“Doctor’s, dentist…” There was an old bronze sign in the dentist’s window that said ‘RESTORE YOUR FANGS. ENQUIRE INSIDE.’ And as if on cue, a couple of old alphas stepped out with ridiculously white teeth and massive, obviously fake fangs.
Taylor baulked, because they looked like those fake vampire teeth from party shops.
“Why’re you laughing? That could be you one day,” Amil said, turning out of the high street and down a quieter road.
“Man, I hope so. Me and JP would be the coolest codgers in town.”
“Bet you don’t feel so cool now. Hotshot firearms officer forced to take a job out in the sticks. Must be quite the ego killer.”
Taylor shrugged. “I could say the same about you, but you didn’t seem particularly interested in sharing whyyou’rehere.”
“I’m not. And it’s none of your business.”
“Jesus Christ,” Taylor muttered, angling his head towards the window and pressing his forehead to the cool glass. “Kill me now.”
Amil scoffed, tugging the front of his stab vest. “Take your seat belt off, then.”
“You don’t have to be such a dick.”
“Yes, I do. It’s the only way meathead alphas like you will get the message.”
“Dude, I got the message the second I walked through the door. Cool your engine. Let’s just make it to the end of the shift. Alive. Then you can go home and cry into your fucking pillow.”
Amil grumbled, and when Taylor dared to glance at him from the corner of his eye he realised his jaw was working overtime, clenching and releasing.
“I… You’re right. I know… I’m not…” Amil began.
“Not the easiest to get along with?”
Amil nodded.
“Been there, done that, got five T-shirts, pal. So let’s just be cool? I don’t wanna be here, you don’t wanna be here. Let’s just, I don’t know.” He tried to think of what Johnny would say but all he could think of was “Chalk it up to a shitty situation.”
“Okay. But don’t be looking at me like you were when you first arrived, okay? I don’t like it.”
“Sure.”
The main town fell away, and soon they were back into the never-ending labyrinth of bungalows.
“It’s just up here,” Amil said, turning the car onto a dirt track. They were surrounded by trees, some of which had scraps of white material tied around the branches, which Taylor assumed was to help the older wolves find their way back to the path.
“There’s changing huts, and you’ll want to lock your equipment in the safe before you shift. Someone stole my handcuffs a couple of months ago and you don’t want that kind of paperwork, believe me.”
“And you say there’s no crime, huh?”
“Of course there’s crime, they just don’t like us recording it.”
Taylor sucked his teeth, parking that one for later. “So… we’re shifting?”
Amil frowned. “Obviously. How do you expect to find lost wolves in human form?”
“Yeah, I know. It’s just… been a few days.”
“Oh Jesus. You aren’t going to go all feral on me are you? We’re here to work, not chase rabbits and piss all over trees.”
Taylor clenched his teeth. “I know that,Amil.”
“Good. So, we’ll get changed, I’ll go east, you go west. There’s trails through both sides of the woods that lead to picnic areas. You’ll stop every ten-ish minutes, signal, wait, and if you don’t hear anything, carry on up to the picnic bench. If you find someone, call for me, because I can guarantee they won’t come willingly. They can be awkward bastards, especially if they’re coming down with lupine fever.”
