He really did want to. He kept thinking about that unicorn shirt. And for some reason he really wanted a bright green hoodie. Like apple green. Very daring, since most of his wardrobe was gray.
“Perfect,” pronounced Trick.
The mage took over from Alec and led the two water folk out of the café, presumably intending to walk them up the hill. Both of them were still mostly naked, but were so excited about plans for a city expedition they were entirely distracted from any possible embarrassment.
Colin looked at the others. “I didn’t just agree to buy a sparkly gold jacket, did I?”
“Uh, agents?” that was Deputy Kettil’s voice.
“Yes, deputy?” Agent Lenis turned to him, clearly annoyed.
“Shouldn’t one of us take their statements?” He pointed after the two swimmers.
Agent Lenis arched a brow at the berserker. “Fine. Go after them, if you must.”
With an expression of relief, Deputy Kettil turned to follow.
“Deputy, would you please remind Marvin there’s extra smoked salmon in the fridge? They’ll likely need protein after shifting and swimming so fast,” said Colin.
“Sure thing, nugget.” The berserker lumbered after the others.
Judd pointed at Floyd, still sitting to one side, knitting away. “You can close up the café, right Floyd?”
“What!” the old man looked truly affronted. “Just because Trick’s loser boss is never here, no need to come down on my creaky old bones!”
“Can’t be that hard,” muttered Kevin.
“Trick may be a basket case, but when I said he was the best barista this side of the Bay, I was not lying. You think it’s so easy to shut down a café, then you do it, big boy.” Floyd was having none of their werewolf lip.
Kevin blinked down at the uppity human. “Seriously?”
Floyd waved a knitting needle. “Mop is over there.”
Much to Judd’s relief, Agent Lenis interrupted what could have been a very long argument between Kevin and Floyd by reading Risa her Panda Rights.
“Risa Ostrov, you are under arrest for money laundering. You are human, but Panda Rights are in effect as your crimes involve shifter protocols. You may request representation from an Alpha or equivalent rank, to whom you have allegiance. If you have no allegiance, an Alpha will be contacted on your behalf.”
The two agents led Risa out of the café. The door closed behind them with a tinkle of bells.
“You won’t stand Alpha for Risa, will you?” Kevin asked Blanc. Apparently he held out some weird hope that his mother was a decent person.
Blanc rolled her eyes at the very idea. “Sad really, she was an excellent stylist. Not sure how I can finish this tour without her. Not to mention my jacket. This couldn’t have waited until after Seattle’s performance?”
The pack looked at each other, trying to decide what to do about this woman.
The door tinkled. A group of human females bustled in. Most of them sported homemade scarves. Possibly knitted by Floyd.
Colin explained, “The Sunday Sunset Book Group meeting.”
“You spend entirely too much time at this café, Gingersnap.” Judd shook his head.
“Oh yeah, whatcha gonna do about it?”
“Make sure you spend entirely too much time in my bed, instead.”
Colin grinned, wide and fearless. “Sounds fair.”
The book group paused on the stoop, unsure as to what was going on.
“Is that Lexi Blanc?” one of them whispered to another, loud enough for every shifter in the café to hear.
“Oh wow! You think we could get her autograph?”
Judd pushed himself forward. “Don’t even.” He pointed behind them, back out the door.
“Uh?”
“We’re closed,” added Colin.
“Who are you people?”
“New management.”
“What?”
Judd glared at them and advanced slowly. The book group backed down, and in a chattering shocked mass left the café.
Now it was just the pack plus Floyd, Blanc, Jojo, and the nameless manager.
Jojo and the manager were sitting and trying to look like this was all normal for them.
“Fucking shifters,” said Floyd.
“Preach it, Grandpa Needles,” replied Jojo.
Alec pointed at Jojo and then the manager. “You two as well, shoo.”
The human pets protested. “But Lexi!”
Alec allowed his teeth to elongate and began a partial shift to third form. It was kind of horrific and a bit disgusting. Judd admired the ability greatly.
The two humans ran out after the book group. Even Floyd put down his knitting needles.
Alec tilted his now lupine monster head in Floyd’s direction.
“No way, snapper,” said Floyd. “Sausalito hasn’t had this much excitement in fifty years. I ain’t budging.”
Alec morphed his head back to normal. “It’s your funeral, weirdo.”
“I’m the weirdo,” shot back the old man. “You just had a wolf’s head on a nerd’s body. You’re