by M. D. Grimm
The following week found Brian slowly going through the routines that Lisa had explained, and he tried to always be expectant for any emergencies. The animals were friendly, and he wanted to get to know each of them personally.
Someone cleared their throat and he turned around. He blinked at the rangy, attractive man standing in the doorway of the clinic. His skin was bronze and his short, black hair was shiny and wonderfully set off a face carved by a master. Though, as Brian peered closer at his hair, he realized there were strands of brown and gray, which was odd but intriguing. The man’s eyes were a deep brown that made Brian think of puppies. High cheekbones with a mouth that was wide with full lips made for kissing. Brian wondered what that mouth could do to him.
Ashamed of himself, Brian forced a smile and nodded. “Hello. I’m Brian. I’m new.”
The man smiled slightly as well. “Hey, I’m Derek. I’m one of the animal cops.”
Brian’s smile slipped, and he barely resisted taking a step back. “Oh, uh, you’re Derek?”
Derek let out a huff of laughter and ran his hand over his short hair. “I see my reputation precedes me.” He rolled his eyes before skimming his gaze over Brian. Oddly enough, Brian didn’t get a pervy vibe from the once-over, more of an analytical assessment.
“You can expect the day to be busy because of the rain,” Derek said. “Nice to meet you, Doc, see you around.” Then he was gone.
Brian leaned back against the examination table and took a deep breath. Derek seemed like a normal, healthy man with a sense of humor. That was a good thing. Yet Kyle had seemed normal at the beginning too. Brian scowled and shook his head. Then he noticed that all the dogs had grown quiet in Derek’s presence. Only now were they starting to perk up and make sounds.
Brian frowned and brushed each of their minds. None indicated fear so much as respect and a healthy dose of wariness. Why?
Just then the office phone rang, and he was happy for the distraction of work.
The end of the day came swiftly, and Brian managed to send over two medical reports of abused dogs to two officers so they could compile evidence for a trial. Despite no emergencies that day, he’d remained busy, hopping from one task to another. That was the sort of tempo he liked.
Derek stuck his head into the clinic minutes before the office closed. He still had on his uniform, and Brian never thought he was susceptible to a guy in uniform until that moment.
“Hey Doc, a few of the staff are hitting a bar nearby. Wanna join?”
“Uh, no thanks. I can’t.”
Derek shrugged. “No problem. Just know that Cathy is going to keep sending people over to ask you to join until you say yes.”
Brian frowned. Cathy worked at the main desk, dealing with customers and licenses. “Why?”
Derek gave a cheeky grin. “She thinks you’re cute, and she’s too shy to make any moves herself.”
Brian blushed. “Oh, uh. Thanks for the warning.”
“Have a good evening.”
“You too.”
Derek left. Brian took off his white lab coat before grabbing his lunch bag from the communal fridge in the breakroom. He wasn’t sure how to handle the situation with Cathy. It made him distinctly uncomfortable considering he was gay. And he wasn’t sure how any of the others would react to it. Hopefully not as badly as his family.
Brian shook his head. Well, that wasn’t a problem he would worry about today.
“Bye!”
He got some waves, some grunts, and Cathy kept her head down as he moved through the front office and out the door. He hurried to his car. He had about ninety minutes before his therapy appointment. He needed to get some dinner and head over.
His pug, Fenrir, was sitting in front of the door when he got home. Like many dogs, Fenrir had the uncanny ability to know what time his master should be home.
“Hey buddy.”
Fenrir wagged his curled tail and hurried over, snorting and grunting. Brian scooped him up and headed for the kitchen. The pug was nine, and Brian didn’t know what he’d do without the mushball. As always, despite the years since her death, he thought of his sister, Anna. Fenrir had belonged to her first and then a car accident had taken her away—the one person from his family that had still given a damn about him.
Brian sighed. “Did you have a fun time with Kris? Did she feed you too much like always?”
Fenrir licked his chin.
Kris was his elderly next-door neighbor and current dog sitter. He really needed to adopt a couple more dogs so he could leave them home together and not rely on Kris as much.
“We need to get you some friends. Now that we’re finally settling in.”
Fenrir licked his chin again, and Brian took that as agreement. He made them both dinner before strapping on Fenrir’s harness and leash and then returning to his car. Dr. Espey allowed him to bring his dog, and he would take full advantage of that. Soon he was sitting in the doctor’s office, Fenrir snoring at his feet, and explaining to her about his new job and his wariness around Derek.
“But so far, he’s been professional, right?” she asked. She was a woman in her fifties, favoring pantsuits, sensible heels, and short, perfectly coiffed hair. She wore half-moon spectacles and gazed at him with gentle interest and compassion.
“Yes. But we haven’t interacted much. I want to ask the others about him but I don’t know how to without making them suspicious or having it get back to him.”
“My best advice is to let it be for now. Get your footing first. It sounds like he’s been working there for a couple of years?”
Brian nodded.
“And Lisa never said he was abusive towards employees?”
“No, he was just passionate about his job.”
“So are you.”
Brian sighed. “Okay, I hear you. Don’t rush to judgement.”
Dr. Espey smiled gently. “Don’t feel bad for being on edge, Brian. You’ve had a rough time of it. Take it a bit easier on yourself. Look at what you’ve accomplished. You moved across the country, got a new job, a new house, and you don’t know anyone. You told me on your first session that you want a new start. I think you found it. Take pride in that.”
Brian smiled, his stomach muscles finally loosening. He took an easier breath than he had in days.
“You’re also taking self-defense classes, yes?”
“Yep, every Friday evening.”
“Are they helping?”
Brian nodded. “I like them a lot. Um, today I was asked to join some colleagues at a local bar. You know, to hang out or whatever. Not sure I’m ready for that.”
“That’s all right if you’re not. But that’s the best way for you to make friends and become comfortable with everyone.”
“I know.”
She eyed him. “Who asked you?”
She must have some sort of sixth sense, like he did, but for people. “Derek.”
She nodded. “Is that the reason you said no?”
“No. We had an appointment.”
“And?”
He frowned. She waited.
“I’m just not ready. I don’t feel like jumping in with both feet. Not yet.”
“All right.” She sat back in her chair. “I just want to point out that it wouldn’t be healthy for you to fall back into the routine during your college days. All work and no play.”
Brian snorted. “I hear you. I don’t want to do that either. That made me susceptible to…” He took a deliberate breath. “Kyle.”
“Have you been thinking about him lately?”
Brian nodded grudgingly. “His sentence isn’t up for a couple more years but then he’ll be free to terrorize again. That’s another reason I fled across the country.”
“You didn’t flee. You moved toward your future like a responsible adult.”
“Thanks for that. But we both know I fled. I’m okay with that. I just don’t want anything like Kyle to happen to me again.”
“It won’t. You know bette
r now. You see clearer.” She paused. “But why do you think it will happen again?”
“I have a type.”
“Brian.”
He sighed again. “I find Derek attractive despite everything.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that, you know.”
He nodded, not quite agreeing with her. “It’s irrational but hearing Lisa talk about Derek and then seeing him act all normal got my guard up.”
“I see. That’s understandable.”
“But I need to give him the benefit of the doubt, don’t I?”
She smiled. “Good advice.”
Brian snorted. “And besides, it’s highly unlikely a guy like that is going to hit on me so I know I’m worrying for no reason.”
“You don’t think he’s attracted to men?”
Brian shrugged. “Whether he is or isn’t doesn’t matter. Besides, I’m definitely not doing relationships right now.”
“I think it’s wise to focus on a relationship with yourself first before including anyone else.”
Brian nodded, wondering if he would ever feel comfortable enough to try again.
Chapter Three
Present day
It was the end of shift, and Derek dragged a feisty pit bull through the back of the center. There was no need to scare everyone with a growly dog that had a bad reputation. He had shown the dog who was boss, and he came along easily enough. But he still had an attitude.
“Just wait,” Derek huffed as he opened the back door. “Just wait until the doc sees you. Keep this up and he’s bound to stick a thermometer up your butt.”
The dog’s ears perked, and he let out a slight whimper. Derek knew it was his tone more than his words that made the dog nervous. The pit bull whimpered again and tried to hold his ground, forcing Derek to drag him a few feet.
His wolf wasn’t playing anymore. He met the dog’s gaze and stepped closer, allowing his wolf to let out a low growl of warning. The dog let out a plaintive whine that made the other staff turn their heads to look at them. Derek ignored their audience and both he and his wolf were pleased when the pit bull lay down before rolling onto his side, baring his stomach in submission, his tail tucked between his legs.
Derek crouched and gently stroked the dog before scratching his chin. “Come on now, buddy. We’ll take care of you.”
He straightened and gently tugged on the leash. The pit bull rolled to his feet and followed sedately. Derek looked up and spotted Brian. Lucy must still be out on sick leave and Eva was doing surgery on a cat.
“Doc, got another one.”
Brian held his door open for the two of them. “Stray?”
“Yep. And one that’s been terrorizing little kids at school.”
Brian sighed and looked down at the dog. “Now why’d you have to go and do a thing like that, huh? You look like a nice enough dog. Why be a bully?”
The dog whimpered and lowered his head.
Brian lifted an eyebrow and shot Derek an accusatory look.
Derek tried to feign innocence. “What?”
Brian narrowed his eyes before kneeling in front of the dog. “What did he do to you, huh? What did the mean Derek do?”
“Hey.”
Brian unhooked the leash from the dog’s neck and, with Derek’s help, got him on the table. The dog sat easily, and Brian began to examine him.
“Looks to be about three, maybe four years old. Malnourished, matted hair. Teeth look okay….”
Brian kept going. Derek was only half listening. The entire day he had been having an argument with himself about whether to ask Brian out. He wasn’t so much concerned with the employees-dating-each-other thing as he was about the shape-shifting thing he tended to do.
If he needed relief, he’d call one of his fuck-buddies or visit a few clubs that catered to that sort of thing. But none of it was helping lately. What he truly wanted couldn’t be found with his buddies or in the clubs. There was just something about Brian that drew him. Maybe it was his refreshing scent or his calm nature. Maybe it was his intense eyes or his super-soft hair. His compassion, competence, and spine of steel that allowed him to stand up to Derek no matter the circumstances. Maybe it was the entire package.
He’d never wanted to reveal himself to anyone before, and yet whenever he looked at Brian, he couldn’t shake the feeling that perhaps Brian would understand. That he would accept. But that was bullshit. How could a human accept a shifter?
And besides, could he really do anything like this without consulting his pack?
“You know that horse that Molly brought in?” Brian asked as he checked the dog’s ears.
“No. Wait, that skinny black mare?”
“Yeah.”
“What about her?”
“She died,” Brian said softly.
A flood unleashed inside Derek and crashed through his system. There was a roaring in his ears, and his muscles twitched. There was a moment of silence before Derek slammed his fist into the table. The dog yelped and tried to scramble away, and it was all Brian could do to keep a hold on him.
“Damn it, Derek. Calm down—”
“Calm down?” Derek shouted, rage flooding through his veins. “I don’t need to fucking calm down. Those goddamn bastards are going to pay. How long did that horse stay out in that weather without shelter, huh? And now all the bastard is going to get is a slap on the wrist and a fine. Money for a life.”
“That is how it works,” Brian said, his voice strangely calm.
He’s always fucking calm, Derek thought ungraciously. Nothing touches him. He’s just fucking cold. Derek snarled. He headed for the door, seeing nothing but red when Brian risked life and limb by stepping in front of him.
“Get out of my fucking way,” he growled, feeling the urge to shift right there. He wanted blood. He wanted to kill. But those green eyes met his and never flinched from the rage.
“Derek, you need to calm down, okay? You need to take a breath.”
He didn’t want to hear reason. He didn’t want to take a breath and think and calm down. He wanted action. He wanted justice. A life was a life whether human or animal.
Derek grabbed Brian’s shoulder and tried to push him away. But Brian was quicker and grabbed Derek’s arm, countering his weight. He shoved Derek into the wall. It was a move not unlike those Derek had learned in the academy.
“Calm down, officer,” Brian snapped.
Derek bared his teeth, like wolves do to show dominance and displeasure, but relinquished his hold on Brian. He bore down and smothered most of his rage. Brian let him loose and took a step back. Those green eyes never lost their calm.
“They have to pay, Brian.”
“You know how the law works. Don’t do anything you’ll regret.”
“I wouldn’t regret tearing that murderous bastard to pieces.” And he wouldn’t. He could already taste the blood. He could see the terror in the bastard’s eyes right before Derek’s teeth sank into his throat.
But then Brian, as if sensing his thoughts, pressed a hand to Derek’s chest. Derek’s heart beat against Brian’s palm, and he looked at it before meeting Brian’s eyes again. It had happened many times before, but it never lost its wonder. Derek felt most of his rage slip away, while the rest of it was buried once more. It would wait until the next senseless death of an animal. Brian’s touch was infused with some sort of calm-inducing drug, and once again it felt like his wolf was being petted and soothed. He was certainly wagging his tail in happiness. The rage didn’t vanish into thin air, but his rational mind was once again allowed to take control.
Amazing.
“Look,” Brian said in that smooth, accented voice. “This sucks, all right? It sucks big time. But in the confines of the law, we can’t do anything. Evidence will be brought, and he might spend some time in jail. That is all we can hope for. So ease up.”
Derek gave a half-hearted snarl but couldn’t argue with Brian’s logic.
“Let me take care of the dog, okay
? Then we can talk.”
“Nothing to talk about,” Derek snapped before he thought better about it. Despite his affection and amazement, Brian’s strange influence over him also scared Derek. And it made him defensive.
“Fine. Brood for all I care.” Brian huffed and grabbed the leash before leading the dog out of the room.
Not for the first time, Brian thought that Derek needed an anger-management class. Or major therapy. The problem was, Derek had taken anger management classes and had been forced through counseling. He’d never harmed anyone—other than a few drunkards during a bar brawl or two—and despite his threats, he’d always used the law to get his justice.
Brian scratched the pit bull behind the ears as the dog took healthy gulps of water after nearly inhaling the kibble.
The rages used to scare Brian. In some ways, they still did. It took all Brian’s strength to step in front of Derek and confront the fury head-on. He didn’t like confrontation. He didn’t like facing down an enraged person.
But Derek sure looks hot when he’s pissed, Brian thought before he could stop himself. The man was already hot, though. Brian had thought as much upon first seeing him and the attraction had only grown from there, despite the flashes of temper. Jesus, did he have a type or what?
Brian chuckled darkly.
In a fury, Derek’s skin would stretch severely over his bones, and his fists would become white knuckled in a death grip. His muscles would flex under his clothes and his eyes…. God, his eyes. They were a deep brown, rich and full of life. Like a wolf’s gaze. And in a fury, they would blaze as bright as the sun, and Brian often feared he would get scorched by the fire inside Derek.
He sighed heavily, not wanting to repeat the mistakes of the past. He knew it was wrong to compare Derek to Kyle, and his therapist would warn against transference. Sure, they both had tempers but that was where the similarities ended. Kyle had hated animals, especially dogs, and had been emotionally manipulative and physically abusive. Derek’s passion for animals exceeded Brian’s own, and he’d been in love with animals since before he could walk. Derek was a genuine, honest man who never harmed those he cared about.
