Mace let himself into the gallery. The opening was in full swing and the place was full of people. Mace was pleased for his three friends, Sin, Gabriel and Ben, but if he was honest with himself he would far rather be at home with a stiff whiskey and some peace and quiet. He’d had a rough day, and that last boy…yeah, he wasn’t going to dwell on it, but something tugged at him as he left the little ragamuffin in the cells. He needed time to try and work out why he felt so uncomfortable. But, Mace was an honorary pack member, and he had promised to attend the gallery opening and he wasn’t the type of man to dishonor his promises. Maybe he could just give his best wishes to Ben and the others, have a quick drink and head off home.
He saw Ben talking to a couple of people over by the painting he had asked to buy. Sin had told him quite bluntly that it wasn’t for sale, but Mace had been compelled to ask. There was something almost surreal about looking at a painting of animals in the woods, knowing that they held a human form as well. Mace had been enchanted by the idea of the true mate concept that shifters believed in – although for him the shifter would have to be female. He might run his eye over the Stockton pack’s naked bodies when he went on pack runs with them, but that was nothing more than an appreciation of muscular beauty. He preferred his bed partners to have softer bits.
There was quite a crowd, and it took a bit of time but Mace finally stood by Ben’s side. The couple were trying to convince Ben to sell and were being quite persistent about it. Ben was trying just as hard to be polite but it was clear he was getting a bit flustered. Mace tapped Ben’s arm to get his attention, figuring the young man would appreciate being saved, and sure enough, Ben made his excuses and stepped away, leaving the couple in front of the picture.
“Thank you,” Ben said quietly. “I swear some people don’t understand that no means no.”
“I know what you mean,” Mace said ruefully. Unfortunately, as a detective he often came across people who didn’t understand the concept of no.
Ben smiled as if he understood and then wrinkled his nose. He leaned a little closer and sniffed. “Why do you smell like wolf?” He said in a hurried whisper. “Please tell me you haven’t arrested a shifter?”
“A shifter?” Mace thought of the only man he had wrestled with earlier that day. A small, young looking homeless guy who’d been accused of shoplifting. It wasn’t usually the sort of thing Mace dealt with, but he was in the area and no one else was handy. He took the young guy in, tried to interview him but the poor bloke was so scared, Mace put him in the cells for the night. He hated the thought of leaving the boy there, and made sure that no one was to touch him or worse, be put in with him, but at the time he felt he didn’t have any choice.
“You smell of shifter and it’s not pack,” Ben said urgently. “Is this person in the cells?”
“Well, yes,” Mace said, rubbing his chest that was suddenly feeling really tight and uncomfortable. “It was the best place for him. He’s homeless, small and looked like he could do with a decent meal. I was going to let him out in the morning.”
“You have to get him out tonight,” Ben said, looking around for Shane and Dimitri who were off standing in a corner watching the proceedings, rather than participating. Mace felt Ben grab his arm and drag him over to the two men who worked with him and who were also, technically his Alphas.
“Mace has a shifter in the cells,” Ben said as soon as they reached the two men. Wow, way to make Mace feel like the bad guy here. He hurried to defend himself.
“The guy was accused of shoplifting, he’s homeless and looked like he could do with a meal and a place to sleep for the night. I was going to let him out tomorrow after I’d interviewed him.”
“You can’t leave a shifter in the cells,” Dimitri said, leaning forward and sniffing Mace’s clothes. “He’s not one of ours, not a relative or anything, but definitely wolf. Mace, shifters don’t do well in captivity at all. Locking him up like that could send his wolf into a frenzy, or drive him mad.”
“It’s only for the night,” Mace protested but even as the words left his mouth he had a really strong urge to go back and spring the guy.
“If this guy is down on his luck like you say he is, then he could be dead by morning,” Shane said stepping close. “He could end up shifting in the cells if he’s scared, and anyone in the precinct will shoot first and ask questions later.”
“Fuck,” Mace swore. “You guys should come with some sort of warning system you know. Some kind of tattoo or scar or something so those of us in the know can watch out for it. How was I supposed to know?”
“You weren’t,” Dimitri said, putting down his glass of bubbly and taking Shane’s hand. “But come on, let’s go get him out and see what his story is. If he’s in as dire straits as you claim he is, then he may need our help.”
“Sorry Ben. Great opening night,” Mace said clapping the man in question on the shoulder as he hurried towards the door. Ben just waved him off and went off to stand with his own mates. Not that Mace cared. Suddenly the poor little man he’d left in the cells consumed his every thought. He knew he shouldn’t have left the young one on his own, and he kicked himself for not going with his instincts.