by BA Tortuga
“I heard the pup telling you just a minute ago. Don’t snarl.”
“What? No one thought to tell me they might track us here? I thought we had all the time in the world.”
“How the hell would I know how they are? Why would they leave their territory? Even for money? We don’t chase intruders more than out of our land!”
Gus sighed. “Yeah, yeah, okay.” He rubbed the back of his neck, watching the gulls circle.
“Why didn’t Sammy tell us?”
“I don’t know.” He was just lost sometimes when it came to the kitty mind.
“If only I could drive. I’d just stay here and bask.” Gray snorted. “Maybe you should ask him. When are we leaving?”
“As soon as we can get him moving. We can’t fly. The girl has no ID.”
“The girl has nothing. Who are these assholes?”
“I don’t know.” Gus grinned. “Man, if the rest of the pack was here, we’d kick their asses, though, huh?”
Gray’s white eyes glimmered, the fury in them sudden, unexpected, a little terrifying, honestly. “We’d destroy them, remind them who is top of the food chain.”
“We would.” He had no doubt Gray would defend his family to the last bite.
“I’ll pack. You get Sam. We’ll go back.” Gray stretched. “I like it here. I like it a lot.”
“I know, man.” Gus shook his head, wondering for about the thousandth time how he’d gotten into this.
“Blame Sam.” Gray’s laughter followed him off.
Dude. It was one thing to have Sam hear him. It was another to have Sam’s family do it. Gus patted his pocket for a pack of smokes, remembering as he did that he’d forgotten to buy the damned things.
“Stop pushing me!” Sam’s roar split the air as Gus got close to the cabin.
“Fuck off, man. They’ll come for you. You know it. I know it. They lost your income, lost their errand girl, lost at least four soldiers. They’ll have to come to save face, just so another pride doesn’t run them out of the city. They want your head on a pike!”
“Maybe they should have taken it!”
The sound of the slap was as clear as a bell.
Gus fought the urge to go to Sam’s rescue. This was exactly what the stubborn kitty needed.
“Don’t you say that! You… you fuck!” The wee pup could growl. “You lived. You did it. Don’t you give up now when he came like you said!”
Gus took a deep breath before going inside. “Sam, she’s right. We have to go, babe.”
“Fine.” The handprint across Sam’s face was bright red. “Get the little bitch out of here.”
Marina’s eyes went wide. “But you said….”
Sam stared her down. “Don’t be an idiot. We’re fighting. I’m going to growl. You’re going to get your shit. We’re going to see Ma. I won’t desert you. You’re pack.”
Gus hid a grin. “Go on, honey. Get packed. I’ll handle Mr. Kitty.”
Sam’s bright green eyes landed on him. “Handle me?”
God, that was hot. He approved. “You need a handler. Maybe I need a chair and a whip.”
“I will bite your face off and chew on you.”
“You can chew on me all you want, babe.” Gus wandered to the bed and sat, his hand on Sam’s side.
It took a minute, but Sam leaned into him. “I don’t want to go back. What am I supposed to tell them? My kind doesn’t want me either?”
“Puss, I told you, we don’t have to stay. We just drop the kids off and go.” He knew Sam would want to see his mom, but there was no reason for Sam to stick around and feel like shit.
“I know, but….” Sam was ashamed. He could smell it.
“No. You have a place now. With me. We’ll be misfits together.”
“I tried to be strong.” Sam near whispered the words, then stood and staggered over to pack the handful of clothes they’d found for his Puss.
“You were. You were really strong. Verging on stubborn and possibly dumb.” He let Sam do it. He knew the man needed to do shit on his own.
Sam flipped him off, the move almost idle. “I told her you’d come for me.”
“I did, right?” He’d been a little dense about why Sam wasn’t calling, but that was okay. He’d managed it and gotten to his mate before it was too late.
“You did.” Sam came to him, fingers in his hair. “I barely remember. It’s like some fucked-up dream.”
“More like a nightmare.” He slid an arm around Sam’s waist. “I was afraid for you, Puss.”
“I was too.” Sam petted him, sighed. “I’d given up.”
“Well, now we need to get strong again, huh? We need to move.” They had to. That was that.
“Let’s go. I’m ready.”
Gus opened his mouth to say that he had a few more things to pack when he heard Gray’s furious barking. What the fuck? That was not chasing ducks.
Sam frowned. “Gray?”
Then they heard a wild, pained scream.
Gus ran for the door. He didn’t know that voice, but that couldn’t be good.
Sam was behind him, as the scream came again. There were five cats—huge and black, two on Gray, three attacking a half-changed Marina.
“No!” Sam snarled, black body flying off the porch, shifting midair.
“Fuck—” The word cut off when Gus changed, his challenging howl ringing out. No. Sam was right. Just no.
Sam was all teeth and claws, diving for the ones attacking Marina, fangs sinking into the flank of one huge cat. So Gus went after the bastards fighting Gray, not that the big, blind wolf wasn’t holding his own.
In fact, Gray had one down, muzzle buried in an open throat, blood flying.
Gus flew into the fray, taking out a back leg. It was harder than he expected, the cat’s bones seeming thicker than a wolf’s. Gus wasn’t letting go, though. Not one bit.
Claws raked at his fur, the tips scoring his skin but not digging in enough to catch, tear. He twisted, snapping at the cat who was trying to eat his ass.
His mate was there before him, wild and screaming, sending the big male tumbling. God, it was beautiful. Sam was fierce and wonderful and perfect. Almost distracting, but Gus knew it wasn’t time to stop fighting yet.
He shook hard, feeling the bone snap in his jaws. His pack. His mate. His.
Marina flashed by, finally fully shifted, insane little growls coming from her throat. She caught the cat with the broken leg by the throat and snapped until it stopped moving.
Sam stood there, growling, and both Gray and Marina turned toward him, teeth bared. Gus moved between them, protecting his mate. In the heat of battle they might mistake a cat for a cat.
Gray backed off first, then Marina, her little sounds confused, scared.
Gus took a deep breath before surveying the battlefield. He had to make sure there were no more threats.
Fur and blood and bodies covered the ground, scattered like raw meat. There was a savage sense of satisfaction to it, a heavy-duty surge of pride in his pack.
His.
Gray came to him, muzzle bloody, and bowed, panting hard. Gus gave praise where it was due, nuzzling Gray’s face, then neck. He sniffed, searching for injuries, but there was nothing life-threatening.
Marina was next, her instincts clumsy but there. She’d been torn up, and he licked the wounds, cleaned them, vocalizing to her, letting her know how good she was, how proud he was of her.
When she relaxed, he turned to Sam, who yowled and swiped at him, then wrapped strong forepaws around him to groom him. Gus let his tongue loll, let his mate have at him until his eyes crossed and his back leg kicked helplessly.
Sam nuzzled his belly fur, then dragged himself up on the porch to clean his dark, sleek face and heavy paws. Gus went to help, cleaning the back legs that were still so sore, so hurt.
Gray had one paw on Marina, the two grooming each other quietly, letting him curl around his mate, tongue sliding over the heavy pelt. His brave Sam. Sam thou
ght he wasn’t strong anymore, but Gus knew better. His mate could still kick ass.
Sam purred for him, grooming his tail, smoothing his fur.
He let it go on as long as he could. He wanted to stay right there forever. They had to move, though.
It was Sam who shifted, cheek on his flank. “We need to go. Somewhere. Not here. Maybe not home either, but we have to take them and go.”
Gus concentrated on his human body, the smell of blood almost making him gag when he changed. “I know, babe.”
“I’m sorry.” Sam looked over at Gray, at Marina. “I didn’t mean to get everyone fucking involved.”
Gray barked before going back to grooming, looking so happy it kind of hurt to look at him.
Gus shook his head. “I think everyone is pretty much involved.” He looked at Marina too. “I think we might just have our own pack.”
Sam arched one dark eyebrow. “I’m not calling you alpha.”
“Uh-huh. Pussy.” He started chuckling, the relief of winning the fight almost overwhelming.
“Fucker.” Sam swatted him. “I’ve never liked you.”
“I know. Good thing you love me.” He could live with that. He really could.
For the rest of his life.
Chapter Thirty
THEY DROVE for hours, Gray vocalizing to Marina, flat refusing to shift out of wolf form.
Sam rolled his eyes as Marina groomed him. “You’re going to spoil him.”
“I’m allowed to. He’s hurt.”
“He had a bite on his furry butt.”
Gray farted, loudly. That was so gross. Stinky. Sam tried hard not to roll his eyes again. “Butthead.”
Gus chuckled. “More like stinky butt.”
“Maybe he’s rotting from the inside.”
Gray snapped the air idly, the threat making Sam smile. It made Gus smile too. Marina just whapped Gray on the muzzle. Those two were so made for each other.
He stretched, his lower back aching, his legs tingling. They were heading home. It was the only thing anyone could think to do. Sam knew it was a bad idea, and he knew Gus knew that too, but it would be like closure or something.
At least they’d be able to get Gus and Gray’s shit, possibly get some practical clothes for Marina. Him. His mom was sure to have some soft sweats. He and Pete were close in size if nothing else. Pete wasn’t a hulking monster like his brother, Gus. Gus. Yum.
He let himself look a little, admire the strong jaw, the way those hands wrapped around the steering wheel.
Gus glanced at him sideways. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah.” He was a little horny, but yeah.
“You sure?” Gus’s mouth curved up on one side, letting him know it hadn’t gone unnoticed.
He growled softly. Bastard. “Positive.”
“Hmm. I mean, I could help you out. We could stop for a rest.”
“Ew.” Marina grunted at them from the backseat. “No nookie.”
He arched one eyebrow. “Can we just fuck, then?”
Impertinent girl.
“No!” Marina laughed a little. “At least not while I’m in the car.”
His nose wrinkled. No. No, she was like a little sister. That was nasty.
Gus laughed. “Gray’s farts are ruining the mood anyway.”
“I just want to know who fed him jalapenos.” He wasn’t sure how they’d found jalapenos in New England. They were sure mild, and they’d come out of a can.
Marina hid her face against Gray’s fur. Ah, the culprit.
“You have to stop letting him sweet talk you, girlfriend. Gray is the devil incarnate. He sold his eyesight for evil powers.”
Gray bared his teeth, tail thumping just at the tip. Sam did love the big goof.
“I wondered about that,” Gus murmured, making Gray growl even more.
Sam chuckled, reached back, and tugged the long, soft tail. Gray was a good one and had proved to be a heck of a fighter.
“Anyone need to stop?” Gus rolled his head on his neck.
“Please.” That was Marina, and she sounded a little desperate. She probably needed some air. Sam couldn’t blame her.
Hell, he’d need some too if he was back there. Not only that, but she was a girl, right? They always had to pee more.
Gus pulled off at the next exit, slowing as they neared the cluster of roadside businesses. “Fast food or gas station?”
Gray woofed, salivating a little, and Sam cracked up. “French fries, Gray? Still?”
“Are they his favorite?” Marina grinned. “I like them too. And cheeseburgers. Can we have cheeseburgers?”
“Anything you want, honey.” Every day Marina seemed a little happier, a little healthier.
“Then cheeseburgers.” She bounced, which made Gray’s head loll.
They pulled into the Burger King and parked toward the back. “I’ll stay here with Gray.”
“Okay, babe.” Gus gave him a look that told him his mate knew he was still hiding a little. “You want fries and what else?”
“Carton of milk. Two.” He really wanted tuna. A case of it.
Gus’s lips curled in a grin. “I’ll run over to the 7-Eleven once we get Marina’s burgers.”
The temptation to lean over, lick Gus’s jaw, was huge. The man took good care of him, and he was still horny. Maybe they should just get a room. No, two. Marina and Gray could have two doubles.
Those pretty eyes landed on him. “Be good, Puss.”
“I’m always good, Pup.”
“Mmm. You are.” Gus’s fingers ghosted over his hip. “I’ll be back in two shakes.”
“Ooh. Vanilla milkshakes.” Marina hopped out of the car, and Gray woofed, watched them go, tail waving like a flag.
“If you like her that much, you’ll have to be human with her occasionally.”
Gray grunted, rolled over for a bellyscritch, and Sam reached back, scratching.
“She’s pretty. I bet she smells good to you, hmm?”
He got a little happy bark, but it was hard to tell if that was about Marina or the belly rub. Gray was such a dork. Sam hadn’t seen him so stupid over a girl in forever. Those big paws batted the air, Gray rumbling, telling him all about it in wolf.
“I think she’s a darling. She saved my life. So did you, brother.”
Gray barked again, and Sam was glad the parking lot was fairly deserted. Gray drew attention.
“Be good, you big baby. You’ve got to lose the fuzz, wear pants. Woo her or something.”
The snort Gray gave him was more human than wolf. At least the butthead didn’t fart.
“You know, flowers, dinners out, diamonds. Uh… T-bones and rawhides? Squeaky bones?” Teasing Gray was the most fucking fun.
Gray was just about to bite his head when Marina came back to the car, hands full of bags and cups. Gus was headed across the lot to get his tuna.
Sam watched that tight ass move. Left. Right. Left. Right.
Meow.
He really was feeling better. His lower body was working just fine….
Now if he could just get his legs to do their thing. He glanced down at them, frowning. Yeah. They were slow healing. They’d gone faster when he was in cat form, but Gus liked him talking and shit.
“You okay, Sammy?”
“Yeah, just thinking.”
Her hand landed on his shoulder, surprising him. “They’ll get better.”
He purred in thanks, rubbed her knuckles with his cheek. “I hope so, little sister.”
“They will. The closer you are to Gus, the faster you heal—did you know?”
“What?” Nonsense. Right?
“It’s true.” She gave him a sideways look, sucking on her straw. “You really should get it on.”
“Don’t. You sit back there and be pure and chaste.”
“Pure and chaste?”
He growled. “I mean it.”
“Well, it’s not like I want to watch.”
Gray chortled. If a wolf could chort
le.
“Pure and chaste. I’m going to tell Ma you’re a virgin.”
Gray snapped at him, making him laugh like a loon. “What? For all you know she is, Fuzzy.”
Marina’s eyes met his, and he winked, nodded. Some secrets, some shames, were just theirs to keep.
Sometimes Gray was such an innocent, anyway. He really wouldn’t get it. Maybe that’s what Marina needed. A lifetime of innocence.
Sam grinned a little, sliding down in his seat to watch Gus’s front as he came back from the store. There was nothing innocent there.
His cock jerked a bit, more a happy little hiccup than anything, like it was giving him a cheer. It was bizarre. He’d been a loner a long time, but just the sight of Gus made him happy. He was turning into a sap.
Or maybe he was just hungry. His eyes focused on the bag with the tuna. Really hungry.
“Here you go, Puss. I got the kind in the bag so we wouldn’t have to get a can opener.”
“Thank you.” He couldn’t help his grateful purr. So good to him.
“Mmm. You know I love tuna breath.”
“So gross.” Marina sounded almost happy.
He flipped her off, stomach growling loudly enough that Gus reached over, stroked his belly.
“Eat, babe. I got you Slim Jims, Gray.”
Gray howled happily, tail thumping hard enough that Marina cracked up. Jesus, they were a bunch. He had a feeling they were going to make as weird a family as his mom and pop had ever conceived.
Chapter Thirty-One
“DO YOU want some milk?”
“Coffee, Ma. Please.” Sam grinned over at her. She’d been in complete meltdown since they pulled in last night. First over Gray, then Marina and her scars. Then him.
He’d sent Gus to bed hours ago, talking her through everything, trying to soothe her, which worked okay until he had to get up and walk around. That was a little disastrous.
“You’ll need to sleep. Milk it is.” She was a stubborn woman.
“Ma. Coffee. Put milk in it, but I need coffee.” He tried not to growl, but it must not have worked, his mother snarling softly, baring her teeth. Fuck.
“Hey, man.” The back door opened, Pete coming in, looking like he just woke up.