Page 33 of Pooch Planet

Chapter Twelve

“Guano.” Antoine scowled in disgust at the copious amount of bat droppings lining the floor of the mountain cavern. “This is what I flew up here for? A pile of shit?” He growled. “How do you even know this is demon poo?”

Tully scratched his head. “It just seems like an awful lot of crap when there isn’t a sign of any other bats.” He leaned over, examining one particularly large mound, his eyes glowing red with his night vision. “And those doo-doos are rather large for a regular bat.” He straightened. “And fresh, too.”

Antoine scrubbed his face with both hands. “Don’t tell me how you know that. I’ll trust your assessment.” Antoine let his gaze wander around the large, open space. He couldn’t detect another hole leading deeper into the mountain. “Which then begs the question, where is the creature that produced this shit?” He shook his head in frustration. “It’s still daytime.”

Tully shrugged. “That’s why I had you fly up here, sir. We’ve been searching and searching for any other hidden passageways or other explanations for why the demon isn’t here.”

Antoine punched the palm of his hand as the truth hit him right between the eyes. “I know why. That bastard is taking a dump in here right before dawn to throw us off his scent, then holing up somewhere else.”

Tully grunted. “Yeah, it is rather pungent in here.”

Antoine chose to ignore Tully’s remark. “Which means, it’s not anywhere nearby. If I were to guess, I’d say that thing has found someplace near the village where it can swoop in and attack with ease. It undoubtedly set this trap so our search would remain focused far away from where it sleeps during the day.”

Tully sighed. “Should I pull back the soldiers searching along this cliff face?”

“All but a few—in case I’m wrong. Send the rest back to camp, then we’ll regroup. We still have an hour or so of daylight left.”

“Yes, sir. But…we’ve combed through the woods in that entire area, checked everything that might be a possibility, and there’s nothing. Nowhere for it to hide.”

Antoine ran a hand over the top of his head. “We’ve missed something. I’m sure of it.”

But where?

* * * *

Benji sat in his old chair that was now located in its new home with Shep. He absent-mindedly rubbed his abdomen, his heart filled with the joy of impending fatherhood. It was true. He was carrying a litter. Even if the doctor said there were probably only two pups—maybe three—he would soon have a litter of his own.

But the best part of the day so far was when he’d shared the great news with Antoine. Nothing about Antoine’s ecstatic response could’ve been faked. His Alpha really was excited to start a family with him.

Shep burst through the front door with the bag of nausea medicine he’d retrieved for Benji from the market in the village square.

“Got your stuff!” Shep held up the bag then dropped it on Benji’s lap as he made his way to the tiny kitchen. The layout of Shep’s place was identical to Benji’s, but since he lived across the road, the floorplan was flipped around. All the factory worker’s houses were the same.

“You want some water, or something stronger?”

Benji let out a sigh. “No alcohol or energy brew for me, remember?”

Shep screwed his eyes shut and smacked his forehead. “Right, right. Duh.” He shook his head with a chuckle. “Man, I can’t believe my buddy got himself knocked up.”

“That’s horrible!” Benji spat out. “Why would you say such a thing?” Benji covered his belly as if cradling his unborn pups. “These are my children who were fathered by my mate. Not the result of some dumpster hump behind the Bone & Tail. Apologize. Right now.”

Shep’s features fell and his shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry, don’t be mad. I know I blurt stuff out I shouldn’t.” He took a peek at Benji before lowering his eyes again. “I’m a bad, bad boy.”

Benji smirked. “Apology accepted. And I know I’m overly sensitive right now, too. But you still shouldn’t be saying such things.”

Shep nodded, raising his head. “Thanks, Benji. You know I never want to hurt your feelings, ever. Right?”

“I do. Just watch your blabby mouth, okay?”

“I will, I promise.” He scratched behind his ear. “I guess I’m also feeling kinda sad that we’re all grown up now. You know, doing big boy things.”

Benji snorted. “I don’t know where you’ve been, Shep. But we’ve been doing big boy things for a while.”

Shep wrinkled his nose. “Not the big boy thing I wish I was doing. Going to work, having my own home and paying the bills just doesn’t hold the same thrill.”

Benji grinned as thoughts of Antoine’s hands and lips roaming his body invaded his mind. “Yeah, trust me. It doesn’t.”