But though Bruce took a step toward the guy, Josh was already dismissing him.
“Bruce won’t help unless there’s some glory in it.” Then he glanced up at Cara. “Or he’s trying to get laid.”
That wasn’t true! He hadn’t been about the glory or the sex in years—if ever. Even firefighter groupies got old when the tragedies became real. He was a fireman because he was good at it. He saved lives. But none of those words made it to his mouth.
Meanwhile Cara snorted. “One of those, huh?”
No!
“Yeah,” Josh said as he looked him dead in the eye. “And obviously useless as a werewolf.”
She chuckled as she looked back at Bruce with pitying eyes. “Don’t sweat it, puppy. Some of us aren’t cut out for this kind of work.”
The dismissive look cut deep. He’d said those words before to kids who’d never made it as a firefighter. Don’t worry, kid. It happens. Not everyone is cut out to be a firefighter. Go find something that you’re good at, because you sure as hell aren’t one of us.
But he was cut out for it. He’d been on the front lines for years—far longer than his brother, who was right then offering Cara an earpiece. He had another for Nero, who grabbed it out of the backpack and popped it in like a pro. Because they were pros.
“What the hell is that stink?” Nero asked as he looked around. “It smells like rancid dog.”
“Fairy cheese,” Laddin said. “Pixies.”
Nero cursed. “Of course. Why wouldn’t there be pixies that smell like rotten cheese?”
Cara grabbed a heavy mace from the corner and dropped it on her shoulder. She handled it like it was a designer purse, but it looked like it weighed a ton. “All the magical whatsits are showing up. We think they’re drawn to the dead zone.”
“Are the fairies an imminent threat?” Nero asked Laddin.
Tell him about your promise. Tell him you made a deal with them.
“I’m handling them.”
No! No, you’re not!
“Good. Look, I know it’s not your job, but we need someone here to coordinate with the home office, to keep them up to date on Wulfric’s progress and a few other things, at least until Bing and Yordan are back up. Do you mind helping out?”
“Of course not,” said Laddin.
Nero nodded his thanks and handed over a small tablet. “Wulfric and his mother are there and there.” He pointed to two bedrooms. “Bing and Yordan.” He pointed at two more. “Stratos and Wiz are going to stay by the lake because we’ve got other wounded wolves taking their rooms. That means you’ll have to bunk in the barn.”
“What? Why?”
“Because you stink, and they’re sick.”
Josh looked up from a tablet he’d pulled from his backpack. “It’s really bad, Laddin. The stench is—”
“I know.” Laddin sighed. “It’s in his fur.”
“Then get him to shift or get outside.” That came from Nero, but everyone was looking at Bruce as if he were a dirty toddler who’d messed his pants.
Bruce looked back. With every fiber of his being, he wished himself human. He’d been trying before, but this was like a wish to live, a need to breathe, a hunger for power or respect or any fucking thing he’d ever wanted in his entire life all rolled together in one desperate plea. I’m a man!
But he wasn’t. He remained a stinky, useless, mute dog.
The woman snorted. “Typical.” Then she lifted her phone up and snapped a picture.
Bruce bristled. Did she think he was a show dog? Would she pass his picture around to her friends and laugh at the wolf who smelled like fairy cheese?
“Did you just catch a Pokémon?” Josh asked as he looked over her shoulder at her cell.
“Don’t judge,” she said as she pocketed her cell. “It’s the only way I get my mother out of the house. I won’t trade with her unless she catches a few of her own.”
“I’m not judging,” Josh answered, his voice filled with admiration. “I wish I’d thought to do the same. Anything cool out here in Wisconsin?”
“I just got a Gyarados. What have you got?”
They wandered off together, talking Pokémon in the same way Bruce and the other firefighters talked about sports. Nero followed behind, grumbling good-naturedly about geeks and their games. Meanwhile, Laddin was on his phone, doing his job coordinating with someone. Yordan and Bing were shuffling off together to their beds, though it was more like Bing was walking and Yordan was shuffling.
And Bruce stood there, completely ignored. Hell, he wasn’t even cutting it as amusement. Cara had been playing Pokémon Go, not taking his picture. Never in his life had he been so completely dismissed. As a kid, he’d been big and could fight. As an adult, he had valuable skills and an imposing presence.
But what was he now? A stinking dog.
The humiliation of it all burned in his gut and came out as a low whine. Laddin heard it, of course, but he was on the phone. All he could do was turn and give Bruce a sympathetic smile—the kind given to kids and very frail elders. Sorry you’re helpless, but please be quiet while the useful people work. We’ll get to you as soon as we can.
He’d never hated himself more.
No! God damn it, he was not going to drop into self-pity or self-loathing. That was not his style. Maybe he didn’t have hands or instruments, but he could see and smell. There was a ton of stuff he could notice with those two senses. And if there was a problem, he could bark.
That was what he’d do. He’d be useful with the ability he had.
