"Don't worry," Lex reassured. "You won't be left alone until you've fully recovered."
Dobs frowned. "That's what I'm afraid of," he grumbled. He liked his privacy. Yes, he valued his small circle of friends, but that didn't mean he wanted them to hover.
"Shut up," Lex replied, grinning good-naturedly. "Look at that. You have a bit of color returning. Good." He stood and headed back to the bar. Seconds later, he returned with another glass of blood.
It still smelled and tasted bad, but Dobs chugged it anyway. Licking his lips, he thoughtfully stared at the empty glass in his hand. Maybe he could get used to his meals tasting like shit. He'd never be able to enjoy the pleasure of sinking his fangs into a warm, willing human again, though. Of course, if he bonded with a shifter, he'd never enjoy a human again anyway. What would be worse?
He looked up when Lex grabbed the glass from his hand, growling at him. "I don't like that look on your face, Dobs," Lex told him. "Whatever it is you're thinking, don't," he said, pointing a finger at him. "Just … don't."
"We ready?" Seb asked, striding into the room. He dropped a bag on the couch, which Dobs recognized as his own.
"Yup," Lex replied, giving a look to Dobs that just dared him to object.
Knowing he had nowhere to run, Dobs realized he really had no choice. Neither his friends nor his body was giving him one. He levered off the couch and nodded. He could feel the fresh blood giving him strength, but it wouldn't last long. At one time, Dobs could have gone several weeks between feedings. Unfortunately, he'd forced himself to do that again and again over the last several months, and now his body was shutting down. Dobs needed to find his beloved.
Dobs took a long look at the large stone and wood cabin before climbing out of Caspian's SUV. He'd visited Declan's home a time or two over the last couple years. The alpha wolf shifter had always been cordial. Dobs hoped he would be now, too, because even though he'd fought against this, now that he was here, there was some small, long-denied part of Dobs that was extremely excited to be back searching for his one-and-only.
"Jared!" Casey squealed and the short, slender albino went streaking across the yard to leap into a wiry human's arms.
The guy laughed and caught him easily. Casey started talking a mile a minute, telling Jared all about the last couple of places Caspian had taken him. Dobs turned to the mated vampire. "How do you deal with that?" he asked, waving a hand toward Casey and Jared. A third man had joined them on the porch, a Native American Dobs recognized as Carson, Jared's mate. He was listening and smiling at Casey, too.
Caspian wore an indulgent smile as he looked at the little shifter. "Jared and Carson saved my beloved's life. Without them, I never would have met him. They pose no threat to our relationship." He shrugged and turned to focus on Dobs. "Make no mistake. If it were anyone else, I'd shred them, but those are Casey's friends. I'd never even attempt to forbid him his friends."
"And the fact that Jared would try to pull out your fangs if you did has nothing to do with it, right?" Seb asked, slapping Caspian on the back.
Caspian chuckled. "There is that."
The door opened one more time and the dark-skinned wolf alpha shifter stepped out. "Spring in the Rockies is cold, gentlemen. Why don't ye come in? Coffee anyone?"
Dobs followed the group into the house.
Declan waved toward the hallway where Dobs knew the study waited. "Have a seat and help yerself to coffee or spirits, whatever ye'd prefer. I'll be in shortly." Without explanation, Declan headed through the dining room and upstairs.
"He's getting Lark, Caroline, and Shane," Carson explained, leading the way.
Dobs didn't know why he needed to know that. Maybe it was a shifter thing, sharing with guests that way. He knew if people came into his house, he wouldn't expect one of his friends to explain what he was doing. Taking the glass from Seb, Dobs forced his thoughts to the matter at hand. He hadn't been paying the least bit of attention to those around him, which could be dangerous if he weren't among friends. Not that he considered the shifters and humans his friends, but …
Frustrated, Dobs thrust a hand through his hair. "I can't string a fucking thought in my head," he growled, throwing himself onto a chair. He just about spilled his drink all over himself, but managed to steady his hand just in time.
"Is that why you're here?"
Dobs looked up to find Jared eying him curiously. "Yes," he answered shortly. "I'll explain once your alpha has returned." He had no desire to tell everything twice.
"Then fire away," Declan ordered, striding back into the room.
Two men and a woman followed the alpha into the study. Dobs recognized the short, lithe blond as Lark, Declan's mate. The dark-haired man, Shane, held the pack beta position and the slender brunette who sat beside him on a love seat was his wife and mate, Caroline.
Instead of doing as Declan instructed, Dobs caught a scent he recognized and looked at Caroline. "Congratulations," he murmured absently.
Shane launched to his feet. "How the hell do you know Caroline's with child?"
Caspian, ever the diplomat, held up a conciliatory hand. "We can smell when a woman is with child. The production of the hormone hCG, um, human Chorionic Gonadotropin, subtly changes their scent."
Declan rested a hand on Shane's shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. "Relax, me beta," he encouraged. "Yer child has the protection of the pack, and these are friends."
Dobs shook his head. "Gods above," he grumbled. "I apologize," he grated out. "I meant no offense." He sucked in a breath and let it out through thinly parted lips. Gritting his teeth, he added, "I only meant to be cordial."
"Thank you for the sentiment," Caroline said, smiling, warmth filling her tone. "It's our second cub, but the first no longer lives with us. We are very excited." She tugged on her husband's arm. He gave Dobs a curt nod, then sat beside her.
Meeting Declan's gaze, Dobs admitted, "I'm in need of your assistance. I believe my beloved is part of your pack."
Chapter Two
Franklin Drunger, Frankie to his friends, leaned forward and looked between his brother, Reb, and Reb's mate, Diathi. They sat on the front bench seat of the suburban while he lounged in the back. As a big guy, standing six foot four, he liked to put his back against the corner and sprawl across the back.
"Did Alpha ask why he wanted to see us?"
Reb shook his head and glanced over his shoulder at him. "No, but I heard he's asked a number of people to his home over the last few days. I just haven't been able to find out why."
Frankie frowned, not liking his brother's worried tone. Reb was rarely worried, so for him to be now couldn't be good. Frankie would never be mistaken as a smart man, but he knew that much.
Settling back in his seat, Frankie crossed his arms over his chest, racking his brain, trying to think up why Alpha Declan would like to talk to so many members of his pack. "Hey," he said, leaning forward again. "Maybe he wants to know if anyone has heard anything from the scientists recently."
Daithi looked over his shoulder at him and smiled. "Aye, Frankie. That might be it. Mayhap the scientists have an informant, or are blackmailing someone. If Declan invites everyone to the pack house, the scientists won't get suspicious about their contact going to see the alpha. Good idea."
Frankie grinned. Yeah, that could totally be it! Reb turned the SUV into the alpha's driveway. Frankie realized they'd all know soon enough. Excited to see if he was right, Frankie didn't even wait for his brother to turn off the ignition before he'd clicked off his safety belt and jumped from the vehicle.
"Frankie, wait for me," Reb ordered.
Immediately stopping, Frankie turned and waited impatiently for his brother. He shifted his weight from foot to foot, excited to see not just his alpha, but to see what was going on. Frankie could feel his wolf chuffing, just as eager to see Declan, to be reassured that he was an accepted member of the big, powerful wolf's pack.