“You look like hell,” Sandy said as she looked me up and down, not looking much better herself. “I sure hope the other guy looks worse.”
“He does.”
“Is he dead?” Junior asked.
“Quite,” Hank told him.
I was relieved Hank didn’t go into details. I wasn’t sure it was a story I wanted told. Ever.
“We didn’t kill them,” Debbie said, referring to the strangely subdued Tinas. “We would be no better than them if we did.”
“But we fought, Essie. We defended ourselves like you said.” Frankie grinned bashfully and wiped the blood from an ugly gash she sported.
“They were something to be reckoned with,” Junior said with pride, eyes still glued to Sandy. “These gals had it covered. I just stood back and watched.”
I caught a quick exchange of sexually charged glances between Sandy and Junior and I bit back a grin.
“I have their teeth if you want them.” Jenny tried to hand me a collection of bloodstained pearly whites.
“Um, no. While I’m honored and proud of you and um…no.”
Jenny grinned and shoved the teeth in her pocket as the gals fist bumped each other in victory. As we contemplated what to do with the traitors, a shrill hiss and a gust of icy wind ripped through the room. Everyone gasped in terror and ducked for cover. Could a Dragon live with no head?
“I was amazing,” Dwayne squealed triumphantly as he landed gracefully in the middle of the room. “I did the meld and they bubbled and turned a lovely bluish-orange-green and then BOOM! The sound was incredible. Absolutely fabulous—like fornicating cats and Madonna.”
“Holy hell, did you fly here?” I asked as I got shakily back to my feet and decided not to broach the cat/Madonna thing.
“You had the car keys. What was I supposed to do? This place is a disaster. Of course, it’s not quite as bad as downtown,” Dwayne announced as he took in the room.
“Understatement,” Hank muttered and Dwayne grinned evilly.
“It is a mess,” Junior agreed. “Who’s gonna clean this up?”
“The Council is cleaning up the debacle,” Dwayne informed us victoriously. “I called up your boss, Angela, and read her the riot act. I got her up to speed and then I tore her a new one. I forbid her to send you into anything so dangerous again. I have been worried sick and that is not good for my digestion. I told her to send down a crew because there are Dragon innards covering half the town and I assumed there would be more to take care of out here. Do you want me to mind meld the Tinas?” He cocked his head toward the hanging traitors.
“No!” everyone yelled in unison.
“Just a suggestion,” Dwayne huffed, completely offended.
“Well, I don’t know about you, but I want to get out of here,” Frankie said.
“What time is it?” Dwayne asked frantically. “I have a show tonight and I’m doing all three Charlie’s Angels.”
The girls looked confused. “Don’t ask,” I said. “Let it be a surprise.”
“Do we just leave them?” Sandy asked.
“For the moment, yes,” Hank said as the Tinas hissed and swore. “Enough,” he bellowed.
The Tinas whimpered and everyone else flinched. I might be the alpha’s mate, but Hank was definitely the alpha.
“You have disgraced yourselves and this Pack,” he went on coldly. “Your behavior merits death, but that is far too good for you. You will be shunned. I will leave you in your final hours of belonging to a Pack and let you think about what you have done. After tomorrow I never want to lay eyes on you again.”
We filed out and left the Tinas hanging upside down in the holding cell. We heard their sobs as we formed a circle outside.
“We’ll shift and run back. It’s the fastest way and everyone needs to heal,” Hank instructed. “I want everyone at the sheriff’s office. We’ll notify your families and tonight we celebrate.”
No one cheered. We were too tired and still in shock, but heartfelt smiles were shared.
“Essie, can I ride you back to town?” Dwayne asked.
“No, you can’t.”
“Fine. It can’t hurt to ask.” He grinned and levitated into the air.
Everyone shifted except Hank and me. We watched as our Pack made their way home. The beauty of the wolves always left me breathless. Knowing I was also one of the magical creatures awed me.
“Can you shift yet?” Hank asked.
“I don’t know,” I admitted. My wolf felt lethargic inside me, but she was pleased. “You do realize you have some explaining to do, Mr. Dragon Slayer.”
“I didn’t slay the Dragon, pretty girl. You did.”
“You know what I mean.”
He stared at me for a long minute with a sexy half grin on his face. “It might piss you off.”
“It would take a whole hell of a lot to piss me off at the moment, so unless you’re married with ten kids, in which case I’d kill you…now might be a good time to confess,” I told him as my body tensed.
What in the world could he tell me? He was half Dragon? Impossible. His new hobby was offing Dragons? Unlikely. I waited impatiently.
“I’m WTF.”
Not what I expected. At all. “Right.” I laughed and waited for the punch line. It didn’t come. “What do you mean you’re WTF?”