Reese smiled. He was glad Luke hadn’t disowned Diablo for the deception. His mate needed friends, needed people who accepted him for who he was. Reese was also looking forward to a home-cooked meal. He could cook himself, but why not enjoy someone else’s effort?

  He inwardly preened when Diablo slid an arm around him, claiming him right in front of his family. And Luke and Maynard were Diablo’s family, whether the stubborn man wanted to admit to it or not. Family wasn’t always blood. It was the people you surrounded yourself with, and Diablo couldn’t ask for better people.

  Chapter Six

  Diablo held up a hand and looked at everyone seated around the dinner table, his gaze landing on Luke. “Dude, all the times you thought I was happily running in the woods for hours, I was at Loose Lips getting my grub on and drinking beer.”

  Luke chuckled. “I’m trying to imagine my dog sitting at a bar.”

  Maynard laughed. “Like those dogs at the table playing poker?”

  “Exactly.” Luke winked at his mate.

  Diablo couldn’t even get irritated. Luke was relaxed back in his chair, one arm thrown over Maynard’s, wearing a lopsided smirk. He’d been there at Luke’s lowest, seeing the pain the guy had lived with. Crippling pain sometimes. But Diablo had to admit he was having a good time. He’d never sat around a table with people before, just chilling and talking. It was a different experience for him, and it moved something inside of him.

  “So mating Maynard cured your leg?” Diablo asked.

  “No more pain or limp.” Luke nodded as he slapped his thigh.

  “Glad to hear that.” He gave Luke a genuine smile, something he rarely gave to anyone. “I really hated to see you go through that knowing there was nothing I could do to help. It wasn’t like I could mate you.”

  Luke sat forward and coughed, glaring at Diablo.

  “Behave,” Reese snarled.

  “I was joking, but it’s true.” Diablo rolled his eyes. “You can’t claim anyone that isn’t your mate. I was teasing. Lighten up.”

  “Don’t ever put that image in my head again,” Luke warned with a grimace.

  “I thought it was hilarious.” Maynard grinned.

  “Thanks.” Diablo winked at him. “Knew you were good people, even if you smelled like dinner.” He stood and pushed his chair in. “If you guys will excuse me, I have some things I need to retrieve.”

  “I’ll come with.” Luke stood and followed Diablo outside.

  The evening was colder than the past week. Diablo didn’t even have a warm jacket. He’d been in dog form for two years, only shifting back to human form when absolutely necessary. Like when he felt his animal counterparts trying to permanently take over. That was never a good thing, because if they did, a shifter would become lost to their humanity forever.

  Diablo’s life might have sucked, but he didn’t want to spend it in a permanent dog state.

  “I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that you’re my dog,” Luke said as they headed toward the shed. “And you’re taller than me.”

  “I hope there’s no hard feelings.” Diablo was wearing long sleeves, but he was still cold. Maybe an investment in a winter jacket wasn’t a bad idea. “I get why you’re pissed at me, but I really was trying to look out for your safety. And when Maynard came along, I knew I couldn’t reveal myself. Though he made it tricky because he was a shifter.”

  Although Diablo had been on the elixir, he’d still been wary around Maynard, because shifters could sense other nonhumans.

  “So you knew all this time that Reese was your mate and you didn’t do anything about it?”

  Diablo tucked his hands into the front pockets of his jeans as they slowly walked. “What could I do? I wasn’t going to reveal myself. Xylem has been after me for about that long. He’s the asshole who tied me up in the yard and left me there to rot. Used a special rope I couldn’t get off myself. I was tied behind the house. How did you know I was there?”

  He recalled trying effortlessly to remove that rope, to the point of exhaustion. Diablo had been in that yard for so long that he’d lost track of the days. Thank fuck Xylem had left Diablo there during spring when it rained a lot or he would have died of thirst. Those puddles of water had been lifesaving but disgusting to drink from considering the state of the yard.

  “Got a flat and had to change my tire,” Luke said. “Spotted you out of pure chance.”

  Diablo clapped Luke on the shoulder. “I owe you a debt of gratitude for saving me. Just so you know, a few months after you rescued me, after I’d healed, I went after Xylem and put that scar on his face for leaving me to rot. Maybe I shouldn’t have done that, because now he has a killer boner for me. Even so, thanks again for saving me.”

  Luke smiled and nodded as they reached the shed. Luke unlocked it, and Diablo went inside to retrieve the elixir bottle.

  “You had me stumped about how the lock on my shed kept coming off,” Luke said when Diablo emerged.

  “My dumb ass kept forgetting to lock it back up.” Diablo smiled. “I was dying to tell you. I was right there with you in my dog form when you called the cops about it. Thought you were going to put a camera on the shed, which would have made things trickier.”

  Luke chuckled. “I’m just glad it was you and not some stranger.”

  “I need to go get my other stuff. You can go back inside if you want. I mean it’s cold out here, and my stash is deeper in the woods.” Diablo shoved the elixir into his back pocket, opposite the pocket from his cell phone. It was a small, round bottle, brown, and it took only a few drops to mask his scent.

  The liquid was getting low, and Diablo wondered if he needed to get more. He hated taking the crap, but it would also keep Reese and the others safe. No one would know he was part hellhound, but the drawback might be that Reese no longer sensed their connection. Diablo wasn’t certain about that. Was he willing to take that risk? To mute the bond between them?

  “I’ll tag along. I’m dying to see what you stashed and where.” He held out a hand. “Lead the way.”

  It was already full dark, but Diablo could see just fine in the dark. Luke couldn’t, but luckily there was a full moon and not a cloud in the sky. It illuminated the path as Diablo and Luke walked.

  They were almost to the hollowed tree when Diablo slowed. He stopped and cocked his head, listening to the night sounds.

  “What’s wrong?” Luke asked.

  Diablo held up a hand to silence him. Luke went from relaxed to pulling a gun from his waistband. He stood as still as Diablo, scanning their surroundings. It hadn’t been so much as a noise or scent that had stopped Diablo. It was a gut feeling that they were being watched.

  Luke started using hand signals. Diablo understood some of them but not enough to know what the guy was saying. He’d never been in the military, so they were lost on him.

  The expression on Luke’s face said he was frustrated Diablo couldn’t understand him. So he leaned over and whispered into Diablo’s ear. “I break left, you right. We circle back around to this point.”

  The hand signal had looked like Luke was stirring hot chocolate. At least now Diablo knew what it meant. He shook his head and mouthed, “We’re not dealing with a human threat.”

  It might not have been anything, but Diablo had learned long ago to trust his instincts, and it was telling him someone was out there.

  Luke leaned back in and whispered, “You’re fucking learning hand signals if we’re going to remain friends.”

  Despite the bad feeling in his gut, Diablo grinned and nodded, thinking how Luke was going to teach an old dog new tricks.

  Tricks that might save Diablo’s life in the future.

  They both went left, closer to the tree Diablo had been already headed toward. Only he didn’t look at it. Instead, he kept his eyes open. He was surprised how quickly Luke walked. The human didn’t make a single sound. Diablo was impressed.

  He was also worried because demons used the darkness to move from one shadowy location to another. Like a portal of some sort. They could move between the human realm and the demon realm with ease. They could also use that portal to go from one spot to another in either realm.

  What if Xylem or Rochester were doing just that, using the shadows to get closer without Diablo smelling or hearing them? He kept close to Luke, both moving slowly.

  Diablo’s feet left the ground, and he was slammed into a tree. He hit the ground and groaned, certain a rib or two was cracked.

  Luke moved in and lowered to one knee. “What in the hell just happened?”

  “Telepathy.” Diablo shook his head. “Get back to the house, now!”

  “Not leaving a man behind,” Luke said between clenched teeth as he helped Diablo to his feet.

  “That code doesn’t apply here, Luke. You’ve never gone up against a demon. Go get help. Call the sheriff and send him my way.”

  Luke looked as if he’d rather shoot himself with his own gun than leave Diablo.

  “That’s how you can have my back.” Diablo rested against a tree. “I’ll keep the demon in the woods, away from the house, but I need preternatural backup.”

  With a firm nod, Luke took off. Diablo moved in the opposite direction, luring the demon away from the human and the others. He didn’t want Rochester to go after Maynard or Reese.

  “I’m in a giving mood,” the disembodied voice said. “I’ll allow your pet to run away.”

  Why couldn’t the demon have died from that blow to the head Merrick had given him? Now Rochester was back, ready to pick up where he’d left off. “Wasn’t aware you had such a boner for me. Sorry, I don’t date demons. Kind of a standard rule on my part.”

  Rochester laughed, though he’d yet to show himself. “Under any other circumstances, we might have worked something out. You’re easy on the eyes, Diablo. Nice body, too. But you’re a mutt.”

  “Are you going to torture me or flatter me to death?” Diablo listened for the sound of Rochester’s voice, trying to pinpoint where he was. He still couldn’t smell the demon, which meant he was downwind.

  “I’m not going to attack you today.” Rochester’s voice was closer. “I just wanted you to know that there aren’t any secrets you can keep from me.”

  Diablo heard the sirens in the distance. Seconds later a wolf broke through the tree line, heading right for Diablo. No, the wolf veered right. Diablo took off, knowing that wolf was his mate. He followed Reese then stopped when the wolf did.

  Reese had Rochester on the ground, his jaws clamped around his neck. Diablo’s heart nearly gave out. He knew the powers that Rochester wielded. “Reese, back off!”

  A bear barreled toward them, baring down on Reese and the demon. Diablo shifted and attacked, until he caught scent of who the bear was.

  Sheriff Weston. Shit.

  Diablo spun and went after Rochester. Reese must have caught him by surprise. That was how his mate had taken him down. Rochester was still on the ground. His hand was lifted, but no one flew through the air. It seemed his powers were too weak. Blood poured from his throat as his gaze swept toward Diablo, who’d shifted back to human form.

  Diablo moved closer and patted Reese’s hindquarter. “You can let him go, babe.”

  Reese backed away, his muzzle bloody as he snarled at Rochester, as though daring him to get back up. The demon wasn’t going to do much of anything. The blood was coming out too fast.

  Diablo glared down at him. “I guess I don’t have to worry about you coming back for me. My secrets are my own, jackass. I hope you rot in hell.”

  Reese shifted and wiped at his mouth. Diablo snarled. There was another male there, and his mate was naked. Moments later, Luke and Maynard joined them. Diablo was trying his hardest not to attack. He and Reese were still in their honeymoon period. It was one thing to sit around a dinner table, something entirely different when his mate stood there naked, looking so damn good that Diablo wanted to pin him to a tree and give in to his dirty desires.

  “Don’t even,” Reese said. “You’re just as naked and I’m fighting not to kill everyone near you.”

  That made Diablo want to preen. Reese was jealous, and it felt good that his mate cared so much. Diablo had never had anyone jealous of him before, and he had to admit he fucking loved it. Reese could drape himself in jealousy as far as Diablo was concerned. Later, when they were back at Reese’s apartment, he’d show the wolf that he was the only one for Diablo.

  Reese had no idea that he already owned Diablo in the most intimate way. Had for two years. No one else would ever hold a candle to his mate.

  Sheriff Weston shifted. “Looks like I wasn’t needed.” He eyed Diablo, and Diablo knew Tate could smell hellhound on him. He braced himself, ready for a fight, but Tate looked away.

  “Jesus.” Luke shook his head as he stared down at Rochester, who had finally died. “Nasty work.”

  “Not for a shifter,” Reese said. “We don’t have opposable thumbs. Can’t pull a trigger, so we use what nature gave us.”

  Still, the thought of Reese having taken Rochester down felt like lead in Diablo’s stomach. Things could have gone so wrong so fast. If Rochester had spotted Reese sooner, had had time to turn and use his powers, Reese might not be standing there right now. He might have been a broken lump on the ground. The thought was enough to scare the hell out of Diablo.

  “Are you seriously staring at them?” Maynard slapped Luke on the chest. “It’s very rude in our world to stare at our nudity.”

  Diablo hid his grin at Luke’s deep blush. It was considered rude, but Diablo had been guilty a time or two of doing the exact same thing. “I can’t help where my eyes go.”

  “You, mister, are in the doghouse,” Maynard huffed before he walked away.

  “Thanks a lot.” Luke narrowed his eyes at them. “I’m blaming all of you for this.”

  “Just performing a public service.” Tate didn’t bother holding back his laugh. With his size, it was deep and gravely. His laughter died when Maynard and Luke were gone. “Mind telling me who you are and why I’m smelling hellhound on you?”

  “Diablo.”

  The sheriff’s brows hiked to his hairline. If Reese hadn’t just killed Rochester, Diablo would think the look on Tate’s face comical. “Luke’s dog?”

  Diablo gave a slight bow. “One and the same.”

  “He’s part hellhound,” Reese said, “and we’d appreciate if you kept that to yourself. Not that I’m ashamed of my mate, but you know how our kind feels about them.”

  The reminder was a stab to Diablo’s gut, but he hid the reaction. He would always be an outcast in their world, no matter the person he was or that he was mated to a wolf shifter. Hellhound. An evil word that struck fear in the hearts of many.

  “Mate… Huh.” Tate scratched at his thick black beard. “Since he’s not draining my happiness, and he’s not going after anyone, I guess I have no clue who or what he is.”

  Tate’s way of saying his lips were sealed.

  “Thanks.” Reese smiled then grimaced. “What about the demon?”

  With a sigh, Tate said, “I’ll call for a cleanup. You two get out of here. If anyone else smells Diablo, they’ll know.”

  Diablo was stunned the bear shifter hadn’t asked anymore questions, like why he’d never smelled hellhound around Diablo before, because this wasn’t the first time they’d been around each other.

  Diablo grabbed Reese’s hand. “I need to retrieve my things, and then we’ll be gone.”

  He took his mate to the tree where he’d stashed his belongings. Diablo and Reese were shivering like crazy by the time they got the key from Luke’s house and slid into Reese’s pickup.

  Thank fuck the interior didn’t take long to heat up. Diablo feared he’d have to coax his dick to come back out because it was so cold. He caught his mate glancing at his groin. “Don’t even go there. Your shit climbed back inside, too.”

  “Let’s get home and warm.”

  Diablo liked that sound of that. Home. It wasn’t the same as when he’d lived with Luke. That had been under deception, and Diablo had never felt like he truly belonged. More like he’d been living there on borrowed time.

  Reese knew what and who Diablo was and had mated with him anyway. Either Reese loved unconditionally or was secretly insane.

  Chapter Seven

  Reese was still a bit shaken after killing that demon. He would do it all over again to save Diablo. It had come down to Diablo or that demon. The choice had been obvious.

  Reese had heard the taunting, and he wasn’t going to let the demon go just so he could come back and kill Diablo. Wasn’t happening. Not as long as Reese drew air into his lungs. He already knew his mate despised himself for being a hellhound. Reese didn’t care if the guy was a freaking rabbit or ox. Diablo was his, and Reese would do whatever he had to, good or bad, to protect the guy.

  Diablo led Reese up the back stairs once they were home. There was an entrance to the apartment from the clinic, but since the building was locked up tight, Diablo took this route.

  Reese stopped halfway and changed course. He was so shaken from tonight’s events that he’d almost forgotten to check on his patients. Diablo followed without asking what Reese was doing, as if they’d done this a million times already.

  After unlocking the door and deactivating the alarm, Reese got to work making sure everyone was okay and bedded down for the night. Marbles would be going home tomorrow. The only reason she’d stayed so long for a simple spay was because she’d had complications.

  The adorable cat seemed to be doing just fine now, and Reese wanted to reunite her with her twelve-year-old owner. Marbles would have gone home yesterday, but Reese had closed down the clinic to deal with Diablo.

  “Hey, buddy.” Reese opened Rosco’s cage and petted him behind his ear. “Do you need to potty before I go upstairs?”

  The dog’s tail thumped, but he didn’t get up. He yawned and lay his head back down, so Reese closed the cage. When he stood, he noticed Diablo making sure there was plenty of food and water in everyone’s cages, even the cats.