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Dirty Laundry

Chapter Six

By Roofles

The three of them stood there, in the attic, at the dog house. Sizing each other up; or at least two of them were. Clem, mostly, was trying not to get in the cross fire between the wolf and human.

“Reese, you are under arrest!” Logan just said loudly, making sure his attention were very clear here and out in the open. With Clem as a witness, with Reese understanding where he stood and what Logan was going for.

It wasn’t like he had his badge or proof of who he was (it was dangerous in his line of work too). Still, Logan needed to say it aloud. The single words changed everything and Reese had the normal reaction, a criminal, would.

Logan was sure if he did somehow manage to drag Reese to the station, the police chief would have a few key words for the human.

Clem had stepped off to the side, not getting between them as the jet black furred wolf sized up the human officer in front of him. Logan was doing the very same, neither moving, as they stood there a good five to six feet apart. Something both of them were estimating, calculating how far they needed to go to reach the others throat.

Reese didn’t make a sound as he took the final step up, into the attic. His heavy weight made the boards creak slightly as he looked Logan over. As if saying, without a word, he knew there was something fishy about him. Logan backed away, keeping an appropriate distance from the wolf.

“We live near the bay.” Logan said making both the canine’s ears perk up, as if this human had read exactly what the two canines were saying without words.

Their body language always gave them away, Logan knew. It was a hard skill to pick up over the years, but a necessary one. Having been with so many different men over the years, Logan had acquired a unique talent for reading people. Most investigators and those performing interrogations acquired a similar skill.

Watching their eyes, the position of Reese’s shoulders, the twitch of a whisker or a tail here and there. How hard was he breathing? What were his ears doing? Was his nails extending, if he was a feline or were they baring their fangs like a canine would? There were so many different, far more subtle things depending on the different species.

Logan was practically an expert that could tell a lustful growl from a threatening one…

And, yet, here and now, before Logan, the wolf was making none of them.

Reese might as well have been dead, standing there before the two. His breathing was even, if somewhat shallow. The wolf’s ears didn’t move. His tail didn’t twitch as Reese stood there like a stone statue, staring at the human before him. His heart rate must’ve been low as the wolf just stared at the human before him, threatening him in his own home. Or rather, defending himself…

Reese noted that first. Logan hadn’t attacked Clem. He hadn’t attacked Reese; in fact, Logan was baiting him even now.

“Sorry to break things off so quickly, Clemmy. We can get back at it after I kill your Alpha…” Logan said loudly, mockingly. His tone, the shift in his body, standing up before an alpha… this was a challenge, Reese could see that. He was very familiar with others challenging his position back in his old life.

And, yet, this human didn’t move forward. Didn’t become aggressive and, like Reese, Logan’s breathing was even. His heart rate calm, as he stood before the big bad wolf trapped in the attic.

Logan was baiting the wolf, forcing him to make the first move.

And Reese just crossed his arms, tapping his foot, waiting in turn. Not taking that bait. Not falling for it as those eyes, like Logan’s, continued to read over the other. Waiting for them the defenses to slip, to create that single opening that would change everything.

“Shit…” Logan instantly picked up on it. The fact Reese had caught him. One way to win a fight was to make the other person go first.

Whoever said the winner was the first one to make a move had clearly never been in a proper fight before. That usually only worked in a back alley street fight without rules. Or war, Logan supposed. All of Logan’s techniques and training were in self defense. To counter attack, to use the enemies weight or strength against them. Being a human, the smartest course of action was to train in taekwondo along with several other military forms of combat that allowed smaller species to stand against the larger ones out there.

Herbivore training. It mostly consisted of cardio, explaining Logan’s physique. Logan knew that running was a last resort, especially if someone needed him to stand his ground. And so, over the years, Logan began packing on the muscle. Lean, fit muscle. Nothing that would go openly notice like a body builder but enough to catch someone off guard with a mean left kick.

Being of smaller stature and size, Logan had to use his strongest asset. His legs. The force of a kick was far stronger than a punch and if one landed right, even a wolf of Reese’s size could get knocked out in one hit. A kick to the jaw could rattle the brain, causing the wolf to collapse from his own sheer weight and size… the problem was landing such a kick.

That was where the baton came in. Such things were issued to the police due to the various criminals they had to deal with. It wasn’t as if every criminal was created equally and Logan had the right to use a weapon to defend himself against someone larger. And Reese was defiantly larger.

He was most likely faster too. And the wolf’s reach was what worried Logan more than anything else. The towering seven foot wolf was more arms than legs and the human had to keep that, along with everything else, in mind.

“Maybe I’ll take out some of the other dogs out while I’m at it? Hunt down the wolves left and make pelts from their hides?” Logan said, thinking of the first thing that came to mind. Wolves and packs. Pack members would flip out if their brothers and sisters were threatened. Or insulted.

Logan had done both by insinuating he would skin them. It was one of the biggest war crimes possible for some species. To skin and wear the hides of their loved ones; usually done back in the ancient days of sword and stone spears.

Reese still just stood there, unimpressed.

“Seriously?” Logan lowered the baton, as if lowering his guard. Still, Reese didn’t take the bait. “Hey, Clemmy? The hell is up with this guy?” Logan just asked, not taking his eyes from the wolf.

Logan’s brain was going into overdrive. He could practically see the image of the wolf moving forward, each and every approach Reese could make to move in for the kill. Thinking of all the probabilities, thinking of the trajectory, trying to match it with his own. What and where Logan would go, where he would move for whatever the wolf did. To counter Reese’s movements and land that one single blow he needed too with the stun baton.

Except if the wolf just stood there.

Most criminals would’ve charged him by now. They’d shout some stupid obscenities and mock Logan for being a human. Underestimating him. Thinking that some dumb human couldn’t match a hyena or a bear in strength; which, technically, he couldn’t. There were plenty of other things Logan could do however.

If they just made the first move…

“I’m not involved in this…” Clem said, inching his way towards the stairwell and planning to jump over the safety railing to escape. Reese eyes turned on him and the boxer backed away with both hands up.

“Once I deal with him… we’re gonna have a looooong talk, Clemmy.” Reese said, mockingly at the end. The smirk on his face faded as he turned back to Logan. “First-,” the wolf growled but Logan was already stepping forward making the wolf twitch in reponse.

“No you don’t!” Logan pointed the baton at him as if it were a sword. “You aren’t touching my partner!”

Reese quirked an eyebrow at that, ears shifting as his eyes glanced at Clem. The two could practically see Reese putting things together, sort of...

“You two are… dating? I thought that was bullshit.” Reese looked over at Clem who was covering his face with both hands trying not to howl.

“Not that kind of partners…” Logan was the one to say, drawing Reese’s eyes back to him. He needed to keep the wolf focused on him… worried what he might do to the boxer if he found out. He could let Reese hurt Clem, he couldn’t let Reese hurt anyone here. “You leave Clem out of this… or so help me god, I will fucking murder you.” Logan stated coldly, not blinking as he said the words.

Reese snorted at that, smirking for a reason Logan wasn’t sure. Most likely mocking the human. That was good. If Reese underestimated Logan, that was all for the better. Pride cometh before the fall. And if there was one thing a predator had, it was plenty of pride.

“Clem, get behind me…” Logan just called over to the boxer now, still not taking his eyes off the wolf. “You should be able to break through the ceiling and get everyone else out. I’ll hold the alpha off…”

“You think you can hold me off, pup?” Reese laughed at that, taking a step forward. Logan had to resist the smile on his face.

“What? Did I hurt your wittle pride? Is the big bad wolf gonna huff and puff and blow me off?” Logan just mocked, kept it up with the same tone of voice while motioning with his other hand, somewhat hidden behind his back, for Clem to move.

The boxer didn’t.

“Clem!” Logan just shouted now. “I’m not shitting around here. Get out of here and call back up.”

“Logan…” Clem whined, shaking his head and covering his face. “I’m sorry… Don’t kill him.” And Logan wasn’t sure if he were talking to his fellow officer or the wolf in front of him.

“Deal.” And even before Reese finished he was moving in.

Like a living shadow, he shot across the floor pressing off with both hind legs and pouncing forward.

Logan had been caught off guard, if only for a fraction of a second by what Clem had said. Twisting his body, he brought the baton upwards to shield against those clawed fingers. He didn’t need to hit or even jab with the baton. A simple poke would administer enough of a shock to put down a rhino.

The problem was, Logan only had one charge in the baton for such a use and would need to change out the charge after. Something Reese was keenly aware of as swiped at the human’s face. The standard issued shock batons were something Reese was uncomfortably familiar with.

Logan didn’t stumble backwards; he didn’t fall to the ground or piss himself. The human just bent his knees, letting that arm go over his face, able to feel the wind pressure against it, as he brought the baton upwards towards Reese’s armpit and pushed forward with a twist of his whole body.

The wolf was already rolling onto his side before Logan connected and was back on his feet just as quickly, jumping backwards to keep the distance between the two. Reese let out the breath he’d been holding as Logan felt the sweat trickle from his brow.

Within ten seconds, he nearly lost his head.

“That all you got?” Logan laughed and actually tossed the baton up in the air, Reese watching as it twirled once before the human caught it. Logan swiped it in front of him, lifting it up in front of his face, crouching down and holding it as if the baton was a rather large knife.

Reese hadn’t jumped to the side haphazardly. He positioned himself against one of the small side tables, positioning his foot under it before kicking it at the human with such force Clem covered his head and ducked down.

Logan easily stepped out of the way, waiting for the wolf to come at him. As Reese did. Lurching across the floor Reese took a step, then another, keeping his body as close to the ground as possible as he pushed off with his left arm and bringing his other up…

And Reese slipped, much to both their surprise. This great jet black furred wolf left arm seemed to have given out and the wolf was nearly face planting the floor before he could recover. A loud crash from behind him told Logan the side table and been kicked out the attic window facing into the back yard. He just hoped no one was standing underneath it as Reese quickly backed away.

The wolf was breathing heavily, trying not to hold his left arm as he just stared at Logan, open maw, as he panted…

And, if only for a second, Logan felt bad for the guy instantly picking up on it. Though he didn’t say it, didn’t mock Reese for it for a reason he wasn’t sure. Looking at him now… reminded Logan of Domino.

“Why didn’t you mock Alan?” Reese was the one to speak up first, much to Logan’s surprise. He hated how much this wolf could get under his skin. He kept reminding him of the wolf back at the club…

“What?” Logan angled himself towards the stairs and the wolf. There was no chance of outrunning a wolf; many a fool had died trying. Still, it would allow Clem to retreat while he kept Reese busy.

“You were trying to goad me into attacking you.” Reese snorted at the fact but he frowned. “Why didn’t you use Alan? You know… how he affects me…” The wolf growled, annoyed at even saying it. What his weakness was.

Logan took a second on that.

“Because he doesn’t deserve whatever the fuck you are doing to him.” Logan just stated honestly. “He’s a good guy, Reese… if that even is your name. Someone like him deserves the happiness, people like us… can’t achieve.”

“Like you would know.” Reese growled.

“I know more than you could ever understand, wolf…” Logan just said coldly, matching Reese look with his own. Neither of the two backing down.

Reese just stared at him coldly as Clem bottom jaw dropped slightly as the two talked back and forth as if there were some great secret the boxer was being kept from.

“What?” The boxer was unsure what exactly was happening.

“You should let him live his life.” Logan just spat the words out, taking a step forward and pointing the baton at him. “He isn’t your pet!” Logan face twitched and it took everything he had to keep his anger in check in that moment.

Predators. They were all the same. They didn’t look at others like friends or colleagues, just prey. Tools they could use and feed off of for their sick thrills. Logan just didn’t want to see anyone else hurt by their sick, twisted games…

“What if he wants to stay with me? What if I make him happy!” Reese snarled back, swiping a claw in the air between them as he bared his fangs and lowered his ears. His eyes falter, his body position sunk and… Logan knew, Reese meant what he said. Even a canine like Reese couldn’t hide everything. “What if I can…”

There was a moment of silence that hung between the two. There was commotion outside. The others most likely reacting to the side table that had been kicked out the window like a soccer ball.

Logan couldn’t get it. He couldn’t fathom seeing Reese as anything other than the wolf he was before him. Those eyes were that of a killer. He wasn’t sure what Reese’s long term game was in all this; it was hard to say. Logan had put his feet in the shoes of a killer, a predator, more times than he would like in order to try to figure them out.

And Reese, before him now, slouching on the floor like a beaten abused dog… confused him. Left him at a loss for words as his brain tried to figure it out. What game Reese was playing? Was he trying to get some kind of sympathy vote? The wolf’s guard was down. Logan could just move in and…

The baton faltered in his hand as he looked at Reese. He looked… pathetic. There was something going on with his left arm and this wolf, this seven foot brute… this predator, was panting far heavier than he should. Some sort of medical condition? It was hard to tell, but in that moment, the “ping” went off in Logan’s detector.

Innocent… At least in the regards to him being some next Alpha to be… Logan couldn’t let another one of those bastards start up a new pack. Reese, this injured damaged canine before him… wasn’t alpha material.

“Of course he’s happy here…” Logan just stated as if it was the most obvious fact. Reese looked up at him, still breathing heavily as he stood slowly. Not wanting to look up at a human. He slouched though, this wolf, before Logan as if getting on even footing with him…

It was such a simple gesture that would be lost on so many others. Slouching like that. Getting on even footing with someone, looking them in the face instead of down at them or up at them… it wasn’t a form of submission. It was one of respect.

Reese was listening to what Logan said and that air coming from him, that threat… was distinguished like the flames in Logan’s heart. And the human sighed, rubbing the back of his neck feeling bad. As if he were picking on some kind of child instead of a full grown ass adult wolf.

“But is he safe?” Logan spat to the side. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, his palms growing clammy. He wanted to fight Reese. He wanted to beat him black and blue and take out some of his repressed anger against this predator… and he couldn’t. Logan knew that now, could see that. “Can he ever have a real life here, living with a monster… like you…” Logan said the words in no more than a whisper, looking away from the wolf.

Reese snorted at that. He picked up on Logan’s change in disposition. His tone of voice, the smell coming off the human and even the single fact Logan had looked away… the human didn’t want to fight anymore. And Reese, living in pack life, understood instantly that this fight was over.

“I won’t let you, or anyone, take him from me. Not again…” Reese glared daggers at the human, jabbing one of those clawed fingers at Logan. His ears weren’t up fully, his shoulders sagged heavily and the wolf didn’t show teeth… the threat had just been that. A threat and nothing more.

“I won’t have too. You know that right?” Logan almost laughed, but his voice was… sad, at the end. “We can’t have happily ever after, Reese. That’s why I do what I do. So that others can pretend too.” Logan shrugged it off as if telling Reese something he already knew.

Seeing those eyes before him, Logan knew them all too well. Cold, empty, dead inside. Life had taken Logan’s family away from him, the job had practically stripped him everything else away leaving him a bare shell of a man. Seeing what he’d seen; the drug dens, the prostitution scandals, child trafficking rings… and it all was just the tip of the shit burg in the end.

“Battle not with monsters, lest ye become a monster, and if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you…” Reese quoted at him with a frown.

“Friedrich Nietzsche…” Logan nodded and, to Clem’s belief, he turned the baton off. Stashing it away just in time as several footsteps quickly came up the stairs.

Several of the other canines pushed their way to the top, only to stop and look at the scene before them. Togo’s and Charles room was a mess after the scuffle and the window was broken, a cold draft blowing in over the two cooling them down after their heated exchange. Alan pushed his way past the others who seemed unable to take even a single step closer.

“The hell is going on up here?” Alan was the first one up and already he was centering in on the wolf who ducked back away, as if afraid of Alan instead of the man threatening his life two seconds ago. “Reese?” Alan said his name with such force the other two winced on the wolf’s behalf. “Explain. Now.” Alan got right up in Reese’s face making the wolf grumble as if he’d been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

Logan took a second. Watching the scene. The way the wolf acted, how he almost cowered but not fully. Reese lowering himself to get on the human’s level. Without showing teeth, without growls, Reese was apologizing to Alan.

“Sorry, things got a bit out of hand…” Reese said, not fully admitting to it. To what had transpired up here. Something Logan instantly picked up on, and is a performer in a play, Logan stepped forward joining in on the lie that the wolf was trying to create.

A lie all to protect this other human. To keep Alan in the dark to how the world really was, what was going on and how this… exchange, was just another day in the life for someone like Reese and Logan.

“He was mediating for the two of us, Alan.” Logan smiled then fooling everyone there except for the wolf who wore a mask of his own. “Clem and I were trying to figure out if we should date or not.” He just went on, lying as easily as he breathed. “We decided just to remain good friends.”

Smiling, with eyes that could’ve fooled the devil himself Logan just explained it all away.

“Things got a bit heated, between Clem and I…” Logan went on, glancing at the wolf as if telling him without words to play along. “Reese thankfully stepped in. Sorry about the window, I got a bit… worked up.” And Logan laughed, a sound to everyone but the wolf was as genuine as his smile.

“O-Oh?” Alan took a step back on that, looking over at Clem. “I thought you didn’t date…” He asked in a hushed whisper even Logan heard.

“Well, I, he… was different.” Clem tried to play along as he stood up tall before the human questioning him. Clem was clearly uncomfortable about all this, embarrassed and knew this was just the start to it.

“So you threw a table out the window?” Alan had instantly thought Clem had done the deed. Logan had to stop himself from laughing at the look the boxer gave him.

“Things just got a bit out of hand, is all, Alan... Thankfully,” Logan stepped over to place a single hand on the wolf’s arm making nearly everyone else stand up. Reese looked down at it, then at the human touching him. “Reese showed up to help us, isn’t that right… Reese?”

“Right…” Reese confirmed with a single nod of his head as Logan backed away at such a leisure pace, no one would’ve thought the two were trying to kill each other a couple minutes ago. Clem was flabbergasted.

Sure, canines fought often enough to establish themselves in the hierarchy of the pack. And sure, wolves were far more aggressive… but to be at each other’s throats one second and then not the next? Logan was a human and yet, here before the boxer… he looked more like a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

“I hate to ask, Alan.” Logan said walking over and taking the humans hands. “If we could get another couple minutes… just to make sure we’re all clear here,” he looked back at the other two. “So there is NO misunderstanding between us.”

“Al…alrighty then, sure. I guess? Um… Sorry, Reese.” Alan chuckled lightly, that smile back on the human’s face. A flush took his cheeks and even Logan had to admit he was a handsome guy with a strong jaw line. He got why Reese liked him, to some extent. “I kind of jumped to the gun, huh? Came to an abrupt conclusion... He has a bad habit of scaring away my friends.”

Alan explained, talking to Logan. He could see the wolf being a pain in the ass in that regard. Sometimes, it seemed, Alan needed to pull the wolf’s leash in order to keep him in check. To help him fit in… Logan was almost envious of that. Almost…

“Your friends are dumb.” Reese just growled angrily, huffing and turning away like an insolent child. Logan couldn’t believe this was the very same wolf he thought was trying to start a new pack. If anything, he should be worried about Alan able to control this guy as he could.

“We need to finish things up here, Alan.” Logan cut in before Alan and Reese could get lost in their own little world together. Working with couples could be such a pain sometimes…

“Oh, sure. We’ll get dinner started! And I’ll uh… call someone about the window, and apologize to Togo as well.” Alan rolled his eyes, always feeling like he was covering for the wolf. The soft lick Alan got on the cheek make Logan tense, if only for a second.

The wolf had moved forward, bumping his muzzle against the human and kissed him softly.

“I’ll be down shortly, ok?” Reese said the words softly, petting Alan’s face with a finger. It was possessive, Logan could tell… he also knew it was filled with love and care. The wolf holding himself back even now…

The others excuse themselves, giving the three a chance to catch their breaths from it all.

“I’m going to get some drinks.” Clem just motioned towards the stairs. “Please don’t kill each other while I’m away… can you both behave for a couple minutes, please?” The boxer practically whined not wanting to have to mop up the blood, again.

“Whatever.” Reese rolled his eyes.

“If he does, I will!” Logan said just as childishly as Reese had… even now, the two putting on a front for the boxer who walked backwards down the stairs watching them the whole time. “Well, that could’ve gone better…” Logan exhaled, running a hand through his hair and trying to figure out what his next step was.

He had only come over here to try and figure Reese out. Now, he was a little too familiar with the wolf as he glanced over at him.

“You’re telling me. Alan’s going to make me sleep on the sofa again…” Reese grumbled, ears splaying out as he rubbed two fingers over his eyes. “Going to have to buy him so many damn flowers to make up for this.”

“That sucks, bro.” Logan kept his distance from the wolf, leaning against the far wall. “Is… something wrong, with your left arm?” Logan asked as the silence dragged on. He couldn’t help himself. Asking questions when their guard was down. Trying to figure them out, piece them together into something the human could understand.

Reese ear twitched at that before looking down at his arm.

“I hurt it… a while back. The doctor said it wouldn’t make a full recovery.” Reese shrugged tiredly. “I usually don’t need it.” He stretched the arm out, rotating it and then brought it back to look over as if trying to see the nerve damage done underneath his thick fur and hide. “It’s hard to make a full fist with it even now…” The wolf noted before looking over at the human watching. “Observant…” He growled the word.

“We both are.” Logan chuckled weakly. “Only way we can fit in, right?” The human looked away. “Here I found someone else like me and he turns out to be freaking wolf…” Logan almost laughed, if it wasn’t so sad he might’ve.

“You’re rather good at reading canines…” Reese just pressed. Logan was beginning to feel what it was like to be the one on the other side of an interrogation table.

“I fuck a wolf on the side,” Logan shrugged getting a look from Reese. “You pick these things up.” Logan explained without telling the whole truth. He’d wait for Clem to come back in before bringing that up. “How long have you known Clem..?” Logan was the one to ask now, looking over at the wolf who was likewise keeping his distance from the human.

“… Since childhood.” Reese answered, truthfully. Figuring it was going to come up anyways when Clem got back.

“With Alan?” Logan cocked an eyebrow at that, pressing his luck a bit.

“Different groups…” Reese shook his head, taking a moment. “Groups I tried to keep apart and couldn’t…”

“Family and friends, huh, I take it?” Logan asked as if the two were sitting at a bar downtown, talking over drinks. Old friends reconnecting.

“You already know I’m the previous Alpha’s son… the one after him, was my brother Bale…” Reese frowned not wanting to ever have to say that name again. “Things went south, fast. Finally got a moment of respite, and you show up.” Reese growled.

“The one up in the mansion when it burned down?” Logan thought that over, lining things up time wise in his head to make sure it all fit. “That only leaves Vicky left, after Diamond was taken out…” Logan had been one of the officers assigned to the case and was way too familiar with Vicky and Diamond’s club downtown.

It was where he met Domino…

“And she’s going to shoot herself up to death, hopefully.” Reese almost chuckled and to his surprise, Logan actually joined in. The two laughing at the twisted morbid humor of it all.

“She is one damn crazy bitch,” Logan shook his head. “How’d Diamond go…?” Logan asked the question innocently enough and Reese took the bait without even realizing he had.

“Bullet in the head…” Reese answered before he finished the thought, looking over at Logan. The look alone, followed by the growl told Logan he’d been caught. The simple question told Logan that Reese had been there that night. The information about Diamond’s death had been hidden from the public and the only ones who knew were those on the case or those there that night…

“Sorry, I just… had to confirm a few things…” Logan rubbed both hands through his hair, walking on over to take a seat on the dog bed. He tried not to think about it as he removed some used underwear off it and tossed it to the side.

He patted the side of it, looking at the wolf who frowned.

“For Clem’s sake. It might be best if we pretend we’re… friendly. Just a big ol’ happy family… for Alan, too…” Logan just said as the wolf’s ears perked up hearing the stocky boxer coming back up the stairs already. It was the only at the idea of keeping the peace, for Alan’s sake, did Reese oblige such a request.

Grumbling, Reese walked over and took a heavy seat on the bed next to Logan. The human wasn’t expecting the shift of weight. Reese sinking in next to him caused Logan to slide right down next to the wolf and practically into Reese’s lap; just as Clem reached the top of the stairs.

“Ok, I wasn’t sure what everyone wanted. I got some ales, some beers, some root beers and some hard ciders that are way too sweet to be called alcohol…” Clem stopped at the top of the stairs caring the numerous bottled drinks and just looked at the two.

“Darling, this isn’t what it looks like!” Logan just slapped his cheek with a hand, pushing away from the wolf who was just frowning down at him in his lap now. “This brute assaulted me! I tried to say no but his animal magnetism was just… just… too much! Please, Clemmy… Call the police, officer…”

And it was at that Clem nearly dropped every bottle he was holding. Reese’s ears perked up as he looked down at the human who got up to go help the boxer out and then at the canine he had known since childhood…

“What?” Reese words were more of a growl but the two got what he said. Reese’s eyes narrowed as he glared at the boxer now. Clem missed when the two were fighting…

“I’m officer Logan Smith,” Logan said with a flamboyant bow. “And this here is officer Clementine. The number one good dog at the precinct. And my partner…” And Logan gave a good slap to the boxer’s back, nearly causing him to drop all the drinks again. Clem seemingly frozen on the spot after the reveal.

Snagging two from his hands, Logan walked over to the wolf and offered them.

“You mind popping these open for me, big guy?” Logan just smiled innocently as the wolf did, to one, took it and left the other unopen. “Oh, dude! Don’t do this to me! I thought we were friends,” he laughed as Clem came over.

“Seriously. Stop poking the wolf.” Clem grumbled as he took a heavy seat on the bed, far less bothered by it than the other two were.

“I can’t help it.” Logan just took a seat on the floor, before the two and looked at one then the other. “Besides…” His face fell and the mask slipped away again. “Reese needs to know. This concerns him too, Clem. You do realize how big of a deal this is?” The human just grumbled having put those pieces of this puzzle together already.

It was everything else going on in this city he was trying to figure out before it all went in the shitter.

Clem’s ears splayed out as he bowed his muzzle down, not looking at the two.

“Clem?” Reese asked and even Logan was taken aback by the pain in the wolf’s voice. “You’re… a cop?” The wolf took a moment to phrase it properly, planning on just asking without words. He figured, it might be best to speak instead of using body language for this conversation.

It was something Alan had taught him.

“I…” Clem wanted to say more but only a low whine came out. “I am…”

“A corrupt cop, if that makes you feel any better.” Logan just explained getting a look from Reese. “Clem deleted your data from the archives. It’s the only way you wouldn’t be in the system... He even managed to wipe it from Inc. Co. the company you work for too. I’m not sure how you managed that, to be honest…” Logan said while asking the question for Clem to explain it to him.

“He didn’t…” Reese grumbled, rubbing the end of his muzzle with two fingers in annoyance. “My… brother, did. For me. When I first joined the company, trying to have a normal life… he took care of a lot of things for me.” Reese exhaled and shook his head not about to admit to either of the two what he had to do to get such a favor. “Technically my name, at the company, is Rodrigo Montoya…” The two just gave him a look. “No!” He growled. “I’m not a Mexican wolf… it was just, my favorite actor from one of my movies…”

Logan didn’t ask further about that, having more pressing issues to address. Along with all of this. If Reese wasn’t the next alpha to be, Logan needed to figure out who Domino had been talking about and if there were other threats left unseen.

“SO, we’re cops. Clem is hiding you from the others to protect you,” Logan just made sure to state on Clem’s behalf. Laying things out for the two cohorts seemingly working with him now. “I don’t give two shits,” he added on getting a look from the other two. “If you aren’t planning to revive The Pack or like, kill Domino… I don’t really care what you guys do.” Logan muttered at first before shaking off.

“Domino?” Reese asked, thinking about it. “Isn’t he in Vicky’s new pack…? You two dating?” Reese knew Domino had left his brother’s pack to join Diamond’s because of his sexual orientation; something that had always been viewed very disfavor ably.

“No!” Logan actually blushed at that, wishing he had kept his big mouth shut. “He’s just… a friend…”

“The wolf on the side, got’cha.” Reese nodded, leaving it at that. Or at least, Logan wished he did. “He’s a good guy… compared to the rest of the fuckers involved in pack politics, that is. He’d make a good man to have in your corner. Or, watching your back.” Reese grinned at the implication.

“He is… or rather; he was my informant on the inside. He doesn’t know I’m a cop,” Logan quickly said as if worried the two were going to call Domino up on the spot. It was a give and take. Logan knew things about them they wanted to keep secret, so the safe bet was to give them amble things to use against Logan in order to keep the peace between them. “I just,” Logan rolled his eyes now. “It sucks when the guy you’re sucking off actually turns out to be rather cool, ya know? Wish he was just another dumb fat prick.”

Clem nearly snorted his drink. “You’re getting more than just information from him then, huh?” Clem had figured but it was hard to prove anything Logan did on the clock; it was one reason why the human had gotten away with so much.

“I’ve always been confused by this,” Logan said to Clem as he turned to look at Reese. “Clem is gay, right?” Changing the subject up a bit, making it far more light hearted.

“What? No!” Clem barked as Reese nodded.

“Then why the fuck does he have such an issue with one dude sucking another dude’s dick?” Logan still was asking Reese on the matter.

“’Cause he’s not getting any…” Reese snorted and Logan had to laugh at that. The two clinking their glasses together and taking a drink.

“That actually explains everything.” Logan just chuckled, shaking his head. The boxer growled at him and Logan just booped the canine nose with a finger. “Sorry, darling. You’re not my type.”

“No, you prefer the feline variety.” Clem just grumbled bitterly. “I miss when you two were trying to kill each other…”

“I thought you were after Domino?” Reese asked, thinking about it for a moment and all but ignoring the boxer in the room.

“I got a lion on the side.” Logan just waved it off.

“You got a side on your side…?” Reese frowned at the idea. “Who is the main one then?” The wolf inquired and Logan wasn’t sure how to answer that.

“Yeah. Who’s the main one, Logie?” Clem tried to tease and the two just gave him a look. “Fuck off!” He barked at being called out for the lame attempt.

“I…” Logan paused as that, sealing his lips shut as he mulled it over. Another drink helped. “I don’t date.” He shrugged a shoulder and left it at that. “It’s just… better, that way.”

“Bang ‘em and leave ‘em!” Clem barked in agreement, slapping his thigh with a smile. Missing the look that passed over Reese and Logan’s faces.

“That’s what they said about me…” Reese snorted getting a look from the two. “You just got to try… a little harder than the rest, that’s all.” Reese patted Logan on the shoulder getting up with a stretch. “Don’t give up, just yet, pup. I’m sure it’ll work out in the end…”

“I’m not getting love advice from a freaking…” Logan was about to get in on it but Clem covered his mouth quickly. Logan just frowned at him.

“I’ll give you two lovebirds a chance to finish talking…” Reese snickered, shaking his head and rubbing his left arm. It hurt but he wasn’t about to let the others know. Reese was used to hurting himself for the others and this was nothing new.

Pain brought clarity at times and Reese knew he’d have sacrificed the whole thing if it meant he could keep what he had. What’s an arm, for the one you love?

“That could’ve gone better.” Clem frowned watching the wolf go down the stairs.

“It also could’ve gone a lot worse, you know that, right?” Logan rolled his eyes getting to his feet and feeling far more tired after the exertion. Being on edge like that wasn’t good for his health. “I’m gonna die young, I just know it…” Logan muttered walking over to the broken window and looking out over the backyard.

He watched as the wolf rejoined the others. Alan gave him a hug, bringing Reese over to the three BBQs as a sort of guard dog against the others who kept trying to lift the lids on the BBQ and ruin their dinner. The hungry, salivating canines being barked at by the large wolf. They scurried away like rats before coming back over, sniffing once more for the dinner that could only be a couple of minutes away.

“He’s defiantly an interesting guy…” Logan noted watching as how Reese would shoo them off before letting them come back around, crowding in on him before being scared off once more. “I’ve never seen a wolf hang out with dogs before… you know, without it ending in a freaking blood bath.”

Clem got up to walk over. The boxer leaned against the window, looking down at the scene. Logan didn’t mind the view, Clem practically shoving his thick chest into his face. Clem always had a nice smell, for a dog that was.

“Yeah. Like last Tuesday…” Clem brought up, talking about a recent case where a group of African wild dogs ended up jumping and attacking a gray wolf. It hadn’t ended well. Multiple people being brought to the hospital, even some others that hadn’t even been involved in the fight who had gotten too close.

“Didn’t the victim turn out to be a coyote, not even a wolf?” Logan thought about it before shaking his head, walking away from the window. He was heading for the stairs.

“Logan.” Clem called after him and he stopped at the top of the stairs, looking back at him. “You aren’t… going to tell anyone, about what I did… right? Or Reese!” Clem added walking over. The canine was pleading with him, begging him and Logan knew just how much shit Clem would be in if he did rat him out for hiding the wolf as he had. “Please, don’t hurt my family…”

“I meant what I said,” Logan just shrugged. “I told Reese I wouldn’t let him hurt you.” And Logan slapped Clem on the arm, looking into that muzzled face. “If I told anyone about him back at the precinct… then he would be. Although, indirectly, he’d be hurting you… and Alan.” Logan reasoned out. “And those other dumb dogs.”

Logan sighed, shaking his head. He wished he wasn’t such a good guy in the end. The good died young and Logan could practically count the days he had left at the rate he was going.

“Thanks…” Clem wagged his stubby tail at that.

“Besides,” Logan chuckled tucking his hands into his jacket and walking down the steps slowly. “I get it. He’s your friend. You joined the force in order to protect him… It’s that whole pack thing.” Logan waved it off with a shrug. “I know what it’s like… wanting to protect family.”

Clem took a moment at that before speaking up about it.

“My parents lost their farm.” Clem started and Logan stopped at the bottom of the stairs looking up at the boxer. “Where I grew up… we had this large farm. We grew Clementine. We weren’t wealthy or anything and we were barely keeping it afloat… but, damn if those little bastards weren’t just the sweetest damn things this side of horizon…” And the boxer sighed heavily, walking down the steps.

“I take it didn’t end well…” Logan brought up when Clem didn’t continue, the two making their way into the living room.

“Others didn’t like us… being dogs, right?” Clem frowned.

“Humans?” Logan had to ask to clarify and get some context from it. Clem shook his head.

“There were these street fucks. A makeshift pack of wolves and mutts…” Clem growled, even thinking about it pissed him off. “They raided the farm one night. While we slept. They burned everything to the ground… Woke up to smoke in the house and had to escape out the window…”

Logan frowned at that, stopping as Clem did. He kept his voice low and Logan knew Clem hadn’t told the others. Not wanting the cold harsh reality sinking into their blissful ignorant lives. Maybe Reese knew but defiantly not the other dogs as they looked out the glass sliding back door into the backyard. At the dumb happy canines playing some game while they were waiting for dinner to get ready.

“The cops didn’t do anything. We lost… everything.” Clem took a moment. “I told myself not to trust wolves, either.” He looked over at Logan. “They’re fucked up. Their pack politics alone will drive you insane. It all depends on the Alpha and still, even then…”

“Then why join this… group?” Logan chose the word, not wanting to associate it to a pack. Packs were usually gangs and Logan had enough on his plate to deal with.

“Reese saved my life.” Clem chuckled. “I was a pup when we moved here, after the farm burned down. We moved in with family and, well, the locals wanted to make sure they had invited everyone to their kids party… It was a political move,” Clem shrugged never understanding why they had bothered inviting the whole neighborhood. “Reese...”

“Reese’s birthday?” Logan asked.

“No, no. It was another in the neighborhood. He had been invited though, odd as that sounds... Someone they had high hopes for that didn’t end up going anywhere…” Clem thought about it. “They singled Reese out almost instantly when he showed up. He was dumb, I mean he still is but back then he really was dumb. Always wanting to fit in. Trying to change himself so he could, lots of fucked up shit.” Clem sighed heavily, the two deciding to get another drink instead of joining the others just yet.

“What happened?”

“I’m not sure how… but they tricked Reese into getting all tied up. Like his arms, legs… they bound his muzzle and covered his eyes. I’m sure Reese was just trying to fit in. Just going along with the flow, trying to act like everyone else… he was a dumb pup and they took advantage of that.”

Logan frowned. He heard and knew about “hazing” rituals done by herbivores on carnivores. Prey picking on predator. It was rather common place and more times than not, the police would side with the prey over the predator. After all, it was hard to blame a bunch of bunnies picking on the big bad wolf…

“They shaved him.” Clem growled just thinking about it. The boxer rested on the counter top, glaring at the far wall. “They freaking shaved him! They muzzled him, tied him up, beat him and shaved him like some… some…”

“Monster…” Logan frowned, wishing he hadn’t chosen a different word earlier.

Clem sighed heavily, shaking his head. “They left him out back. Pissed on him all that usual bullshit…” Clem ground his teeth. “They were going to just leave him out there overnight! Well, I stepped in. Even if he was some dumb wolf... after the others left, I snuck out and untied him and helped him out…”

Logan frowned at that. “You swallowed your pride to help someone who was a victim. That’s… rather, admirable Clem.” Logan just wished he was as big of a man as Clem had been back then. “You’re a good guy…” Logan made sure to say, offering one of his rare genuine smiles for the boxer.

Clem blushed at that, ears folding back as he grumbled continuing his story.

“I was worried he was going to take it out on me!” Clem laughed, shaking his head. “Bite me. Maul me. You know about all the stories you hear? Most are true… Instead, you know what he did?” Clem face faltered and he wasn’t sure how to say it. “He thanked me. Awkwardly gave me this hug… and asked if I was his friend.” Clem frowned at that.

“Well, you did save him.” Logan chuckled not understanding what Clem got at.

“No, no. Logan… he asked if I was his friend as in,” Clem frowned a bit now. “He wasn’t sure what a… friend, was. Friendship doesn’t exist in packs. You have pack brothers, sure. Those you would trust with your lives. But… But it’s all about climbing that ladder!” The boxer snarled. “It’s not about making friends along the way. You step on everyone else in order to reach the highest point in the pack. That… that’s the whole point of one. To stab everyone else and try to get the sweetest spot you can…”

Logan just thought that over. “Is Reese… special?”

“Special? Yes. If you mean, like, handicap kind of special? Then, no. He’s just… a byproduct of his environment.” Clem frown grew as he looked out the back. The two watching as the wolf, wearing a frilly apron, began serving up food for everyone. Trying his best to fit in among these misfit pack of dogs.

“You said he saved your life…” Logan brought up, something Clem story hadn’t explained. From the sounds of it, Clem had saved him. A dog saving a wolf. It was almost funny.

“Those bastards, the one who tied up and beat up Reese? Well, they found out what I did. Jumped me after school one day. They were wailing on me, beating me like a… dog. They had boards and frankly? They’d have killed me if it kept up much longer…” Clem growled low at that. “Reese ended up showing up. I’m not sure how he found out. Or why he was around. He showed up and…” Clem left out the gory bits, not needing Logan to know what he was fully capable of. “Saved me. After that, I begun hanging out with Reese a lot. In secret. He confided in me. We drunk, we smoked together, we just were dumb friends trying to survive…”

“He couldn’t let his pack family know about you.” Logan nodded.

“And I couldn’t let the dog community we lived in know about him.” Clem just finished for him. “Dog’s and wolves weren’t supposed to get along. Fuck! That was why you guys,” Clem growled but corrected himself in the present company. “Why they… they bred and created us dogs. Using us to rise up and fight against wolves way back in the day. Along with the other predators. Otherwise you humans,” Clem snorted with a shake of his head. “Well, we both know how that’d gone.”

Logan gave Clem a look. He knew it wasn’t his place to step on such delicate, sensitive history but Logan did say one thing.

“It was a wolf clan, a uh… wolf pack that joined the humans at the time.” Logan wasn’t looking at Clem. Just staring across the living room, out the back door and at the jet black furred wolf hanging out with his human… “They were friends with these humans, the two sides wanting the same thing in the end. A sort of, symbiotic relationship... The wolves agreed, with the humans supporting them, to help fight off the others. They didn’t need to focus on food. Being the hunters while the humans were the gatherers. It’s where dogs… originally started from, supposedly.” Logan finished with taking a long drink.

“You’re point?” Clem asked with a lifted eyebrow.

“The point being… two people, two tribes, really can change the course of everything.” Logan looked away from the two out back and to the boxer sitting next to him.

“Next you’re going to tell me the settlers did nothing wrong.” Clem gave Logan a look and the human just laughed.

“Dude! My first boyfriend was a fox!” Logan chuckled. “His family fucking hated me. Like, dude, I can fight nowadays because of shit like that.” Logan shrugged as if being attacked by his boyfriend’s family was an everyday situation. “They blamed me for what happened to their people,” Logan explained. “Their land being stripped away from them and the betrayal the human settlers did to their people… Not that I blame ‘em! Humans are fucked up! Look at what we do to our own, let alone others.”

Logan gave a weak shrug and a final “happy Thanksgiving” and Clem chuckled at that.

“I don’t know. Humans weren’t that big of a deal for me growing up. It was others that hated me…” Clem frowned a bit. Logan knew what he meant. Humans treated Clem favorably because he was a canine. While others would hate him for it. No one gave Clem the chance to get to know the guy behind the dog. They just saw him as that.

A dog…

And here Logan was, seeing a wolf and instantly thinking he was part of the pack or trying to start his own. Dropping Reese off into a category, a stereotype without even trying to give Reese a chance… just like he’d never gave Domino a chance or Sloan…

“Fuck. Dammit. Dam dam DAMMIT!” Logan cursed, stomping his feet as he scratched his hair roughly getting a look from Clem. “I got to do it, don’t I?” He groaned aloud, not wanting too.

“Do… what?” Clem frowned not seeing where Logan was going with this.

“I have to apologize to Reese.” Logan cursed once more for good measure. He’d need another pack of beer to get through this.

“I wouldn’t,” Clem started up as Logan headed towards the back door. “The fuck is up with humans directly confronting wolves?” Clem growled, catching up to him and tailing behind Logan outside.

Logan had planned to just leave. He came here, found out what he needed too; he also found something he could use against Clem in the future, in case he needed the boxers support on something. And with the case he was working on, he needed all the friends he could get. And so that was why the human was coming out back to join the others instead of just slipping away.

“Logan!” Everyone cheered like a sitcom as he came out. The human stopped, made a comical face, standing awkwardly like a clown before joining in on the others with a laugh. To everyone else, Logan was harmless just as Alan had been.

“What we got going on here?” Logan was back in his element. Fake smile, charming personality, reading the room and matching it perfectly. He was an extrovert and it showed as he practically danced between the social groups.

Chatting with Dodge the Dalmatian and Hunter the German Shepherd; the two were clearly dating but neither of them wanted to admit it. Hunter would get on Dodge constantly about the littlest of things. Picking on the smaller canine and, sometimes literally, rubbing his nose in it. And the Dalmatian loved it. The others pretended not to notice, the two clearly very sensitive on the subject.

Togo and his man Charles showed up in time for food, something Logan was sure it was the fat huskies doing. He wasn’t sure where the two had escaped too but was already introducing himself to Charles, another human, and the husky again just to be polite. Logan instantly could tell what was going on.

Togo was an overly needy, affectionate canine and… Charles had spoiled him fat. The human would sneak the husky treats when the others weren’t looking; rubbing and loving on him as the husky ate. Charles needed both arms and hands to rub over the fat husky’s belly. Something Togo, in a way, ate up in itself. The love and affectionate were genuine and Togo couldn’t be happier than he was here and now with his man, eating and being loved on.

“To each their own.” Logan just smiled moving to the next group.

Then the next.

And finally ended up with Alan and Reese who were discussing plans for thanksgiving. That, in itself, was impressive. After what Logan and Reese had done upstairs, the fact the wolf could put on such a friendly air around the human was impressive. Logan could learn a couple of things from this wolf as he waved at Alan.

“Sorry about earlier,” Logan started up with. Alan didn’t even seem to hear him as he jumped on what he and Reese had been talking about.

“You’re coming to thanksgiving, right?” Alan started up, catching Logan off guard. “If you don’t have plans, I mean… our table is always open!” And he smiled in that way. It made Logan want to take up the badge all over again. To protect the good in this disgusting world.

He hesitated, looking at the wolf then back at Alan.

“I…” Logan wasn’t sure what he was doing for the holidays. Halloween? Thanksgiving? Christmas? Such things weren’t in his schedule. He was working. That’s what Logan did. He worked more than anyone else in the office and, not for a single second, did he think to take the day off.

Until now…

“You should come.” Reese was the one to speak up making Logan feel that weight in his stomach again. The weight of guilt… “I think… Alan, would like that.” Reese grumbled at the end, rubbing the back of his neck with his left arm. He winced and pretended not to have noticed the sharp pain as Alan asked about it.

“Is it your arm, again?” Alan whispered even though Logan could hear.

“Its fine, Alan. Really…” Reese just grumbled, ears lowering, not making eye contact with the human. Weakness was always looked down in the pack, any pack, and Reese wasn’t the wolf he used to be. In any other pack, he’d have been openly challenge by now for his position and right to be Alpha.

Not this one though, it seemed.

“If my schedule opens up,” Logan said loudly interrupting the two before they could get into it again. “I’d be happy too… if you’re sure, Alan.” Logan said the human’s name and yet his body language told Reese who he was really talking too. “I’m sorry.” He added, playing it off as an apology for not being able to come.

While openly just saying, in a way a canine could read, “I’m sorry Reese.”

The wolf took a moment on that. Sucking on his tongue and just staring, blankly, at the human before him. This officer of the law. In his house. Then again, there was another officer living under the same roof he had been… since the beginning. Apparently one that had been covering his ass.

Reese wasn’t sure if Clem had joined the force for him. Or if it was for another reason. He wasn’t sure of a lot of things these days but, with Alan holding his finger, he wanted to believe he could be better…

“Sure.” Reese finally just gave a single nod in reply. “We’d be happy, if you could make it… Logan.”

Logan gave a curt nod to the wolf before going back to talking to Alan openly about it. Alan, of course, was apologizing for putting him on the spot like that and how he hadn’t wanted to make Logan feel pressured to come or not. Logan just chuckled at Alan’s sincerity. It was a rare quality, especially in this city.

One Logan was lacking…

“It’s ok, Alan.” Logan just smiled back and, for a second, he felt it was genuine as Alan’s was. “I would be happy to hang out with someone! Instead of being all alone, in my apartment… crying…” Logan said melodramatically, getting Reese to roll his eyes.

“No! Don’t cry!” Alan had fallen for it, making Logan wonder if he was just that innocent or that gullible. It was hard to tell. “We can set up a place for you too, if you don’t want to drive! Sleep on one of the couches. Or something. We could make a weekend of it. A movie night!” Alan’s eyes were already lit with fire at the very idea, shining like the sun as Alan was already planning out fifteen different things they could do. “I can call Ralph!”

“Pup…” Reese growled, pulling Alan back.

“Oh, right. Sorry. I don’t have many friends…” Alan chuckled, blushing lightly.

“That sounds great. If I got the time, I’d love to hang out with you and your boyfriend.” Logan said and Alan blushed even further at that. “I got to get going, though.” And it was Alan who whined this time, not wanting his new friend to go. “I know, I know! I got to make a few phone calls before going back to work.”

“At the office, at this time of day? It’s Friday night though…?” Alan asked making Reese and Logan exchange a glance. Logan nearly letting it slip about his real job. Something he was normally far better at covering his tracks at. Alan just made that weight ease off his chest, letting Logan relax for the first time in…

Logan couldn’t recall the last time he had truly been able too, been allowed too just relax…

“I got to cover for someone.” Logan lied, giving Reese another nod. “Got to make sure to watch out for your… friends, right, Reese?”

Reese hated being pulled into the spotlight like this. He rather lurk in the shadows and let Alan deal with this kind of thing. He knew what Logan was getting at; the human wasn’t exactly as sly as he thought he was. Or at least, not to the wolf standing before him.

“Be careful.” Reese said getting a look from Logan now. “I don’t… want Alan getting hurt, is all.” Reese muttered.

“I have this weekend off.” Alan said dumbly, not catching the edge to Reese’s voice or what he’d been implying.

“I’ll try to be on my best behavior. I promise.” Logan lifted a hand and crossed his heart with the other. “After all, now I have something to look forward too. Right, Alan?” Logan always found a way to loop Alan back into the conversation, wrapping an arm around Alan’s shoulder and giving him a strong bro hug.

The simple act reaffirmed the single fact. Logan and Alan were friends. Reese shouldn’t hurt Alan’s friends and it was at that, Logan was able to wave the two off without needing to watch his back for the wolf. He was far easier to manage once you knew what buttons to press and which Alan’s to use.

There was another wolf he wanted, needed to check in on anyways…

Logan didn’t want to admit it. His instincts were usually correct though. And when he met Domino back in the club, the very first time, he knew the wolf wasn’t as bad as he seemed. He needed to tell him… tell him what was going on, in a safe way without Domino finding out who he really was.

Logan didn’t dare risk anyone else finding out he was a cop. As far as Logan was concerned, he was just a PI that was looking out for others the best he could.

He just needed to make sure the wolf was safe, aware of the dark cloud forming over the city before the shit hit the proverbial fan.

“I’ll have to give Sloan a call too, while I’m at it…” Logan frowned. When had he gotten so many people, so many predators! As… friends?

The human let out a shaky breath, not wanting to unpack that baggage right now as he drove off towards the city, towards downtown and a club he hoped he’d never have to set foot back into.

Two weeks, until Thanksgiving…