Free Go Fetch ! by Shelly Laurenston Page A

especially don’t need you.”
    “You’re not going anywhere without me. Not until we know what’s going on.”
    “Back off.”
    “No.”
    Miki stood up and walked up to Conall . She stared up at him. “You so don’t want to play this game with me, Viking. You just don’t have the brains for it.”
    ***
    Well that hurt. Of course, he wasn’t being rational. He was egging her on. But Goddammit . Seeing her in pain. Knowing they touched her. That they could have killed her. As it was, he was barely holding the wolf in. The wolf that wanted to start tearing through the streets looking for the assholes who did this to her. The wolf that wanted to drag her back to his den and keep her safe forever.
    But none of that would happen. Whatever had attacked her was long gone and Miki wasn’t letting him drag her anywhere now. He was still surprised she let him get away with it this long. Conall leaned down, his face inches from Miki’s. “Bring it on, sweets. I’m more than ready for you.” They stared at each other for at least a full minute. Then, with a snarl, Miki stalked off. She opened the door, but Conall’s voice stopped her. “Maybe I wasn’t clear. You’re not going anywhere without me. And I mean anywhere.”
    Miki glared at him. Then she slapped her leg. “Well come on, boy! Come on. Time for your walk.” She stormed out the door. “And don’t forget your leash!”
    Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Zach wince. But he didn’t flinch.
    Sara stared at him from the couch. “You know, you could have just
asked
her if you could come along.”
    Of course, he hadn’t actually thought of that as an option.
    Sara shook her head. “Asshole.”
    ***
    Miki stared at the pathetic excuse of a dog watching her from the foot of her temporary bed. “All right. If you must.”
    The beast clamored on top of her bed and settled in at her feet. She’d never had a dog before. She’d always left that up to Sara. But, especially in the mood she was in, she found him quite comforting. Considering what Sara had to live with when her grandmother was still alive, she wasn’t surprised that she always made sure to have a dog. And she understood why her heart went out to the abused, the deformed, and the freakish of the breed.
    She turned the light off and settled in. Her anger had tired her out and she would probably get a few hours sleep. Good. She didn’t sleep often, but she was glad when she did. It was a respite from her brain.
    She felt the dog jump down from the bed. “Hey, Roscoe. Where ya goin ’?” She thought he’d spend the night. Keep her company. “Oh, whatever.” She settled back down and was just drifting off to sleep when she felt Roscoe return. He jumped up on the bed and settled down right behind her. His snout against her ear, his furry forearm across her waist.
    “Watch the wet snout, beast.” Then she was asleep. Oddly comforted by Sara’s freak dog.
    ***
    Conall nudged Miki’s door open with his snout and walked out into the hallway. He had a couple of hours before they had to leave for the airport and Miki’s alarm was just about to go off. Zach was heading back to his and Sara’s bedroom with two bottles of water when he stopped to stare at Conall . “Have you no shame?”
    Conall shifted and quietly closed Miki’s door. He shrugged and smiled. “Not when it comes to her. No.”
    “You better be careful. That woman’s deranged. And mean.”
    “Zach,” Sara called from their bedroom, “get your tight ass back in here!”
    Conall crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Yes, O Great leader. And yours is so stable.”
    Zach snorted. “At least
I’m
getting laid.” With that, Zach disappeared back into his bedroom.
    “Asshole.” He glanced back at Miki’s door. It felt so nice sleeping beside her. Even as wolf. She talked in her sleep. She kept spouting equations and formulas. She’d just bark them out of nowhere. It was entertaining, in its own twisted way. He smiled.