I Kissed a Dog (9 page)

***

Chapter 11

Zane paced somewhere not far behind me as I gathered the few belongings I needed for
our trip. I had one sequined cocktail dress, a couple of cute skirts, and several
sheer matching blouses that I hoped would be dressy enough for the infamous and always
glitzy Sin City.

Dressing up was something way out of the ordinary and even further out of my comfort
zone. I was a jeans and t-shirt kind of gal.

A few days ago, I couldn’t have begun to foresee my current reality. For one, taking
a vacation from work was mind boggling in itself. Add traveling to another state with
a man who wasn’t a man added to my new dreamlike existence.

Without the foot tapping coming from the far corner of my bedroom, where Zane now
loomed, I might have been tempted to pinch myself.

“If you forget something, we’ll pick it up when we get there.” He sounded impatient,
and worried.

“Can I grab my toiletries?” I didn’t have a ton of money to be splurging on new makeup.

“Can you do everything in five minutes or less?” he demanded.

“Can you stop rushing me? I’m almost finished.” His brusque manner made me more anxious
than I already was. I scurried to the bathroom and tossed the essentials into a smaller
bag.

“What about my car? What if someone sees it and wonders why I’m not in it or why I
don’t answer the door?” I didn’t want to raise any suspicions. “Luke might figure
out we’re together. That would be … uncomfortable.”

“Do you think he’ll come by?” Zane asked. “He likes you a lot.”

“I doubt it. Maybe I’m just being paranoid. He’ll think I went to visit my folks.
My mom’s been known to whisk me away for a weekend.” I ignored his comment about Luke’s
feelings. I had no intention of exploring
that
situation tonight.

“How would you feel about the two M’s staying here and keeping an eye on your place?”
Zane suggested, changing the subject.

Having two werewolves as house sitters seemed a little bizarre, but they’d be closer
to the animal park this way and more able to protect my property from any intruders.

“Sure,” I agreed, adding, “I think I’ll call Luke, let him know I’m with my parents.
That’ll take care of the car being here with me gone.” I hated the idea of lying to
Luke, but had convinced myself I’d hurt him more by revealing the truth.

“Call him from my place.” Zane lifted my heavy, old-fashioned suitcase like it weighed
next to nothing.

After a quick once-over, I realized there was nothing else for me to do. I’d already
preset two timers on my table lamps, and now that Zane’s friends were staying, I felt
more confident leaving my personal sanctuary.

Forty minutes later, we pulled up in front of a small, rundown four-plex. The place
looked deserted, creepy. Regardless, I was relieved to escape the confining Corvette.
I’d never seen Zane so withdrawn. He hadn’t appreciated my attempts at scanning his
thoughts either, and my enjoyment over his protectiveness had vanished, to be replaced
by the nagging thought I’d become his biggest burden.

I decided to stay quiet and out of his way. Considering the limited space in his apartment,
it wouldn’t be easy. Vegas sounded better by the moment.

“You can take the bedroom. I’ll stay out here and keep watch.” He placed my luggage
by the front door. Grateful I’d worn sweats, I could go to bed without disturbing
anything.

“I appreciate you doing all this, but I can handle things. I could go to my parents,”
I said, hating how feeble I sounded.

“We’ve already been through our options. The last thing you want is your parents
in a standoff with mutant werewolves. Believe me, the bad guys will find a way to
locate everyone who’s important to you.”

A fist of terror punched into my gut. “What do you mean? Should I warn my family?
Friends?” I thought of Melanie.

“If they don’t register your scent or find you there, they’ll move on. I don’t think
anyone wants this exploding in the media. Staying undetected is still a top priority
for everyone involved. The consequences for revealing our existence to humans are
… unpleasant.”

I decided not to ask for the extended version. After all, the sole consequence I was
aware of didn’t leave room for any others. I’d defeated death more than once and had
no intention of trying again. Still, there was one person I figured we could reach
out to for added assurance.

“My stepdad’s a cop. Maybe we could trust him …”

“With what? The fact you’re running from a supernatural serial killer, a vengeful
woman werewolf, and her mutant warriors, with your new werewolf companion?”

I hated to admit he was right. Bob was way too practical even to consider something
as farfetched as ghosts and goblins, let alone monster-sized wolves howling at the
moon. For my family, ignorance wasn’t bliss, but it was the safer choice.

“You never told me what other supernatural creatures exist.” I glanced at the window
certain there were ferocious fiends hovering just beyond the glass.

I couldn’t seem to escape the vivid memory of Missy the Zebra’s ruthless assailant,
blood drenching his face.

Seeing my discomfort, Zane closed the mismatched curtains. Considering his status
in the pack, I was baffled by his sparse living arrangements. His car screamed of
wealth, power, and prestige. These tiny quarters told a far different story.

Keeping a low profile was the explanation that made sense. I realized again how little
I knew about my current companion. I wasn’t even sure what to refer to him as — coworker,
life-saver, friend, boyfriend, veterinarian, werewolf buddy, future lover …

“
Now
you want a bedtime story about things that go bump in the night?” The corner of his
mouth twitched like he was fighting the urge to smile. “Can I tuck you in too?” A
full grin followed.

Thankful for another reprieve from thinking about what Zane meant to me, and relieved
to see him back to his normal flirty self, I sunk into the worn sofa. “That depends
on how good the stories are.”

Rather than responding with his usual sarcastic-laced enthusiasm, his smile vanished.
He froze, listening.

Following his example, I turned my attention to anyone in the vicinity. After a few
seconds, I was rewarded with several non-threatening images.

He’s not expecting us.

I hope he doesn’t mind we’re early. Zane isn’t one for surprises.

“I think your friends are here,” I whispered.

“They’re not trying to hide their presence, that’s for sure.” A loud crash confirmed
Zane’s observation.

“Ouch!” Several curses followed.

Almost faster than my mind could register his movements, Zane opened the door and
vanished. Laughter and friendly greetings broke the silence. I questioned how Mack
and Michael had managed to arrive so fast. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to conclude
that traditional travel methods weren’t a feasible option.

“I hate teleporting,” a smooth masculine voice answered my unspoken questions.

The explanation wasn’t what I’d expected.

“It was your idea,” either Mack or Mike chided the other.

“Nothing changes. Always bickering,” Zane chuckled. “You picked a great time to show
up.”

“Ah, that’s right. You’re protecting the
human
woman …”

“I can hear you,” I called through the door, not wanting to listen while pretending
I wasn’t. The way they said
human
was borderline insulting.

“She can hear in more ways than one,” Zane agreed, affirming my unique talents.

“I’m Mack,” a monstrous and very attractive man, with shoulder-length, blonde hair,
announced. He filled the doorframe.

No wonder they called him Mack. He was built like a Mack Truck. Too bad the werewolves
couldn’t form a professional football team.

Sensing my appraisal, Mack flashed a wide grin my direction.

“And I’m Michael. The. Younger. One,” he boasted, dodging his father’s grasp. The
two looked more like brothers than father and son.

Zane shook his head, looking from one man to the other. “Need I say more?”

“Did someone say
teleporting
?” I pressed, ignoring Zane.

Mack glanced at Michael, who looked at Zane.
How much does she know?
Mack speculated without speaking.

“A lot,” I replied. “We were just starting our discussion on the wide range of existing
supernatural creatures.”

Mack and Michael grinned, looking even more alike.

Zane glanced my way. “She’s a pushy one.”

I couldn’t let that comment go. “Hey! Who’s pushy?”

The two M’s sniggered. Zane scowled.

“I like a woman who knows what she wants,” said Mack with approval.

Zane tilted his head, tightening his lips into a hard line.

“Come on, man. We’re just playing. I forgot how fast you jump from fun and games to
teasing and tormenting,” Mack scolded.

I determined right then that Mack would be an ally. By the way Zane glared his direction,
I assumed he knew too.

Sensing a standoff, Michael joined in, “You want me to tell about the others?”

“Thank you. That’s what I wanted all along. Zane keeps topic hopping,” I teased, hoping
to deflate the tension. It worked. In unison, the two older men inhaled and relaxed.

“If Zane doesn’t mind,” Mack said, head inclined, acknowledging his lesser status
in the pack.

“Michael, feel free. Just don’t scare her,” Zane warned, refusing to meet my gaze.

“It’s not his fault if I’m scared. He’s not responsible for my reactions.” I tried
to keep my voice steady. Zane’s overbearing manner was getting on my nerves.

“Michael’s storytelling skills are renowned,” said Zane.

“He’s trying to say I exaggerate,” Michael agreed sheepishly. “Anyway, first, let
me ask
you
something.” He glanced at Zane for what I guessed was approval. Zane nodded. “What
do
you
think exists?”

Surprised by the question, I thought back to several scary movies I’d seen, without
my parents’ permission of course. “Vampires, witches, goblins …”

“You’re doing great,” Michael grinned. “Go on.”

“Since there are werewolves and mutants, I’m guessing there might be other creatures,
oh, what are they called?” I tried to remember the creatures that I’d read about in
my study of Indian legends. “Shape shifters!” I yelled out as if we were playing monster
charades.

“Real,” Zane confirmed, at last relaxing.

“What about angels and demons?” I wondered, hoping my biblical training wasn’t based
on myth.

“The Bible is real. Remember, there are a number of additional books the Bible either
references or alludes to, like the
Book of Jasher
and the
Book of Enoch
. If uncovered by humans, these ancient texts would expose the supernatural communities.
In fact, the Bible talks about fallen angels, or sons of God and human woman creating
a new race of giants. Many of us are offspring of those ancient races.”

Still confused, I felt more relieved knowing the Bible was true. There just happened
to be additional information that was dispersed on a need-to-know basis.

“You doing okay?” Zane asked, looking apprehensive.

“Of course,” I fibbed, unwilling to halt the discussion because of Zane’s over protectiveness
and my increasing squirminess. “Tell me about vampires,” I insisted.

“Let’s stick with vampire basics.” Michael glanced at Zane, who again nodded.

I was starting to see just how serious the werewolf hierarchy thing was. Zane held
a powerful position in his pack. I assumed that Logan alone outranked him. Though,
according to family history, Zane should be the alpha male. His grandfather, then
his father had held those positions. Why not Zane? I understood those questions would
have to wait until we were alone.

Noticing my companions’ stares, I agreed. “I’m ready for vampire 101.” All three werewolves
chuckled. I wished my own species found me so amusing.

“The first vampires resulted from fallen angels copulating with human women. As I
mentioned, they were just one of the many offspring from these illicit unions, often
referred to as the Nephilim. For whatever reason, this finicky family line had no
desire for traditional food sources. They craved blood. Human blood. This desire made
them pretty unpopular with the others …”

“Short version,” Mack interrupted.

“I’m just trying to give a little background. Anyway, these blood drinkers formed
their own clan and became nomads traveling from place to place in order to avoid detection.
They hunted solely at night and stayed hidden during daylight hours. This pattern
caused them to become what legends often refer to as children of the night.

Like most creatures, though, there are exceptions to the rule. Some vampires can survive
during the day. They have to wear sunglasses to cover their light-sensitive eyes,
but nowadays, they blend in. Sure, they’re paler than the normal person, but they
are beautiful to look at.”