He’d seen the same thing happen to his clothing in the past when he’d lost control and done a partial shift while fully dressed. Morphing into a half-beast, half-man was never easy on one’s wardrobe. The wolf never seemed to overtake him when he was in the shower or without a shirt. No. It liked to wait until he was in a tailored suit that retailed for three grand or expensive casual clothing that was made to look vintage and worn but was actually quite expensive.
None of that mattered to the wolf. When it wanted out, clothing be damned.
Jonathan lowered his hands, his fingers skimming the cool concrete floor. The cell was sparse for a reason: to easily wash away whatever happened within. Since becoming a supernatural, Jonathan had lost count of how many cells like this one he’d not only seen but also been in. He’d hosed down his fair share of them as well.
Jonathan’s teeth clenched as he cocked his head, trying to clear his mind enough to recall how he’d ended up chained in the cell in the first place. He’d seen the inside of a Van Helsing holding cell enough times in his life to recognize one, so figuring out where he was wasn’t the issue. This one was on the lowest level of the Detroit building. He knew because someone had stenciled the logo for the professional baseball team on the cinderblock wall. It was a massive tiger.
He’d seen it when he’d first toured the facility.
What he didn’t understand was why he was there or how he’d come to be there.
“It’s your turn to check on Precious,” said Dwayne from the other side of a thick metal door.
Precious?
“No way. I checked on him an hour ago, and he damn near bit my hand off,” returned Leo. “It’s your turn, and you know it. Reggie brought pizza,pizza, and I’m starving.”
“Huh?” asked Dwayne.
“Detroit people know what that means,” said Leo with a huff. “You really need to get out more and eat something other than salad.”
Jonathan let out an incensed breath. “One of you needs to take these chains off me…now.”
“Oh goodie, he’s back,” said Dwayne. “Weird that I missed this side of him?”
Leo laughed as he looked through the cell bars. He smiled at Jonathan. “Hey, boss. Feeling less like trying to bite us?”
“Trying?” asked Dwayne as he rubbed his backside. “There was no trying. He succeeded in biting me.”
Jonathan grunted. “Tell me he’s joking.”
Leo’s smile broadened. “Wish I could. I’d have intervened but didn’t want to get between two wolf-shifters, especially when one of them had an ass cheek stuck in the mouth of the other.”
“Ha. Ha. You’re so funny.” Dwayne pulled a set of keys from his front pocket. He jingled them in Jonathan’s direction. “Someone owes me an apology and a new pair of jeans.”
“Your jeans look fine to me,” snapped Jonathan, holding out his arms. “Undo my chains. Now.”
“These jeans are fine,” said Dwayne. “Because they’re not the ones I had on. I went home, showered, changed, and even asked Marjorie if she could mend the other pair. For reference, she can’t.”
Leo tilted his head slightly, locking gazes with Jonathan. “The jeans couldn’t be fixed, but your little outburst has managed to fix things between Dwayne and the missus.”
Dwayne blushed slightly. “Fix is a strong word.”
“You’re not sleeping on Reggie’s couch anymore, so I’m using the word fixed,” stated Leo evenly. “And you’re both heading to Grimm Cove to take Kellan to college as soon as we get the boss undone.”
Jonathan kept his arms held out as Dwayne continued to hold the keys up from outside of the cell. “How long have I been down here?”
The men shared a look.
Leo cleared his throat. “Five days.”
“What?” asked Jonathan with more force than he’d meant to. His wolf stirred, and Dwayne stepped back quickly.
“Should I guard my ass?” asked Dwayne.
Getting hold of himself, Jonathan shook his head. “Undo me. I’m fine.”
“You don’t look fine,” stated Dwayne.