Page 36 of Wolves Always Bite

Iwasn’t impressed at how chummyAdrianwas being with this guy.AndIdidn’t know whoDotwas, but she must be made of stronger stuff than me, because if the mean mechanic dude was interrogating me,I’mpretty sureI’dspill my whole life story with just one look.

"Yeah.Ijust…"Haydenfrowned. "Nevermind.Notyour problem.So, now tell me.Whyare you here?"

Adrianglanced at me again. "Jer, you okay?Wedon’t have to use this business."Adrianshrugged at the other werewolf. “Sorry, buddy, but it’s been a rough day.”

Haydenrolled his shoulder, as if to saydo what you want.

"Doyou think it's safe?"Iwhispered my question intoAdrian’sear, although given what he’d told me earlier,Isuspected the other guy would be able to hear my question anyway.

"Vanwouldn't have suggested it if it wasn’t."

Itcame back to that hellhound being trustworthy thing again.Iwasn't ready to blindly trust a stranger like that, butIdid trustAdrian.

Whowas arguably also a stranger.

Whatever.Adrianhad fought to protect me.He'dearned my trust.

"Fine."

Adrianpointed at the truck sitting outside the window. "Thegoblin's people caught up to us on the road this afternoon.Triedto total my truck.Ineed it to be roadworthy again."

“Triedto?”Thestrange werewolf snorted. “Lookslike they succeeded.”

Adrianshook his head. “Nope.She’sgoing to be just fine.”

Thestrange wolf glanced out the dusty window again. "CanIgo take a look?"

Hemight be talking aboutAdrian’struck, but that question was directed at me.

"Yeah.I'lljust…"Ispun around, yanked open the door and scurried outside, in the opposite direction of the truck.

Thetwo wolves followed.Theycircled the truck, poking and prodding at things as they went.Thenthey went back inside the office.Afew minutes later,Adrianreturned withoutHayden.Hepulled me into his arms.Icould get used to all these hugs.Isnuggled closer, pressing my face against his neck, loving the smell of his skin.Thereweren’t many people in my life who made me feel small, butAdriandid.AndIliked it.

"Iknow this has been a lot for you to take in,"Adriansaid. "ButIpromiseI’llprotect you.AndIthink we can trust that guy.Butif he steps out of line,Iwon't hesitate to do something about it."

"Okay."

God.Iwas falling hard for this guy.Butthis wasn't permanent.Theultimate plan included dumping me back into my own life as soon as it was safe to do so.Wasit wrong to hopeBabettewas as unhinged and persistent as everyone said so it prolonged my time withAdrianand his magical mob?

Icould go grabClawieand my clothes from my apartment, then hit the road withAdrianand his buddies.Theyneeded a human on their team to balance their magical-ness with my mundane awesomeness.Iwas the perfect candidate.

Iwondered how much they paid.

Thenagain, ifIgot to hang out withAdrianall day,Iwould be willing to negotiate my wage.

ChapterEleven

ADRIAN

Weneeded to grab food beforeIdraggedJeremyback to the motel room.He’dneed the energy.Ilooked up and down the street for a place to go.Thestreet with the garage didn’t have a restaurant, although the strange mix of humans and supes walking around did pique my curiosity.

IguessIshouldn’t have been surprised sinceIalready knew there was a hellhound, a wolf, and a minotaur here, butIwas.Iwas sureIsaacwould make that into a joke…Ahellhound, a werewolf, and a minotaur walk into a bar…

Still, it was unusual for so many different kinds of supes to live together like this.Iliked seeing the variety.Myteam was the same way.Gagesaid he built the team that way because we each brought something unique to the group, but we all knew the truth.

Hewas a demon, but not what most humans imagined when they pictured one of his kind.Gage’sspecies existed long beforeChristianitycame around.Likeall demons, he was destined to wander the world in search of a place that called out to his soul.Whenhe found that place, he would merge with it somehow—yeah, don’t ask me how,Ituned out during history lessons.

Anyway, when he foundhisplace, he’d become its guardian.Ithink theEternalMagicwas involved.Butthat wasn’t the important part.Notfor me, anyway.Andthis is where the team came in…Ifhe never found that special place, he would slowly lose his mind until his power became poisoned.Atthat point, things would all go to shit.I’dnever seen it happen, but the storiesI’dheard about a demon losing it were terrifying.Theywere full of death and destruction and chaos.