Running Wild

interrupted Seamus. “No need for the nth degree here.”
“That’s the nth degree?” Pete threw his hands out and slouched farther into his seat. “It was an innocuous question.”
“I don’t do anything,” Ri put in. “What do you do?”
“I study law.” Pete stared pointedly at Seamus. “You sure you want to stay here? Who is this guy who does nothing?”
At that, Seamus scowled. “I’m sure. And, none of your business.”
Pete stood and moved towards Seamus. Ri tensed. He wasn’t a fighter by nature, but he knew how to use his fists.
“I need to talk to you privately,” Pete said in a low voice to Seamus.
Although Pete was bigger and taller, Seamus simply looked annoyed, not intimidated, by this statement, and he didn’t rise from his chair. Not only that, Pete’s words had come across as a request, a beseeching quality to them. Very un-wolf-like.
“You don’t have to talk to me privately.” Just like that Seamus dismissed the wolf, and Pete appeared to be at a loss. As if physical force wasn’t an option he considered.
“How long have you known each other?” Ri blurted out, trying to make sense of their relationship, trying not to gape at Pete’s strange wolf behavior.
Both men looked at Ri, Pete annoyed, Seamus puzzled.
“Six years,” Pete said in a clipped voice.
Six years. That was a hell of long time to stalk prey. In fact…it didn’t add up.
With one quick glare at Ri, Pete continued to talk to Seamus. “Look, this is the place where you rode away on a horse to escape thugs. Remember?”
Seamus’s jaw dropped. “Why are you bringing that up? When I told you that story you didn’t believe me.”
“I believed you got scared,” Pete said at once, placatingly. Placating . This wolf’s behavior had gone well beyond comprehension. Ri’s wolf experiences were limited, but still. The only explanation Ri could come up with was that Pete was far from a dominant wolf. Maybe submissive wolves were an entirely different type of person.
“You laughed.” Seamus continued to talk to this strange wolf. “Why the fuck are you bringing it up?”
“I’m just saying, Shame—”
“His name is Seamus,” stated Ri. He would like to get the conversation off the horse story, no matter the wolf’s character. In case Pete put two and two together.
“Ah, thank you for that correction, Ri .” Pete turned back to Seamus, imploring. “I’m just saying you don’t know the land around here or the people all that well. Or him.” Ri got a thumb jabbed in his direction.
“Thank you for your concern.” Seamus’s face heated up. He was angry. “As unwelcome and rude as it is. Now, it’s time for you to leave.”
“I will make sure it’s safe here,” offered Ri as a warning to Pete. Ri didn’t know what game Pete was playing, or when he’d bring back his pack, but Ri would defend Seamus.
Seamus, however, didn’t look reassured. He looked baffled as he glanced between the two of them. “Why are you both going on about safety?”
Pete gestured, an arm lashing out. “Shame, I really need to talk to you—”
“No, you do not,” Seamus cut him off.
“I don’t know who”—Pete tilted his head towards Ri—“you’re involved with, but there’s no need—”
“I’m not involved with anyone . And if I were, it would be none of your business. We’ve been through this before, Pete.”
“C’mon.”
Ri stepped closer and spoke to Pete. “He wants you to leave.”
Pete turned his way, eyes hot and angry. Anger was something Ri associated with wolves, but the concern beneath that was… Well, it made Pete seem like a complicated being, not a vicious murderer.
Still had a pack though. Wolves always did.
“What are you?” Pete demanded of Ri.
Seamus bolted to standing. “That’s it.” He pointed to the porch stairs. “Out of here. Now. Two years and you’re acting like a complete asshole to my friend.”
“How long have you known this ‘friend’?”
“Leave!” yelled Seamus. Pete and Seamus stared at each other, some kind of standoff, yet it was clear Pete had no intention of attacking. His shoulders slumped in defeat.
Ri remained torn between feeling warmed at being described as Seamus’s friend and nonplused by Pete’s strategy. Ri’s nose was not a werewolf’s, but he could swear the wolf was sincere in his concern. Maybe wolf-pack tactics had gotten a lot more sophisticated in the last few years?
Pete turned his angry gaze on Ri and lifted a warning finger.