Doe and the Wolf (Furry United Coalition, #5) (11 page)

“And I don’t want to go with you. Please, Joey. I know it’s the injection that’s making you crazy like—”

“I. Am. Not. Crazy!” Joey’s rouged lips twisted, and his eyes flared. His twitch jumped from his left eye to his right and back again. His skin began to ripple.

Eep! She hurriedly spoke in an effort to calm him. “Sorry. That came out wrong.”

His skin settled back to its regular pallor, and his twitch eased. “So you don’t think I’m crazy?”

“Of course not. I mean, hey, if the injections made you nuts, then wouldn’t I be nuts too?” She threw him a wan smile.

“We’re special.”

Tin hat special. “Listen, all I meant was I know you’re having a tough time adjusting. I am too.”

“I’m not having any problems. I’m perfectly fine.”

“People who are fine don’t go around killing and kidnapping people.” Once again, her mouth got away from her as she tried to reason with him. What a waste of breath.

“Why not? They’re weaker than me.”

“It’s wrong. Not only that, but you’re going to expose us to the humans.”

“So what? Isn’t it about time the world knew about us? Discovered our superiority? Once upon a time, I used to think Mastermind was a nutjob, but now I have to wonder if she wasn’t on to something. We are the better species, and those of us gifted with the injection even more so. Why, I’ve gone from being bottom of the food chain to eating the food chain.”

“You’re going to get us all killed if you don’t stop.”

The tic returned. “No, I won’t, but you might end up next on the menu if you don’t stop irritating me.” He took a step forward, and she brandished the knife she still held before her to halt him.

“Please don’t come any closer. I don’t want to hurt you.”

Judging by the speed he twitched, he didn’t appreciate her defensive posturing. “Be a good doe and put the knife down.”

She shook her head.

“Now, Dawn, be reasonable.”

She tightened her grip.

With a cry that was half scream of frustration, half growl of caged beast, Joey burst from his clothes and shed his humanity.

Forget reasoning. Frankengecko was back, and, boy, did he look mad.

And hungry.

“Eep!”

T
he very pregnant FUC agent excused herself from the restaurant table and went to the bathroom, her partner and husband following, a good thing too because Everett had stopped paying attention several minutes ago. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. Really wrong. He drummed his fingers on the table as he stared out the window.

Tom noticed his distraction and nudged him. “Why aren’t you paying attention?”

“I am.” At Tom’s raised brow, he amended, “I was. But I’ve got this nagging sensation.”

“Nagging how? Like a, need to pop a Tums because I ate too much deep-fried food sensation? A crack open a new package of toilet paper because I’m going to clog some plumbing? Or the, I think I left the stove on at home one?”

“None of the above. I think something’s wrong with Dawn.”

Tom slammed the table with a fist. “I knew it. I knew we shouldn’t have left that doe alone. She’s probably halfway to Canada by now.”

“She didn’t escape. I think she’s in danger.” Everett rose and tossed a few bills on the table.

“Where are you going?”

“To check on her.”

“On the basis of your gut?”

“Don’t make fun. That instinct has saved our tails more than once.”

“You know, they have this new technology out now known as a phone. Instead of running off on the basis of a tummy ache, you could just call her.”

“I can’t. I don’t have a house phone, remember? And she doesn’t own a cell.”

“So you’re just going to disappear in the middle of a meeting with FUC agents?”

“Yup.”

The scowl on Tom’s face deepened. “You know that’s not going to make us look good.”

Everett rolled his shoulders. “Like I care what they think.”

A noisy breath rattled from Tom’s lips. “Well, I do! Are you nuts? You can’t do that.”

“Why not? Tell them something came up that needed my attention. I’m sure you can handle them.”

Tom pounded a fist on the tabletop, rattling the dishes. “Everett, this better not be your way of ditching me so you can get back to Dawn for a little tickle and squeak.”

“Dude, we are not in grade school. Tickle and squeak? Really?”

“You know what I mean.”

“I do. And trust me when I say that’s not my intention.” Although, if his hunch turned out wrong, it might be.

“I’m coming by as soon as the meeting is over.” The warning was growled.

“Take your time.” Everett winked before striding out of the restaurant. He wasn’t kidding, though, about his gut. It urged him to hurry. To run. He did, jogging the few blocks to his house.

Funny how in a few short days he’d grown so attached to the doe, and it wasn’t just because of her housekeeping skills or great cooking. Under her demure side hid a woman with a backbone of steel. She exuded femininity yet, at the same time, didn’t allow herself to get pushed around. For a man like him, who usually hung out with women who used sex as a tool to get what they wanted and tears when they didn’t, he found it refreshing. And frustrating.

How she kept holding out again his charm, he couldn’t figure out. He could tell she found him attractive. His nose never lied, and yet, she wouldn’t let herself succumb. Was Tom right? Was it the thrill of the forbidden that rendered her so attractive?

Only one way to find out.
I need to seduce the doe.

Arriving at his house, all thoughts of seduction vanished. Outwardly, nothing seemed amiss. The windows were all intact. No strange cars sat in his driveway or on the street. The front door was closed. There were no spray painted messages screaming ‘Die, you man-whore!’ All appeared quiet at the lair of the wolf. But the lingering stench of a perfume applied with a much-too-liberal hand hung in the air. Nothing he owned and nothing Dawn wore.

A stranger had come—he sniffed—and not left.

A crash from within had him slamming open his front door and charging inside. The cloying perfume permeated the air, along with the more worrisome underlying stench of lizard. A big lizard he’d wager.

In my house!

He couldn’t help the howl at the invasion of his space. Quick on the heels of that thought was,
Shit, where’s Dawn?

A female scream sounded, quickly cut off. More noise, that of a scuffle, led him to his kitchen, where he beheld the gecko in a half shift advancing on Dawn, who huddled behind his island, knife in hand.

“Get away!” she yelled, waving her weapon.

“Come withhhh me,” lisped the monster.

“Never!”

“You heard the lady. Back off,” Everett growled.

The gecko-man turned his head and flicked his tongue. He didn’t appear surprised at his appearance nor worried, which Everett found a tad bit emasculating. Most people had some kind of reaction when confronting an angry wolf, even in human form. Some shook in their socks, others blubbered, most ran, and those that didn’t usually left puddles of yellow.

Not Joey the giant freak. Nope, he opened his mouth wide, lined with unnaturally long teeth, and shot a wad of goo at him. Like, gross.

Everett ducked, and whatever came out of the lizard splattered the wall behind him. Eew. “That better not leave a stain,” he complained.

“How about we repaint the walls with your blood?” Joey offered, turning his back on Dawn and flexing claws in his direction.

“Red is not my color.” Really, it wasn’t. Blue, maybe a bit of green, brought out the best in him, but red? Nope.

“You should have left my precious Dawn alone,” Joey grumbled.

“I’m not yours,” she shouted.

“Yet.”

Try like ever. Everett didn’t like the possessive claim the lizard tried to place on Dawn, and his wolf enjoyed it even less. With a roar, he sprang, claws extending from his fingertips, teeth elongating in his mouth, his wolf pushing to take over so it could rend the enemy into pieces.
Time to find out if gecko is like snake and tastes like chicken.

He’d forgotten how fast the bastard was, and strong. One swipe was all it took to detour his flight and send him crashing into the sideboard holding his microwave. His poor Ikea furniture didn’t stand a chance. The pine cracked, and down they all went, Everett, microwave, and the ceramic jar shaped and painted like Cookie Monster.
Damn. That thing was a classic.
Not to mention, what a waste of Oreos.

Despite the destruction of his treat stash, Everett didn’t let the setback keep him down. He sprang to his feet and noted Joey dragged Dawn by the arm toward the front hall and door. She’d lost her knife, or had it taken from her. Either way, she could only dig her heels in on the linoleum floor and flail at the implacable grip towing her. She didn’t stand a chance.

Good thing the big bad wolf was here to help her.

Even though Joey had only partially shifted, he sported a large tail. With it thrashing so temptingly in front of him, Everett couldn’t resist. He pounced on it and sank his claws in.

The lizard screamed, and the appendage thrashed, whipping Everett from side to side. He held on. He also couldn’t resist an, “Awooo!” of exhilaration which turned into an “Aw shit!” as the tail snapped off and sent him flying.

“What the hell?” As he stared at the still-twitching tail in his grasp, he restrained a shudder. Damn geckos and their built in security. He’d forgotten they could shed their tails like skin.

Meanwhile, while he lay there pinning the discarded piece of flesh, his target got away, with his doe. He jumped to his feet and darted after them. Joey had made it to the front door but wasn’t having an easy time of it as Dawn fought him hoof and nail.

“Let go of me,” she yelled. She curled her hands around the frame of the door and held on for dear life.

Joey tugged. Everett grabbed hold of her hands just as the lizard tore her away. He leaned the opposite way of the gecko.

“Hold on, little doe,” he grunted. “I’ve got you.”

More than ever, he cursed himself for not carrying a gun. In his defense, he’d never needed to in the past. It was a humbling experience to finally meet something bigger and stronger than his wolf. Even more frightening was the knowledge he didn’t know if he would win this impromptu tug of war. Despite all his weight and strength, he was losing the challenge.

“Pull harder,” cried Dawn. “Don’t let him take me.”

“I’m trying,” soothed Joey. “Fear not, my gentle doe, I shall save you from the wolf.”

Huh?

“Not you, you overgrown handbag,” she screeched. “Come on, wolf. Put some muscle into it. Don’t tell me you’re going to let a fly-eating lizard kick your hairy butt.”

Forget gentle Dawn. Fighting-for-her-life Dawn didn’t mince words as she threatened and cajoled him into trying harder while the oblivious lizard kept promising to save her. If it wasn’t for the sweat pouring into his eyes and stinging them, Everett would have wondered if he dreamed, except even he knew his subconscious would never have him losing to a household pet.

Help came unexpectedly in the form of one sloth, who actually arrived in the nick of time with a “Holy shit! It wasn’t indigestion.”

The new threat had the effect of getting Joey to let Dawn go abruptly. Everett tumbled back and hit the floor. A moment later Dawn landed atop him.

Panting, and tongue practically lolling, he still managed to say, “Hey, baby, how you doing?”

W
ith her arms sore, heart racing, and skin clammy with fear, it took Dawn a moment to realize Everett was trying to mimic a famous line from a sitcom based in the nineties.

“Now is not the time for corny pickup lines,” she snapped. “Or lying around. He’s getting away.” Given Joey’s speech on his undying love for her, Dawn didn’t have any doubt if he escaped he’d come back, for her.

“I’m on it.” Setting her aside, Everett jumped to his feet and ran out the front door, where she could hear excited voices and then the crack of a gun. Once. Twice.

It wasn’t followed by screaming. Chest heaving, she couldn’t help the shakes that consumed her body as the adrenaline of the fight wore off and reality set in.
I almost got kidnapped by an obsessed, doe-stalking lizard intent on making me his Geckobride.
If she weren’t so scared she would have laughed.

But the throb in her body wouldn’t let her laugh about it, not when she’d come so close to getting kidnapped. Only Everett’s timely arrival prevented her from a fate probably worse than death.

She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths, trying to calm her racing heart. Footsteps approached, and she heard the rustle of fabric as someone knelt beside her. Expecting to see Everett, or Tom at the very least, she screamed when she opened her eyes and instead beheld a blonde stranger who beamed and waved.

“Wassup?” queried the woman. “I’m Miranda, FUC agent extraordinaire, here to save the day.”

Dawn decided to point out the flaw in her statement. “Um, how are you saving the day if you’re inside with me and the monster gecko is outside?”

Miranda’s pert nose wrinkled. “Okay, so I sent my hubby after it. But I want it known that me and my bunny would have kicked its lizard butt if it weren’t for this ginormous medicine ball I’m carrying around.”

It took only a quick glance to see this Miranda person was pregnant. Very, very pregnant. “Shouldn’t you be on medical leave?”

Snapping gum, the FUC agent heaved herself to her feet and held out a hand to Dawn, who eschewed it out of fear of hurting the lopsided woman.

“They tried to keep me home, but I was driving my husband nuts. His name is Chase by the way. You’ll meet him in a minute. He’s outside tangling with your giant lizard.”

“I heard gunshots. Is Joey dead?”

“Who’s Joey?”

“The lizard.”

Miranda shrugged. “No idea. I was told to stand back and let the men handle it. Which I might add wouldn’t be happening if I could shift into my bunny. I tell you, I can’t wait until I get back to myself.”