Bonedust

stumbling under the weight of the hundred pound wolf. “Hell.” He gained balance and then gave Pandora a sharp whistle. “Find the wolves.”
    Pan, seemingly knowing that he would be slow to follow, took off at an easy trot, her tail flagging the air like a white banner. Urban’s heart sank farther into his chest the further they went, because he knew Dublith’s Alpha would be pissed. Pissed that he killed a member of his pack, psycho-bitch or not. They wouldn’t care that she nearly killed another innocent person.
    Micah’s eyes were like cold, hard ice as they came upon the pack of three at the boundary line. The two wolves flanking him stiffened with low growls and Pandora quickly placed her body between them and Urban. She gave a snarl, showing teeth. Micah stepped forwards. “I didn’t pay you to blow her brains out, hunter.”
    Urban slid Reese’s body to the ground in front of them and frowned. “She tried to kill my partner. I had no other choice. It was kill her or watch him be slaughtered. At least now you can rest assured she won’t harm another person.”
    A were with black hair dropped to his knees beside Reese, his fingers stroking her red fur. “She was my mate,” he said softly. “Beautiful, enigmatic…”
    “Psycho?” Urban offered.
    All three men snarled at him, showing fangs that looked dangerous beneath human lips. Pandora growled as well, her hackles spiked up as she began to pace. They looked down at her. Three mature werewolves against a single dirgehound, training or not, was overkill.
    “Pandora,” Urban warned. Pan’s ears flagged, but she was hesitant. He looked up at Micah. “I’m sorry for your loss.” He stood slowly, as if moving fast might trigger their fight instinct. Then, boldly, he said, “But I did the job—the purse?”
    Micah snorted derisively. “Bullshit. You owe us back what we’ve already paid you.” He held out a hand.
    Urban shook his head. “No deal. That was my partner’s cut and he’s already headed back to base. Terribly shaken up, the poor guy. If anything, you owe him for unneeded mental anguish.” Seeing the anger boiling in Micah’s eyes, however, made him backpedal. “But how about this—next time you need a job done, I’ll do it for free.”
    “Damn right. Hunter, if you value your life, you’ll cut your losses now and walk away. Walk fast. I can’t hold this beast in for long,” Micah said in a quiet voice.
    “Call me if you need me, baby,” Urban said. His heart hammered in his chest as he turned his back on the three wolves. It would only take them two strides to Change and tear him limb from limb. “Pandora, come.” The hound walked at his side, grumbling, but kept her head down. Three strides out and he picked up speed at the sound of a growl behind him.
    But they let him go. He didn’t stop to catch his breath until he was back in Cavanaugh, back at Shadyside with the gates closed tight behind him. He leaned against his door, locking it for once in his life as his heart galloped in his chest. His head rested back against the door and slowly he slid down to sit on the carpet, legs stretched out in front of him.
    Talk about an adrenaline rush. Pandora nudged him, once, twice, and then barked in his face. His hair blew back as hot dog breath assaulted him. Her eyes gleamed with mischief. She barked again, then darted into the kitchen, claws clicking on tile. Food. The dog felt she deserved dinner. He had to chuckle at that. He got up and poured her a heaping bowl of kibble. Pan’s tail wagged as she gobbled it down.
    Urban’s thoughts roamed back to Gabriel, to the haunted look in his eyes just before he fled. Being chased by demons. Or rather, vampires. He’d looked so damn frightened. Urban swore and rubbed his hands on his pants, feeling dirty. Pan darted to the side door to go potty in the tiny square of backyard they had and Urban followed, picking up after her with a plastic baggy. Then they came in and he emptied his pockets on the counter—his keys, the black pen, and the little bag with Reese Callahan’s picture in it. She stared up at him, mockingly, and in a burst of anger not typical for him, he shredded the photo into the garbage.
    “I’m taking a shower,” he muttered to Pandora, who was nowhere to be found. Grabbing a pair of cotton pants out of the dresser, he found his dirgehound sprawled on his bed, snoring softly. It brought a smile to his lips. He cranked the water as hot as it would go