“Oh?” Roscoe grinned. “Is it sexy?”
“Well… that depends on what you consider sexy. Remember when you said Austin got all creepy after Mosavi did the eye thing?”
Roscoe raised an eyebrow.
“Well, I have to do the eye thing to you to get it off.”
“Dude. You can do that?” Roscoe’s tail stopped mid-wag. “I really don’t like this,” he said, his tone turning serious again. “That mayor ain’t right at all. And that eye thing? I think it happened to me before.”
“Yeah, Darryl used it on you. Remember?”
“Nah.” Roscoe opened his mouth, speechless for a moment. “Darryl didn’t do that.”
“Yes, he did. Your eyes went all blue and creepy before he dragged you into the bedroom.”
“That son of a—” Roscoe snorted. “I guess I deserved it.”
“So did this happen before Darryl?”
“I don’t really remember. Always thought it was because of the drugs, but now I ain’t so sure. I get these flashes in my head, and all I can see is woods and glowin’ eyes everywhere. I think the reason Mosavi couldn’t get me was because of whatever happened when I was younger, but if Darryl did it, then maybe those memories are wrong.” He tried to say something else but stopped himself, his tail hanging limp between the gap of the folding chair.
“Well, for whatever reason, Mosavi changed his mind about forcing me to live with him and keeping you guys locked up, and I think I know that reason.”
His ears fell to the sides of his head. “It’s kinda weird. Never really gave a shit about what anyone thought of me, but now yer here and he’s giving you a taste of the finer things.”
“He’s married, by the way.”
“So? He’s a rich alpha. He can have as many mates as he wants, and no one ain’t gonna say shit. Christ, you ever seen the size of that guy’s balls? It’s obscene.”
“Well, he’s not exactly my type,” I said, giving Roscoe a sly smile.
“What is your type?” Roscoe sat up a little higher, his tail beginning to sway.
“Well, let’s see. I think if I were to settle down with anyone, he’d have to make me laugh. He’d have to know how to cook, because I’ll starve. I’ve got to feel comfortable in his arms, and the sexual chemistry’s got to be there.”
“Sounds like you know what you want.”
“Maybe, but it’s too early to know for sure,” I said, half-teasingly. “You know, this is the first time in my life I’ve been able to actually put into words what I want. I never really thought about it before.”
“Me neither,” Roscoe said, confidently folding one leg over his knee. When he did that, a loud rip came from under him. “Uh oh. Austin’s gonna be pissed. I kinda borrowed these without asking.”
“They’re pretty ripped up as it is. I’m sure he won’t even notice.”
Roscoe stood, and the seam from the top to the bottom had been torn open, the only thing keeping the fabric on was the waistband and button.
“Okay. That’s bad,” I said. “Maybe hide them until we can get them tailored or something.”
Roscoe sat back down. “Well, we’re not gonna be able to ignore the mayor, so we need to figure out how to get on his good side or get out of town. I don’t wanna end up like Austin.” Roscoe pointed toward the woods. “Every now and then, I can smell ‘em out there, and it kinda brings back good memories, but it scares me too.”
“Smell who?”
“Ferals. They’ve been close but always keepin’ outta sight.”
“When I was out getting firewood, I ran into a few of them.”
Roscoe’s ears perked up. “For real? Why didn’t you tell me?”
I shrugged. “It hasn’t exactly been at the top of my mind lately. Remember that opal I showed you?”
