Lupi 08 - Death Magic

from the need to protect.
    Lily.
    His heart bunched itself up tight in his chest, sending a tremor of hurt and fear rippling through him. The hurt was the wolf ’s. It was good Lily wasn’t here. Necessary. She was much too human to be around such a new one, who would know her only as threat or prey. But he knew she was distressed, in trouble, and he ached for her, ached to be with her.
    The man was more frantic. Words, always words, for the man, but fewer than usual this time: What had happened to her? Did they know she’d tipped Ruben off? They would guess, surely. She wasn’t supposed to be at Ruben’s house. What would the authorities—her own Bureau—do to her?
    The new wolf raised his head, rumbling deep in his throat. There are as many kinds of growls for a wolf as there are smiles for a human; this one betokened anxiety, not anger or challenge. Muscle by muscle, Rule denied his fear. He was used to this discipline, to the need to physically mask his emotions, but doing so came hard tonight. He wanted to howl, to run. To Change and go to Lily.
    He did what he had to do. Slowly the other relaxed as well, even falling into a light doze.
    The moon climbed a handspan higher. Rule waited.
    At last headlights wheeled across the pavement on the other side of the screening oaks. Rule stood, keeping his muscles loose and his stance alert. The other wolf rose with him, hackles raised slightly, but holding himself still and quiet.
    Perhaps the age of the wolf ’s submerged other self did make a difference. The other was following Rule’s signals unusually well for one so raw: Be alert. Be silent. Watch.
    The vehicle pulled to the rear of the lot. It was an old panel truck, slightly scabrous with peeling paint, but the motor sounded good. Not one of the vehicles Rule kept for the guards’ use. It stopped about thirty feet away. The engine shut off. The driver’s door swung open.
    It wasn’t who Rule had been expecting. Though he probably should have. He yipped once, softly, to announce his location. He looked at the other wolf, then at the ground.
    The other either didn’t understand or didn’t want to. Rule lay down again to show him. Slowly the other did, too. Rule stood, but this time when the other tried to rise, Rule shoved him back down. He looked directly in the other’s eyes.
    The black wolf sighed and dropped his head to his paws. When Rule trotted to the edge of the pavement, he stayed put.
    Cullen limped toward them carrying a plastic grocery sack and a small duffle bag. His gauze-wrapped feet were thrust into soft house slippers. Stubborn ass. Skin healed faster than bone or muscle, but not this fast.
    Rule had sent word to José about where to meet and what was needed. He hadn’t said Cullen should be the one to bring those supplies. He hadn’t specifically forbidden it, either. He should have known Cullen would take that for permission. He should have known Cullen would be here. That his friend would know he needed him.
    Behind him, the other wolf stirred. Rule gave him one sharp stare and he subsided. Rule faced Cullen and looked him in the eye.
    “What?” Cullen stopped. “Oh, right. I forgot.” He ducked his head to expose his nape—a clear statement that he was subordinate to Rule. The new wolf would be confused by this. Cullen wasn’t wolf, but his posture announced his claim on Rule.
    Now Rule had to announce his own claim on Cullen. Rule stepped forward and made a show of greeting him by sniffing his face—then, pointedly, his feet. He looked at Cullen.
    “Not a problem,” his friend lied breezily. “The Rhej sped things up a lot.”
    He was walking on them, so the Rhej must have done him some good. Not as much as he was pretending. Rule snorted.
    Cullen ignored that. “Scott’s doing fine. It’ll be a couple days before he’s healed enough to go back on duty, but he’s fine. The house is being watched. Had a bitch of a time getting away without being seen, then I had to get a panel truck, which is why I’m so late. Ready for dinner?” He opened the grocery sack and tossed a raw brisket on the pavement.
    Rule heard the other wolf rise. He turned his head, growled— You do not eat before I do— then bent to rip off a bite. “Dessert’s in the back of the truck,” Cullen said, backing away quickly. “Hot bratwurst.”
    Hunger gnawed, but as soon as Rule swallowed that token mouthful, he stopped. Later he’d make the new wolf wait until he was truly finished