have time or patience for foolishness, and all the young wolves knew it. Even Todd was too soft and cuddly compared to Dodge. The fact that Dodge had a mysterious past that they knew less about than Silas’s was even better. He could leave their imaginations to fill in the wildest, craziest shit, and he didn’t have to say a damn thing.
The alpha put his boots up on the coffee table, which Deirdre hated, and rubbed his face. “So if we build this fucking – habitat for him, then what? We leave a monster out there to sun himself on a rock? This might not be the most active neighborhood, but someone will notice eventually.”
“Call him a really hairy cousin.” Dodge got himself some iced tea and frowned at the windows that overlooked the front porch. The architect’s car looked like a total piece of shit death-trap. “Only let him out at night. Or try to force him back to his wolf shape. We keep pushing him to turn human again, but maybe that’s just too hard. Baby steps.”
Evershaw scowled and tilted his head back to stare at the ceiling. “This is going to cost a fucking fortune.”
“You didn’t need to find the specific designer that Deirdre wanted,” Dodge told his tea, shaking his head. “I’m sure there were budget options that would have gotten the job done.”
“Just wait until you get a mate,” the alpha muttered. “There wasn’t any other choice. What she wants, she gets.”
“Not going to happen, man,” Dodge said. He shoved to his feet. That definitely wasn’t a conversation he wanted to have with the alpha or anyone, particularly since Evershaw would make some offhand comment to Deirdre and then she’d get involved. Dodge was better off with the occasional fuck buddy to relieve stress. Better for everyone that way. No mate was in his future. It wouldn’t be fair to do that to a girl. “I’ll go check on the wolfman.”
Evershaw waved him away, still scowling at the ceiling. Dodge left before the alpha bothered to come up with some other job for him. Checking on Silas was the only time Dodge found any peace in the damn house, since it meant cigars and whiskey. So what if it was before lunch. Silas didn’t judge. Dodge whistled as he headed for the kitchen and the outside steps to the storm cellar. Not a bad way to spend the afternoon, all things considered.
Chapter 5
Percy
I still didn’t know what to make of the situation as Deirdre showed me the garden and the two lots where they envisioned a wolf habitat for their “family friend.” She seemed perfectly pleasant, which just made it more difficult to understand how she ended up with such an asshole for a husband, but it wasn’t my place to ask. Or to judge, for that matter. I was perpetually single, though I at least tried to blame that on my work, serious debt, and general standoffishness. At least, that’s what the last three boyfriends had used as their reasons for breaking things off.
I took a few measurements of the lots and tried to sketch something in my mind, to envision what might be possible there, but paused to take a deep breath. “I’m not trying to talk myself out of a job, Mrs. Evershaw, but –“
“Call me Deirdre,” she said, making a face. “I haven’t taken his name. He’d love it too much.”
Which was an interesting tidbit to share with a complete stranger. But apparently they didn’t have normal social boundaries in their family. “Of course. Deirdre. I’m not trying to turn down the job by any means, but perhaps the wolf would be better off at a sanctuary. Among other wolves, with a pack... They’re social creatures.”
“Oh, we’re aware.” Deirdre smiled tightly and started to braid her long, dark hair out of the way. “He wasn’t well-socialized, though, and seems to prefer people to other animals. We’d like to keep him close to make sure he’s adjusting well to some recent changes, then we may consider... other options.”
It sounded rather ominous. “I can certainly check with the sanctuary where I’m currently working to see if they have room.”
“That won’t be necessary, but it’s sweet of you to offer,” she said. Deirdre smiled faintly as she looked down and caught sight of my heels sinking into the dirt. “And look at me, making you climb all over the place in those. You look very formal. Is that typical for habitat designers?”
“Typical for architects