“SBI. Shit,” said the Prince Blubber Bozo. “Everybody swim!” He gave Blanc a little bow. “Until we meet again, my one true love.”
They ran out as a group, bypassing their own huge SUV. They bowled over Faste and Lenis. The two agents, leaving their car, were easily overwhelmed by nine enormous mobsters.
Neither of the SBI had time to shift. Apparently, even selkie could move fast when necessary. Although Lenis did pull her gun and shoot. If she hit any of them, it didn’t slow them down.
“Kevin, Colin, stay here, grab Risa.” Judd had enough wherewithal to bark out a few orders as he ran after the selkies. The rest of the pack joined him.
The pack was, in fact, much faster than any selkie, even a sea lion. However, the blubber bozos didn’t have far to go. They crossed the street, ripping their suit jackets off as they went, leapt over the sidewalk, and dove down onto the sharp rubble shore-side.
Apparently they’d prepared for this, because spread out in some kind of order on the rocks were nine coarse brown fur coats.
The selkies belly-flopped onto their skins, and instantly nine huge sea lions were rolling into the ocean. They shed shredded suit-pants as they went. Selkie were handicapped by their reliance on an external shifting-skin, but they were much, much faster than shifters who didn’t have skins. Five times the speed of even the fastest werewolf, selkie transformation was practically instantaneous. All their savage power was held trapped in one place. It was actually really impressive to see nine times over.
And that was it, barking and joyful, nine sea lions disappeared beneath the waves. One of them carried a beautiful gold jacket in his wide, whiskered mouth.
“Well, shit,” said Agent Lenis, holstering her gun with a look of profound annoyance. She’d gotten off more than a few shots, as had some local deputies. But if any bullet stuck, it was only lodged in blubber now.
“It’s okay,” replied Judd, “we caught your thief for you.”
“Marvin, no!” that was Alec’s voice, desperate.
Judd’s head whipped up. Alpha?
“STOP HIM!” Command, strong powerful, rolled over them. Judd moved, compelled to obey.
Marvin and Trick, running side by side, crossed the street.
The two water folk were lithe and quick and the werewolves confused. The voice COMMAND hadn’t come fast enough, and it wasn’t specific. Still, the San Andreas Pack lunged for the two smaller shifters.
It was too late. Marvin and Trick launched themselves off the sidewalk, diving in long arcs over the rubble into the water.
The pack leapt after them.
Tank and Isaac were in wolf form.
Judd fought his own instinct to shift as well. He was a better swimmer as a human.
They hit the sharp uneven rocks where moments earlier nine fur coats had been lying out in the afternoon fog.
Trick and Marvin were already vanished beneath the water. Trick resurfaced briefly, floating on his back, looked at them. He had jet black beady eyes, a cheerful face covered in thick brown fur, and serious whiskers. He waggled a webbed paw before rolling to dive. Barely a ripple marked his passing.
Judd wobbled over the rocks, prepared to swim after them. Isaac and Tank splashed into the ocean and began dog-paddling.
It was insane, of course – they were wolves. They couldn’t outswim sea folk. But their Alpha had commanded them. And they would try their very best.
“STOP. COME BACK TO SHORE.” A new command echoed out over the Bay, before getting muffled by mist.
They did as ordered. Judd turned, balanced precariously, leaped up to the sidewalk using all his supernatural strength and agility.
Kevin and Colin had stayed behind as Judd instructed. Back in the café, they were out of COMMAND voice range. Alec stood on the sidewalk, leaning against Max. He looked terrified, but controlled. His mate was in danger. Judd knew how that felt. He glanced across the street at the open door, but it was too dark to see inside the café. The big front window reflected his own face back at him. Judd could only hope Colin was still okay.
“Sorry, guys, I overreacted,” apologized Alec.
“It’s fine,” said Judd, the only one not in fur. “We get it. That’s your mate out there.”
“Yeah, it is.”
Agent Lenis, Alpha werewolf herself, looked at Alec in mild awe. “Your VOICE is insanely strong, kid. I mean, I heard it before, but it’s gotten stronger since we last visited.”
Alec only rolled his eyes at her.
Judd gave her a small head tilt. “We’re his pack.”