“Why me?”
“The question I ask myself every goddamned day,” Bryn muttered. “Welcome to the asylum.”
“You’ve brought down some very nasty people, Detective. You also have close protection experience. We needed someone with a reputation for being trustworthy and it had to be a wolf. Your enhanced senses and physical advantages will make Bryn safer.”
“And if I graciously decline this opportunity?”
“You’ll go back to your precinct and Bryn will return to the secure training facility whilst we identify another partner for him. How about I leave you two alone for a while? You can get to know each other.”
“Sure.” Gunnar was curious if nothing else.
Bryn shrugged. “Whatever.”
Warden left the room, closing the door behind him. “He looked anxious,” Gunnar commented.
“He thinks I’ll piss you off and you’ll walk,” Bryn said.
“I wonder what gives him that idea.” Gunnar’s tone oozed sarcasm. “What’s with the shades?”
In response, Bryn took them off. His green eyes glowed, cat-like. “Another neat side-effect of being a freak.”
“Wow.” Gunnar leaned closer. Bryn smelled of fresh apples. “Does everything look green to you?”
“Nope. Normal vision.”
“And do they do that all the time?”
“Pretty much.” Bryn gripped the arm of his seat, leather tight across his knuckles.
“Okay. You get to ask me a question now.”
“So you’re a wolf?”
“Yep. Why are you wearing gloves?”
“Wait, I didn’t get to ask…”
“You asked a question. I answered. My turn.”
“My abilities work through touch. Has to be skin-to-skin contact. I have to be careful.”
“Fair enough.”
“What does being a wolf mean?”
“I’m strong, fast, my senses are sharper than normal. I like chasing stuff, it’s the wolf desire to hunt prey coming through.”
“So if I threw a ball…”
“That’s another question, but no, you little brat, I won’t be running after your ball, Frisbee or any other random projectile.” Gunnar played with a loose thread on the hem of his T-shirt. “So what can you do?”
“I can tell if someone is lying. I can see possible futures for a person that reflect their intent and their past, if violence or very strong emotion was involved. The memory has to have power.”
“I can see why you have value to law enforcement. Interrogating scumbags would be a whole lot easier with you around.”
“Do you have family?” Bryn asked.
“No. Group home kid. Parents didn’t survive the virus and I was their only child.” Gunnar released his hair from its tie, shaking it out around his shoulders. “You?”
