Mal watched Everett sleep. After an interesting morning, the other man had crashed after a hot meal and a relaxing shower.
He had washed all of the other man's clothes. He smelled trace amounts of the other person in the fabric, and he wasn't going to allow a random wolf claim what was his. Everyone knew werewolves were overprotective. They'd protect what was theirs until death.
Mal put on some chili and sat down to do some paperwork he could access on the home computer. Carver had called to say Eliza was safe and clear. The club was being canvased again, this time with some of their own people. Whatever was hidden would be found on a deeper level.
The wolf inside was itching to get out. This came at the worst time. He'd missed the full moon hunt because he'd been on call at the station. Carverhad gone with Ezra and another named Astra. They'd decided a long time ago to split the duties, and since Carver had missed last month's hunt, Mal had to miss this one.
Despite feeling cooped up, he was glad he'd been home. If Everett had been at the club, he didn't want to think about what would have happened.
Unable to control the urge, Mal went into the laundry room and stripped naked. He sat in the floor as he let the change overtake him.
His body started to itch as the pain followed. Every time he changed, he remembered the first night. He'd been a beat cop in Spokane. He'd been patrolling at the usual clubs when he'd heard a scream. He'd followed the sound until he found a guy attacking two people in an alley.
He'd drawn his gun, but his human senses hadn't picked up the second person behind him. He remembered the searing pain in his back and neck. He'd collapsed in the alley waiting on certain death.
When he'd woken up, Mal had been in a room he hadn't recognized. Expecting his body to be in agony, he'd found it completely intact. His eyesight was better and the arhythmia he'd been born with was gone.
A man had come in with a huge bowl of food. He'd eaten it ravenously, barely coming up for air as he'd devoured it. He barely remembered the taste, but he did remember it hadn't satiated his hunger.
The man he now knew as David Winthrop had explained it all. What Mal was, how it'd happened and what he should expect in the next several days. The two who had been attacked before him hadn't made it so David had covered up their murders as he'd taken Mal in.
The rest histroy. Mal had become a werewolf and had worked with the Spokane police until he'd moved across the country. David had set him up with Donovan to make the transition a little easier. He'd become a detective not too long after.
His hands turned to furry, rounded paws. His body contracted and became compact as his face elongated into a thick snout. His human body was completely gone, changed into a massive canine that looked neither like a wolf or a dog.
He stood, shaking off the last bit of pain that followed every change. He nosed open the crack in the laundry room door and trotted down the hall to his room. He walked in, jumping on the bed.
Everett stirred as his weight made the bed dip. Mal pressed his furry body into the back of the other man and sighed. He had never been in bed with him like this before. It was even more intimate than having sex with him. This was him at his most primal.
The other man settled back into sleep as the canine put his head across his waist. No one wanted to break in on them. Mal would rip someone apart.
~~~~~~~
Everett rubbed the sleep out of his eyes as he pulled bowls from the cabinet. He'd been passed out when the wolf beside him woke him up with a series of dangerous growls.
Mal had lain at the foot of the bed, his body vibrating with rage that someone had come into his house uninvited. Everett had pulled the .38 from the bedside table and had held it under the blanket. Mal had shown him how to shoot a long time ago in case someone broke in while he was alone.
A hand had appeared around the door, palm open in submission. The growls turned to low warnings until the person came around the corner. It was Detective Carver, and he was not alone.
Chief of police Donovan Sandoval and Assistant District Attorney Ezra Pickens stood behind Carver. Everett knew the Alpha and his second were only standing down out of courtesy. They had every right to barge in, but with a fully changed wolf protecting his mate, they decided to play it safe.
Everett lost his balance and teetered backwards with several cups. A sturdy hand caught him, but it moved with a very low growl.
"You can stop that, Malcolm. I'm not going to hurt him. He's not even my type," Donovan scolded. He was the only one Everett had ever heard call the other man Malcolm. The rest of them called him Mal unless it was like yesterday.
Donovan Sandoval wasn't a huge man by any means. He was barely over six feet tall and could only weigh one hundred fifty pounds soaking wet. He'd been a Navy SEAL and had done several extractions of influential diplomats. He had an illustrious military career that ended abruptly. To this day, no one knew what had happened and he didn't speak of it.
He'd returned to the States several years ago - eight Everett thought. He'd brought some werewolf refugees along with him to give them a new life. He'd returned to his job as detective and had risen up the ranks.
When the position of chief came open, the late chief had bypassed his deputy for Donovan. It hadn't been a secret that Deputy Chief Jose Esperanza had been trafficking cocaine so when the chief decided to step down, he'd decided on Lieutenant Colonel Donovan Sandoval as his replacement.
Known for his quick rise to power, Donovan was efficient at his job. He'd cleaned house, making sure those who stayed understood no shady deals were tolerated. He also didn't discriminate against sexual orientation and gender. Mal was the prime example of that.
Donovan sat down at the table. "Is there a reason you've become a hulking, growling beast while your boyfriend sleeps?" He laughed when Everett dropped the spoon. "It's my job to know these things."
The young man brought two full bowls over and placed them in front of Donovan and Ezra. He returned shortly with two more. He sat in his usual chair, and Mal put his massive head on his knees, his tail thumping against the wall.
"Carver had to tell us what happened with all the details. I've already known you were sleeping together, but he informed me it had progressed," the chief continued. "Do you want to tell me how long?"
"I've known him for six months, but we've been sleeping together for four," he said. He rubbed the furry head on his knees. Mal whined and pawed at him.
"I can see you're fully aware of his situation." Donovan smiled at the interaction. "It's different isn't it?"
"Painfully." Everett stirred his chili. "It's like a part of you goes out and you're not sure if it'll come home. Which version will I get? The man or the beast?"
Carver cast Donovan and Ezra a look. Mal had never spoken about his relationship with Everett, but looking at the younger guy they could see why. He felt things just as deeply as his partner, but neither one knew how to express it.
Mal grunted then disappeared down the hall. They ate in silence as they waited for the detective to come back. Everett was tense, as if his admission had opened a can of worms.
He got up and made another bowl just as Mal returned to the kitchen. He was pale but food would help that. He sat in the seat Everett had vacated and waited until the bowl landed in front of him.
When Everett pulled his arm around his head, Mal grabbed his wrist gently. He pulled it to his mouth and tenderly bit the inside of it. Everett stared at him, emotions turbulent in his eyes. He tugged on his wrist, pulling it back when Mal released him.
"You know you can never challenge for Alpha?" Donovan asked.
"I've never wanted to be an Alpha. I can be a second or even a third," Mal replied. He dipped his spoon in the chili and took several bites. "What have you found?"
"Astra said a new wolf wandered into her diner, but she never introduced herself," Carver answered. "A lone wolf is one thing, but a female?"
"I've put in some calls to several Alphas near us. They're looking to see if they had any attacks in recent days," Donovan said. He smiled at Everett when he noticed his confused look. "New wolves have a distinct smell. Their bodies haven't developed their changed scent yet, so they still smell a tad human. We can always tell who's brand new versus who's a few months old. This wolf is a month or so old."
"Mall said you took some of the young ones hunting last night and someone was hurt," Everett said. Donovan nodded. "Is everyone okay?"
"They're fine, but he wasn't on that hunt. It was his month to stay back," Carver said. He looked between the two as they stared at each other. "You didn't tell him we can't go at the same time?"
Mal shook his head. Everett's nostrils flared before he tossed his bowl in the sink and stormed out. Several seconds later the bedroom door slammed.
The wolf rubbed his face when silence overtook the kitchen. There was still a lot he hadn't told Everett. Not because he didn't want to, but because Donovan hadn't given him permission.
Werewolf politics weren't conducive to same sex relationships. Male werewolves were supposed to be with women, and female werewolves were supposed to be with men. Even though the world had changed, this part of the supernatural world hadn't.
A year or so ago, Ezra had tried to set Mal up with a nice female werewolf. She'd been a nice girl with clear green eyes and blond hair. Mal had enjoyed being with her, but there had been no romantic emotions.
When she'd asked him how he felt about pursuing their relationship further, he had let her down easy. He had told her that his interests didn't lie with the opposite sex. She had understood and had bowed out gracefully, which Mal had been thankful for. She also hadn't said anything to any of the other males in their pack. The only ones who really needed to know were sitting at the table. Add Astra to the mix and they were all set.
Then he'd met Everett, and his emotions ran high as well as his libido. He had to do whatever he could to keep that man safe. Sometimes he had to hide information because it was too sensitive for him. If keeping him in the dark to protect him was the way he kept him safe, Mal would do whatever he could.
They heard the door open again. Everett came back with his laptop and a book. He set the computer down then opened the book and set it down facing them.
"The best decision Eliza and I made was to make everything cash only. It's easier to deposit cash than receipt stubs. I can make sure every transaction is accurate," he said.
He clicked on something then flipped the screen around. "Someone tried to pay his tab with a card. It would be understandable if he was a new patron, but that's Edgar Stiller. He knows we're cash only."
Then he grabbed the ledger and pointed to the numbers. "Last night we maxed out at thirty-five thousand in booze sales, had a hungred ninety-five in cover charges, and three thousand in booking. From ten to midnight we had a party. The rest of the night - twelve-thirty to four - we were operating at full capacity."
"At your booking, was it by someone you know?" Ezra asked. "Do you still have the check or receipt?"
Everett smiled. "I keep everything. It was for a bridal party. I have a few dancers who make extra money performing at them. Any bookings are paid a month in advance and by check."
Mal looked at the camera footage. He hit the spacebar and turned it around. He pointed at a non-descript man, but when he turned, his eyes glowed on camera.
"Do you recognize him?" he asked.
Donovan took a picture of the screen. "I do not. If there's a female, there would naturally be a male. No male in his right mind would let a female travel alone into someone else's territory."
"Why?" Everett asked. "Your females are just as strong as your males. I watched Astra launch Domino a few weeks ago."
Carver couldn't cover his smile. "Why would they be at Club Tails?"
The human shrugged. "I needed some muscle. And Astra volunteered. Domino just happened to be there. She paid for the thirty bottles of booze she broke when she choke-slammed him on the bar."
The Alpha couldn't hide his laugh. "I'll make sure she gets reimbursed."
"Women belong to the Alpha as long as they're unmated. Consider it a Sultan with his harem of sorts," Ezra explained. "Most of the time they're just there to make sure they don't get hurt. Otherwise some male who thinks he's a ladies' man will try to take advantage of them and start a fight he will lose."
"How many are under you?" Everett couldn't help the question that spewed out. His curiosity was at its peak. This was the most he was getting to learn in several months.
"There are six unmated right now." Donovan looked contemplative. "If you want, I can let you meet them. You know one, Astra. She's one of my closest friends."
Mal watched Everett's shoulders droop in reprieve. The more the Alpha spoke, the more the human settled around the four werewolves. Sometimes their presence could be overbearing, but with Donovan present, he was able to sooth the raging testosterone that always accompanied them.
Donovan leaned forward. He took Everett's jaw and turned his face from side to side. Mal watched the violet eyes intently for signs of distress, but all he saw was curiosity. Sometimes he wondered if the young man had any sense to be scared.
"I have no problems with your relationship, and I'll even make sure you're protected as long as you're with Malcolm. But you can't say anything about what you know. I've worked hard to make sure everyone is safe," he said. "But there are two things you have to do. You have to take care of Malcolm. And you have to stop stealing from people."
Everett looked so shocked all four men laughed. Mal had known that Donovan was aware of the young man's extracurricular activities. He just hadn't said anything because no one had been hurt. But now something was threatening the pack by killing people outside of it. Donovan couldn't have that, so he had to be firm with everyone associated with his people.
It took a minute, but the young man nodded. "OKay. There's a lot going on anyway. And it's not as fun if you know about it."
"Good. I figured you were a good kid. From what Malcolm has told me, you get bored easily." The Alpha paused. "Maybe you should accompany Malcolm for the time being. It'll keep you out of trouble and ease his tension."
Everett didn't confirm it, but Male would convince him to go with him. He wasn't going to allow him to be alone. He could say what he wanted, but he wasn't going to let him stay by himself.
With a few more photos and copies of the club's ledgers, the other three left. Mal cleaned up dinner as Everett went to turn over some laundry. The younger man was still irritated with the werewolf.
When he was done, Mal turned off the tlights and headed to the bedroom. He stopped in the doorway and looked at the man in his bed. Everett was on the right side with his laptop on his knees. Despite his club momentarily being shut down, he still had other things he could work on.
He glanced up, glasses catching the dim light of the screen. When he looked back down, he shut down the computer and set it aside. Mal crossed the room and slid in the bed, putting his head in Everett's lap. The young man sighed and rubbed his head gently.
"Sorry," the werewolf apologized. "Donovan hadn't given me permission to tell you anything. My world isn't really conducive to same-sex relationships."
Mal wrapped his arms around the man's waist, holding on for dear life. He kissed the taut abdomen, trailed his mouth up the sculpted chest, nibbled on the jaw, then sealed their mouths together. Everett responded, knees coming up as he cradled Mal with his body.
He would bring up going to work with him in the morning. Right now, he needed to make things right with his lover. If Everett wanted him, by hell he'd have him.