Fox and Wolf

by Julia Talbot

  “Oh, yum. I’m coming to sit with you.” Rey grabbed another piece of pizza with both kinds of olives on it, then a wing.

  They all fell on the food, munching and laughing and teasing each other.

  Rey hadn’t known he was so lonely, because he’d felt fairly fulfilled in his job.

  Now he knew, and he would worry he would lose this soon, but Dylan had said full-time. Him. Dylan. Them.

  They could be an us.

  Dylan glanced over at him, smiled at him, and he felt the look everywhere. It had heat rising in his cheeks and a deep happiness coming up in his belly. Oh, he was so lost.

  “You two are so cute,” Kit whispered.

  Brock made gagging noises until James stuffed a wing into his mouth.

  “I’m jealous. Seriously.” Kit grinned at Rey, the expression warm.

  “Thank you, Kit.” He got it; he’d be jealous too if he wasn’t the one newly mated.

  “No problem. Oh, ranch dip.” Kit grabbed some breadsticks and a cup of ranch. They could all put the food away.

  Rey handed Dylan a piece of sausage and pepperoni, his mate humming his thanks.

  Brock pushed some extra olives on his plate. Oh. How sweet. Grumpy kitty was dear.

  “Thank you.” Oh, he’d missed this—being a part of a den, which he hadn’t had since childhood.

  “Não tem problema.” Brock’s ears were all red.

  Mick chuckled, drawing his gaze. He got a wink, so he figured even Mick wasn’t going to kick him out. This was the best. Well, the pizza was pretty good too.

  They ate all the pizza, all the breadsticks, all the wings.

  In fact, they ate the cinnamon knots Mick pulled out from the kitchen and laid on the table just when they thought they were all done.

  Rey groaned when they polished those off. “Oh God. I need to work out.”

  “Brock will happily add you to the list of people he tosses around,” Mick said.

  “No tossing my mate.” Oh, Dylan’s growl was hot as hell.

  “No?” Brock waggled his black eyebrows. “Could be fun.”

  “Nope. Wrestle with James. Both kitties.” Rey nodded sagely, as if that solved all the world’s problems.

  Brock snorted. “If I need a challenge, I’ll go for Mick.”

  “I’ll exercise with you, Rey,” Kit offered. “Long walks and naps are amazing.”

  “They so are.” Rey beamed, and Dylan grumbled, which made him laugh. He had to hide it in his Coke. Dylan wasn’t mad. He could hear the proud, happy song in his head coming from his mate.

  He wasn’t the long nap type anyway, at least when he wasn’t on the run. He was more the clean the whole world and reorganize the pantry type. That could totally be exercise…. Maybe he should ask Dylan what apartment Mick wanted to give them. Him. Dylan. Whatever. He could clean it up and make it nice so they had a place to stay when they were on lockdown. That cot was small.

  Cramped.

  Would that be weird? Would that be like telling Mick he wanted to move in and, perhaps, undermining Dylan? Maybe he should just organize his car. That would be better. Organize his car and clean up the back seat.

  Dylan put a hand on his arm, tugging him back around to sit next to his mate instead of by Kit. “You want to move in with me? For real?”

  “Not because I lost my place. Because it’s you. You said you wanted me to stay….”

  “Of course. We can ask.” Dylan squeezed his hand.

  “Did we miss something?” Mick was staring at them, a shrewd look in his eyes.

  “No. No, we’re just talking, making plans, right, Dylan?”

  “Right.”

  “Creeeepy,” James singsonged. “Sometimes you’re not talking out loud.”

  The little sound rang through his brain.

  He grinned. “Sorry, James. We’ll try to keep it to a dull roar.” Not that he could help it. It was all too new and he was so in love with Dylan….

  And he knew that he should doubt, but he also knew that he always trusted his gut. Always.

  That had kept him alive recently and kept him in work before that.

  “Are we gonna talk business or nap?” James asked.

  “I vote nap.” Kit yawned hugely.

  “Dylan and I just napped. I think.” Time was running together, the outside world not at all a factor in here.

  “We can all shift, then nap. Together.” Kit’s suggestion was gentle but needy. “Tomorrow is going to be hard.”

  “That sounds great, kiddo.” Mick gave first Dylan, then him, a stern look.

  Oh! That made sense. What if they all had to shift together when things weren’t so calm? They should know the scent of his fox, the feel of his fur.

  “I’m happy with that,” Rey murmured.

  Dylan took his hand. “Rey is an easy shifter. So smooth.”

  “Lucky.” Kit shook his head. “I’m slow. The cats are so fast.”

  “It was hurting Dylan,” Rey said cautiously. “I think it’s easier now?”

  “It is. It still takes some thought.”

  Mick nodded, offering Dylan a wolfy grin. “I like this—us all grooming. Together.”

  “Weirdo.” Brock stood. “I’ll go change in the bathroom.”

  “You’re so modest.” James winked broadly.

  “I don’t want any of you getting jealous of how well-endowed I am.” Brock’s lip curled, and he walked off, head held high.

  “Scars,” Mick said softly.

  “Oh, is that why?” Kit looked stricken. “Poor Brock.”

  Oh, dear man. Rey would love on him. And Kit. And James and Mick, if the wolf would allow it.

  Dylan’s low growl gave him the shivers. Then Dylan’s smile lit up the room, and Dylan stood, tugging off his shirt. “Come on, you louts. I’m stuffed with food and ready to be lazy.”

  Rey took Dylan’s shirt, folded it, then pulled off his own.

  They all stripped down, but no one really looked, which was lovely and gave Rey confidence. The air began to shimmer, the magic of shifting happening all around him. He changed immediately, his fox totally responsive and eager. As soon as he shifted, he ran to Dylan, calling his wolf.

  Dylan met him, muzzle against his, whiskers so much rougher than his.

  He sang softly, then Dylan nudged him over to Mick. Mick was a huge timber wolf, lovely, and Rey bowed. His breed didn’t have the same hierarchy, but he understood how it worked.

  Mick nuzzled his cheeks, sharing scent. Accepting him.

  He sang happily, letting the whole pack know he was there and pleased. A huge black panther came to him and grabbed him by the nape, taking him from Mick and beginning to groom him with a rough, huge tongue.

  He chittered, stretching his paws and swiveling his ears.

  Brock nibbled and bit, making him tingle all over. Dylan nosed Brock, maybe too hard, but no one growled or snapped.

  As soon as Brock backed off, he was scooped up in one vast paw. Bear. Oh. Big bear. He sort of… dangled.

  Kit seemed huge, even though he claimed to be a little black bear. That paw was bigger than Rey’s head. Kit held him close, grunting and huffing against him. He had to wiggle, testing that grip, but soon he got fascinated by Kit’s scent, his nose stuck deep in Kit’s fur.

  James crawled into Kit’s arms with him, taking his time to groom them both. Brock was working on Dylan and Mick was looking on, pride emanating from him.

  Someone loved this pack very much. Very much.

  Finally, though, his mate came up to Kit and barked, demanding his release, his presence. Him.

  Kit let him go so he could go to Dylan, who gently bit his neck, then flopped down on top of him with a thud.

  He snorted, his whiskers flapping. Yes. He was Dylan’s mate.

  Dylan carefully groomed him, chuffing softly in his ear. So careful, so gentle. Dylan was a treasure. He believed. He didn’t understand, but he believed.

  Rey blew out a happy sigh and relaxed, settling deep in
to the carpet.

  One by one, the others joined them, Kit and Mick last, forming a protective circle around them all.

  He pushed into Dylan’s soft belly fur and slept.

  Chapter Nine

  “OKAY, HERE’S how it lays out.” Mick had in hand a schematic that James had printed out for them. Mick liked hard copy rather than the screen Brock preferred. “The meet is here.” Mick pointed with a pen. “He thinks I want money. That I’m not just protecting Rey, but that I’m getting greedy.”

  “Where do you want me, boss? I smell enough like Rey that I should be confusing.” Dylan was ready to get this whole thing done.

  “I want you downwind. He’s in that fancy-ass mansion they just redid up by the botanic garden, so he should come in here. I want you here.” Mick circled a spot, and Dylan inclined his head.

  “Solid. And Rey and James stay here to monitor comms.”

  Both Brock and Mick nodded, but it was Mick who spoke. “Absolutely. We don’t need him in any danger, and James is still sore from the bullshit with those badgers.”

  “Yeah, no. Badgers. Cristo.” Brock shook his head. “That was strangely almost fatal.”

  “Those bastards are tough.” Mick clicked his tongue.

  But they weren’t croc tough.

  “Yeah. Why do we do this again?” Dylan asked. As a cop, he’d rarely dealt with other shifters. The occasional wolf gone rogue. Humans could be monstrous enough.

  “Money. Cold hard cash.” Mick chuffed at him, blowing his lips.

  “Right. I make a mint.” Though Mick was fair, and the money was way better than a cop’s salary.

  “I do.” Brock waggled his eyebrows. “But I’m good.”

  He and Mick laughed together, leaning back in their chairs. “We all good?” Mick asked. “Know what our roles are?”

  “Yep.” Brock rubbed his thumb over his chin, fingering a scar there. “You play bad homem and we back you up.”

  Rey came into the war room, shaking his head. “I think this is a bad idea. I think you should cancel.”

  “What?” Dylan rose, his instinct to comfort Rey popping to the fore. He could feel waves of worry pouring off his mate.

  “I just… please. There’s something hinky. I know it.” Rey’s hands gripped his shirt.

  “Oh, honey.” Mick rumbled softly, shaking his head. “You’re just worrying because of the mate bond.”

  “So Dylan is having a bad feeling now?” Rey arched a brow at the boss. “I know what I know.”

  “Hey. Hey, we’re professionals. We know what we’re doing.” Dylan reached out, stroked Rey’s soft hair.

  “I know! I’m a professional too, and I had a bad feeling about Elise and I went to her office anyway. Now she’s dead.” Rey grabbed his hand, holding on tight. “Dylan.”

  “Rey. You have to let us do this. This guy’s an asshole and the police are already to move in. You’ll be able to see everything on the monitors.”

  “You don’t understand. Please. Listen to me. This is a mistake.” Rey was just frantic.

  “Rey.” James shrugged when Dylan glanced at him. “I tried to tell him we all get nerves on the day of a sting or a hostage meet or whatever, but man, he was so serious.”

  “I’ll be careful, sweetheart.”

  “Please, don’t dismiss me. I’m not stupid or naive.” Hadn’t he proven his ability to read the vibrations with the crocs?

  “I know that.” Dylan raised his eyebrows, surprised at the statement. “I trust you. I do. But this is too hard to reschedule, and I need you safe. We need to settle this.”

  “I don’t think it is going to be settled. I think… I think you’re going to be sorry you’ve done this.”

  “Rey? Excuse us.” Dylan took Rey by the arm, drawing him to the corner of the room. “What do you mean?” Surely Rey wasn’t making a threat. He had to just be worried, but it was hard to read, he was so agitated.

  He needed to understand.

  “I don’t know, mate. I don’t. I feel like… I just feel it. Something’s wrong. I can feel it. Everywhere.”

  “Are you sure it’s not just because we’re newly mated?” Dylan stroked up and down Rey’s arms. “I don’t want to make you mad, but this could take weeks to resolve if we don’t go today. I know you have vibes, but we have to do this.”

  “It wasn’t because we were mated yesterday. Yesterday it was because the crocs were here.”

  Dylan chewed his lip. Mick did believe they all had their talents. Maybe Rey was right.

  He turned back to the rest of the pack. “He might be onto something. He had a feeling yesterday, just in time.”

  “So we’ll be careful. Extra careful.” Mick was growling. “We’ve got a big sting set up. We can’t just blow it because of a feeling.”

  “Mick,” Kit scolded. “Don’t be a dick. We can do this, Rey. I get that dread thing, but we’ll be careful.”

  “Please. I know this is wrong.” Rey waved his hands, his frustration clear.

  “Stop it, raposo. We’ll take care of this for you, then you can find something else to keep Dylan busy.” Brock’s growl split the air. “Jesus, Dylan. Come on.”

  Dylan glared at Brock, but he knew they didn’t have time for more arguing. He bent to kiss Rey on the lips. “Stay here. James will be on surveillance. He’ll keep an eye out for us.”

  Rey nodded, shrinking under his kiss. “Be careful.”

  “Rey—” He didn’t want to leave it like this.

  “Dylan! Now.” Mick had his Alpha voice on, and Dylan sighed, turning away from his mate. He would make it up to Rey later. They needed to get to the meet. Now.

  Brock snarled something at Rey, and his mate just disappeared like a puff of smoke.

  “Good one, Brock.” Dylan got into Brock’s space. “No messing with my mate. He was right yesterday.”

  “Yeah, and now we’re forewarned. He’s just confusing anxiety about you going into danger with some freakin’ premonition.” Brock rumbled softly. “He’s a fox. He can’t help it.”

  “What have you got against foxes again?” Dylan grabbed his sidearm, holstering it in the pancake holster at his back.

  “Experience.”

  “Rey has done nothing but be kind to you!” Dylan barked.

  “Guys, please.” Kit was bright red. “Let’s go to work?”

  Mick growled in agreement. “You two can argue foxes later. Now we have a tiger to go after. No more distractions. Someone have the headsets?”

  “Here. I’ll get back upstairs.” James handed over the comms, looking… strained. “Don’t be too hard on the guy, Brock. He was really sick upstairs when the feeling hit him. Like pukey.”

  “If he’s going to be having a conniption every time you have to work, he’ll have to stay at your place, Dylan.”

  “Fine.” His ears heated. Now he felt like no one was on his side. Not even his mate. “Can we go? I want to get this over with.”

  “Yeah, come on.” Mick led the way, tucking the throat mic into place. Mick was armed to the teeth. The one thing he didn’t have was the chip. That was in the safe. “Let’s do this. I want this monkey off our backs.”

  Dylan nodded. He did too. He had a mate bond to finish cementing, and Rey was already pulling away.

  “Let’s go.”

  He’d explain later.

  REY WENT and packed all his things in his car, then he moved to clean the communal kitchen, straighten up the pantry and the meeting room. Then he went to James, just to see if everyone was okay.

  He knew this was wrong. He knew it. He knew Dylan didn’t care, and he knew that Brock wanted him out, gone before they got back, no matter how nice the man had been yesterday.

  Okay, so. Right. He’d watch this, and then he’d go find an apartment close by so Dylan could visit sometimes.

  “Rey? You okay, hon?” James gave him a small smile. Maybe a little embarrassed.

  “Fine, thank you.” He was sick and icy cold, and he knew somethin
g bad was coming, but he was just a fox. What did he know? “Are they there yet?”

  “They’re at the mall. Not in place yet.” James patted the chair next to him.

  He sat gingerly, nodding to James. “Sorry about this morning.”

  “What? Why? I get it. They didn’t see you when it hit you. I think it’s partly nerves, but I trust you.”

  That gave him a tiny burst of happiness, that James believed him.

  The dread began to climb up his spine again, sliding up along into his brain. Nausea followed. Something was totally off.

  “James. James, I don’t feel so good.”

  “Shit.” James caught him when he pitched over. “You’re pale as milk.”

  “There’s something co—” A shudder rocked the building, deep in its foundations.

  James eased him back into the chair, then called up his cameras on the building. “What the fuck?”

  Another shudder rolled through, and Rey cried out. “They’re coming. They’re coming for the SIM card.”

  “Run, Rey! The safe is in the basement in a strong room. Get down there. Lock yourself in.” James grabbed a headset. “Mick! We’re under attack!”

  “On it. Stay safe.”

  Dylan had told him not to argue in an emergency, and he didn’t want to distract James from his work. He ran downstairs as fast as he could, staying to the shadows. The crocs were here. Looking for them.

  He would lock himself in and defend that stupid SIM card with his life. He’d been right, damn it, for all the good that did.

  Rey made it to the main floor, and then scooted around to find the basement stairs. The building shook again, and one of the walls collapsed in on itself, the whole thing crumbling as if someone had set off a bomb.

  “Oh my God.” Rey was going to—well, he was running already, wasn’t he, his feet and legs trying to tangle.

  Downstairs. Downstairs. He didn’t want to head down there. Not at all. Shit, the smell. Get the SIM card and get out. His head pounded, his nose full of the stink of croc.

  A scaly, clawed hand caught the back of his neck, tearing at his skin, and he ducked down, ripping away.

  He hit the stairs and slid down them on his ass. Ow. He managed to find his feet and run, ducking one of the crocs on the way. The huge fist came down, numbing his arm as he pushed by into the safe room.