Page 20 of Help Wanted, Vampires Inquire Within
“I’ll drive Jack and the car back home,” Remy said as they all left Joy. Zan was quick to lock the door behind them. “The rest of you can head over to where we parked and take the SUV home.”
“If we can find the keys,” Marcus said as they all started sifting through bits of shredded clothing.
Being close friends and business partners with a pack of wolf shifters for decades taught Jack to store spare clothes everywhere. He still had the fob in his pocket so he opened the trunk and pulled out sweatpants.
“Here,” he said, tossing a pair of pants and shirt to each wolf. They tugged the clothes on as they searched for wallets, keys, and phones.
“Marcus, this one is yours,” Remy said, tossing an old, battered wallet to Marcus.
“Great,” Marcus said, tucking the wallet away.
“This is why I can’t ever have nice things,” Kayla grumbled. “I’m never going to find that lipstick color again.”
“This is why I keep telling you to carry a purse,” Toby, her mate, admonished. “Only the strap would break when you shifted, and all your stuff would stay together."
Kayla frowned at Toby. “I will never carry a purse again. When I do, all you guys ask me to carry your stuff! You can wear a damn fanny pack or whatever.”
The familiar argument between Kayla and Toby helped Jack relax and focus on the search. It took a while, but everyone found their possessions, including the SUV keys and Kayla’s lipstick.
As Remy had instructed, everyone ambled away to where the SUV was parked, and Remy hopped into the driver’s seat of Jack’s car.
“I can’t believe you drove here,” Remy grumbled, starting up the vehicle.
Jack shrugged. “You made Joy sound too fun to skip, and I was bored.”
Remy cast him a sideways glance. “Let me reword that. I can’t believe you went without telling us.”
Jack sighed. “I wanted to do something on my own. You guys are too protective. I know I’m still a youngish vampire, but I’m not completely helpless.”
“Remember when you first met my dad?” Remy asked.
Considering it was the day Jack was almost killed by a tooth-puller, he was unlikely to forget. He’d been a vampire for less than fifty years when he was lured into a trap and disabled with magic chains. Jack watched helplessly as the tooth-puller raised an ax to separate his head from his body.
Remy’s dad, Marcel Augustin, had burst into the room in his massive wolf form, and ripped the tooth-puller’s throat out. Jack thought the shifter would turn on him next. Instead, Marcel took human form and sat down next to Jack.
“How old are you, vampire?”
There was no reason to lie to the wolf. “I was born in 1924. I was turned in 1944.”
Marcel nodded. “That makes you only about forty years old, as a vampire I mean. That’s youngish for a vampire, but not so young you should've fallen for this idiot's ploy.”
Despite the circumstances, Jack laughed. “I know. I’ve always trusted too easily. Mom said it would be the death of me.”
Marcel snorted. “Not today. I have a deal for you, vampire.”
“My name’s Jack Young,” he said. “What’s the deal?”
“I’m getting older, and my pack is small,” Marcel explained. “If you adopt our pack, we’ll keep you safe during the day.”
It was common for vampires to adopt a pack of wolf shifters. It started long ago when vampires ran the risk of angry villagers attacking them during the day. Those worries were in the past, but packs and vampires still tended to form alliances.
“Why would you want me?” Jack asked.
“Because you trust too easily,” Marcel answered. “You want to trust others. It’s a trait hard to find among vampires.”
Marcel must’ve seen his doubt because the wolf continued. “I’m a powerful alpha. I’ll help build your reputation so you sound fierce and merciless. No one will come near you. No one will challenge you and tooth-pullers will stay away. Giving you that reputation will benefit all of us because no one will want to mess with the Clover Pack. I need a vampire who will never mistreat my pack. I can tell you’re slow to anger and quick to defend.”
Jack was astonished by Marcel’s comments. “You could be wrong.”
