“Normally, yes. We ran into another plumbing issue today and fell behind. Give us another ten minutes, and we’ll be out of your hair.”
Dominic nodded and started for the steps again.
“Got it. Have a nice evening.”
“You too, sir!”
Dan scented the air and glanced around to make sure he was alone this time. He’d been careless, allowing the human to see him doing something only a shifter could do. Crap! Things were so much easier without all the precautions, but he should have known better. He’d have to tell Tom later. Hopefully, the guy hadn’t noticed and would forget all about it.
####
DOMINIC REACHED THEfifth floor out of breath as usual, glad his arms weren’t full this time. How could someone carry a full-size refrigerator down two flights of stepsby himself? That was too weird, though his achy feet and empty stomach gave him more urgent things to think about. Once inside, he stripped for a quick shower, ate a simple meal, and booted up the computer to check his blog.
The old laptop connected to BlogPress at last and opened up his site. Wow! Over two hundred likes and almost fifty messages in his queue. This was the best response he’d seen yet, primarily due to the recent question he’d posited to his readers—one which reflected a genuine curiosity on his part.
>Birdman:What wouldyoudo if you came face to face with a real shapeshifter?
The responses, as suspected, varied widely from silly to serious.
>I’d pee my pants!
>Depends. If we’re alone and he’s packing....
>Either faint or have a heart attack. Wouldn’t you?
>Get a picture for a Facebook post!
Dominic cringed when he read one of the more serious ones.
>Gone Postal:I’d blow the bastard’s head off and then go hunting for more. No way I’m gonna let them run around free and not do something about it. Sounds like you need to grow a pair and stop screwing around with this, man. Those things don’t deserve to live.
For some reason, Russell Hook’s face popped into his head. He’d probably be the kind to agree with someone like Gone Postal, and Dominic was thankful he hadn’t revealed the name of his blog to the man. Bad enough he’d told him anything at all. Fortunately, the next message came from his biggest supporter.
>Majestic Sky:Seeing it with my own eyes would be fantastic! Think about it. If these people have been with us all along and aren’t hurting anyone, why would I want to expose them? To see them locked up, experimented on, or killed outright would be a tragedy, and we both know that’s what would happen. I would rather befriend them and learn about their lives than cause any harm. Be careful what you decide to do, Birdman, and don’t allow your fear to push you into a rash decision. There are indeed strange things in this world, and some are best left alone.
>Birdman: I see your point. Maybe if I were more curious than afraid, like you, I would think differently. Honestly, how do we know for sure they arenota danger? What if they remain hidden for reasons we don’t know about? What if there are more of them than in this one place? If I say nothing, and something terrible happens, how could I live with myself knowing it might have been prevented?
If Dominic came face to face with one of them, he’d most likely run far and fast, assuming they let him go. Another disturbing idea presented itself as he shut down the computer. If hedidsound the alarm and they found out it was him, they’d probably kill him. In their place, he might do the same. Maybe that’s what they’d been doing all along—quietly eliminating anyone who got too close or threatened them.
Dominic stayed up for a few more hours, attempting to calm his overactive imagination with a good book. After retiring, he lay in twisted, sweat-soaked sheets, tormented by frightening dreams.
####
JONAH SWIPED ROPESof cum from his hairy stomach and chest, breathless from a super-charged wank. If only Robyn hadn’t teased him about the attractive new officer who’d stopped by to see him. Could it be the man he’d been scenting? Would he be able to control himself? Coming face to face with the owner of that magnificent scent both enthralled and terrified him. Even saying the man’s name in his head gave him goosebumps!
In all his encounters with human males over the years, he’d never been seriously tempted to do anything sexual. Why was this one different? What did it mean? Why couldn’t he stop thinking about a person he’d never even met? He knew of one possibility, and it frightened him. Could a shifter mate with a human? Sex and children, sure, but become true mates? It seemed unlikely.
He needed to talk to Jack, and though he trusted Evan, he was Ben’s mate and would surely tell him. He loved his big brother but knew Ben would go all Alpha on him and muck things up. He meant well, of course, and Jonah appreciated his protection over the years, but he wasn’t a kid anymore and could handle his own affairs, thank you. Shit! The possibilities for trouble seemed to multiply by the minute.
Tomorrow evening he would seek out the True Elder and get some answers. It could be that after he met RJ Wilson in person, this whole thing would resolve itself, and there wouldn’t be any reason to speak with Jack. Perhaps nothing would come of it, and no one need know he’d been acting like an idiot over a mere human. Right. Too bad his wolf wasn’t on board with the plan, as the stubborn beast never missed a beat in his mantra ofmate, mate, mate...
####
BEN AND EVAN OVERHEARDRobyn teasing Jonah earlier in the evening about an attractivehumanDNR agent who’d come to call. Evan saw and scented Jonah’s obvious frustration, though it went deeper than being teased, and he thought he knew why. Ben, however, became agitated and went into protector mode. Evan barely managed to convince his mate to walk away, reminding him that Jonah was perfectly capable of fending off any unwanted advances, human or otherwise.
Ben remained surly all evening, questioning Evan’s silence and whether he’d experienced more dreams about Jonah. Evie cut the exchange short when she came running, eager to soothe her Daddy’s ruffled feathers. She still needed reassurance at bedtime, and Evan used the distraction to stay with her while he sent Ben off to the master bedroom with a whispered promise.
“Get naked, mate. I’m going to wear you out.”