Page 23 of The Rabbit's Foot
“And you mean that literally.”
Mal gave a shrug. “Pretty much.”
“Alp, do you remember anything that might help?”
His face scrunched up. “Stairs. Lots and lots of them, going up and down. There were elevators too, but I couldn’t get into those.”
“Can you guess how far you ran?” Mal asked. “Maybe what direction you were coming from?”
Alp shook his head. “I’m sorry. I was so scared, I just ran until I couldn’t.” He sighed. “I wish I could help.”
But he had. “At least we know the area you were in. It has to be there somewhere.”
Lydia frowned. “I’ve lived here my whole life, and I don’t know any buildings large enough to house the kind of labs you’re talking about. I mean, the instillation would have to be massive.”
“Maybe it looked that way because I’m so small.”
“No,” Mal said firmly. “It’s exactly how you saw it, I’m certain.” When Alp yawned, Mal stood. “I think that’s enough for now. Alp needs rest.”
Alp pursed his lips. “I’m fine.”
“And I say you need rest.” He narrowed his gaze. “Or are you going to argue with me?”
A quick swallow, followed by a turn of his head. “No, First.”
“What’s a first?” Lydia asked.
“It’s a designation for wolves. First means the one that leads, the protector.”
“Oh, I see.” She blew out a breath. “You know, when I woke up this morning, the only thoughts in my mind were getting some lab results back for one of the dogs at the clinic. Now?” She held up her hands an mimed an explosion. “Mind blown, man.”
Alp snickered as Mal walked Lydia to the door. When they got there, she turned and gazed at Alp.
“I’m sorry they did that to you. I know it has to make you not trust people, but I swear to you, I won’t ever tell anyone about you. Or any shifters.”
“Thank you,” Alp said, and the reverence in his voice told Mal that Alp had made a friend.
As soon as the door closed, Alp stripped off his clothes. Mal stood there and stared. Alp was tiny, sure, but he was well toned, and his skin was all sleek and shiny. Mal swallowed hard.
“Did you want me to shift so I can get back into the cage?” he asked, a teasing lilt to his voice.
“No, just get in bed.”
He went over and crawled across the mattress, then slid beneath the comforter. When he turned and peered up at Mal, his lashes fluttered.
“Can you sleep with me?”
“Sure, I can do that.”
Mal toed off his shoes, then yanked off his shirt and finally slid his pants and underwear down, then stepped out of them. He squatted, ready for the change, when Alp called him.
“I don’t want the wolf. I… want you to sleep with me.”
Oh. Shit.
Chapter 9
Alp nestled deeper into the blankets. He shouldn’t be so happy. He’d run and left all the others behind. He knew there wasn’t anything he could have done, but it still didn’t set well with him.
