by M. D. Grimm
Brian was surprised. Derek had filled in some holes about the Agency, at least, all that Derek actually knew. In Brian’s opinion, any secret society needed to be watched and anyone dealing with them had to be suspicious. “Really? But how does he know about my abilities? Did you tell him?”
Derek shook his head. “No, the Agency has ways of finding things out.”
“That’s creepy. Did he say why I wasn’t chosen?”
Derek shrugged. “Nah. They’re the good guys, Brian. They help. It’s an honor to be chosen to be an agent. But I’m happy you weren’t. I wouldn’t get you otherwise.”
Brian smiled and felt a little mischievous. “You know, I wouldn’t mind meeting Poe again. He’s a very interesting man.”
Derek winged an eyebrow. “Interesting? Really?”
Brian heard the tone and snorted. “Why, Derek, are you jealous?”
“No,” he said seriously before rolling on top of Brian. “But I am very possessive. You’re mine.”
Brian grinned and rolled his eyes. “That I am, wolfman. Mate.”
Derek grinned, eyes darkening with lust, and swooped in for a kiss. One good thing about mentally communicating with animals was that he could emote to Derek what he wanted to do in bed without saying a word. His mouth was usually busy.
“Any improvement?”
Poe never removed his gaze from the pacing wolf shifter as Captain Odin stepped up beside him. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to see him for myself.”
Poe sighed. He’d imprisoned the wolf shifter he’d captured in Washington and transferred him to a small substation in New Mexico. They needed to find a way to help him. The wolf prowled inside a large, several-layers thick plexiglass box that provided a bed, bathroom with privacy screen, along with a table and chair. Minimal but all the shifter could need once they managed to get him to shift into his human form.
Poe had intentionally kept the details and location of his mission under wraps as soon as he got the wolf into custody. Since Odin was his captain and former work partner, it was easy enough to keep the information as need-to-know. He wasn’t certain that he could trust everyone in the Agency, and the thought never failed to burn his ass.
“A little bit of change,” Poe said, staring at the wolf. The wolf stared back, eyes glowing, body tense. “His temperament is improving. He’s yet to show any signs of remembering that he’s also part human.”
“Someone experimented on him.”
Poe nodded, sickened to the bone. “What monsters would do such a thing? And how did they manage it? I mean, fuck.”
Odin patted his shoulder. He was a big man and aware of his strength so the touch was gentle, a comrade recognizing the distress of another. Poe finally glanced at his captain. Odin appeared to be about forty but Poe was certain he was older. His appearance hadn’t changed since they’d known each other. He was nearly seven feet tall—which meant he towered over Poe’s modest five-five—and was built like a Mack truck. He was bald as a cue ball with pale skin, black eyes, and his ability was to be invisible in plain sight. When he succumbed to stress, a faint accent bled through. Poe had yet to be able to place it. Odin’s past was a locked door that Poe, despite their years working together, had yet to bust down. He’d long ago resigned himself to never knowing.
“I won’t give up on him,” Poe said.
“I know you won’t,” Odin said. “How are the aides working out?”
“Dependable and confident,” Poe said. “I’m grateful to them. I can’t keep an eye on this fella all day. But I think I need to rotate them out. Don’t want them to suffer burnout.”
“I’ll see to that. I’ll pick their replacements personally.”
“Thanks.”
Odin paused before asking, “What did you say to the other wolf shifter and his mate?”
“Derek and Brian?”
Odin nodded.
“I told them that we turned the wolf over to his pack and that they executed him.”
Odin sighed.
Poe eyed him. “You didn’t expect me to tell them the truth, did you? Besides that was in my report. Do you even read my reports?”
Odin made a face.
Poe laughed. “You make Mac do it, don’t you?”
Mac was Odin’s personal aide and an invaluable asset to the captain.
“You caught me.”
Poe snorted out a laugh and patted Odin’s arm. “I won’t tell anyone, promise. As to Derek and Brian, I didn’t see a need to burden them with the truth. I could tell that they were starting a life together. No need to have this hanging over their heads.”
Odin smiled and it transformed his face. He looked more like a favorite uncle than a hardened soldier. “Softy.”
“You tell anyone and I’ll let slip about Mac.”
“Deal.”
“Deal.” Poe finally turned away and led Odin out of the containment room that could only be accessed by a key card and PIN pad.
“I don’t think we can keep his presence hidden forever,” Odin said.
Poe shrugged. “Hopefully long enough to fix him. Just keep recruiting aides from our sector and we should be fine.”
Odin appeared troubled and he dropped his voice, bending over Poe as the door shut behind them. “You really think there is a traitor among us?”
Poe met his dark gaze. “Yeah, I do. You do, too.”
Odin’s mouth tightened and he said no more on the matter.
Bonus Story
Celtic Warrior and Wolf Spirit
A Shifter Chronicles story
Psychic Moon sequel
***
Derek and Brian are celebrating their first Christmas together, and Brian is determined to show Derek a Christmas like those he shared with his family back east. A wolf shifter, Derek has never celebrated a traditional Christmas before—his pack would usually shift on Yule and hunt down prey. But the unexpected appearance of Brian’s abusive ex-boyfriend on Christmas Eve threatens not only Brian’s holiday plans but his future with Derek.
***
BRIAN DANCED around the kitchen, soft Christmas music playing in the background. His mixed CD of pop artists singing about Rudolph, Santa, and Jesus put him even more in the mood for the family holiday, as if he needed any help with that. He’d already gone overboard with the decorations and the food, not to mention the presents. The music felt like the final touch to it all. The turkey baked in the oven, the heavenly smell making Brian’s mouth water and the dogs around him whimper with want. There was just something about that smell that made the house feel even cozier, the holiday brighter. The potatoes sat in a bowl waiting to be mashed as he mixed the salad. The dogs, all seven of them, waited with eager anticipation, willing him to drop something. He hadn’t yet. Three of those pair of eyes belonged to two German shepherds, Joan and Gable, and a black pug named Fenrir. Those dogs were with him before he’d met Derek. The other three pairs of eyes belonged to a brown mastiff named Goliath, an old hound dog named Henry, and a golden retriever named Betty Boop. They’d been Derek’s dogs and the last pair belonged to Dante, a Rottweiler he and Derek adopted after they became partners. Dante was their three-legged wonder.
Brian knew it was torture for them to watch him. He could see the images, the desire, in their heads—that of some meat falling onto the floor. This unique ability of his was the main reason why he was such a good veterinarian—he always knew what was wrong with an animal because the animal could actually show him, and he, in turn, could send comforting images back. Brian glanced down at his dogs and chuckled. His ability also gave him a good laugh, especially around dinner time. As he continued to toss the salad, he knew that if he did drop some vegetation on the floor, all the dogs with the exception of Joan would snub it.
Tinker, his gray tabby cat, sat atop one of the cabinets and flicked his tail back and forth, eyes fixed on the potatoes. The cat was strangely obsessed with mashed potatoes, although Brian never figured out why.
&
nbsp; This was his first Christmas with Derek, and he looked forward to it with a horde of butterflies in his stomach. The entire house was decked out—he had spent the entire first weekend of December decorating. He was determined to make this Christmas an unforgettable one because Derek had never celebrated Christmas before. The thought of exactly how Derek’s family celebrated holidays made him grin. Going furry and howling at the moon on Yule and hunting down prey was not exactly a socially acceptable tradition in human society.
He glanced at his calendar, and the horde of butterflies reacted at seeing the large Christmas tree sticker he’d put on December 25th. But it was only Christmas Eve, and he planned on making a huge dinner tonight, so they could eat leftovers tomorrow, and spend the day in bed. As much as the dogs would allow them, of course. Brian wiggled his hips just thinking about it, and he knew his grin was stupid. Derek wasn’t a perfect man, of course. He was bull-headed, had a temper that could melt steel, and his mouth was as foul as any sailor’s. But, God, that wonderfully imperfect man could twist Brian around his little finger, because he could also be tender, loving, and could go all day and night without rest.
Brian had been in love with Derek for almost two years, and it had been a gift from God when Derek had asked him out on a date nearly a year ago. A few months later, they’d moved into a bigger house that was closer to their joint place of work, with a large backyard for their dogs and a wooded park not too far away. Even now, it wasn’t unusual for Derek to just disappear in the middle of the night with the dogs and drive to that park. Sometimes Derek just needed to let the wolf within him out. And that inner wolf was one of the other things Brian found so appealing about Derek. He was a wolf shifter. And he was damn gorgeous as a wolf. Big and dark, strong and swift, with glowing eyes. Sexy.
He hoped and prayed that they wouldn’t get called into work for an emergency. Technically the offices were closed but the animal control officers and veterinarians were technically always on duty, since animal abuse didn’t recognize holidays.
A knock at the door startled Brian out of his thoughts. He frowned and wiped his hands on his apron. He knew it couldn’t be Derek—he was out shopping for some last minute supplies, and the man never forgot his keys. Who would be knocking at the door on Christmas Eve?
Brian untied his apron and walked swiftly to the front door, his bare feet never making a sound on the polished wood or the carpet. The dogs followed him, breaths huffing and tails wagging, jostling in doggy happiness. He opened the door and came face-to-face with a person he never thought he’d see. Ever. Again.
Kyle.
Brian froze in shock as he gazed upon his very ex-boyfriend from years past. The very same ex-boyfriend who had abused him both mentally and physically. The very same ex-boyfriend who, when Brian had gotten up the courage to break up with him, had stalked him and then attempted to set fire to Brian’s apartment.
That man was standing on the other side of his doorway, on Christmas freaking Eve, towering over him like the six-and-half-foot giant he was. To make matters worse, the man was smiling, as if the violence between them had never happened. As if he hadn’t threatened Brian’s life and warned him that if he ever left, Kyle would kill him.
“Looking good, Bri,” Kyle said with that familiar cocky, toothy grin.
Brian couldn’t speak. He was vaguely aware that his mouth was hanging open, but his brain had short-circuited.
“It took me a lot of time to find you, darling. I’m disappointed that you made me work so hard. You always did like to test my loyalty. I looked in the phonebook, and I checked the Internet. Finally found you, though, over here on the shitty west coast. You put a country between us, babe. You should know by now that we’re meant for each other. Bad boy.” He clucked his tongue and shook his head before he wrapped his arms around Brian.
Brian gasped in shock, fear making his blood run cold. His body trembled at the other man’s touch.
“But here you are,” Kyle continued, undaunted, “Right back where you belong, with me. You know you can’t make it on your own. You’re too weak. Fragile. I’ll protect you, don’t worry. I’m never letting you go again.”
Kyle lowered his head. Brian knew Kyle intended to kiss him, but he couldn’t make his body move. He was frozen in place, his heart banging in his chest, his stomach roiling with sickness. But he snapped out of his shock as the six dogs behind him growled in warning, their images floating into his mind, giving him strength and control of his mouth and body once more.
“Hands. Off.” Brian said firmly. He pressed his hands to Kyle’s bulky chest and pushed slowly but forcefully away. Kyle let him go, and he guessed it was because Kyle was afraid of the dogs attacking him. Kyle looked confused, angry, and afraid. His eyes kept flickering back at the dogs.
“But why, baby? You always liked my hands before.” Kyle tried to charm him with that cocky grin, but Brian was years apart from the man he used to be. All he felt was revulsion and dark satisfaction at Kyle’s fear. “And how many times have I told you that I don’t like those fleabags? Why don’t you ever listen? You’re so stupid—”
“Times change. I’ve changed.” Brian managed to keep his voice controlled. He took strength from the dogs behind him, remembering that this was his home. This was now, not then.
Brian sent a silent message to the dogs to be steady, not to attack. He could tell they wanted to, even Fenrir. The little pug was sending up high-pitched barks that made his small body jump. But it was Goliath that he called to his defense. The big brown lug walked in front, and the other dogs fell back, still growling.
Kyle backed up a couple of steps. He’d always hated dogs. He’d been attacked by one as a small boy and had never recovered. The only reason Kyle allowed Brian to be a veterinarian was that Kyle couldn’t hold down a job.
“Jesus, Brian. No need to be hostile, babe.” He said the word “babe” like others would say the word “bitch.”
“Isn’t there?” Brian countered, resting his hand on Goliath’s back. “Remember the last time we were together, Kyle? You told me that if I left, you’d kill me. Then you tried to burn down my apartment. You could have killed someone you psycho.”
He remembered that night as if it had happened yesterday. He remembered the terror, the grief, the time he had wasted on this jerk. He remembered the helplessness he had felt and the fear that he might never get away from this brutal man.
“You made me burn it,” Kyle retorted, his hands clenched into fists. “You’re the one who dumped me. You had no right. You owe me, Brian. For putting up with your stupid desire to care for fleabags like those.” He jabbed a finger at Goliath. “For protecting you, for providing for you. For listening to you whine and cry over your stupid family. Do you know how much I sacrificed for you? Then you just up and leave.”
“Get lost, Kyle. I don’t want you back,” Brian snapped, the memories an old wound that had healed badly.
“Come on, baby, let’s calm down and talk—”
“I suggest you do what he says unless you want your face rearranged.”
Brian was so focused on Kyle that he hadn’t seen his partner striding up the driveway. Derek was tall and rangy, and right now he looked like a predator protecting his territory. He had two sacks of groceries in his hands, and Brian quickly sent an emotional push to him to stay calm. He only wanted Kyle to leave. He definitely did not want the two men to get into a fight. He had no doubt that Derek would wipe the floor with Kyle, but the last thing he wanted was his lover to have to face the cops and assault charges. Or for Derek to shift.
Kyle whipped around and scowled. “Who the hell are you?” he demanded.
“I’m his partner, dickwad,” Derek snarled and stopped a few feet away. Brian noticed Derek’s internal struggle to keep the wolf at bay, to keep it from shredding Kyle into bloody strips. His dark brown eyes were slightly glowing, the way they did when he was either angry or horny. His muscles tensed and—because Brian knew him so well and knew what to
look for—he saw the way Derek’s bronze skin moved, the slight ripple. He usually found those changes in his lover’s body fascinating, but not this time.
“Partner?” Kyle glared accusingly at Brian. “You’ll bend over for just about anyone, won’t you? Like I said, you’re weak.”
Brian bristled, though his voice remained calm. “We’ve been over for a long time, Kyle. Leave now, or I will sic my boyfriend and my dogs on you.” As if on cue, all the dogs barked, and even Tinker gave a hiss, his hair standing on end, his ears flat and his sharp little teeth bared.
“And to think I went to jail for you!”
“You have a skewed memory of our past, Kyle. You went to jail because you couldn’t let go.”
Outnumbered, Kyle backed away and walked past Derek. Brian knew that even without the dogs, Derek’s glare alone would have been enough to make the man leave. Derek could scare Bigfoot. He simply stood there, his body braced to strike, only his eyes hinting at what horrors he might unleash if Kyle so much as touched Brian.
Kyle got into his car and drove away, his proverbial tail firmly set between his legs.
Brian took several deep breaths, trying to calm his racing heart. He turned and shooed the dogs back into the house as Derek strode up to him with a scowl on his face. Brian took one of the sacks from his hands and was thankful Derek had come home when he had.
“What the fuck just happened, Brian?” Derek looked over his shoulder and down the street to where Kyle had just left.
Derek tried to throttle back his rage but found it much more difficult than he expected. Since dating Brian, his moodiness and anger had mostly evened out, and he no longer flew off the handle every time an animal died or an injured animal was brought into the center. But now that lack of control reasserted itself with a vengeance.