Although veterinary technician Carlton is violently allergic to cats, he loves them with an undying passion, enough to tolerate miserable symptoms to keep working with the felines in the San Maribal Zoo. The cheetahs especially fascinate him. Then he meets a mysterious stranger who is evasive about why he’s in the zoo -- nude and after hours! This man tells Carl there’s a cat inside him wanting to get out. That sounds really crazy, and the suggested way to make it happen even crazier ... but exciting.<br><br>Zyl is a member of the ancient shifter tribe, or Were-Kind. His people are working to enforce humane treatment of animals and save endangered species. Hearing of a planned raid by an extreme animal rights group to free the denizens of zoos, they realize this will a real catastrophe. Joining forces with regular humans to avert the problem will mean “coming out” as the powerful beings they are. Again, a potential disaster.<br><br>Attracted to Carlton against his better judgment, Zyl teams up with the vet tech he meets under awkward circumstances only to discover a valuable ally and a soul mate.

Catastrophe

Carl reached and stroked the cheetah’s smooth fur, rubbed along his neck and down the spine to his hips. Amazed, he looked at his hand—no rash, no itch, no stinging nettle sensation. He pressed his face into the plush softness of Zyl’s side, rubbed his nose and lips against the fur. Then he straightened. No sneezes, no itch, no watery eyes!


Another shimmer and shift and the man called Zyl stood in front of him again. Carl felt the smile stretch his face.


“While I’m not quite sure yet, it’s starting to look like my allergies are way better if not really gone. That’s amazing!”


“Good. I was hoping it would work. I thought it was just your body’s reaction to the feline within who was struggling to get out and have its freedom. Even if you still have some problems, it should be a lot better, maybe in time go away completely.”


Chapter 14