A huge, blond-furred werewolf with a lighter mane emerged from the ocean, shaking the excess water from his coat. Darryl glared at him for a moment before refocusing on the other swimmers.
“Damn it. I thought he wasn’t going to come today.”
“Who?”
Adam pointed, then tugged at the tight chain around his neck.
“Are you okay?”
Adam didn’t respond as the werewolf stopped in front of us.
“Find us a new place yet?”
“Still looking,” Adam replied quietly. There was something wrong with this dynamic, like all of Adam’s personality had been sucked into a void.
“You’re Adam’s werewolf?” I asked.
“You’ve got that a little turned around,” he said, flashing a toothy grin at Adam. “He’smyhalf-turn. Isn’t that right?”
“Yes sir,” Adam whispered, his head down while the werewolf slipped a finger under the kuu before gently tracing along the underside.
“Were you in the army?” I asked, eyeing the embossed silver dog tags dangling from a chain around his neck.
The werewolf let go of Adam and sat cross-legged on the sand in front of us, snatching the jewelry before I could read the names. He hastily tucked them into the thicker fur of his mane.
“No! This is just some beach trash I picked up. Plus, it’s none of your damn business.”
“Wow, you’re a real piece of shit,” I said casually before setting the book aside.
Adam’s eyes shifted nervously.
“And you’re pretty bold,” the werewolf replied, extending his hand. “Name’s Austin.”
“Cody,” I replied, angrily returning the handshake. “So, about the piece of shit comment. That still stands. Any particular reason for the attitude?”
“Cody, stop,” Adam whispered, jamming my ribs with an elbow as Austin leaned in close.
“You better listen to him. Looks like your werewolf never taught you your place.”
Even though he made me nervous, I met his glare with my own. “And what place would that be? Last time I checked, we were the ones holding all the cards. It’s our money and our housing. You’re just leeching off it.”
“Adam used to be a real smartass, too. You’ll know who has all the power when the cravings hit and you’re begging to be dicked down. That’s all a half-turn is. A whore.”
The more he spoke, the angrier I got. Everything in my vision turned the usual red.
Austin tugged at Adam’s kuu chain. “I guess Darryl didn’t fuck you yet, huh? You reek.”
“He smells fine. What the hell is your problem?”
The thick, blond werewolf stood, pulling Adam’s chain again until the half-turn was standing. Aside from Darryl, I hadn’t seen another werewolf quite as large, and he was using that size to bully Adam and intimidate me.
“You’re a new half-turn, aren’t ya?” he asked.
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“You’ll just have to wait and see.” He gave me an intense stare while grabbing his crotch. “You’re not my half-turn, but I got enough in the tank for two.”
“You’re also bold, I’ll give you that.” I picked up the book again. “Hard pass.”
