Hunting Danger

by Lynn Hagen

  The three men grabbed him, holding Maltese in place as the demon slugged him in the gut, knocking the air out of Maltese’s lungs.

  “Now that we got that out of the way…” The stranger moved so close their noses nearly touched. “You’ll get me into the demon realm, or I’m gonna let my friends tear you apart.”

  Maltese spit on the man’s face. “Fuck you.”

  Screams echoed in the alleyway as Maltese felt and heard his bones breaking.

  Chapter Five

  Max wasn’t stuck in his dog form, per se, but it was getting harder and harder to shift back to his human form, and that scared the shit out of him. He was seated in the passenger seat of Dillon’s truck on his way back to the house. Orlando had called moments before, saying he was dropping Newt and Baby Girl off.

  Thankfully, for now, Max was in his human form, wearing borrowed clothes from one of the guys at the Den.

  “How’s your search going?” Max asked as he tied and untied the strings on his jogging pants, tucked his hands between his knees, and then went back to fiddling with the strings.

  “It was a bust.” Dillon sounded frustrated.

  Max knew how he felt. But it wasn’t Dillon’s fault he couldn’t find the elusive Chuck. Max wished he could go back in time and stop himself from ever meeting the guy and buying the potion. But at the time, he’d been desperate, terrified for his life, and he’d felt the masking agent had been his best bet.

  Max didn’t think Dr. Fargo had been right. He didn’t think the potion was gonna kill him. What he thought was that he’d shift into his German shepherd form and never be able to become human again.

  That thought was more terrifying than dying. At least death would be final. If Max couldn’t become human, he would more than likely become feral.

  The image of his dog attacking Dillon horrified him.

  “What’re thinking about?” Dillon reached over and wove his fingers through Max’s.

  “I’m dreading Baby Girl’s visit,” he lied. “She’s a pain in the ass.”

  Maybe Max should hunt for Chuck. Although he’d given a description of the guy, Max would be able to scent him, too. He knew what the demon smelled like. He’d dealt with Chuck for the past twenty years.

  He just didn’t think Dillon would go for the idea. In fact, he knew Dillon would be against it.

  “She’s cute and cuddly,” Dillon said. “I don’t see why you two don’t get along.”

  “Why we don’t get along?” Max snorted. “I swear she was some evil empress in one of her nine lives. One of her favorite phrases must’ve been off with his head!”

  Dillon laughed, and the sound melted Max’s heart. He was unable to stop himself from grinning like a moron. Too bad his mate was driving or Max would’ve crawled into his lap and licked him from head to toe—mainly concentrating on his cock, of course.

  Hopefully they had time to fool around before Orlando and Newt showed up. Max might be tired, but he was also horny. They hadn’t had sex since Dillon had claimed him, and Max wanted to jump his mate’s bones.

  When they pulled into the driveway and went inside, Max shut the door and shoved Dillon against it. “I need to taste you.”

  “We shouldn’t do this,” Dillon protested. “You’re sick. We need to worry about—”

  Max dropped to his knees and unfastened Dillon’s pants, fishing out his hardening cock. Dillon’s lips might be protesting, but his cock was happy to be played with.

  Before Dillon could protest any further, Max took his hard shaft down his throat.

  “Oh, shit.” Dillon’s head angled back as he hissed. His hands balled into fists at his sides as the muscles in his neck grew taut.

  Max licked a long path up Dillon’s cock and then swallowed him back down, using his throat muscles to bring his mate pleasure. That was the one thing Max had missed while on the run. Sex. Not that he hadn’t snuck out at times and found some random guy willing to have it, but the acts were far and few.

  He had lost time to make up for, and he took that lost time out on Dillon’s cock, devouring the hard, hot flesh, using his tongue and lips, moaning and getting hard himself as Dillon’s hands clamped down on Max’s head.

  With the other hand, Max worked Dillon’s pants and underwear midway down his thighs. He cupped Dillon’s heavy sac, tugging as he lashed his tongue over the slit in the head of his mate’s cock.

  “Fuck!” Dillon went rigid as he came down Max’s throat. Max ate the taste up, licking every last drop before he pulled back.

  With a snarl, Dillon grabbed Max under his arms and lifted him from his knees, taking him to the carpet in front of the television and placing Max on his hands and knees.

  “Don’t move,” he warned before he disappeared.

  Max wasn’t going anywhere, especially knowing he was about to get fucked.

  When Dillon returned, he was naked and holding a bottle of lube in his hand. Max’s heart raced as he turned over, palming his erection and stroking himself.

  Dillon’s eyes slid to half-mast. “Fuck, you look beautiful.”

  Max wiggled his fingers, and Dillon handed over the lube. After wetting his fingers, Max inserted two into his ass, groaning as he locked gazes with his mate.

  The way Dillon stared at him, as if Max was the sexiest guy on the planet, solidified Max’s resolve to hunt Chuck down. There was no way he would remain in his shifter form forever. Not when he would miss out on moments like this.

  Dillon dropped to his knees and settled between Max’s legs, engulfing his cock as Max stretched himself. He cried out at the pleasure, wiggling his ass as Dillon sucked him.

  But he stopped before Max could come. Instead, Dillon got to his knees, bathed his cock in lube, and then batted Max’s hand away. With a quick intake of breath, Max was impaled on Dillon’s long and thick shaft.

  They groaned at the same time and reached for each other, touching, kissing, petting as Dillon punched his hips forward, driving his cock even deeper.

  “You mean the world to me, Max.” Dillon cupped Max’s face, resting on his right forearm. “I just want you to know that whatever happens, I’ll always stick by your side.”

  “Even if I’m never able to shift back into my human form?” Max voiced his fear.

  “Let’s pray that never happens.” Dillon gave him a soft, soul-stirring kiss. “But if it does, we’ll deal with it.”

  Max arched his back, moaning as Dillon pushed to his knees and fucked him so fast and hard that Max’s brain should’ve rattled.

  “Dillon!” Max came, ropes of pearly-white cum shooting between them.

  Dillon bared his canines, purring as he thrust a few more times and then stiffened, his cock throbbing heavily in Max’s ass.

  The doorbell rang. Max was thankful as fuck he’d locked the door.

  “Will you guys stop having sex and let me in,” Newt said from the other side.

  “Don’t say that,” Orlando argued. “You don’t know what they could be doing.”

  “I don’t care if he’s braiding Dillon’s hair. I’m tired, and it’s starting to drizzle out here,” Newt complained.

  With a sigh, Dillon pulled from Max’s body. “Worst timing ever.”

  Max covered his hand over his mouth to hide his giggle. He rolled to his side and reached for his clothes, quickly dressing. Dillon did the same, and then his mate opened the door as Max wandered into the kitchen.

  “It smells like straight-up spunk in here,” Newt said.

  “He never openly talked about sex until we mated,” Orlando said from the living room. “I think I’ve created a monster.”

  Max chuckled as he grabbed a bottled water from the fridge. He considered Newt and Orlando his family and loved them to pieces, but not as much as he loved Dillon.

  Max had been in love with his mate for some time, and the next time they were alone, he would tell Dillon how he truly felt.

  * * * *

  Max waited until Dillon was asleep before he s
nuck out the back door, determined to hunt Chuck down and get some more potion.

  And revenge.

  But mainly just to get some more masking agent. If Dr. Fargo was right, the potion should help Max return to normal, and then he could slowly wean himself off the stuff.

  After shifting into his dog form, he moved swiftly down the driveway and headed toward town, unsure where he should look. It wasn’t as though Chuck hung out behind the diner all the time. If that were the case, he would’ve been found by now.

  Max stuck to the shadows as much as he could, afraid someone would report a loose dog. He didn’t need anyone adding problems to his problems.

  He rounded the back of the diner, but all he smelled was discarded food, the surrounding forest, and…Max took a step back. Had someone vomited back here?

  He wrinkled his muzzle and moved on before the smell made him upchuck.

  Max dipped into every alcove, searched every alleyway, and became frustrated when he couldn’t pick up Chuck’s scent. For all he knew, Chuck only came to Brac Village to meet up with Max once a month and spent the rest of his time someplace else.

  That thought didn’t help his mood.

  Max peered into the darkened window of the bakery and then moved on to the window of the candy store. After this was over and Max was cured, he was gonna beg Dillon to take him to town so he could visit these stores in human form. For too long the delicious aroma of cinnamon rolls had wafted from the bakery, teasing Max, and he wanted a box filled with them.

  He was so busy thinking about the pastries that he’d barely noticed the small truck until it had pulled to the curb. Max snarled when he felt a noose around his neck.

  “Gotcha,” the guy said from behind him.

  Max struggled to get free, his heart beating hard against his ribs as he shook his head back and forth to no avail.

  His stomach dropped when he saw the words on the side of the white panel van. Seriously? He’d just been trapped by a dog catcher? This had to be the most mortifying moment of his life. But the guy smelled human, so Max couldn’t shift and explain himself.

  And the human was strong. He lifted Max up and stuffed him into a cage in the back of his van before slamming the doors closed.

  A black cat hissed at him, and a small, brown-and-tan dog yelped. If Max could’ve rolled his eyes, he would have. He wished he could tell the ankle biter to shut up. The yapping was getting on his nerves.

  The van swayed and picked up speed. The cage was far too small for Max to shift and open the doors. He was stuck back there as the van ambled down the road.

  He mentally frowned when he noticed the ride was taking way too long. There were no windows in the back, so Max couldn’t see where they were going, but he was pretty sure the pound wasn’t that far away.

  When the ride became bumpy, Max braced himself as he was jostled around. His pitching stomach was thankful when the ride finally came to a stop.

  The cat meowed, and the ankle biter whimpered. Max stuck his paw through the cage and tried to comfort the dog, who shook like crazy. The cat made a pathetic noise. With a mental sigh, Max turned and put his paw through the bars, resting it on the black cat’s neck.

  He pulled his paw back from the cat’s cage when the back doors swung open. The van had backed up to a small brick building. “Now don’t you be givin’ me any problems,” the portly man said to Max. “Just doin’ my job. This ain’t nothin’ personal.”

  Max snarled when the man tried to open his cage.

  “Don’t make me get the tranq gun,” he threatened. “I’d rather not drug you.” He lifted his hand toward the cage, as though he wanted Max to scent him. “I’m not a bad fella. I promise. But we can’t have stray animals runnin’ loose.”

  Max had forgotten to put his collar back on. It was sitting on the dresser. It wouldn’t have done him any good. All that was on the tag was his name.

  “You’re a pretty dog,” the guy said. “I ain’t got no doubts you’ll be adopted by a nice family once Doc looks you over to make sure you’re healthy and then neuters you.”

  Max snarled again. There was no way he was letting anyone cut his nuts off.

  “Don’t worry,” the guy said. “He don’t take the nuts completely. He just slices them open and removes the testes inside. It’s real humane, though your change purse is gonna look like tiny raisins afterward.”

  Max had to get out of there before he had raisin nuts. This time when the guy tried to open his cage, he let him. He pretended to be docile, even going so far as to lick the stranger’s hand.

  “Now that’s a good dog.”

  When the door was fully open, Max tried to make a break for it, but the human was fast, looping the noose around his neck before Max could make a clean getaway.

  “I’ve been doin’ this for too darn long for you to get one over on me.” He petted Max’s head. “Now behave so we can go inside.”

  Max dug his paws into the concrete, trying to stop the human from taking him inside.

  “Dagnabbit,” the man grunted. “Stop bein’ so stubborn.”

  Max became woozy. He stumbled to his left and then collapsed. His breathing was ragged, and he felt exhausted. His body ached, and his head spun as the human lifted him with a hearty grunt and carried him inside.

  Dogs barked as the guy walked down a long aisle and placed Max in an oversized cage. He petted Max’s head again before he stepped back and closed the door.

  Max feared he would pass out for the next few days and, when he woke, his nuts would be butchered. He had to try and get out of there. Too bad his fur didn’t come with pockets, because he would’ve taken his cell phone with him and been able to call Dillon for help.

  The guy brought the cat and the ankle biter in, placing them in cages before he walked out of the holding area and shut the light off and closed the door.

  Max tried to shift, but his human form wouldn’t emerge.

  He was fucked six ways from Sunday, and there wasn’t anything he could do about it. Why on earth did he keep making boneheaded decisions? Max struggled to lift his head, fighting his growing fatigue. He tried once more to shift, but he was too weak.

  The dog in the cage next to him barked. It was the ankle biter. He whimpered and stuck his nose through the wires, pushing his paw past it, as well. Max reached out and laid his paw on the tiny dog’s.

  If I’m rescued, I’m taking you with me, champ. As the drowsiness took over, Max prayed Dillon found him in time to keep his promise and to save his manhood.

  Chapter Six

  The first thing Dillon thought when he woke and couldn’t find Max anywhere was that Taren had broken in and kidnapped him, but he didn’t scent demon in his house.

  Now he was walking the streets, following his mate’s scent as he tried to figure out where Max had gone. Why had he been out here? Had he left the house purposely? If he had, Dillon was putting Max over his knee and spanking his cute little ass.

  But he needed to find him first.

  He followed his mate’s scent, but it vanished at the bakery. Dillon turned, looking around, and spotted the cameras Maverick had installed around town. They were supposed to be used to keep an eye on unwanted people who infiltrated the town, but Dillon needed them to find out what had happened to his mate.

  He pulled his phone out and called the alpha, explaining his predicament.

  “I take the privacy of those cameras seriously,” Maverick said. “But I’ll have Nero pull up the footage. If there’s anything on it concerning Max, I’ll let you know.”

  “I appreciate it.” Dillon hung up. There was nothing else he could do but wait, but as the minutes ticked by, his nerves started to fray.

  A cruiser pulled to the curb, and Vince got out. He strolled to the sidewalk and stood beside Dillon. “I thought you were on vacation.”

  “Leave of absence is more like it.” Dillon checked his phone, although it hadn’t rung.

  “What’s going on, Dillon?”

 
Dillon sighed and told his partner about Max disappearing.

  “And you didn’t call me to help?” The guy looked genuinely hurt. “I’m the first person you call when you or your mate is in trouble. I didn’t think I had to tell you that.”

  “Look, it just happened, okay?” In truth, Dillon was starting to feel worn down. The constant worrying about his mate, trying to deal with his uncontrollable shifts, and the thought of Max staying in dog form forever, or worse, was taking its toll. He stayed strong and positive for Max because he had to. The guy was his mate, and Dillon would do whatever it took to protect him, but that didn’t mean the entire situation wasn’t weighing heavy on him.

  He wanted to find Chuck to get some more of the potion but to also wrap his hands around the motherfucker’s neck and squeeze the life out of him for selling Max that crap in the first place.

  Dillon got it. Max had to hide who he was in order to survive, but components in the potion were doing this to Max, and for that, Chuck needed to be put out of business.

  When his phone rang, Dillon jerked. Vince eyed him as Dillon answered his phone. “Got anything?”

  “He got picked up by a dog catcher.”

  Dillon frowned. “We have one of those in Brac Village?”

  “No,” Maverick said. “I had Nero run the name on the side of the van. The place went out of business months ago, but I’ll text you the address.”

  “If the place is no longer is in business, what the hell is going on?”

  Vince furrowed his brows.

  “Do you need backup?” Maverick asked.

  “I appreciate the offer, but I have my partner with me.”

  “Call if you need any help,” Maverick said. “And some of my wolves will be paying this place a visit. It needs to be shut down.”

  After hanging up, Dillon looked at Vince. “Call the boss and let him know where we’re headed.” He didn’t bother telling Vince what Maverick had said. He knew his partner had heard both sides of the conversation.

  With a nod, Vince pulled out his cell and dialed as Dillon slipped into the passenger seat of the cruiser.