Page 43 of Wolves Always Bite

Dillonleaned forward, ignoring the bickering. “Andthe boxes?Vanconfirmed they are from here?”

“Yeah.”

“Didyou find theJahaller?”Flamesdanced in the hellhound’s eyes again.

“Yes.”Mychest tightened asIremembered the condition of the creature when we’d found him. “Hedidn’t look good, butIthink we caught him in time.”

BothAshandDillonexhaled and smiled.

“Howmany boxes?”Ashasked.

“Two,”Jeremyanswered. “Idon’t know what all that crap was, but there was some strange stuff in those boxes.”

“I’venever seen most of it either,”Iconfessed. “Mychildhood pack didn’t interact with anyone but other wolves.Theydidn’t trust any other supes, not even other shifters.I’velearned a lot since then, butIcouldn’t tell you what any of that stuff might be used for.”

Dillon’smouth flattened. “I’vemet packs like that.Toomany, in fact.”

“Waita minute…Wereyou shot when those boxes were stolen?Wasthat the robbery you stopped?Jesus,Ash…Whatwere you thinking going up against those guys?”

Ash’scheeks darkened. “Well, in my defense,Ididn’t expect the deputy to be helping the wolves.”

“Noone would have expectedDotto turn against us,”Dillonsaid, rubbing his hand overAsh’s.

“Dot?”Iremembered that name from somewhere. “Wouldthat be the sameDotHaydenmentioned?”

“YouknowHayden?”

Jeremyshivered at the mention of the werewolf but quickly suppressed it. “Wemet him just before we came here.”

“Haydenis one of the good guys,”Ashsaid, as if sensingJeremy’sunease.

“Ifyou say so,”Jeremymuttered.

“But, yeah, to answer your question,Iexpect it is the same person.”Ashnodded, looking at me again. “That’sthe only oneIknow.Andshe’s all wrapped up in this.”

“Holyshit, there is a lot you didn’t tell me, isn’t there?”Jeremyexclaimed.

“Weshould grab a round of drinks,”Ashsaid.WhenJeremyopened his mouth to protest,Ashheld up his hand. “IpromiseI’lltell you everything.”

Beforethey stood to get drinks, a calico cat jumped on the table.Itwas no ordinary cat, nor was it a shifter.Ididn’t know what it was, but it was powerful.IgrabbedJeremy, ready to fling him out of the way if the cat was hostile.

“Calmdown, wolf,” the cat said. “I’mjust here to introduce myself.”

Jeremy’sjaw dropped.Hepointed at the cat. “It…Ittalks.”

Thecat hissed and lifted its nose in the air.

“Hedidn’t mean anything,Paws.Hejust found out about theEternalMagictoday.He’sstill figuring things out.”ThenAshlooked atJeremy. “Youcan hear him because you’ve seen beneath the glamour.Tomost humans, he’d just sound like a normal cat.”

Ibet the humans thought it was weird as hell that so many people had conversations with a cat.Ithad to look strange.Iknow ifIsaw it,I’dbe suspicious.

“OhmyGod.Ididn’t mean to insult you.Iam so sorry…Paws, right?I’mJeremy.”

“IamPawingtontheThird.Iuse he and him.”Thecat narrowed his eyes. “I’mtelling you that so you don’t start staring at my junk.Yougot it?”

“Ofcourse, of course.Absolutely.”Jeremy’seyes glittered with excitement. “Thisis so awesome.”Helooked atAsh. “Wait.CanClawietalk too?”

Ashshook his head. “Clawieis a regular cat.”