Either way, Kevin ran. Judd kept pace. A watchful eye upon him. Sometimes protectors safeguarded each other. Judd split his attention between Kevin’s frantic form and possible enemy infiltration. Kevin was pack mate. Kevin was friend, but Judd was ever the enforcer. Worse, Judd was the only enforcer still functioning. Kevin was injured. Not visibly, but any wolf worth his nose could smell the distress.
They caught the SBI at the border of the headlands. A car carefully not in pack territory. The two agents had the windows up. Kevin snarled, fierce and angry. Fortunately, he had enough sense left to stay out of sight in the coyote bush. Judd approached the car, hackles up, ears perked, tail engaged, and teeth covered. Judd was grateful he couldn’t smell them. In his heightened state of wariness, scenting Alpha Lenis might have caused him to challenge her. She was not the kind of Alpha to tolerate defiance. As it was, Judd sniffed at their black car. Then he ostentatiously peed on one of the tires.
As he trotted away, he heard Lenis swearing at him and Faste laughing heartily.
He coaxed Kevin back to running. They left the SBI to their own devices. Judd was pleased. The pack knew where they were. And it was bound to be uncomfortable, sitting in a car on stakeout for hours, the scent of another shifter’s mark upon them. Judd liked that they suffered.
Kevin eventually returned to the pack house.
He shifted to report on the SBI sighting to Alec. He also spoke briefly about the meeting with Lexi Blanc. Judd stayed a wolf. He wanted to keep things short, save the bulk of the human-talk for tomorrow. Judd longed to leave, to see Colin in his room. But also worried for Kevin.
Alec understood Judd’s dilemma. Of course he did. “Go on upstairs, Judd. Thanks for taking point today. Kevin, come here.”
He opened his arms so the big redhead could rush into them, bury his face in his Alpha’s neck, and breathe him in. Alec, smaller and slighter, didn’t buckle under the man’s substantial weight or unfettered emotions.
Judd could only guard his friend. Alec could support him. They were lucky – Judd was lucky – to have such an Alpha.
Judd felt it all right to leave Kevin then, and bounded upstairs. Beyond eager.
There Colin was. Looking up from some textbook. Smiling huge at seeing Judd still a big black wolf. He looked small but perfect in Judd’s big bed.
“I love your shifted eyes.” Colin patted the comforter.
Judd jumped up next to him. Responded to the praise by looking up out of bright yellow eyes. He thought they were creepy. Fierce. But his mate liked them. His mate could look as long as he wished.
Colin tugged gently on Judd’s ears, stroked his furry cheeks. “I’ll tell you a secret. I like them because I think they’re almost the same color as my hair. Yellow with a bit of orange. Like we match just a little.” His hands dug into the thick ruff at Judd’s neck. “You’re such a big wolf, so much more impressive than me.”
Judd shifted then. His bones reformed into human limbs. His fur retreated to become the tight short curls on his chest, and head, and groin. Paws grew into big hands, claws shrank into short nails. His eyes went from dark yellow to dark brown.
When Colin would have stopped touching him, Judd said, “I like the petting, please keep going.” And he felt like he’d won a prize when Colin continued.
Judd closed his eyes and lay across the bottom of the bed, as if he were still a wolf. His head was near Colin’s crossed legs. Judd was naked so he curled in such a way as to show as little aggression as possible.
“You’re not afraid of my wolf’s size?” Judd asked.
“No. Not in either form. Both wolf Judd and man Judd are impressive, but I never once thought you’d hurt me. Of course, I never thought you’d see me as anything more than pack duty, either.”
Judd closed his eyes “First lesson, Gingersnap. Anything we do together is because we both want it. We both think we’ll enjoy it. Please never think that I’m with you out of obligation. If I saw you in a club I’d pick you up. I could show you my favorite porn. You’d see you’re exactly my type. Okay? I held off until now because you’re too young and I’m too jaded.” And because he