Page 24 of Last But Not Leashed

“Come on, Dale. You can’t tell me you’ve never wanted to develop a cool ability. How about shooting lightning out of your hands? That’d be so fitting for you.”

“I hate you, Allison.”

“I thought you hated Helen.”

“Now I hate you, too.”

“Don’t lie, Dale. You like us all, but you’re too shy to admit it.”

I sighed. No matter what I said, she’d find some way to win. Surrender would limit the torture, although I expected the pack would enjoy ganging up on me and pushing my buttons because they could. “Sure, Allison. I’m too shy. And no, I really don’t want to fart rainbows or lightning.”

“I didn’t say you needed to fart lightning. I’m not that cruel. Shooting it out of your hands is good enough. But seriously? What about the lightning?”

“No.”

“That’s just shocking.”

Like a twig under foot, I snapped, shifted to my hybrid form, and roared.

Allison cackled her laughter and ran.

Chapter Seven

The pack sided with Allison, and they worked together to keep me from mopping the floor with our alpha. A pair of human shoes named Jerome and Clyde restrained me, although I had several other annoying lycanthropes hanging onto my back. Of my living shackles, Clyde enjoyed his job the most, laughing whenever I tried to kick him off. Jerome cursed me for refusing to obey him, and all of his orders boiled down to leaving Allison alone.

When she left me alone, I’d leave her alone, and she refused to stop laughing at me. “Allison!” I howled.

“Could you please stop taunting the cranky hybrid?” Jerome complained. “Holding him back isn’t easy, babe.”

“You both need the exercise. Don’t be a baby. I’m helping. We’re learning a lot about Dale’s hybrid form. He’s got to be dragging around a thousand pounds trying to get a hold of me, and he’s been at it for half an hour. He’s strong and has good endurance. That’s worth the bounty price before considering how pretty he is. Look at him, Jerome. He’s beautiful.”

“Stop flirting with Ethel’s future mate. I’m starting to think you have a death wish.”

Allison walked backwards, keeping just out of my reach. I swiped a claw at her, and Helen joined the fray, dangling off my arm. Since biting her would earn me a beating I’d never forget, I showed her my teeth and breathed in her face.

She dropped off my arm and backpedaled, clapping her hands over her nose and mouth. “Fuck, your breath!”

“And he has weapon-grade morning breath,” Allison added. “That’s a potential plus on the bounty front.”

“You really have a death wish, don’t you?” Jerome growled at his mate.

“I already told you I just wanted to see what we have to work with. He’s even better than I thought. If I had a death wish, I’d contact the bounty—”

“No,” the entire pack chorused.

I halted to catch my breath, considering how to rid myself of my living attachments so I could mop the floor with Allison. Considering the idea of turning myself in for the bounty put me in the same looney bin as my alpha, but it had some merit. With a little preparation and some supplies, I could make a few elementary runes to help me escape if needed. Practitioner tricks were taught to most CDC contractors and employees, although I’d limited my knowledge to the basics.

After I finished mopping the floor with Allison, I’d reevaluate my stance on practitioners and their magic. A few extra tricks up my sleeve couldn’t hurt.

“Allison, so help me, if you give Dale any dumb ideas, I might just let him loose to see what he does with you. Don’t you give Ethel any dumb ideas, either!”

Sometimes, I liked Jerome, but I wouldn’t admit that to him.

“What dumb ideas?” Ethel demanded.

I straightened, pricking my ears forward at the sound of her voice. Allison took advantage of the opportunity to hide behind the one woman who’d held my attention for years.

“I was thinking we could get Dale to lure out the bounty holder,” Allison replied with an unrepentant grin. “I think it’s a great idea. Once the bounty is gone, you can live happily mated with Dale.”