Page 4 of Pooch Planet

Chapter Two

Benji tossed back the rest of his grain-free beer then banged the heavy glass mug on the counter of the bar. He loved hanging out with his best friend Shep at the Bone & Tail after work, but lately, he hadn’t loved much of anything.

Not when there’s a strange killer on the loose.

Shep jostled him with his elbow. “Why the long face, buddy?”

Benji frowned at his friend. “Oh, I don’t know. Yesterday’s murder in the village square?” He clutched the empty mug between his hands. “That poor poodle never stood a chance.”

Benji shivered. The tufts of red-stained fur scattered about the streets would stay seared in his memory for the rest of his life.

Shep ducked his head. “Sorry. I’ve just been trying to forget about that for tonight. I can’t sleep as it is.”

Benji patted his friend’s shoulder. “I understand. I didn’t mean to bark at you like that. I just wish the G-Force troops would show up already.” He drew his eyebrows together. “After yesterday, we’re up to five murders, and the killings aren’t only in Mutt Town anymore. Now, they’re in our backyard.”

Shep nodded. “It creeps me out. I mean, what do you think it could be? All the witnesses say that thing swoops down out of the trees, but there was also that one killing on the highway between the highland hunting grounds and the village. With that one, the victim’s pal saw a tall, black blur just whoosh by, then boom, it was like his friend just disappeared.”

Benji’s stomach roiled. “Until they found what was left of that Labrador in the woods.”

Shep rubbed the back of his neck. “I dunno. It makes it worse somehow I think, because the attacks only happen at night,.”

Benji gave him the side-eye. “Yeah. Doubly so because I got stuck with the emergency patrol’s graveyard shift.”

Shep frowned. “Don’t call it that. I’m freaked out enough as it is.”

Benji grunted. “You’re freaked out. Trust me, I wasn’t the one who called it that. Jojo did when he drew up the shift assignments.”

Shep rumbled out a growl. “That damn pug has had it in for you since we were pups in training. I mean, who the Hades assigns a Chiweenie to patrol the village on the most dangerous shift?”

“Hey!” Benji huffed. “I’m not helpless, you know. And I might be…concerned about my safety, but I’m not a coward.”

Shep held up his palms as if in apology. “I didn’t mean anything derogatory by that. But a terrier, like a Jack Russell maybe, might be a better choice. Not because they’re any braver.” He rolled his eyes. “Scotty will roll over and show you his belly if you sneeze too loud.”

Benji snorted. “I doubt submission will save him when it comes to this thing.”

Shep sighed. “Yeah. No kidding.” He glanced over at Benji again. “And I’m really sorry about what I said. As a Chihuahua, I know what it’s like to be short and scrawny in my human form.”

Benji slapped a hand to his forehead. “Seriously? Did you just call me scrawny?”

“In a good way, pooch. A good way.” He shrugged. “You know, cute and stuff. Like a lot of the Alphas dig.”

Benji shook his head then held up his pointer finger to catch the bartender’s attention. He had the night off before he started on his new patrol duty, and he planned to enjoy it as much as possible. Given the current situation, he’d been called to serve in the Pooch Reserves and wasn’t required to go to his regular job at the kibble factory until it was deemed safe again. He could nap all day if he wanted.

“Ooh…” Shep shoved an elbow in Benji’s ribs. “Speaking of Alphas. Here comes Butch.”

Benji tried not to groan out loud then peered over his shoulder. At this rate, he was going to need a dozen beers.

Maybe not. Best to keep my wits about me around this horndog.

Benji quickly faced forward again. The last thing he needed to do was catch the Min Pin’s eye.

“He’s all yours.”

Shep leaned close and whispered, “But what if he’s your chosen mate? You should go hang out with him and see if he triggers your first heat.”

“No thanks.”

He’d been avoiding the Alpha for that reason. He’d rather go the rest of his life without a litter then be bonded to that jerk. Butch had always been the controlling type, throwing his Alpha status around as if he’d invented the title.