Dire Wolf Mates - Chapter 28: Chapter 28

“I think you’ve worn out your welcome, Al. Why don’t you get on out of here?”
“No, uh, well, I can’t. She’s my ride?” Al squeaked.
“Your ride?”
“Well, yeah. Marilyn is my wife. We, um, live together?”
“This lovely little woman is your wife? A slovenly, foulmouthed, foul smelling Ass like you? Marilyn, is he lying to me?”
“Um, sadly, no, he’s not,” the female whispered her reply.
“Do you always mistreat your wife in public?”
“Sometimes. Mostly he just does it in private,” she told him, her eyes gaining some of that confidence Sheila had spied when Marilyn had first come inside the bar.
“I-I’m sorry, Marilyn. It’s just, well, you know how I get when I don’t have my, uh, medicine,” the Donkey whispered, eyes wide, pleading with his wife to understand. He still couldn’t quite meet Leo’s predatory gaze.
“What medicine?” Leo asked.
“Oh, he means drugs. He’s a Duster,” Marilyn said with distaste, referring to a type of bespelled drug that could give supernaturals an unnatural high—Shifters included.
Sheila frowned hard. She didn’t want any Dusters in Serious Moonlight. Making a mental note to tell Derrick and the boys to look out for dealers, she clenched her jaw angrily. There was just no excuse for Al’s behavior. He could blame it on magical drugs, but ultimately the fault was his own. He needed help, but before she could speak up, the Ass was sticking his foot in his mouth.
Again.
“Wait! Don’t tell him that, he’s a cop! She can’t say nothing about me. She’s my wi-wife,” Al stuttered and swallowed as well as he could with Leo’s hand wrapped around his throat.
“A Duster, huh? What was it you called your wife a moment ago? A leech?”
“I, well, uh, that is⁠—”
“Do you know what a leech is? It’s a parasite. An amorphous bloodsucker who lives off others. Does she look like a leech to you? Using Witch Dust is a disgusting habit, very dangerous too, Al. I'll need to call to the Council,” Leo muttered.
“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” Marilyn began. “He’s really not worth it.”
Sheila was standing right in front of them now. Her eyes and ears were attuned to the surrounding crowd. There were mostly Shifters, but some humans in the mix. Best to keep things friendly. She ran her hand over Leo's arm, and he dropped his hold on Al, gold gaze flashing to hers.
“Shut up, Marilyn,” hissed Al, turning to stare at Leo with wide eyes. “Sorry, uh, sir. Look, we will just be going. This isn’t your business, anyway.”
“Al, because you know I am a cop, I do not have to tell you this is very much my business. Domestic abuse is a punishable offense,” Leo growled. “Give me your phone. I’m installing a tracking app, try to remove it and you will have a dozen of the Council’s Enforcers on your ass faster than you can say the word help. Now, until someone from their office contacts you, I suggest you go home and wait⁠—”
“Okay, fine. Thank you,” Al mumbled, standing to go, eyes flashing at Marilyn.
“Before you run away, Al, listen carefully. I need you to understand this female of yours is a treasure. She deserves a worthy mate who makes her feel special, protected, loved, and cherished. All females do. This second number I am putting into your phone is for a counselor, someone like us who can help you with your addiction problems. Now, I am also putting my number in Marilyn’s phone. I will check in with her about your progress and cooperation with the Council.”
“What? You’re gonna spy on me?”
“You’re damn straight, I am, Al. This is my town. You do anything wrong, and I will find out. Now, tell me, Marilyn, do you have children with this person?” Leo ignored the man and spoke to his mate once again.
“Yes, we have t-two. A boy and a girl,” she said shyly.
“I see, and you take care of them?” he asked.
“She’s supposed to!” yelled the harried looking Donkey Shifter.
“Interrupt me again, and I will remove your ability to have any more children, understood?” Leo’s quiet threat had more effect on the man than if he had yelled.
Sniff.
Sheila almost gagged as the scent of urine grew thicker. She looked once more at the floor, but it seemed Al’s jeans were soaking it all in. It was the only thing saving him at this point. Leo looked down, disgust etched on his handsome features as he snarled at Al.
“Will you man the fuck up, please?”
Sheila was impressed. She’d expected the Lion to strut and roar, to announce his dominance and flash his badge with all the suavity of a fucking parade, but he didn’t. Surprising both her and her she-Wolf, who watched the byplay with keen interest. The man nodded. His long face went ashen, and Sheila approved.
Asshole.
“Sorry about the interruption. Now, do you cook? Clean? Care for your children and your mate?” he’d turned his attention back to the female.
“Yes, but I don’t have a job, so it’s fair,” Marilyn said.
“No, you don’t have a job,” Leo said.
Sheila narrowed her eyes at him. What the hell did he say? Was this it then? The moment he revealed his true leonine assholery? Leo Crowley was a secret chauvinist—something did not feel right, but she did not have to wait long to see where he was going with this. With Leo’s next sentence, he redeemed himself and Sheila released the breath she did not know she was holding.
“Sounds to me like you have three jobs, Marilyn. Probably more if you count chauffeuring the children to school and extracurricular activities. Not to mention the shopping and million other chores that crop up every day, am I right?”
“You’re not wrong,” the woman replied, and yes, she was blossoming under Leo’s praise and acknowledgement.
Sometimes that was all it took. A little recognition, a modicum of respect, and some affection. Those three things could save any failing relationship be it romantic, business or whatever. Everyone liked to feel needed, valued, and appreciated. It was human—and not so human—nature.
“You do it all, don’t you, Marilyn? Unappreciated, unrecognized. And you,” Leo’s quietly intimidating voice was aimed once more at the Donkey Shifter, whose expression had gone from angry red and confrontational to shitting his pants green.
Oh, he better fucking not, her Wolf chimed in, and Sheila snorted. Leo’s head tilted, so he heard her, but he did not miss a beat.
“You have one silly little job compared to all she does, and still, you think you’re more important. You really think you are the irreplaceable one. How delusional are you, Al?”
“Well, I, I mean, I bring home the money.”
“So. Fucking. What? Do you even know how to care for your children? Do you cook, clean, wash the clothes? Would you know what food they prefer if you even bothered to do the shopping? Hell, do you even know what day the trash gets taken out or when to change the lightbulbs or the smoke detector batteries?”
“I do, well, er, no, but still I have a job,” Al said, but he didn’t sound so sure anymore.
“One job. You pathetic waste of space—sound familiar? I heard what you said to her. All of us did,” Leo growled, and when he jerked his head, Al looked around, Sheila too, and saw every male Shifter glance their way, their golden eyes flashing anger at Al.
Leo had rallied every male in the bar without raising his voice even once. And all to protect a stranger.
Fuck. That is so hot.
“For your one job, Marilyn accomplishes dozens, and she gets them done without a hand from you. You called her the leech, you sorry excuse for a male. She is way too fucking good for the likes of you, Duster. Now, apologize to her, or so help me, I will drag you outside, and show you three good reasons why you should.”
The Donkey Shifter swallowed loudly. He looked from Leo to his wife and then back again. Sheila waited. Would the man prove smarter than he looked? Or would she get to find out what those three good reasons were?
“You really don’t want to argue with me, son,” Leo growled. “Apologize. Now. Or I will forget my job is to uphold the law, not break it.”
“Okay, okay! Look, uh, I’m sorry. I won’t do that Dust no more. I swear. I will call that counselor. Marilyn? Baby? I didn’t mean nothing by it. I’ll get help. Um, here, let me get you a glass of wine, and some buffalo wings too,” he said, scratching his head and raising a hand towards Sheila.
“Thank you, Al. That would be nice after the day I’ve had,” the smallish female said.
Marilyn straightened her shoulders and nodded at her husband. Her whole outward appearance seemed to have risen along with her self-esteem in the last few minutes. She turned back and looked at Leo, smiling at the big ol’ pussycat like the sun rose and set on the man. Sheila might have found it a tad annoying, but she could not blame her.
Pretty damn impressive, pussycat.
“Just remember, you deserve respect. You don’t have to take attitude from anyone. Society might not place high value on the roles of females who stay home to raise their families, but Shifters should know better. Don’t hesitate to call. Especially if he doesn’t straighten up his act.”
“Alright. Thank you so much, officer,” she said.
“It’s detective, actually,” Leo replied, and the woman smiled even wider.
Sheila slapped her rag on the bar in front of the cozy pair and placed the empty glasses in the sink.
“Can I get anyone anything?”
Golden eyes flashed at hers, causing an unwanted reaction deep within her core. Fucking Shifter biology. She tried not to notice the smirk on the corner of Leo’s handsome face and focused her eyes on the smallish female. Far as Sheila could tell, the woman might be a Squirrel or Chipmunk Shifter. That would account for her large, round eyes, and that cutesy, vulnerable little overbite.
Grrr.
What was it about men who just loved a damsel in distress? Sheila wasn’t a damsel, never had been and never would be. She could handle herself. The way Ms. Chipmunk here was batting her eyes at Leo wasn’t something she could ever mimic. And if that’s what he wanted in a mate, well, he wouldn’t find it here. Wasn’t that just too damn bad?