Apparently, Glenn’s mind ran along the same lines.“Check in with Dunham and ask how the search is going.We need security at the cemetery sooner rather than later.”
“I will.Anything else?”
“Not for today.”Glenn’s tone shifted from business-like to something warmer, more affectionate.“How are you settling in, Ross?Have you signed up for classes already?”
“I have.I signed up for spring semester, so I’m free for a few more months.And I think I’m more or less moved in.”It had been interesting, learning the job while unpacking.He was two weeks into the process and the best he could say was that he’d gotten unpacked, at least.The job he was definitely still learning.The townhouse he’d been given was, ont he other hand, the best place he’d ever lived in.It was modern, with all the latest finishes, and rather new.He’d been told it was a 2010 construction and it showed.Ross did not look forward to the day he had to move out.
The jetted tub probably had something to do with his reluctance.
Glenn seemed pleased by this answer.“And your family?I know you worried about telling them.”
“I told them I’m learning my job and am not ready for visitors just yet.That scanned better than ‘frantically leaping from one emergency to the next.’So that’s what I tell friends and family when they ask.”
Shaking his head, Glenn wryly agreed, “You rather were thrown into the deep end without much warning.But you can invite them here.”
“I will for a housewarming party.”Ross would need to, in fact.His mother especially kept making unhappy noises because she hadn’t seen his new place yet.A housewarming party would assuage some fears and make people happy.“I’ll warn everyone else well in advance.”
“Of course.I’ll be pleased to attend and meet them.”
Ross’s brain screeched to a halt with full braking sound effect.“Um.You want to meet them?”
“Naturally.”Glenn regarded him with bemusement.“Why does that surprise you?”
“Ah.Well.It’s, uh…I’ve never had a boss attend a housewarming party before.”
Glenn’s brows drew together in confusion.“Is it that strange?”
“Yeah.”Ross wasn’t actually sure if it was or not.Maybe because he’d only worked retail and service jobs, his experience was different?But he so didn’t want Glenn in the same orbit as his family.Glenn was just soother, he didn’t know how anyone could look at the man and not realize immediately he wasn’t human.
And if his mother or brother figured out Ross harbored a small, lustful crush for his boss, they would never let him live it down.
Glenn seemed a little disappointed, though.“Oh.Well, I suppose I shouldn’t attend, then.I would like to meet them at some point, however.”
“I’m sure it will happen.”Over Ross’s dead body.Perhaps ten minutes after.He felt the burning need to extract himself from this conversation.“I’ll go and check in with Dunham, alright?”
“Of course.Let me know if he needs my assistance.”Glenn reached for his phone, obviously picking back up where he’d left off.“He was having trouble, for some reason.”
That boded ill.For Ross.
“Okay.”Now a little worried, Ross took himself out of the room and went searching for the werewolf in question.
Everyone in the clan had their own houses on the big horseshoe curved street.Some of the different species chose to live together—like the dwarves—but others preferred their own space—like the vampires.The werewolves were a bit in between.They liked having their own space but shared a communal area they referred to as the ‘Den.’Really, their houses were all built in a cluster around one central, internal courtyard insulated from the outside.Ross had been through there multiple times searching for people.They tended to gravitate to the Den.
He could rather see why.It had lots of cushy seats, a big screen TV, and all sorts of creature comforts.Ross found himself hanging out here too on a fairly regular basis.
Today the mood inside the Den wasn’t as laid-back as usual.A group of three werewolves huddled in the far corner, leaning toward each other as they conferred in serious tones.Dunham he saw in a second, and Chloe, and Fyffe.Fyffe actually looked presentable for once, not in his usual track suit, dark auburn hair pulled back in a smooth pony tail instead of a sloppy man bun.
As Ross approached, Chloe spotted him and her head came up, bald relief in her expression.“Oh good, Ross.Maybe you can help.”
“I had a feeling you might need some,” he answered as he approached, coming to stand near Dunham.“Glenn said you were having trouble getting security set up for the cemetery?”
“Right.”Fyffe nodded.“We’ve been searching for a good church grim.”
Chloe, bless her, filled Ross in without forcing him to ask.“That’s what they’re called.In the old days, cemeteries were always on church property, so the name carried over.But a church grim is a dog—traditionally a black dog—that’s connected to the cemetery and protects it from looters.Or anyone who would vandalize the graves.”
Of course they meant supernatural security.Why had Ross assumed otherwise?“I would assume any church grim you can find is already attached to a place.”
Dunham shrugged.“Aye, that they be.Hence why we’re tryin’ to make our own.But we be havin’ trouble gettin’ a dog.”
