Page 7 of The Bull's Head

“I know I’m asking a lot when I say to trust me.” He leaned in and brought his nose to Callum’s snout. “And I figure you’re thinking about running right now. So you know, I won’t stop you, but I would caution you. If you can’t shift back, the humans might haul you to a farm or… worse. You’re safe here, with me.”

Callum stepped out of the enclosure. He turned and gave it a critical look. When they’d taken him out of the lab, he was sure something awful was going to happen, but they fed him, gave him as much water as he could handle, had a woman who said she was a vet check him over, and give him antibiotics—she said—and lined the pen with fresh straw. If he used it, someone came in the morning and cleaned it out. There wasn’t a layer of shit on the walls from so many different shifters. And his hooves weren’t getting soft in the urine-soaked stuff he’d stood in.

The best things were the blessed silence. No cries of anguish, no screaming. And no smell of decay from shifters who’d died. How many nights had Callum wished to be deaf, so as not to hear the suffering? How often had he wished he could die to avoid the pain? But it had been weeks since the last experiment.

Maybe… maybe what Teddy was saying was true and Hyde died. That would be a blessing for so many. If so, it was possible that Teddy could be trusted. He had a soft touch, that was for certain. When a hand stroked his side, Callum flinched and Teddy jerked away.

“Oh damn! I’m sorry. It’s just… I’ve never seen a bull like you. All that reddish hair is matted and snarled, and I was wondering what it would look like if it was cleaned and combed out. I bet you’re stunning.”

Not nearly as much as Cooper. Callum had been envious of his brother’s long golden reddish-blond mane that their mother braided, his body that was sturdy in both forms. Right now, though? He’d give anything to see his brother again. To have him tease Callum the way he did when they were younger.

“Hey, don’t cry,” Teddy urged. “I’m sorry if I upset you.”

Callum hadn’t even realized he was crying. He turned away from Teddy, shame making him feel unworthy of the attention. Just when he thought Teddy would walk away, he did the oddest thing. He wrapped those big, strong arms around Callum’s neck and held on.

“Shhh. I’ve got you.”

It was a promise. A vow. From a man who didn’t seem to be there to hurt Callum at all. He could trust, at least with this man. And for the first time in many years, Callum allowed himself to be touched. And wept.

Chapter 3

“Teddy? Are you awake?”

The door opened, and bright light streamed into the room. Teddy covered his face with the fluffy pillow they’d given him. “What time is it?”

“Almost noon” came the reply.

Teddy bolted out of bed. “Oh, Alp, I am so sorry! Give me a minute, and I’ll be right there.”

He grabbed the clothes he’d worn last night and threw them into the corner. Later he’d have to get to know the layout of his room, so he knew where everything should go. He’d spent way too much time outside, but the run with Callum was worth it. When they made it back, he’d sat in the makeshift shed and allowed Callum to lay his big body on Teddy’s lap as he stroked fingers over the bull’s head.

One of the books in Teddy’s collection was about a necromancer named Angel Salvatore. Teddy wished they lived in Angel’s world, because he’d pay to have Hyde brought back to life so Teddy could kill him repeatedly. He showered quickly, then put on some clean clothes. He never slept this late, and it sure wouldn’t put him in a good light with Mal and Alp.

When he got to the office, they sat inside. Alp handed a mug of coffee to Teddy, who took it sheepishly.

“I’m so sorry, First and First mate. I never oversleep.”

Mal smiled. “Alp checked on you at six, and he said you were snoring away, so we decided it was best to let you rest. You had a long trip to get here and had to be worn out.” Mal stood and stretched. “And we don’t really have a time clock here. You start when you feel is best. Cece said you’d give us more than a full day’s work in six hours, and that means a lot. And don’t worry. If you work six hours and you get everything done, we’ll still pay you for a full eight.”

Teddy cocked his head. “Pay me? I thought I was here to help.”

Mal’s gaze went to Alp, who stared back at his mate, then focused on Teddy. “I’m sorry, but you know this is a job, right?”

“Yes, First—Mal. But I don’t need money. I only wish to help.”

Mal squeezed his eyes shut as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “Teddy…. Everyone who works gets paid. Sure, the government might not know, but we would. No one goes without, and no one does something without being paid. Dr. Hamilton volunteered, but I went to the Council to ensure she gets paid. What if, I don’t know, you wanted to buy something in the future? A car? A house? You’d need money for that, right?”

Teddy gestured to the bunker. “You give me food. You allow me to sleep here. What more do I need?”

“I’m sorry,” Alp said, his eyes hard. “Should I call Cece and ask her where you slept? If you ate your meals with them? Whether or not you and your brother got a paycheck?”

Heat flooded Teddy’s face, because he knew what the answer would be. “I’d rather you didn’t.”

“This is your home, but you’re also part of the family business. That means, like us, you get paid.” Mal inclined his head toward Alp. “Keeping this one in carrots is an expensive proposition.”

“Oh! Ha. Wow, that was hilarious.” Alp stuck out his tongue. “Leave the jokes to those of us who are actually funny.”

Teddy grinned. “Before the two of you decide to have sex on the table, could you tell me what you need done today?”

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