on.

Finishing up my food, I walked over to my son's and ate what he left, then turned and began heading upstairs. I knew he'd follow me since the woman had been the one to put the diaper on him. He remembered who put the last evil plastic bag on his butt, and that was the person who he didn't like most times for a matter of ten or so minutes. When we got to the stairs I ran up, then turned to see my son slowly waddling over each step. He carefully pulled himself up, bum wiggling with the effort. Knowing that it would keep him busy for a short time, I stalked down the hall and quickly found the two teen lion's rooms.

They looked like most teenage boy's rooms. Dirty and... I sniffed. Smells just like cat. Bleh.

Rolling my eyes, I sauntered down the hall, noting the bathroom that had its door open wide, then three other rooms. One was obviously the master judging from what was inside, but the other two were mostly empty. One looked like it could be occupied by someone, but they weren't around enough to mess it up.

Must be the son she mentioned.

Not wanting to intrude, even though he wasn't there often, I padded to the other room and wagged my stubby tail a little when I saw just a normal bed, dresser, and nightstand in the room. By the time I walked inside my son was by my side and eagerly sniffing around the room. I was actually surprised that I hadn't lost him to one of the lion's rooms, but I'm sure he'll find a way into them soon enough. Likely when the boy's were back home and the most trouble could come of it.

God. Best to get some sleep before that happens. Going to need all the energy I can get.

With that, I grabbed Coda by the scruff and hopped up onto the bed, then curled up with him snuggled in against me.

Someone's staring at me.

Not someone. But two someone's. Inwardly groaning, I forced my eyes open and let out a low, warning growl. The two brothers only grinned, showing off their lion's teeth, though neither had shifted yet.

They're trying to scare me.

It wasn't going to happen. Even if I was scared, there was no way I would run from the cats with my son right next to me. In fact... I grabbed him by the scruff and backed off the bed, then nudged my son under it just as the two lions pounced on top of it. They were now both in their feline forms, and as I skirted around the bed trying to get against the wall, I noticed that the only reason they let me move before was because they needed to remove their clothing or risk tearing it. Now both of them were staring me down, brown-tipped tails swishing back and forth on the bed as they licked their lips.

Shit.

I ran. Coda was smart enough to understand that he needed to stay put, and if I could have fit under the bed, I would be right next to him, but I wasn't. The brothers followed me right out the door and down the hall, then stairs. My only hope was to get to the kitchen, which was right around the corner and across the room, but when I came to a stop in its entrance, I realized that my hopes were dashed. Their mother wasn't there... and neither was Jordan. Before I could turn to face the two males I was slammed against the wall by one, and pinned by the other.

Seeing them so close gave me a very nice view of their large canines and mostly-full manes. I couldn't tell which one was which, but quite honestly, I couldn't care less. I just wanted out from under the one pinning me and even further away from the one sniffing at my face! Frustrated, I snapped at the one close to my face, managing to get his nose and make him jump back. That gave me the chance to go for the one pinning me down with his paws, nearly landing another bite as he jumped away. I then leaped to my paws and bolted into the kitchen, then up onto the counter by the entrance where several envelops and pencils sat. I knew it wasn't very courteous to be up on someone else's counters, but neither was trying to attack your guest!

Both lions suddenly shifted, leaving two nearly-identical boys in their wake. The twins had dark blond hair and similar features, until it got to their hair. One had it spiked up fashionably while the others' was down in a sloppy but hot look.

Not hot to me, boy. Stay the hell away.

I glared at them both, pinning my ears back as I bared my teeth.

"I've always wanted a dog." One said with a smirk as he reached over and pet my head. I wanted to bite him. I really, really did, but they weren't attacking me anymore so I had to bear with it.

"Shift for us." The other purred, making my hackles stand on end. I wasn't a fan of shifting. Not in front of them, and not in front of anyone else. Except for Richard. Ignoring that thought, I glanced toward the stairs accidentally. I realized my mistake as soon as one of the twins began walking toward them.

I shifted immediately, knowing that he would go up and get Coda if I didn't listen. Damn lions.

"Oh? Not bad," the one with the sloppy hair said as the spike-haired one returned to stand beside his brother. I tried to keep up my growl of warning, even though I was now in my human form and lacked claws or useful teeth, but neither seemed to hear it as they leaned in at the same time, then glanced at each other mischievously.

"He has the same collar that Spots does."

Spots?

"Oh wow. Then that kid is his... and he can make more."

I felt my entire body startle as they reached for my collar. My hands jerked up automatically, grabbing both of their hands as I felt color drain from my face. I knew I was still drifting out of my earlier heat and there was no way I was going to risk the collar coming up off near two teenage boys! I still had Coda to take care of and I definitely wasn't ready, or wanting, another mouth to feed right now!

"Don't..." I whispered shakily. I knew their instincts would tell them otherwise, but thankfully they both lowered their hands, only to jerk me off the counter. My body was suddenly in the spiky-haired guy's arms as they headed back upstairs.

"I want to meet your puppy," the other said, grinning at me as I tried to get out of his twin's arms, but to no avail. When we got into the guest room and I was set down I noticed Coda peaking out from beneath the bed. When they saw him I immediately shifted to run in front of them.

"Move, Sam. You know we can kill both of you if we want too. All we want to do is see your pup, so step aside." The messy-haired boy growled, making me tense and worried. I didn't want to move. I needed to protect my son from them... but I could do nothing if they decided to shift again. So, with extreme hesitation, I stepped aside. My eyes were wide, locked onto Coda as the spiky-haired guy shifted and leaned over to sniff at my son.

If the other guy wasn't standing right next to me I would have leaped on his brother, but I had to fight myself to stand still as the lion tugged Coda out by his scruff and commenced giving him a bath with his tongue. I wasn't fooled by the gentleness, mainly because he wasn't being gentle. Every couple of licks he was baring his teeth and nipping at his ears or neck, as well as growling.

My body began to shake as the brother beside me shifted and strode forward, panting. Coda had been looking worried for the last several seconds and the moment the other brother closed in I heard him yelp. Coda! Mamma mode kicked in as I lunged between the two lions. My teeth dug into the one who had his teeth already on my boy, while I felt the others' canines slip into my shoulder.

Dammit. I wish I'd remembered those stupid nature documentaries mother had watched all the time before I let them so close to Coda! I hated that I had forgotten until it was already possibly too late.

One of the pieces from the documentary about lions swam through my mind about male lions and how they usually killed unrelated offspring. It was in order to mate sooner with the female, but cold day in hell I was going to be doing anything besides attacking these two bastards until they let go of my baby!