Chapter 16

 

Jed

 

THREE WEEKS later, and they’d finally finished setting up the new camp. There were tents for shelter, outhouses far enough away to not make the wolves gag, and a tarp-covered space for the kitchens. It wasn’t pretty, but it kept the rain off while cooking, and that had turned out to be goddamn crucial. All in all, everyone had a place to eat, sleep, and shit, so that had to count for something.

Whatever the fuck Jed had thought about how hard planning a goddamn vacation was, getting a couple hundred furry-assed wolves packed up and moved cross-country? Yeah, that was some serious shit. Fuck knew how Jed had managed to get enough trucks there with a day’s notice, but once the hunters had found the camp, they’d had days, not weeks, to get their asses in gear.

And the travel had been the fun part. Actually setting up camp had been a fucking nightmare.

It’d rained for a week straight, turning their carefully picked clearing into mud soup. Setting up any kind of semipermanent structures had turned into a dirty, dangerous job. More than one person had gotten injured by shit sliding where it wasn’t supposed to, falling when no one could catch it, and plain bad luck. When the sun had finally broken through, Jed had thought he’d never seen anything better.

Redford had helped him set up a training program for any of the wolves who wanted to learn how to fight. They had regular patrols and what was shaping up to be a pretty decent militia, even if half of them didn’t want anything to do with guns. The Gray Lady had named Jed an honorary pack member, which as far as Jed could tell meant he had a lifetime membership at the gym, and nobody tried to sniff his ass anymore when he went out walking the perimeter of the camp.

The new camp was set in a valley between two steep mountains, trees crawling over every surface except for the one decently large clearing Jed had found on the map. It had everything they needed: a water source from a nearby lake instead of the river they were used to, and thickly wooded areas at the north and south of them with more than enough territory for hunting.

It hadn’t been easy. They were low on food, the hunting parties were still learning the lay of the land, and it’d be weeks before any of the newly planted crops were able to be harvested. Instead of nice cabins, there were tents and plywood buildings. The kids had school around one of the campfires, and the adults got their meals at the communal space, a tarp thrown over several tall posts to make some kind of half-assed shelter. But everyone had survived the trip, and, in three weeks, they’d seen no sign of the hunters.

In short, Jed was putting this one in the win column.

Shotgun slung over one shoulder, Jed tramped back from the woods. He’d been doing an inspection of the sentry points and was pretty pleased with the design Redford had instituted. They’d taken their cue from deer hunting blinds, set high up in trees and camouflaged, practically invisible to anyone below. They were watching all possible entry points, and Jed was determined that when he and Redford went back home, the wolves wouldn’t have one damn excuse for being taken by surprise. Effective, and also hilarious to hear wolves bitch about how they didn’t belong in trees. Jed had taken to calling them Fur Pigeons.

Knievel was trotting next to him, tail in the air, chirping happily at the wolves they passed. When they spotted Redford across the way, the cat took off like a streak of fur, only to stop short and begin aggressively grooming herself just shy of Redford, like she didn’t even notice him. Jed had no such illusions of aloofness. With a grin, he covered the distance between them in a few long strides and grabbed Redford for a long kiss. “Hey, babe,” he murmured, wrapping one arm around Redford. “I missed you.”

“Jed, you’ve been gone two hours,” Redford pointed out practically. But he was smiling, and that was what counted.

“A very long two hours,” Jed insisted, eyes wide with pretend earnestness. “The longest. I practically wasted away.”

“Of missing me, or of hunger?” At Redford’s question, Jed braced himself. In the past few weeks, Redford had gotten it into his head that Jed didn’t eat enough, and three times a day Redford now appeared, seemingly out of nowhere sometimes, just to shove a meal at Jed. “Because you skipped lunch.”

“I was working!” Jed protested. “It was very important.”

“So is food.” Redford frowned at him, taking Jed by the arm and leading him to one of the campfires. There was no big bonfire in this new place, but a series of smaller ones that would be less visible from a distance. Redford leaned down and picked up a tray just in time to save it from Knievel’s paws. “One of the hunting parties had some good luck today, so there’s plenty for everyone.”

Settling down onto a bench, Jed’s first priority was serving a good chunk of the unidentified meat on his plate to Knievel. She immediately dragged it a short distance away, gnawing on it, tail swishing contentedly. Jed then tugged Redford down to sit on his lap, ignoring the rest of the meal for a moment in favor of kissing Redford’s shoulder. “So, how did the training session go? Anything interesting happen while I was chasing Fur Pigeons up trees?”

Redford snorted. “They had a fifteen minute long discussion, trying to come up with a good name for themselves to avoid letting you have the honor. Some of them aren’t happy with the idea of using anything but their teeth, but they’re getting there. I just keep emphasizing that it’s good to be prepared in any form.”

“And they have an excellent teacher,” Jed informed him. Absently, he took a bite of the food, raising his eyebrows. “This isn’t half bad. What’d we catch this time?”

“Mule deer, they said.” Redford leaned back against Jed then, getting comfortable. “They all looked really happy about it. They also said they saw mountain lions, but they wouldn’t eat them.”

“That’s ’cause they know cats are superior. Isn’t that right, ’Nievel?” Knievel, for her part, had rolled over and was now vigorously attempting to catch her own foot, which was kicking hyperactively, seemingly independently of her body. Jed paused. “Okay, maybe not.”

Redford laughed lowly. “Hey, you haven’t seen the hunting party get bored and chase their own tails.”

It was simple out here. Sure, hard to get to, and Jed was desperately missing television and a really good beer, takeout food or going down to the gym for a game of basketball. But there was something kind of nice about eating food that people he knew had gone out to hunt hours ago. That his whole day was Redford and training and watching the stars at night. Jed would be happy to go home, but he’d admit, part of him wouldn’t mind staying.

There was a thump next to him, and Jed didn’t even need to look over to know it was Edwin. The kid was ridiculously easy to spot when he wasn’t trying to be stealthy. He approached everything like it was some game he was thrilled to be playing. Edwin was also pretty decent at the whole sentry thing that Jed had been working on with the wolves. He had a good nose and wasn’t afraid to follow it.

He also refused to use a gun. Oh, he’d tried. He’d even approached Jed asking to be taught. But after an hour shooting makeshift targets, Edwin had handed Jed the pistol and declared it too noisy before running off to do whatever the fuck he did during the day. Chase butterflies or wash his clothes with talking birds or whatever. Jed would give him this, though—Edwin was goddamn lethal in wolf form.

“Do you like the deer?” Edwin asked, flashing them both a grin. “I got to take it down. It was awesome. We tracked this herd for miles. Normally only the older wolves actually do the kill, out of respect for the animal, but this time they let me and then we gave honor to it and I got to say the blessing and it was awesome.” He was practically wiggling in excitement. “Redford, you should come next time!”

“I’m not really much of a hunter,” Redford mumbled, embarrassed. “I’d prefer to do the cooking. I’m much better at that.”

And there was another thing that was going well—Redford hadn’t had an “episode” for the last three weeks. He hadn’t been overcome by the instincts or lost himself. A few times he’d looked like he’d come close, but every time he’d forced himself to breathe slowly and beat back the yellow in his eyes. He’d also become more comfortable around every aspect of the pack. He still wasn’t running around on all fours at the drop of a hat, but he seemed a bit more willing to participate in some of the pack dynamics, and Jed was trying his damnedest to be supportive.

“You could come anyway,” Edwin assured him. “Randall isn’t that great either, but he came last time. I think he just wanted to be helpful.”

Or get out of the camp, Jed figured. Jed wasn’t exactly Oprah, and God knew he really didn’t care, but even a blind eunuch could have figured out that Randall and Victor had gone through some kind of pissing match. Which, oddly enough, hadn’t stopped Victor from coming with the pack.

Yeah, Jed didn’t get that either. A week after they’d arrived, Victor had come huffing and puffing into camp. He’d driven the damn rattletrap van as close as he could and hidden it in the woods only to make the hour-long ascent up to the camp. Hell, Jed was just impressed he hadn’t passed out or died. Victor didn’t strike him as the hiking type.

But since Victor had arrived, Randall hadn’t said two words to him. Which was probably weird, but honestly, at least now Jed only had to deal with one nerd at a time. Victor had thrown himself into helping set up the school and was, at that moment, surrounded by a bunch of kids, half of them in wolf form, teaching them the history of their people around the campfire. It had been funnier when Victor had looked terrified of anyone younger than twenty-five. Now he was actually smiling—if a bit awkwardly—at the kids. Weird.

“Randall isn’t that great at what?” Randall had appeared, pausing to give Knievel a scratch just in front of her tail. “My ears are burning.”

“Hunting,” Edwin replied, flopping down on the ground to stick his nose in Knievel’s face. The cat touched her nose to his and then rubbed her cheek against his jaw. “Red was just saying he wasn’t good enough to go with the party next time, but you went!”

“Yes, well, it was educational to be sure,” Randall replied dryly, taking a careful seat next to them. “I think I’ll stick to helping out here in the future.”

Anthony was incredibly involved in getting everyone settled and helping the sentries train. Edwin was a hunter and learning how to fight. Randall, though… well, there wasn’t much call for the bookish type out here. He didn’t seem to have a place to fit in. Normally Jed would tell him to go do the school thing, but since he very much did not want to know what was going on there, he decided to keep his damn mouth shut.

Redford shifted on Jed’s lap, casting a glance at the still half-full tray and then a frown at Jed with a silent reminder for him to keep eating. “Maybe I’ll try going out with the hunting party tomorrow,” he said, phrasing it more like a question.

Obligingly popping another bite of the meat in his mouth, Jed nodded. “That sounds awesome. I’m going to do a few training exercises I think, see if the Fur Pigeons can spot me sneaking into camp. Going hunting sounds like way more fun than crawling in the dirt for four hours.”

“It probably is.” Redford smiled. “Oh, and Anthony was looking for you earlier. He said he wanted to talk to you, but I don’t know why. I think he’s with Cedric at the moment.”

Nodding, taking one last bite, Jed kissed Redford’s cheek and regretfully dislodged him from his lap. “Duty calls. Want to come with?”

“I promised I’d help clean up after cooking.” Redford didn’t look too happy at the prospect—he’d always hated doing dishes, and Jed had never managed to get the hang of it. Between them, they were just grateful to have a dishwasher in their apartment back home. “I’ll see you after?”

Kissing him, ignoring the exaggerated gagging sounds Edwin was teasing them with, Jed smiled. “I think that’s a plan. Our tent. Tonight. I have plans.” Plans involving driving Redford so out of his mind with pleasure he forgot to try to be quiet so no one would hear them. Tents had thin walls; that wasn’t Jed’s problem.

“It’s the full moon tonight,” Randall pointed out. He’d brought out a book, the same book he’d been carrying around since they’d arrived at the new camp, and was half absorbed in the well-worn pages. “I think you might need to take a rain check. I’ve never been around this many wolves during one before, but I kind of think it’s going to be a little more intense than usual.”

Redford stared at Randall, worry pinching the edges of his expression. “Intense how?”

“Remember the summer solstice when everyone started howling?” Randall glanced up, arching an eyebrow at Redford. “That was probably not even close.”

Redford had gone bright red. “I can’t imagine,” he said faintly, darting a worried, but also fond, look at Jed. “The summer solstice was already, um, crazy.”

Jed just grinned widely back. “Oh man, I am clearing my schedule tomorrow for sure.” Forget his plans. “’Cause I think I’m not going to be able to walk once you get back.” Goddamn, that was a happy prospect. Redford would go out and do his running thing and then come back all naked and blissed out and fuck Jed into the ground. That was definitely the new plan of action.

Snorting quietly, Randall returned to his book. “I need to find earplugs.”

“I’m just going to sleep in the woods tomorrow,” Edwin decided. “You guys are loud.”

“Hey, it’s not my fault you aren’t getting laid,” Jed informed both of them smugly. “My boyfriend is hot as hell, and I refuse to restrain myself.” With that, Jed tugged Redford in for a slow kiss, biting his lip lightly before he headed off to find Anthony.

He found him in the new medical center, which was actually just a single room plywood hut that Cedric had claimed as his own. Anthony was seated with an IV in his arm, staring out the window while Cedric made notes and fussed over a stack of books on the desk. Plopping down on one of those rolling stools, Jed grinned at Anthony, sliding his way across the floor. “What’s going on, fur butt?”

It sucked, that Anthony was sick. More than sucked. A guy like that, full of life, he shouldn’t have to worry about medicine and getting weaker. But crying about it wasn’t going to do a damn thing.

“Hi, Jed.” Anthony sounded tired but pleased to see him. “Have you got a free minute?”

“Well, I did have a pedicure scheduled,” Jed drawled, spinning idly in half circles on the stool. “But hey, I can get my french tips later.”

At least Anthony laughed at his jokes, unlike some people. Jed wasn’t going to name and shame, but, well, Victor. “Okay, I won’t beat around the bush, then. Cedric says it’s too early to tell if his treatment is going to do anything. I wanted to ask you for something.”

Eyebrow rising, Jed stopped fidgeting. “Updated reading material? ’Cause I gotta tell you, as much as I love the one copy of Home & Garden from 1958, it’s getting kind of old.”

Anthony frowned contemplatively. “Was Home & Garden even being published then?”

Jed shrugged. “They had homes back then, kid. And gardens. And words.”

“I don’t know, that’s pretty far back. Did they even have the written language then?” Anthony teased.

“I was not even a glimmer in my father’s eye back then, so for all I know they had fucking dinosaurs.” Laughing, Jed shook his head. “So, what do you want me to get? I’ve got a trip to town scheduled. I can pick up some gossip mags for your secret boy band crush stalking.”

Anthony smiled, but that time he didn’t get distracted. “I wanted to ask you a favor. I know this might sound pretty dramatic, and I’m not asking you to seriously commit to anything. But—” He drew a deep breath. “—if I die, I want to know that there’ll be someone looking out for my brothers. Just checking in on them every once in a while to make sure they’re okay. And I can’t think of anyone better for the job than you.”

Well. That was one good way to get Jed focused. A frown crept over his face, and Jed instinctively shook his head, wanting nothing more than to get up and run. “I’m pretty sure you must be taking the good drugs, then, Rin Tin Tin.” Jed didn’t do family. He’d never been good at it. Redford was… a massive exception to the rule. “I’m not your guy.”

“I’m not asking you to live with them and hold their hand, Jed. Just a phone call every once in a while. Help, if they need it.” Another wolf ability, besides the senses and the glamorous fur coat, must have been the ability to give irritatingly good pleading eyes. Redford had it down, and now Anthony was giving him the same face.

Jaw tight, Jed just shook his head more determinedly. “You want Red,” he grunted, staring somewhere over Anthony’s left shoulder. “Or, fuck, Victor. Anybody but me. I’m not the person someone wants checking up on them. They get in a tight spot, sure, I’m there. But everyday stuff isn’t my thing.”

“I’d ask Victor if I didn’t think Randall would hang up on him,” Anthony said wryly. “And since Randall would, Edwin would. Can I ask both you and Redford, then?”

Leg jiggling, Jed tried to think of a really good excuse. Like he was allergic to hugs or he was pretty sure he turned into a wolf-eating maniac on full moons. A were-man of some sort. In the end, though, Jed just heaved a sigh and nodded. “Fine. Redford does the emotional shit, though.” He nudged Anthony’s shoulder. “Not that this conversation matters. You’re going to be fine.”

Before Jed could protest, Anthony had reached out and gotten an arm around Jed’s shoulder, dragging him into a hug. It was, needless to say, a bit awkward while both of them were sitting down. “Thank you,” Anthony mumbled against Jed’s shoulder. “Really. Thank you. I can’t tell you how much that means to me.”

Patting Anthony’s back, floundering more than a little, Jed cleared his throat. “Yeah, well. Good talk.” Christ, he hated stuff like this. Who just went around hugging people? It was weird. Anthony didn’t even let him go after the allotted two seconds. He just kept hugging him.

After an excruciatingly long time, Anthony said, laughter under his words, “You really hate being hugged, don’t you?”

“I like naked hugging,” Jed grumbled, arms now stiff at his sides, completely unsure what he was supposed to be doing. “That’s the only kind of hugging that counts.”

Anthony scoffed. “Regular hugging is good too. Here, I’ll give you a tip. Lift your arms and put them around me. You will have then successfully hugged me back and I’ll let you go.”

Well, that didn’t sound like a viable option at all. Wincing, Jed held still, hoping Anthony would give up. The bastard just tightened his grip, and Jed swore he could feel him laughing silently. Finally, letting out an exasperated breath, Jed raised his arms and gave Anthony another quick double tap on the back. “There. Fucking hell, you freaking muppet.”

Anthony was a man of his word. He let go and sat back in his chair. “Now, was that so scary?”

Glaring at him, Jed rubbed the back of his neck, feeling as awkward as some teenager after their first date. “Whatever. You need anything else while I’m in here? Should we do each other’s makeup and talk about boys?”

“We totally should.” Anthony was so deadpan Jed found he couldn’t tell if he was being serious or not. His heart sank. Shit. Was this like a Make-A-Wish thing? Did he now have to follow through for the sick guy?

Fuck that. “You come near me with mascara and I will kick your ass, I don’t care how many needles the doc has got in your arm,” Jed grumbled, scowling. “My lashes are perfect. I don’t need a goddamn thing on my face.”

Anthony’s expression split into a grin. “So you’ve spent time thinking about your eyelashes, huh?”

Jed swore he was going to hit him. Jed rolled his eyes heavily, flopping back in his chair. “You are an asshole,” he declared.

“A loveable one,” Anthony corrected. “So, have you got anything planned for this night’s full moon?”

“That’s debatable.” Going back to making lazy circles on the stool, shooting Anthony the required scowls as he turned, Jed shrugged. “Spend as much time with Red as he wants. Sleep. Get fucked into the ground when Red gets back.” A slow smirk spread across Jed’s face. “You know, nothing big.”

Victor would have scowled at him. Hell, most people would have protested that was way too much information. Anthony simply slapped him on the shoulder and said, “Good luck. You’ll need it, especially if Redford is getting more in tune with his instincts.”

The smirk turned into a full-on grin. “Any tips?”

“Eat a lot of carbs and try not to pass out,” Anthony laughed. “Wolves are more energetic than most.”

“I’ve never had a complaint.” Snorting out a laugh, Jed waggled his eyebrows suggestively. “I think I can keep up just fine.”

“I’m sure you can.” Anthony half turned in his chair as Cedric bustled over to do something with the IV in his arm. “Okay, Jed, I’m sure you have something better to do than watch me get treated. But thank you.” Anthony looked up at him again, a teasing light in his eyes. “For a human, you’re pretty good to have as a friend.”

He’d been released from sticking around with the threat of future ninja hugs, but Jed didn’t move. “How’s that going?” he asked, nodding toward the IV. “Better than the smelly paste shit?”

It was Cedric who answered him. “I can’t say there will be any improvement just yet.” He sounded grumpy. Then again, the guy always sounded grumpy.

“But I think I am starting to feel better,” Anthony said optimistically. “Not improved yet, but less worse, if that makes sense. My hands don’t shake as much, at least.”

Nodding, Jed glanced over at Cedric—who, frankly, scared him a little—and rolled his shoulders forward, unsure. “Look, seriously, if you need something… just ask. Supplies or better drugs, some weed, whatever.” That was a good way to show support, right? Besides, pot would totally help with the pain.

“Are you angling for another thankful hug?” Anthony raised an eyebrow at him.

“Please, God, no,” Jed returned, arms folded. “Just, you know. Jesus, don’t give me the goddamn puppy eyes. I’m just saying, okay?”

Anthony’s expression softened. “I know. And thank you, again. I’m not sure weed will ever be on my shopping list, but medicine might be one day.”

Nodding, Jed sat in uncomfortable silence for a few more beats before standing. He felt like something else needed to be said or done, but, at a loss, he wound up sticking out his hand for Anthony to shake. “Good stuff.”

Anthony, the asshole, smirked at his awkwardness. “Have a good full moon, Jed.”

Back out in the main flow of the camp, most of the busy work seemed to have eased. This was the first full moon at the new camp, and it seemed a little bit like the hours before some kind of government holiday. There were people cooking, a few doing some wash by the stream that came off of the lake, but most people seemed too jittery for mundane tasks. Even the kids Victor was teaching were practically vibrating out of their seats, restless and obviously done with whatever Victor was teaching.

Jed wandered over, hands in his pockets, smirking as one of the kids shifted into a plump dark gray wolf and took off toward the woods, howling its little head off. Three more followed him, and just like that, half of Victor’s class was chubby, on four legs, and wrestling with one another in mass chaos while Victor closed his book in resignation and looked like he was trying to figure out if he should stop them biting one another.

“You look like you could use a drink,” Jed informed Victor cheerfully. One of the roly-poly wolf cubs ran straight into Jed’s leg. He stooped down to pick the kid up, carting him under one arm while he took a seat and tugged a flask out of his jacket pocket. Rubbing behind the wolf’s ears, grinning when it nipped at his fingers with a playful growl, Jed tossed the flask toward Victor. “Happy full moon, princess.”

Victor only glanced at the flask before passing it back. “I’ve decided not to drink in excess anymore,” he announced. “But thank you for the offer.”

Well, next thing he’d know the sun would be coming up ass backward and shitting rainbows. Blinking, surprised, Jed took his own drink and put the bottle away. “What’s gotten into you?” he asked, wrestling lightly with the wolf pup, smiling when two others ran over to help. They were rolling on the ground with little growls that shook through their bodies, tails wagging happily while Jed attacked their stomachs with both hands.

“It’s a long story of contemplation that would no doubt bore you to death,” Victor said dryly. “But if my medusa blood is going to kill me someday, chancing liver disease is only adding to my problems.”

“You’re thinking ahead?” Jed smirked, shaking his head and watching as the wolf kids decided that chasing one another around trees was far more fun. They waddled off in a run, and Jed kicked back, watching them play. “Seriously, Vickie, it’s like I hardly know you. What’s going on?”

Victor sighed as he turned to the makeshift table that he’d obviously hauled out for the class, for the sole purpose of bearing ridiculous numbers of books. As he began getting them into order, he replied, “Before the pack moved here, I was told that I exhibited a number of self-destructive behaviors. Though I initially thought it was ridiculous, I’m beginning to see the truth in it.”

“Everybody’s self-destructive,” Jed dismissed, taking another long drink. “Wouldn’t have thought you the type to get your panties in a bunch over something like that.”

“You only think that because you constantly rush headfirst into things that would happily kill you,” Victor pointed out dryly. He paused then, staring at Jed oddly. “Is there something you wanted?”

Yeah, he wasn’t exactly someone who sat down and chatted it up with random people. Especially not Victor. But he’d been surrounded by wolves for a month, and even though he’d be the last damn person to admit it, Jed felt… well, like he was something else. And yeah, he knew, Victor wasn’t human either. But he also wasn’t wolf, so maybe they were something else together.

“Anthony just asked me to look after the furry duo when he kicks it.” Jed absently picked up a stick, drawing patterns in the dirt while Victor packed up his books. “Not really sure what I feel about that. I mean, he’s crazy, obviously, but kinda couldn’t say no.”

Victor made a faint huh noise, obviously surprised. “And are you going to do what he asked?”

“You ever tried to turn down a pleading wolf?” Jed snorted, shaking his head. “Yeah, I guess. I mean, I’d rather the big lug just lived, you know, but I said yes. Redford and I will play mommy and daddy if he can’t.” God, just the thought of it was close to giving Jed a panic attack.

Victor was trying, and failing, to contain an amused smirk. “What an entertaining thought.”

Rolling his eyes, Jed took another drink. He’d have to ration himself—he was running low on his booze supply. “So why doesn’t the nerd talk to you anymore?” Christ, maybe there was something in the water. Jed really didn’t want to know, but there he was, asking anyway.

Then again, Jed had watched Victor and Randall dance big fucking circles around each other for three weeks. Maybe somebody needed to point out that everyone knew they were idiots.

“Because of the aforementioned self-destructive tendencies,” Victor replied, his voice clipped. “It’s something I’m addressing.”

Oh, well, he’d found a nerve. “Wait.” Jed couldn’t help the huge grin. “Are you telling me the virgin blushing geek boy turned you down?” That was hilarious.

“Oh, shut up, Jed,” Victor said witheringly. But there was a hint of a returning smirk on his face. “Besides, he’s not a virgin anymore.”

Pausing, Jed waited for Victor to walk that back. Surely that wasn’t what Victor meant. But oh no, Jed knew that smug look. He’d had that smug look. “You seductive devil.” Jed grinned, raising his flask. “Come on, drink to that, at least. Virgin chaser.”

Victor still refused the flask. “Well, none of it’s any good if he continues to avoid me.” He went right back to looking morose.

“Come on, princess, I know you’ve got some balls hidden under all those perfectly ironed slacks. Go after him.” Smirking, Jed leaned back. “Try a little pursuit for a change. There’s got to be something in those boring books of yours about how to woo, or whatever the fuck nerds call it.”

Victor looked incredulous. “Are you trying to give me relationship advice?”

“Well, I am in one,” Jed pointed out. “And he hardly ever tries to eat me. So yeah. I think I can give you a few pointers.” He winked at Victor. “Don’t worry, professor, no charge for this one.”

“Jed,” Victor said delicately, “I’m not going to say that you’re a slut, but you’ve had more balls in your mouth than the Hungry, Hungry Hippos.”

A beat of silence and then Jed started laughing. Oh, Christ. His stomach actually hurt, how hard he was laughing, head thrown back and eyes watering. “You’re a little bitch,” he told Victor, grinning broadly. “Come on. I’m going to go get some food. Let’s find Red and get dinner before everyone gets all furry.”

Though Victor seemed a bit startled at the offer, he nodded and said, “I should take these books back to my tent first. But I can catch up with you later?”

He and Victor had started to walk, pausing where their paths would split. “Sounds good.” Just as Jed turned away, someone collided full on with him, falling back with a grunt. It was Randall, arms loaded with books and maps, everything going flying as he landed on the ground. His glasses were somewhere in the grass, and he blinked blearily up at Jed, looking dazed.

“Sorry,” Randall automatically apologized, fumbling to find his glasses again. “I wasn’t looking where I was walking.”

“No problem. I wasn’t looking where I was standing.” Jed shot Victor a little encouraging smirk, shoving the man toward Randall. “Here, let us help you.” This was like a fucking love connection. He couldn’t wait to tell Redford. Pack gossip was almost better than soap operas.

Victor dropped his armful of books to go to Randall’s aid. He found Randall’s glasses and picked them up first, holding them out, close enough that Randall would see them. “Here,” he said softly. “Are you all right?”

As soon as he realized who else was with Jed, Randall had flushed, gaze dropping away. “Yes, of course,” Randall answered stiffly, but something in his expression softened slightly as he took his glasses back. “Thank you.”

Victor started gathering Randall’s books for him, wincing at the sight of dirt on one of the covers and doing his best to wipe it off. “You’re sure? That fall looked painful.”

Jed was, honestly, not really helping. He was standing back, giving Victor a huge shit-eating grin from behind Randall every time Victor looked over. Randall seemed flustered, unsure of what to do. His and Victor’s hands kept getting tangled together as they tried to gather his books.

“Yes, well.” Randall shot Victor a quick glance, obviously awkward. “I’m not really that breakable.”

“That’s a relief to hear.” Victor picked up the last fallen book and handed it to Randall. He seemed to handle that tome with more caution than the others, making sure it didn’t have any dirt or creases. Randall looked intensely embarrassed that he had seen that particular one out of the stack, but when Jed craned his head, it didn’t look like porn or anything. Just an old book, one he’d seen Randall carrying before, with a weird title, something about Jeeves. A butler porn book, maybe?

“Thank you,” Randall said again, softer, standing and cradling his armload closer to his chest, the butler porn held closest. “I appreciate the help.”

Victor collected his own books off the ground, clearly unsure what to say. “I hope you have a good full moon,” he wound up going with. Jed could have smacked him. Randall was obviously going to take the out, and then they’d just go back to being awkward.

So he shouldered Victor aside, grinning at Randall. “And by that he means you’re joining us for dinner. Me and Red and Vickie.”

Randall looked a little surprised, eyes darting over to Victor quickly. “I’m not sure—” he started.

“I’d really like if you did,” Victor said in a rush. “We’ll get the food together. All you need to do is show up.”

Clearly hesitant, Randall fidgeted, foot to foot. “I just—”

Jed didn’t give him a chance to say no. “Great.” He beamed, slinging an arm around Victor’s shoulders. “See you in twenty.” And then he guided Victor off, sneaking quick looks behind them to catch Randall staring after them, utterly baffled. He’d show up, though. He was far too polite not to.

“Well, I hope you’re in the mood for an awkward dinner,” Victor sighed.

“Fuck that. Red and I are bailing five minutes after he gets there.” Jed smirked widely. “It’s the full moon. I have it on reliable intel that all the wolves are going to get very frisky. Why don’t you take a little risk?”

“Your attempts to get Randall and I back together are hardly helping,” Victor said crossly. “He’ll spend the full moon with his brothers. If he can’t look at me, I highly doubt he’ll want to rekindle the one-night-long relationship we had.”

Rolling his eyes, Jed gave Victor a little push toward his tent. “So make him want to look at you. Fuck, Victor, I don’t know. But you two acting like the world is your fainting couch is getting old. Do something.”

“What an inspirational speech,” Victor said drolly. “Isn’t all this talk on topics other than guns and explosions making you break out into hives yet?”

“Yes,” Jed grunted. “So consider this the last time we’re ever doing anything remotely like this.”

“Duly noted.” Victor looked like he might be almost smiling. Jackass.

Jed left him to go do his nerd thing and obsessively arrange his books, and went back to the campfires. Redford was busily grilling meat, Edwin already in wolf form and happily gnawing on a chunk of raw something. Venison, probably. Jed sprawled out on one of the logs next to Redford, leaning into his side. “So, Victor and Randall are going to be here for dinner too,” he informed Redford, kissing his cheek. “Hey.”

This close to the full moon, there was a hint of yellow beginning to show in Redford’s eyes. But there was no menace there, no sign that he was anything but fully within his right mind. Redford budged his shoulder against Jed’s in greeting. “You took a while,” he noted, adding some more meat to the fire. “Is Anthony okay?”

There was something wild about Redford now, something just a little more confident in the set of his shoulders, a little more relaxed, like he was learning to be at peace with himself. This was the right thing for him, to be here. Jed might want to go home—and at some point, they’d have to—but right now, this was exactly what Redford needed. Jed could deal with tramping around in mud and being the only human to get to see Redford like this. Eyes darting to Edwin, Jed absently took Redford’s hand. “We’ll talk about it later,” he murmured. Probably shouldn’t discuss Anthony’s big plans in front of Edwin. “But Victor’s an idiot.”

Though Redford looked concerned, he didn’t push the topic about Anthony and focused on the topic of Victor instead. “Over Randall?”

Snorting, Jed hooked his legs over Redford’s lap, curling up closer. He liked this. There was a fire, there was the smell of cooking meat, and Redford. He was pretty damn happy. “Yeah. So we’re going to leave them alone once they get here, and hopefully the wall of stupidity will break.”

Edwin gave a wolfy chuff, something that might have even been a laugh. Clearly he approved as well.

Redford snorted quietly. The meat was well on its way to roasting, and Redford left it alone for a few seconds to focus on Jed, curving a hand over his knee. “I bet neither of them were too happy at that plan.”

“Like I care.” He trailed his lips along Redford’s jaw, happily teasing kisses across Redford’s skin. “They’re annoying.” And he was done talking about them for sure. Edwin grabbed his dinner and took off, leaving them relatively alone. Smart kid.

With a low laugh, Redford turned to catch Jed in a kiss, more demanding than usual. “They are,” Redford agreed. “But they’re friends.”

“Let’s not get carried away.” Jed slid his hand up under Redford’s shirt, fingers sprawling against the warm skin. “Anthony asked us to take care of his brothers if he died. I said okay.” There, now Redford was all caught up. “Should we go to our tent?” he asked hopefully.

Sadly for him, Redford was too busy looking pleased at the news. “You promised Anthony you’d take care of his brothers? That’s really nice of you.”

“I promised we would. We.” That was very important. “And by we, I definitely mean you.”

“You’ll help, if we need to fulfill that promise,” Redford said knowingly. “I know you will.”

“Not a family guy, Red,” Jed reminded him, arching an eyebrow. “Just the man with the weapons.”

“You’re a family guy when it comes to me.” Redford kissed him again, smiling. “Trying to convince yourself you’re an island isn’t going to work much longer.”

“You are different,” Jed murmured against his lips, hooking him in closer. “Two-person island. Two people and a cat. That’s it.”

“I’d be okay with that.” Redford paused in the middle of kissing him. Before Jed could complain, he heard two sets of footsteps approaching—one from the north, one from the west. Victor and Randall. They had terrible timing.

“Five minutes,” Jed insisted. “Then I want you. Got it?”

Victor made a derisive noise. “Can you not talk about your sex life in public? Besides, you won’t have time. It’s getting dark quickly.”

“You would be amazed what I could do in fifteen minutes.” Jed reluctantly pulled back, grabbing a plate from the stack next to Redford.

“That is rather more information than I needed.” Randall approached next, awkwardly, gaze constantly drawn back to Victor despite his best efforts to appear unaffected. “Er. Hello.”

Redford started dishing the meat onto four plates. Jed caught a hint of his expression: somewhere between bemusement and worry for Randall and Victor. “Good evening,” he greeted both of them. “I hope the meat’s done enough for you. This is thicker slabs than I’ve worked with before.”

“It will be fine,” Randall assured quietly. He took a plate and sat, knees hunched almost up to his chest.

“That’s not true, babe,” Jed said, eyes widening. “You are used to way thicker meat than this.” A grin slowly replaced the put-on innocent expression he had as he waited for Redford to get the joke and ignored Victor’s scowl.

“That steak we got from the organic market was not cut nearly as thick as this,” Redford corrected.

Very lightly, Jed took Redford’s hand in his and casually cupped the front of his jeans with their joined fingers. “Much, much thicker,” Jed informed him with a huge smirk.

“Jed!” Redford yanked his hand away, but he was laughing as he did so. “Yes, okay, I get your innuendo now. And you’re completely right—”

Victor made inelegant gagging noises in the background.

“But,” Redford continued, “we can talk about that later.”

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to talk with your big, delicious—”

“Victor, why don’t we take a walk.” Randall had shot straight up, eyes wide, looking at Jed as if he was quite sure he was going to start taking off clothes right then. “Or… go find earplugs.”

“God, yes,” Victor agreed desperately. He yanked two plates away from Redford for himself and Randall. “Anywhere but here.”

Hey, look. His master plan worked. “Go get yours, princess.” Jed was enormously pleased with himself.

Redford just shook his head in exasperation as Randall and Victor took off in a hurry. “Did you plan that?”

“Nope.” Jed shrugged. “But hey, it worked.” Although, watching them, Randall was obviously standing farther away from Victor than people who wanted to fuck should. Definitely not his problem, though. Now it was all on Victor. God help them both.

Redford leaned into Jed’s side again as they started eating. Despite his worry about not cooking the meat right, Redford had done a damn good job—better than Jed ever could. He’d never been able to figure out just how the fuck cooking worked. To his mind, Redford dropped a whole bunch of things in a pot and bam, a gourmet meal. It was pretty much magic.

“Do you want to come to the woods with me?” Redford asked. “Just while I turn. I, um, don’t really know what the instincts will want to do after that. I think I’ll go run for a bit and then I’ll come see you?”

“Sure.” Jed ran his fingers idly through Redford’s hair, sharing bites of the spicy meat between them. “I mean, I’ll run with you if you want, or just wait. Whatever you need.” He still wasn’t quite sure what the right thing to do was, but he was damn sure he was going to let Redford figure it out. If he wanted to go run all fucking night, Jed would keep up the best he could.

A glint of mischief shone in Redford’s eyes. “You don’t need to come running with me. I think you’ll need to save your energy for the morning.”

Now that Jed could agree with. He tugged Redford in for a slow kiss, lightly parting his lips, happy to let Redford take the lead. There was something intensely sexy about Redford’s quiet strength on the average day. Now, this close to the moon, it was completely irresistible.

Redford turned his head to shove his nose against the side of Jed’s throat, inhaling deeply. Words seemed to have lost all importance. Whatever Jed wanted to say, Redford could probably read off of his scent.

The sun was finally beginning to duck the last of itself behind the horizon, and wolves all around them were starting to vanish into the forest. Redford drew back from Jed, his eyes shining fully yellow now. “Sorry, I don’t think we’ll get that fifteen minutes beforehand,” Redford apologized.

Jed just hooked him in for another kiss, hard, hungry. Redford’s teeth nicked his tongue, his hands were demanding, and Jed just submitted to it fully. God, that was hot. “You are so gorgeous,” he murmured. “God, I love you.”

“Me too,” Redford said lowly. He kissed Jed a final time, long and lingering, then reluctantly drew back. “Come on. Otherwise you’ll wind up kissing a muzzle, and that would be really weird.”

“I’d adjust,” Jed teased, taking both of Redford’s hands in his. They walked, wound up in each other, Jed kissing Redford’s neck and shoulders. When they reached the woods, Jed lightly backed Redford up against a tree, smiling at him in the low light, helping him tug his shirt off.

“Sure we don’t have time?” Jed asked in a murmur, sinking to his knees with a wicked leer. “I can be very quick.”

Redford looked torn, but only for the briefest of seconds. Then he launched himself forward, bearing them both to the ground, where he pinned Jed with hands on his chest, ducking down to kiss him hard. “Time enough,” Redford managed. “I can make time.”

“You need to change,” Jed reminded him, even if it had been his suggestion. Even though he was quickly pulling off Redford’s pants, tossing them away, and eagerly wrapping his hand around Redford’s cock. “Don’t want you to hurt yourself.” God, he’d never get over how good it felt to have Redford’s cock in his hands.

“Then if I change in the middle of this, we can both be horrified and try to forget it,” Redford muttered, scowling down at Jed’s pants as he tried to undo them. “But right now, you smell amazing when you’re turned on.”

“Oh, God, don’t change,” Jed half laughed, half moaned. “I don’t even know what I’d do.” He kicked his jeans away, spreading his legs and groaning loudly as their hips arched together. “I’ve been turned on since you growled at me this morning for waking you up too early.”

“I was having really nice dreams,” Redford insisted, biting his way along Jed’s neck. He shifted like he wanted something different, turned around, and without warning promptly took Jed’s cock in his mouth, sucking hard. No patience for foreplay, no slow lead-up, just right to deep-throating.

Jed was not at all ashamed of the volume of the noises he was making. It took him several minutes of lying back on the ground, legs spread, hands digging into the dirt, to even begin to be able to think of anything but the delicious heat of Redford’s mouth, the tight pull of his lips. When he did finally manage to get his brain working, all he could think about was touching Redford.

Grabbing Redford’s hips, he pulled Redford in, arching his head up to take Redford’s dick into his mouth, tongue sliding down the deliciously thick length of him. Muffling his moans, Jed pulled Redford in closer, bobbing his head fast and deep.

Redford’s grip on his thighs was bruising—not keeping him down, just maintaining contact with Jed with a strength he couldn’t think about holding back right then. It was completely and utterly hot as fuck. Jed did his best to keep up, wrapping his arms around Redford’s hips, nails digging into his skin. They were moving together in a symphony of grunts and wet moans. Jed was fairly certain that his lips would be bruised and swollen with how Redford was thrusting down onto him. Not that he cared. Fuck, having his mouth full of Redford was better than just about anything in the world.

It wasn’t long before he felt the telltale signs of Redford close to losing it. He had a pattern, one Jed had eagerly memorized: his grip would tighten, any noises he made would start to have an edge of a growl, and he’d double his effort of whatever he was doing. In this case, he was already close to blowing Jed’s brains out—the extra need behind Redford’s movements just about had him seeing stars. Determined to give Redford an orgasm he’d be shaky from all night, Jed tightened his lips, drawing Redford down farther, letting him use his mouth to push him over the edge.

Redford was the most unselfish partner he’d ever had, something that still surprised Jed sometimes. When Redford came, he didn’t immediately disengage and roll over and wait for Jed to finish himself off. He just muffled his groans around Jed’s cock and worked him harder, determined to make him come as well. It didn’t take much. Gasping, grasping at Redford’s leg, his back, any part of him he could reach, Jed tensed, back arching up off of the ground. He came with a soft cry of Redford’s name, sagging back down, panting heavily.

Holy fucking bouncing baby Jesus.

Only when Jed was starting to get ridiculously oversensitive did Redford back off, looking rather pleased with himself as he twisted to hover on hands and knees over Jed. Jed didn’t lose any time pulling him in for a kiss, long and deep, hands roaming over Redford’s back like he could somehow figure out a way to just sink into him completely. “God, that was good,” he murmured against Redford’s lips. “You’re incredible.”

Redford nuzzled against his neck, giving a contented noise. He’d said a few times that he liked it, right after sex, when Jed would smell like both of them. “We’ve got the morning to look forward to,” he reminded Jed.

“I know.” Jed let his head fall back, exposing the curve of his throat to Redford. It was a thing with wolves, he’d figured out pretty early on. And he liked what it did to Redford. “And you’ve got a whole night of running. It’ll be good.” He just wanted to give Redford something to remember.

“It’ll be even better when I’m with you again.” Redford reluctantly drew back from Jed’s throat and started shedding the few remaining clothes Jed hadn’t gotten around to ripping off. He’d lost some of the fear he’d had about turning, but there was still worry in his eyes—there probably always would be.

Jed just hauled Redford into his arms, sitting there, uncaring that there was a stick under his ass. “Everything’s better when I’m with you,” he agreed, kissing Redford one more time. “Come on, I can hear the rest of the pack running around. I bet Edwin can’t wait to show you something gross he’s sniffed out. I’ll stay with you until you want me to go.”

Redford nodded, tugging Jed in for one last kiss. Jed bit his lip lightly as they pulled back, grinning at him. No one in this whole damn world was half as beautiful as Redford was. Jed would lay down his last dollar on that fact. He sat back as Redford took his jewelry off, carefully handing it to Jed. Redford had theorized yesterday that he doubted he’d be able to completely control the shift on full moons, like the wolves here did, so when Redford tipped his head up to watch the moon, he looked like he was waiting.

When it happened, it wasn’t quite as brutal as Jed had gotten used to seeing. There was still pain, still the awful noise of bones shifting and joints changing direction. It still wasn’t as fluid and smooth as the pack managed. But it was better. It didn’t cripple Redford with agony anymore.

It was still a weird sight, though. Jed wasn’t sure he’d ever completely get used to it.

After he’d gotten his paws under him and looked steady enough, Redford budged his head into Jed’s knee and held out his right foreleg. A week ago, Redford had gotten the idea to put a GPS tracker in his bracelet, just in case Jed ever needed to find him in the middle of the forest. One of the pack, a woman named Emily, was practically going out of her mind without any form of technology. She had been more than happy to take the tracker and turn it into something Redford would be able to wear.

“Be safe,” Jed told Redford, kissing the top of his head. He slipped on the bracelet, making sure it was tight enough but not painful, and gave a good-bye scratch behind Redford’s ear. “I’ll be in our tent.”

Redford got himself up on Jed’s knees to give Jed a long, disgustingly slobbery lick to the side of the face. With a bark that sounded like a laugh, he took off into the forest, mere seconds passing before Jed couldn’t hear him anymore. Wiping off his cheek, Jed remained sitting for a few more minutes, listening to the echoing howls, the sound of wolves running through the undergrowth. Finally, he got himself dressed again and headed back toward the camp. He passed a few of the sentries on his way in, all of them in wolf form, yellow eyes gleaming in the pale light. Everything seemed quiet.

Randall was standing at the edge of the camp, alone, eyes blazing yellow, still unchanged. “You’re out late,” he greeted Jed.

“You’re not furry,” Jed responded. “Have fun with Victor?”

“You’re very lucky I don’t bite you.” Randall showed his teeth, but there was no real threat. “Don’t play matchmaker. You’re terrible at it.”

Anthony, already wolfed out, trotted over to sit next to Randall, looking up at him with an exasperated huff. When he noticed Jed, he was promptly up again, affectionately throwing himself against Jed’s legs. Jed immediately crouched, rubbing both hands on either side of Anthony’s cheeks, behind his ears, laughing when he got a slobbery lick. “Yeah, yeah, you giant fluff ball,” he murmured. To Randall he added, “Don’t worry, sweetheart. That was my one and only interference. I think I got heartburn from caring.”

“I appreciate it,” Randall replied dryly.

“So why aren’t you furry?” A cold nose budged into Jed’s arm, and he turned to find Knievel, her tail swishing, curling herself around Jed’s legs before she nudged her head against the underside of Anthony’s chin. “Even Knievel’s getting in on the party.”

Anthony made a series of noises that sounded even more exasperated, directed at Randall. Randall rolled his eyes. “I’ll be there. I don’t know why you care so much. It’s not as if you have any lack of people to run with tonight.” He looked over at Jed. “I don’t turn just because the moon goes up. I wait until I feel like going out.”

The snort that Anthony blew out showed what he thought of that, but he nonetheless picked himself up—Knievel climbing around to lay over his neck like a scarf—and stared at Randall expectantly. Jed knew that look. Sure enough, Randall gave one glance down at Anthony before blowing out a heavy sigh. “Yes, yes.”

He peeled off his sweater, his pants, making a neat folded pile and placing them on a nearby rock. Jed kept his eyes averted while Randall shifted. Randall nudged his nose against Anthony’s side, tail wagging slightly. Knievel, much to Jed’s surprise, didn’t come back to him as the wolves headed off. She slid off of Anthony and kept pace beside him, streaking off at a run when Randall and Anthony increased their speed. Before Jed could call her back, she was gone.

Jed wanted to run after her. But after a few moments of pacing back and forth, distressed, hollering her name, he was forced to concede that she obviously didn’t want to spend the night in the tent.

He swore to God, if she got eaten, he was going to explode something.

The tent wasn’t nearly as warm or comforting without Redford, but it didn’t take long for Jed to drop off to sleep. He slept soundly, the mountain air good for that, at least. The first loud crash of noise, Jed barely woke for. Rolling over, burying his head under the covers, he drifted back off, only to jerk fully alert at the second report.

Gunfire. Accompanied by a sharp yelp he knew all too well.

Staggering out of the tent, Jed was strapping on his holster, grabbing his shotgun, all before he’d managed to shove his feet into his boots. His heart was hammering, his dog tags and whistle thumping against his chest as he ran. He wore them when Redford shifted. Jed fumbled for the whistle, putting it to his lips and blowing repeatedly.

Wolves were streaming into the camp, chaos mounting. Jed should be organizing them, trying to get a party together. But all he could do was stare at everyone as they passed, desperately searching for a familiar shape.

No more gunfire. That wasn’t a good sign. That meant they’d hit something. Or they were dead, but since there weren’t any triumphant howls, Jed wasn’t betting on that scenario.

Most people couldn’t tell wolves apart when they howled. They all kind of sounded the same, admittedly, but when you lived with a pack for a month, you started to be able to pick out the individual ones. And the howl that had risen from the forest was definitely Redford’s. Without hesitation, Jed plunged into the dark woods, leaping over fallen trees, running full tilt toward the direction of the anguished noise.

He stumbled to a halt, heartbeat throbbing in his ears, spinning around and trying desperately to make out the shadowy shapes. His eyes weren’t good enough for this, and he hadn’t grabbed his flashlight. Stupid. Again he blew the whistle, holding completely still, listening desperately. “Come on, Red,” he begged in barely more than a whisper. “Where are you?”

He waited. An agonizing minute passed by, every beat of his heart sounding like thunder in his ears. Other wolves passed him, none of them Redford. Just when Jed had decided he was going to turn this whole goddamn forest into woodchips, Redford burst out of the undergrowth, obviously frantic. He reared up and slammed two paws on the ground—their code for hunter.

Jed immediately took off, running in the direction everyone else was fleeing from. Shotgun in hand, he darted around trees, crashing through undergrowth, not caring how loud he was being. They sure as fuck better know he was coming. He caught a glimmer of light out of the corner of his eye. Immediately, Jed hit the ground, rolling, coming up to a crouch with the gun braced on his shoulder.

Nothing. He couldn’t see anything. Damn it.

“Need a nose,” he whispered, turning, expecting Redford to be right behind him.

Redford just shook his head. He pointed in the direction Jed had been going, but that head shake meant whoever had fired that gun was long gone, or at least gone long enough that there’d be no point in following them.

Fuck.

They’d come back in the daylight and track them to whatever bolt-hole they’d decided to crawl into. For now, at least, they needed to regroup and reassess. Jed absently wrapped an arm around Redford, pulling him in close. “God, my heart almost stopped when I heard you,” Jed murmured, rubbing his hand absently through Redford’s fur. “Glad you’re okay.”

His hand was wet. Sticky. Jed frowned and turned toward him. “What were you rolling in—” He held up his fingers, only to find them coated in red.

Redford was bleeding.

Jed stopped thinking. A rush in his ears, a roaring, was all he could hear. In one smooth movement, Jed scooped Redford up into his arms, abandoning his shotgun without a second thought, and started running back toward camp. He couldn’t tell how bad it was, how much pain Redford was in, but it didn’t matter. A scratch or something worse, the answer for everything was going to be get him home. So Jed ran.

Stumbling to his knees as he got near one of the fires, Jed set Redford down, shakily running his hands over him, searching for the wound. “I need the doc!” Jed hollered to whoever was nearby. “And a fucking light! Now, let’s go, fucking move.”

He couldn’t be hurt. Redford couldn’t be hurt. Jed simply wasn’t going to let it happen. Someone handed him a flashlight, and Jed quickly switched it on, searching Redford for the source of the blood.

“The doctor’s coming.” Randall was next to him, in human form and dressed again, kneeling down and gently taking the light to aim it for Jed. “What happened?”

“Don’t know. Hunters. Blood.” The words came out of Jed like bullets, worry making it impossible for him to focus on anything else. Christ, what if Redford was dying right here? What if Jed had hurt him while he was running? What if he died? “Please be okay,” he begged Redford lowly. “Okay? Hear me? Be okay.”

Redford nudged against his hand, tail between his legs in a way Jed knew to be guilt, and turned so Jed could see his upper foreleg. That was where the blood was coming from.

Cedric was there a few seconds later, and after a cursory look, he sighed, “All right, Mr. Walker, you can stop tearing your hair out. It’s just a graze.”

Oh, thank fuck. Sagging forward, forehead resting against Redford’s side, Jed took two breaths, just two, to let his heart start beating again. Okay. He was going to be okay. “Does he need stitches?” he asked Cedric, voice muffled by Redford’s fur.

“Just a few,” Cedric assured him, pulling a small kit out of his pocket. Redford laid his head on Jed’s knee, still looking guilty. God knew why. “Can you change back?” That was directed at Redford, but Jed’s answer was sharp and immediate.

“No way. We’ll just, you know. Shave him or something.” Redford’s shifts were painful as it was. Jed didn’t want him to chance one while he was injured. What if that made everything worse? What if he bled out because of all the goddamn muscles and bones moving around? It wasn’t worth the risk.

Redford gave him a mournful look. Cedric, though, just sighed heavily and dug through his kit for a straight-edged razor. “Don’t worry, kid,” Cedric informed Redford gruffly. “I’ve been shaving my own damn face for longer than you’ve been alive. I think I can handle your bit of scruff.”

Jed’s fingers tightened in Redford’s fur. He moved them around so he was holding Redford out on his lap, injured leg carefully supported. “He’s going to be good, Doc, right?”

“I’ve told you, he’s going to be fine. Now shut up and let me work.”

“Okay.” Right. Some fucking bastards had come into their woods, and now Redford was bleeding. Which meant Jed wasn’t waiting until goddamn morning. “Okay,” he said again, voice dropping dangerously. He rubbed behind one of Redford’s ears, leaning in to press a kiss to the top of his muzzle.

Knievel had come slinking back from the woods, and she curled up by Redford, her back to his stomach, and dropped off to sleep. Strangely, that comforted Jed slightly.

He held Redford close while Cedric put the stitches in, ignoring Cedric’s grumbles about damn fool wolves and their damn fool boyfriends. Anthony had arrived at some point, human again, watching everything with a dangerous glint in his eye.

Jed barely realized Anthony was talking. With some effort, he managed to pay attention. “Jed?” Anthony sounded like he was repeating himself. “Was it hunters?”

Dragging a hand across his face, Jed’s jaw tightened. “Yeah.” He glanced up at Anthony. “You feel up to a little playtime? Want to go pay them a visit?”

Anthony smiled grimly. “Absolutely.”

Jed left Redford with Cedric and Randall, the latter looking very much like he wanted to protest. But in the end, he sat silently and watched as Jed and Anthony marched back to Jed’s tent. Jed pulled out his crate of supplies, dug through, and found several carefully packaged blocks of C-4. He’d brought them here special a week ago, intending to try and set up some kind of perimeter. Now, though, they were going to get a whole different use.

It didn’t take Jed long to set up ten charges. He packed them into a bag, gently settling it along his shoulders and grabbing his guns and some extra ammo. “You going to suit up?” he asked Anthony. “Or you going furry? Might need your nose, mine is worthless out there.”

“Depends on what you think is best,” Anthony said. “I’ve got no problems starting out wolf and going naked if I need to shift back to talk.”

“Not anticipating a lot of talking,” Jed replied grimly. He grabbed a flashlight and nodded toward the woods. Fuck, he wished he had his night-vision gear. Or his silencer. Or, hell, any of the gear he’d left back at home. A flashlight was going to give away their position long before Jed wanted it to. And if he was smart, he’d wait until first light, until he had a better chance of taking the bastards by surprise. One look back at the camp, though, at where Redford was lying there, stark white bandage shocking against his fur, had Jed turning toward the forest, jaw tight. Fuck smart. “Let’s go.”

Anthony nodded, and two seconds later he had dropped into wolf form, silently waiting on Jed’s signal. When Jed nodded at him, Anthony put his nose to the ground, presumably following Redford’s scent first, which would lead him to the hunters’ trail.

They arrived at the point where Jed had found Redford in fairly short order, and Anthony only paused for the barest of seconds before taking off toward the east. Jed kept close on his heels, though he was pretty damn sure Anthony was holding back so Jed didn’t get left in the dust. They kept going for another fifteen minutes, until Jed’s lungs felt like they were going to burst. He came crashing to a stop, bracing one arm on a tree and half bent over, heaving in huge breaths.

Fuck. Goddamn wolves.

Even sick, Anthony moved with a grace that Jed just couldn’t match. Jed could see the hesitation in Anthony’s steps from time to time, the way he pulled himself up short, but honestly? If he hadn’t known, he wouldn’t have guessed the kid was slowly dying. He was just so goddamn determined to keep moving, not to let it stop him. Jed didn’t know if he was stupid or brave. Funny, how those two things seemed to overlap.

Anthony stayed close while Jed worked his way through not vomiting. With a jerk of his head, Anthony motioned to just over a small incline where, if Jed squinted hard enough against the darkness, he thought he could see the top of some kind of tent. Jed dug into his bag to pull out the first charge.

“What are you doing?” Anthony shifted back to hiss. “You never mentioned blowing them up.”

“What did you think we were going to do out here?” Jed asked in a near whisper, moving closer to the camp. “Hold hands and sing?”

Anthony grabbed him by the back of his jacket. “Jed,” he said urgently. “You don’t have to kill them. Look at them. They’re not attacking anybody right now.”

“They did.” Jesus fuck, did he have to seriously do a paint by numbers, now? Crouching behind a half-fallen tree, Jed turned back toward Anthony. “And when they get up? They’re going to skip merrily along and do it again. So yeah, Lassie, I’m going to blow their sleeping asses to kingdom come, and then I’m going to go back to the camp that they won’t be attacking anymore and sleep like a goddamn baby.”

“It won’t change anything.” Anthony sounded like he was only just managing to keep his calm. “I’m sorry that Redford got hurt, I understand how angry you are, but killing these men won’t protect the pack. There’ll just be more of them tomorrow.”

“Then I’ll blow them up too.” Jed’s voice rose into something not at all a whisper. “And I’ll keep doing it, because they hurt Red. Get that? They hurt my Redford, and now I’m going to turn them into confetti.”

“No, you’re not,” Anthony said firmly. “We can scare them off. We can send a message that will make them think twice about bringing more hunters in. Killing them obviously isn’t deterring them.”

“Why the hell did you even come?” Scowling, Jed stood, bag over his shoulder. “This isn’t a damn tea party. Go home, kid.”

Anthony promptly yanked him back down. “I came to stop you doing this,” he growled. “We’re not animals, Jed. We were given brains for a reason.”

“What would you do, then?” Jed met Anthony’s eyes, practically vibrating for how much he needed to hurt someone. Something. Punch a goddamn tree, he didn’t care, just something needed to break, because Redford was bleeding. “Sit back and wait for them to pick you off one by one? These bastards only understand one thing, and it isn’t reason.”

“Playing by their rules isn’t going to win this.” Anthony laid a hand over the top of Jed’s bag, curled under the strap. “I would blow up the perimeter of their camp. Scare them away, and once they’re gone, we could look for more information in the camp. We could go higher up the chain of command, which would be a lot more effective.”

But not nearly as satisfying. “You realize,” he growled, holding Anthony’s gaze, “that not one of those fuckers would hesitate even a second in blowing your head off. Or anyone else back at that camp.”

Anthony just smiled. “I know. But that’s why we’re better than them, and that’s why we’re going to win.”

“Son of a—” Sighing, rubbing a hand through his hair, Jed just glared at him. But the goddamn earnest wolf eyes were out in full force, and in the end, he wound up jerking his head in a nod. “Fine. Fine. We’ll do it your way.”

“Okay.” Anthony tugged at Jed’s bag. “Get your explosives. Maybe put them in the tree line near their tents?”

“Stick close.” Jed nodded, starting out toward the tents again. “And try to keep your furry ass down.” He made his way slowly toward the camp, doing his best to be nearly silent.

He and Anthony planted the explosives around the entire perimeter of the camp. Each one was on a timer, and as soon as they put down the last one, Jed grabbed Anthony’s shoulder and hauled him up over the ridge again. They’d just barely got down, Jed sprawling over Anthony protectively, when the bombs went off.

Explosions sprayed up dirt and fire, a deafening thunder of noise. As soon as the debris started to rain down on them, Jed was up, gun out, watching the retreating backs of the hunters as they ran away as quickly as their legs could move them. Apparently picking off unarmed wolves in the dark was only fun if no one was blowing you up.

They waited. Anthony was just as tense behind him. Finally, Jed flicked the safety back on and, nodding at Anthony, picked his way carefully down to the empty camp.

Anthony caught up to Jed a few seconds later. “They’re still running,” he confirmed. “They won’t come back.”

They poked around the tents, finding more boxes of silver bullets. These had different etchings on the bottom. Buck was apparently no longer in the niche bullet manufacturing trade. But other than that, clues were scarce.

“You said you knew where he was? The man who employed Buck?” Anthony said as he rolled a silver bullet between his fingers.

He glanced over at Anthony. “I absolutely do. And I think it’s high time we paid him a visit.”

“Count me in.” As he stood from where he’d been stooped over a tent, Anthony wasn’t showing a single sign of his illness. None of the stiff movements Jed had been witness to, the shaking hands, the momentary spasms of pain. Anthony’s expression was grim, his lips pulled tight, but if Jed didn’t know better, he’d say he was just a healthy kid about to go on a murder spree. Apparently anger was enough to make him forget the pain. Jed’d bet fifty bucks and his last condom, though, that Anthony would be paying for it later.

“You sure, Lassie?” Jed gave him a quick smirk. “Not going to be a lot of hugs involved.”

For once, Anthony didn’t smile back. “I hate hunters.”

Yeah, Jed could see where that’d be the case. Jed nodded, regarding him. “All right, then. Let’s get going.”

They trekked back to the camp, a lot slower this time, thank God. By the time they walked in, the wolves were huddled together, the Gray Lady standing in the middle of the group, obviously working on keeping them calm. She looked over as Jed approached, but he didn’t waste a lot of time. “We’re going to put an end to this,” Jed informed her.

“The hunters?” she asked tensely.

Jed gave her a flat smile. “I wouldn’t worry about them. They’re not going to be your problem for much longer.”

Redford, still curled up with Knievel by one of the fires, looked up at Jed. He saw no worry in Redford’s eyes—only support. Jed nodded at him, his dog tags still around his neck. It felt strange to be wearing them, now.

“Jed,” came Victor’s disapproving tones, “you probably set half the woods on fire. Did you really need to use explosives? Not that I’m not happy the hunters are gone, mind you, but that was a bit excessive.”

“The fires are out” was Jed’s reply. He walked over to Redford, dropping the chain holding the dog tags and the whistle back around Redford’s neck. A silent promise that he was coming back. “And yeah. I fucking needed to use explosives. They’re damn lucky I didn’t bring the goddamn rocket launcher. And don’t you fucking tell me you’d do any different if you were me.” They’d hurt Redford. They were a threat that constantly followed the wolves, yes, but they’d hurt Redford.

Victor grimaced, looking faintly embarrassed. “You’re right,” he said. Randall, helping to gather some of the younger wolves together, gave Victor a surprised look. “Good luck with what you’re about to do next. If you need more weapons, I’m sure we can scrounge up some more.”

“We’re good.” Jed clapped Victor on the shoulder and nodded toward the faint path leading down the mountain to where the few communal pack vehicles were stashed. “Come on, Ant. Let’s ride.”

While he’d been talking, Anthony had obviously gone to get clothes, because he reappeared next to Jed in jeans and a heavy jacket. “Do you know where we’re going?”

“Yup. I always know where my employers work. Even if they don’t want me to. Especially repeat customers.” He’d made that a hard and fast rule after Filtiarn. They could maintain their illusion of privacy as much as they wanted to, but at the end of the day, Jed knew who was behind the mask or he walked away.

They reached the cave the pack had commandeered as a sort of garage after an hour of hiking. After tossing his bag of supplies inside the Jeep, Jed climbed behind the wheel. Anthony clambered into the passenger seat, and they took off toward the main highway.

“His name is Leo O’Malley. This guy is a snake,” Jed informed Anthony. “Seems real slick, you know? But he’s got his fingers in shit even I don’t know about.”

“You said you’d worked with him before?” Anthony asked, canting his head to one side, obviously genuinely curious.

“Couple of jobs.” Jed nodded. “Nothing big. One was a retrieval job. Another just had me getting some info from a rival company. Hell, I didn’t even use my gun. But one was a nice little piece of insurance fraud.” Jed grinned, glancing over at Anthony. “Which means he’ll definitely talk to us. And might try to kill us.”

“Good.” Anthony nodded. “Is there any way I need to act so that he doesn’t kick us out?”

“Don’t piddle in the corner.” Jed shot Anthony a smirk.

Anthony rolled his eyes. “I’ll do my best to remember that.”

The drive was a few hours. They stopped for coffee, Jed let Anthony have control of the radio, and by the time the early morning sun was burning the mist from the roads, they were pulling in front of a nondescript office building. Unlike Buck’s place, which was cheapness striving for an illusion of grandeur, O’Malley’s place was quietly restrained wealth. The front was all glass, the lobby was marble and deep, rich mahogany wood, and the woman at the reception desk was wearing a suit that cost more than Jed’s entire wardrobe.

“We’re here to see Leo O’Malley.”

The receptionist just looked at Jed, eyebrow arched. “Isn’t that nice,” she mused, turning back to her work. “Let me know how that goes for you.”

Why didn’t anyone ever take him seriously?

In response, the start of a low growl rumbled in Anthony’s throat, and though he looked like he wanted to start threatening, he simply said, “Pick up the phone and tell O’Malley we’re here. Now.”

A very slow grin split Jed’s face as the woman stared at him and then, with a quick, cross breath, turned to do just that. Goddamn, that was useful. Usually to get that kind of reaction he’d have to pull out his guns. “Tell him Jed Walker is here,” he prompted, grin not diminishing at the woman’s scowl.

It only took a few moments before they were gestured toward the elevators and instructed to go to the top floor. Far from looking tense like Jed had half expected him to, Anthony looked completely relaxed, like this was something he did every day. “You’re kind of badass,” Jed informed Anthony with a smirk as they watched the floors tick by.

“It comes from an unlikely source,” Anthony laughed quietly. “Imagine Edwin as a toddler. Now imagine how stern I needed to sound to keep him from running off. It’s really just that.”

Snorting a quiet chuckle, Jed shook his head. “How you kept that kid from running off and joining the goddamn circus I’ll never know. You must be a hell of a dad.”

“Dad? Not likely.” For a moment, Anthony looked sad, but he wiped any trace of that from his expression quickly enough. The elevator reached its destination with a quiet bell for an alert, and as they stepped out, Anthony said, “One day, if I’m lucky.”

“Hey, you raise kids, they don’t die, that’s pretty much a dad in my book.” Jed led the way down the hall, shoulders tight, eyes darting to every doorway they passed. He didn’t like having this much unknown space at his back. But walking in here with guns drawn was a surefire way to get really, really dead. They’d have to play nice.

“Knock, knock, Leo.” Okay, kind of nice. Jed pushed the office door open and strode in, not bothering to wait to be admitted.

He’d never actually met Leo in person. All of their work had been done over the phone or by e-mail. But Jed had not a doubt in his mind that the man behind the expansive dark wood desk was the guy he was looking for.

Leo wasn’t tall or imposing. He had a handsome face, short, dark hair, but was utterly unimpressive. Until you met his eyes. They, behind the genial smile, were stone-ass cold. They were the eyes of a reptile, of something that would gladly unhinge its jaw and devour you whole. Jed had met a hundred men just like Leo. Every single one of them wanted one thing. Power.

So why the hell was Leo sending hunters after a bunch of wolves?

“Can I be of some assistance?” Leo asked, spreading his hands like he was welcoming them to a fucking tea party.

“Yeah. I’m gonna need some answers, here, Leo. Can I call you Leo?”

“I prefer Mr. O’Malley, as I hardly would classify us as friends, Mr. Walker.” Leo gestured for them to sit. Anthony ignored the invitation and stood right in front of his desk instead.

“Let’s talk about why you’re sending hunters to kill wolves,” Anthony said.

“I’m sorry?” Steepling his fingers, Leo arched an eyebrow at them. “Perhaps you are mistaken. I don’t have any environmental holdings, as far as I’m aware.”

“Cut the crap.” Jed leaned back in his chair, grinning the whole time. It wasn’t a pleasant look. “You’re bankrolling Buck Cambridge, who is in turn funneling your money into silver bullets and hunters to fire them.”

Leo tilted his head, studying them. “This is a nice fantasy. Why would I do any of what you’re suggesting? It sounds a lot like madness.”

“Listen here, sunshine. Why don’t you get on your little phone and try to call the men you just sent out.” Jed waved his hand. “Go ahead. We’ll wait.”

“Something tells me it wouldn’t do any good.” Leo sighed.

“Nope.” Jed’s manic grin grew. “I doubt they’ll be answering. They’re too busy running. And that? That was foreplay. So unless you want me to get balls deep in fucking you over, Leo, you are going to call them off.”

“But first I want to know why.” Anthony continued on where Jed had left off. “You’re completely human. Why are you going after wolves?”

Leo shrugged. “They are a menace. A few interested parties asked me if I could eliminate the pest problem. I agreed. Simple as that.”

“Which interested parties?” Anthony snarled.

To that, Leo just laughed. “Why, the vampires, of course. They want your flea-bitten race eliminated.”

Anthony visibly reined himself back. When he next spoke, the snarl was only implied, instead of outright voiced. “And why is a human making business deals with vampires?”

“Because they paid me, little puppy.” Leo stood, buttoning his suit jacket. “And they will continue to pay me. The men I sent out are cheap to buy and even cheaper still to arm, in the grand scheme of things. But do tell your lovely leader to try to run again. It’s so much more fun that way.”

“And why are wolves getting kidnapped? What are you capturing them for?” Anthony asked.

A very faint smirk crossed Leo’s face. That arrogant kind of sneer that made Jed want to reach for his gun and just start blasting, because whatever was behind it, it sure as hell wasn’t rainbows and unicorn farts. “I certainly never gave authorization for that,” Leo all but purred, leaning back in his chair, looking for all the world like the cat that ate the goddamn canary. “But I have heard that, in certain circles, men of taste enjoy having luxurious rugs made of unusual pelts. That may be where your missing pups have gotten to.”

Anthony, amazingly, still looked like he was keeping his temper. Jed was pretty sure he wasn’t going to be able to say the same, shortly. Anthony glanced at Jed, then back at Leo. “And how many jobs have you worked with Jed, Mr. O’Malley?”

Leo paused, gaze darting between them, another smile creasing his lips and never touching the cold blue of his eyes. “Are you implying blackmail, wolf?”

“He might be implying it. I’m just fucking saying it.” Jed met Leo’s gaze without blinking. “I so much as smell one of your flannel fucking hunters sniffing around that pack again, I’m going to ruin you. Akron, Ohio, Leo. That’s all I’m going to say.”

Leo pursed his lips in thought, considering them both. “I am being paid quite a lot,” he pointed out, like this was just another business transaction.

“Enough to be okay with the fact that there are a few hundred wolves that will shortly know your scent and where you do business?” Anthony said lowly.

“If I was afraid of the big, bad wolf,” Leo smirked, “I wouldn’t have let you in the door.”

“Well, little pig,” Jed growled, “I’m about to huff and puff and blow your fucking head in.”

Leo rolled his eyes. “Crass threats are utterly boring.” He sat again, pulling out a silver cigarette case. “Fine. Vampires are tiresome to deal with long-term. I will terminate their contract if it will get you both out of my office immediately.”

Anthony nodded. “Let’s get out of here, then, Jed.”

Jed really wanted to punch Leo. Or shoot him. Nonfatally! Maybe in the kneecap. But he just fixed Leo with a glower as he stood and marched out the door, Anthony beside him. They had a silent ride down the elevator, neither one exchanging a word as they stalked out to the Jeep. Jed started it up and headed out onto the highway, fingers clenched tight on the wheel.

“Vampires,” he grunted, darting a glance over at Anthony. “You think that’s true?”

Anthony frowned. “It wouldn’t surprise me. Do you think he’ll keep his word?”

“He’s a businessman.” Jed sagged back in the seat, eyes itching with exhaustion. “I think he’s going to do whatever gets him the biggest payday. Whatever the bloodsuckers are paying him can’t be worth pissing the both of us off.”

“Do you think he was telling the truth about the kidnapped wolves?” Anthony sounded skeptical. “Are they really getting… what he said?”

The thing about Anthony, Jed realized, was that he apparently couldn’t comprehend that people would kidnap sentient creatures to skin them. Jed had seen a lot worse in his day, so he had no trouble imagining it. Hell, he wouldn’t be surprised if there was a whole side business in it for Leo: exotic rugs and Murdering Fuckheads R Us.

“Nah,” he lied easily. What would be the point in saying yes? Hunters going after the pack were enough of a nightmare. Jed didn’t want to add to the pile. “Leo’s an asshole. Probably just wanted to rile you up so he’d have an excuse to sic his goons on you.”

“Right.” Though he’d sounded skeptical before, Jed could hear a little bit of relief in Anthony’s voice. “Getting wolves for rugs would be ridiculous, anyway. If you want a pelt rug, bears are way bigger.”

“Exactly.” Jed clapped Anthony on the shoulder, nodding. And he added another mark on his list of reasons to blow these goddamn hunters out of the water. Whoever was bankrolling them, whoever was pulling Leo’s strings, they needed to go down. In a very bloody fashion.

Although avoiding war would be nice. Jed wouldn’t mind not having an inter-freak battle on his hands.

“So he said that vampires are the ones calling for all this. I wonder if that’s the start of the war Victor saw in his vision,” Anthony mused. “Wolves versus vampires.”

“I don’t know.” Jed shifted, dragging his hand across his jaw and wondering where he could get some more coffee. There had to be a drive-through somewhere. “Maybe? Does that sound like something that might actually happen? I mean, I know I’m the dumb human, but wouldn’t you guys, you know, not want to kill each other?”

“I’m just as in the dark as you.” Anthony shrugged. “I’ve never interacted with a vampire. I think wolves and vampires generally stay away from each other. You’re right, nobody wants a war. But then you get cases like what happened in Cairo. It’s not just the vampires that cross the line either. There’s bad wolves out there too.”

“So we’re really not as different as people keep saying,” Jed pointed out with a grunt. “Hey, maybe there’s hope for us all yet.” He took an exit and pulled into a fast-food place, got out of the Jeep, and stretched. “I need coffee or I’m going to fall asleep and kill us both. You want anything?”

Anthony answered by hopping out to join him, keeping his hands warm in the pockets of his jacket. “These places never have real meat, but I’m starving so I don’t care.”

“Yeah, their coffee is going to be shit too,” Jed agreed. “But fuck, I’m about to give the Folgers can a blow job just to get some caffeine in my system, so it’ll do.” They walked in, shoulder to shoulder, and ordered a couple of breakfast sandwiches, Anthony’s heavy on the sausage, and two large black coffees.

He and Anthony traipsed back out to the Jeep and leaned against the hood of the car while they ate. It was chilly, too early yet for there to be much traffic but late enough that they’d missed the morning commute. Anthony had started moving his hands too carefully again. Whatever determination or adrenaline that had allowed him to push past his illness was gone now. Jed shrugged off his jacket and unceremoniously wrapped it around Anthony’s shoulders to help ward off the morning cold.

“You can sleep on the way back,” he told Anthony with a grunt, hunched over his coffee like it was literally a form of lifeblood. “Give me a chance to listen to some decent music instead of the crap you pick.”

“You’ve just got shit taste.” Anthony smiled wanly.

“Watch it.” Jed wagged a warning finger at him. “I’ll make you walk home.” Anthony’s quiet laugh was reward enough, and they ate in silence for another few moments. Jed watched the passing traffic on the highway beyond the parking lot, mind nicely disconnected, weariness seeping into his bones.

“So,” Anthony said eventually. Jed braced himself; he recognized that tone. A serious discussion was imminent. “Do you regret that we didn’t kill those two hunters?”

Heaving out a breath, Jed concentrated on gulping down more coffee without burning his tongue off. “Honestly? I haven’t even thought about it. Probably wouldn’t regret it if we’d done it, either. I’m not really one to dwell on jobs once they’re finished.”

“I’m glad we didn’t,” Anthony murmured. “Edwin killed a hunter before. Do you remember?”

“Yeah.” Jed folded his arms, squinting up at the sun. “Yeah, Ant, I get it.” Civilians in combat were the worst fucking thing. They weren’t trained for it, and they didn’t know how to handle the aftermath. Like Edwin.

Like Redford.

“I just hope you don’t regret it. Lot easier to sleep at night when you know the thing that’s out there trying to kill you is dead.”

“I told him that he shouldn’t feel guilty,” Anthony mused. “We were getting attacked, and he had to protect his pack. But those hunters that we scared off? They were sleeping. I don’t think I could have lived with myself if we’d killed them.”

After a beat, Jed glanced over at Anthony. This was a guy who’d raised two kids by himself, no help from goddamn anyone. He hunted his own meat, he dealt with a disease that was eating him from the inside, he was basically Superman. He had a code. Even men like the ones who killed his parents had some kind of worth to him.

He was a better man than Jed was. And, hell, Anthony wasn’t even a man.

“Okay, Jiminy Cricket.” Nodding, Jed finished the rest of his coffee and tossed the Styrofoam cup toward a nearby bin. “Lesson learned. Can we hit the road now?”

Anthony just smiled in reply. After they got rid of the rest of their trash, Anthony climbed into the Jeep and relaxed back into his seat, closing his eyes. Jed, despite what he’d threatened, didn’t turn the radio on at all. He drove as Anthony slept, making the long trip back as quickly as he could. They parked the Jeep, and he woke Anthony to make the trek up to the camp.

They were greeted ten minutes out by one of the sentries, which made Jed want to practically burst with pride. As soon as the Fur Pigeon made sure it was really them, they were let through. Redford was waiting right at the entrance to the camp, visibly relieved that they were both in one piece. Jed went to him, immediately wrapping his arms tightly around him, burying his face in Redford’s neck.

“You okay?” he asked, needing to hear it again. No matter what the doc had said, Jed needed to hear it from Redford.

Pulling up the sleeve of his T-shirt, Redford showed him the bullet graze. “Just four stitches,” he reassured. “You’ve had worse cutting yourself shaving.”

Yeah, like he cared. Jed pressed a careful kiss just below the bandage, silently apologizing for that wound as well. One more way he’d failed. He was racking up quite a count. “Come on,” he murmured, arm hooking around Redford’s waist as if he couldn’t bear the thought of being too separate. “Anthony and I need to update the Gray Lady. Which means you’re coming with me, because I am going to want to stick close for a while.”

Redford looked like he wouldn’t have it any other way. They made their path toward the campfires, numerous wolves giving Jed and Anthony curious, anticipatory looks as they passed. The Gray Lady was waiting for them by one of the larger fires, surrounded by younger wolf cubs. She raised her head to acknowledge them as they came close.

“Well?” she asked, as if their conversation hours ago was merely being continued now with no break at all.

“It’s vampires.” Jed didn’t see any point beating around the bush. “They were paying O’Malley. I’m pretty sure we’ve convinced him it’s no longer worth his while to continue that particular arrangement, but I don’t know if they’d try someone else. Or if there’s even anyone else for them to go to.”

“Vampires?” Victor looked like he wasn’t sure whether to be confused or horrified. “I know there’s something of an odd rivalry, but I’d hoped….” He trailed off, staring hard at the ground.

The Gray Lady looked over at him. “Your vision?” A nod was the only response Victor gave. Jed glanced over, half frowning. This was probably a David thing. Most of the time when Victor got that look, the one half like he’d sucked sour grapes and half like he liked it, it was a David thing. Which meant Jed really, really didn’t want to talk about it.

“In any case, I think we’re in the clear. At least for now.” Jed looked back at the Gray Lady. “If you have anyone in the vampire world you can talk to, you might want to. Because the last thing we need is both sides starting a goddamn war.”

From her expression, he may as well have suggested she roll around in shit. “We don’t keep contact with leeches,” she sniffed.

“Maybe you should start,” Victor said bluntly. “Jed’s right. Diplomatic contact may be essential at this point.” But even he didn’t look convinced by his own argument.

It was a mistake. Jed could see that so clearly. If vampires and wolves wanted to duke it out like some cheesy B-rated horror flick, then fine. But people would get caught in the crossfire. Half bloods, humans, Redford, they’d get stuck in the middle, and that could get very bad, very fast.

But right then, Jed was exhausted, he was hungry, and he wanted Redford. None of those things would be helped by having a long debate on the merits of diplomacy. So Jed just nodded and took Redford’s hand, breaking up the little meeting and heading back to their tent.

“You really need sleep,” Redford told him softly, ushering Jed into the tent when they reached it. “Everybody else can handle the strategy talks now.”

“I’m fine,” he insisted, but it was habit now. Jed collapsed face-first into their bed of blankets and pillows, barely managing to kick off his boots before he burrowed into the warmth. “How’s your arm? Does it hurt?” He cracked one eye open and peered up at Redford. “Shit, it does, doesn’t it? I should have gotten you some pain pills.” He tried to struggle back up, getting caught in the blankets around his legs. “I think I have some left in my bag.”

“Jed.” Redford put a hand on his chest, pushing him back down onto the blankets, then crawled in after him. “It hurts, but it just aches. I’m okay.”

He still wanted to get Redford the pills, but his whole body felt too heavy to move. So Jed just wrapped his arms carefully around Redford’s waist, pulling him in close. “I thought I lost you.” The admission felt like he’d let out some agonizing weight that had been crushing him slowly since he’d heard the first gunshot. “I hate that feeling, Red.”

“I’m sorry. I should have been watching my surroundings better,” Redford whispered, getting that guilty look on his face again.

Wait, what? How had that happened? Jed frowned at the way Redford’s lips were pulling down, touching his thumbs to the creases at the corners of Redford’s mouth as if he could smooth them away. “Why are you saying sorry?” he asked, voice thick with approaching sleep. “It’s not your fault.”

Redford didn’t answer right away. Instead, he leaned forward, brushing a kiss against Jed’s forehead. He stroked his fingers through Jed’s hair, knowing the motion always had Jed’s eyes falling closed in relaxation. “It doesn’t matter,” Redford murmured. “Get some sleep, Jed.”

“Not until you tell me it wasn’t your fault.” It was getting harder to string words together, but Jed struggled valiantly to do just that. He snuggled in closer to Redford, letting out a slow breath of content at the feeling of Redford’s fingers. “’Cause it wasn’t. It was their fault. I blew them up for it. They ran away like scared little rabbits.”

He felt Redford smile against his forehead. “Fine. It wasn’t my fault.”

“Damn straight.” Cracking a giant yawn, Jed buried his face into Redford’s chest, relaxing. “Love you,” he mumbled before he lost the ability to speak altogether.

“Love you too,” he heard Redford say. And then he slipped into sleep completely.