Page 20 of Homecoming

“You…” Darius leans in close, “you keep yourfuckin’thoughts to yourself or we might have a problem.”

“Whatever you say, Mr. vamp-wolf, sir!” Mikah grins. “Cuzyou’re in charge, right?”

“That I am,” Darius snarls. “That I am, and you’d do well to remember it,Mikah.”

Digbysniffsloudlyandwatching as Darius stares focused on the grassed area at the end of the long driveway by the gate to the commune.

The hyenas camped there are a ragged group of thirty or so. Some of them have already shifted and are now tearing chunks from several deer carcasses strewn around their camp. The glow from the large bonfire makes their amber eyes deepen to a blood-red color, which pierces the rapidly descending darkness.

“What’re youdoin’?” Digby asks.

“Watching them. I don’t trust hyenas—never have. They’re too wise-ass for their own good. Plus, I always found they could be bought easily, and they certainly have no loyalty. All they think about is money, food, and sex—in that order. And they stink almost as bad as a cat.”

“Yeah, I think I have to agree with you on that.” Digby sniffs as the smell wafting from the temporary camp tortures his nostrils.

Set in the large clearing of tall grass, the camp is surrounded on one side by a shaded copse of trees and the warm glow from the large fire which is piled high with tree branches. The flames light an area of at least thirty feet and the thick smoke carries with it the stench of unwashed animal, charred deer meat and bike oil.

Close up in person, the hyenas stink of unclean wet fur. Their breath has a rank sulfurous smell and Digby can now see that some of the much older ones have fur that practically hangs in dirty matted tatters under their bellies when they shift.

“I know Rhys has several clans of them on his payroll, he seems to get on with them alright.”

“Does he trust them?” Darius sighs as he stretches his arms and flexes his muscles in front of him.

“Hell, I don’t know. Does Rhys trust anyone?”

“Ask him and see what he tells you about them.”

“Darius, are you alright, man? Only it feels likesomethin’sgoin’on here? Do you need to talk aboutsomethin’because you know I’m always here for you?”

“Did you smooth things over with Kat yet?”

“Uh, no. Not exactly. Actually, she’s nottalkin’to me right now. Oh, don’t worry, she’ll come around. I’ll give her some Digbylovelater—let it work its magic.”

“Hm… I’m not sure that’s going to work this time. She was really pissed off. But I get it. She’s worried about the pups. After everything that happened with Luka going missing, she’s just feeling protective. Digby, she going to need you to reassure her—let her know you understand. And make sure you keep your eyes on those fucking hyenas. Make it clear to that leader they are not welcome anywhere near the house. And tell him to stay away from Kat and the pups. As pack leader, you need to do that—set boundaries or trust me, they will take advantage.”

“Okay. Yeah, I get it and I will. I’ll get Zak and we’ll go down and talk to them. They invited us for drinks. Dee, chillax… it’s gonna be fine. You know,” Digby smiles,“I always wanted one of those motorcycles.”

“Really? You think going drinking with them is a good idea when Kat feels the way she does? You know, if they so much as step out of line and Luna catches them… well, there might just be less hyena leaving here than arrived. I’m leaving it with you to keep them in line. After all, you were the one who agreed they could stay.”

“Yes, sir.” Digby laughs. “Dee, trust me, I got this… I do. I’ll prove to you I can handlebein’pack leader. I’ll go get Zak now and we’ll sort it. I promise,everythin’will be just fine. We’ll use the drinks invitation to keep an eye on them firsthand—I’ll be like an inside man,” he grins.

Darius takes a breath, sighs loudly, and with a shake of his head, walks away. Digby stays where he is and watching from across the garden, he can now see the flames licking high into the night sky, illuminating the shiny chrome of the parked motorcycles surrounding the fire. This flickering heat paints everything in a deep orange haze and swathes the moon in a soft red glow. As the smoke curls into the air and the burning stench of animal carcasses continues to wafts in his direction, the smell makes him sneeze.

“Hey.” Zak, Oz, and Bud gather next to him and the four of them watch as the hyenas spread themselves out into smaller groups across the lawn: some settling down to sleep, some seated drinking, while others prance around dancing naked.

A large deer carcass roasts on a hastily erected spit across a separate pit of fire and the drifting aroma of recreational herbs burns in a pungent mix.

“Diggs, do you really think this was such a good idea?” Zak gulps nervously. “I mean,lettin’these hyenas stay here. Hell, they’re worse than shifters. You know, I think I’d rather leave Quinn alone in a dark room with QT than trust a clan of them—actually, I take that back. I wouldn’t trust Quinn withanythin’.”

Digby laughs. “C’monguys, let’s go check them out. But hey, don’t drink too much. Remember, we’re supposed to bekeepin’an eye on them, notjoinin’in their fun. Zak, did Kat come out of her room yet?”

“Uh… yeah, she uh… she asked where you were.”

“And you said what?”

“I said you were patrolling the grounds. That you knew you fucked uplettin’them stay and as a way of apology you weredoin’security detail.”

“Wow… And you came up with that all by yourself?” Digby grins. “Excellent work and damn smartthinkin’. You know, you’re a great number two Zak… Really, I’m impressed. Well done. Was she pleased?”

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