enjoying himself. Colin’s chest swelled with pride. He might not be the strongest or the bravest in Alec’s pack, but he was the one who could match their Alpha for brains – that had to count for something.
Debating obscure points of academia was one of the reasons Colin loved Alec so much. Their Alpha was so smart and so interested in things. They could drive for thirty minutes discussing the reality of sensation and scientific truth and not even realize any time had passed. Challenged, Colin had to stay on top of the discourse and couldn’t think about his mother or Judd even once. Which was probably why Alec did it.
Of course, Colin thought about either his mother or Judd most of the rest of the day. He even, during a break between classes, went to a little thrift store and looked longingly at a t-shirt with a unicorn on the front and the slogan too fast for rainbows. He knew it would fit, but it would be very tight and was short enough to show a strip of stomach above the waistband of his jeans. His stomach was flat, but still, that seemed horribly daring.
So he left without it.
Who cared, right? A unicorn t-shirt couldn’t possibly be all that seductive. Could it? But then, what was sexy on someone who looked like Colin? He snorted to himself. A puffy jacket and parachute pants, most likely. Ski mask over his face. What was he thinking, that he even considered being in Judd’s bed? Except he’d heard that conversation and Judd said he was willing. And there was that time at the barbecue when Judd flirted with him. More than one time, in fact, at more than one barbecue. His head spun.
He decided he’d not let himself talk himself out of wanting Judd. Unicorn t-shirt or no unicorn t-shirt.
Judd woke in the late afternoon at his usual time. He dressed and went instantly to the cafe. Lovejoy was on Trick detail but he needed to be relieved, as he had a catering gig.
The walk downtown was full of dumb humans. Judd caught a toddler on a tricycle just before he darted into traffic. The mother was breathless and grateful. Judd sneered at her. A fierce big dog charged him, off its lead. Judd growled at it until it sat back on its haunches, confused. The young owners came panting up, apologizing for Milton having gotten out. Judd sneered at them. Honestly, how did humans survive?
The Bean was quiet and stayed that way while Judd sat at Colin’s table at the front. Trick was always good for a laugh, though. The little dratsie came and sat with Judd during slow times. There weren’t many but Judd enjoyed the company when he got it, even if Trick insisted on teasing him mercilessly.
“So what are your intentions towards my new best friend in the whole wide world, Colin Mangnall? I need to know, you hear? Are there leather slings involved? Tubs of lard perhaps? Rubber gloves?” A playful slap to Judd’s arm. “You look like a man with a latex fetish.”
“What, pray tell, gave me away?”
And so forth. Trick was great fun. He was also going to drive the wolf pack completely batty. Judd rather looked forward to it.
Eventually, Tank arrived to take the last shift. He wasn’t working his bouncer gig until late, so he could stay until closing, make sure Trick got home safely. Judd wondered, amused, if Trick would start in on Tank with fetish wear shock tactics. Tank might surprise even a dratsie with his answers − should he say anything at all.
After a low-key pack dinner, especially when compared to the previous evening, Judd shifted into wolf form and went on patrol.
Colin was the only one downstairs when he returned. Judd didn’t approach him. Gingersnap seemed awfully comfortable in the den surrounded by his books. Instead, Judd went to the office to use the pack computer and look up more on Lexi Blanc. This time he had security questions in mind: Why did she need extra protection for this leg of her tour? Was she having stalker issues? Or was it something even more sinister?
There was a lot to read – tons of gossip, several fan forums, hundreds of interviews, and way too many videos. Lexi Blanc had her own WooTube channel. She was a very big deal on Instalamb with over a million followers. Many of her fans acted more like stalkers.