Page 33 of Last But Not Leashed

“Deal. A few warnings. Dad might get growly over the collar. Ignore him. If he bothers you, do that roar you do. He’s a big pussy cat. Mom’s the one you need to worry about.”

I believed her. If Ethel’s mother was anything like her, her father wouldn’t need to lift a finger to keep the family safe. I’d seen Ethel armed and dangerous.

Only a fool would deliberately test her. By those standards, I was the king of all fools, as I’d do so at every opportunity.

“The sooner you get your family to pay out the bounty, the sooner we can test your claim that the rooms are soundproofed,” I growled.

“They’re not fully soundproofed, but as long as we avoid screaming, it’ll be as private as a full house gets.”

“So, not private at all?”

“I wouldn’t worry about any screaming, honestly. We’re lycanthropes. We’re not exactly quiet by nature. They’re also lycanthropes, so it’s not like my family is going to care, especially not after paying so much for us to make a little noise.”

I questioned her use of ‘little,’ but as everything else made sense, I decided against arguing with her. “The hotel probably has paper-thin walls anyway,” I admitted.

“Who cares? If they put a glass to the door, they can be jealous of your prowess. I saw you first, so tough shit for them.”

“You’re assuming a lot.”

Ethel grinned. “Basic lycanthrope biology, and every single woman I’ve asked has confirmed the rumor: a male in the mating frenzy is a wonder to behold. I’m looking forward to it.”

So many assumptions, so little time. Some of her assumptions were correct: once I got my hands on her, I wouldn’t let her go until I was certain no one would doubt she was mine and I was hers. As for being a wonder to behold, we wouldn’t know until I tried, and I had no intention of disappointing her. What she neglected to say was that the lycanthrope ladies had the same reputation, and I looked forward to her getting her hands on me.

If her parents’ home didn’t survive, they only had themselves to blame.

An older man in worn jeans and a flannel shirt dozed on the porch steps, blocking the way to the front door. Ethel’s patience-worn sigh worried me, as I expected her temper would fray easier than normal.

Collared, leashed, and handcuffed wouldn’t do much to protect her targets. She’d find a way to turn my bag into a lethal weapon. Would the sleeper on the step survive?

I’d find out soon enough.

“Uncle Alan, why are you sleeping outside?”

“I annoyed your ma. She kicked me out, said not to come back in until you came home for a visit, and refuses to give me my keys. That damned brat of mine stole my car, too. Been here three days now, and I’ve been told I should be grateful she’s feeding me.”

“That was stupid of you.”

“Didn’t think it’d take a hunter so long to catch you. Gonna have to give that pack of yours some credit for keeping you so long.” Ethel’s uncle cracked open an eye, looked me over, and whistled. “Forget that other male, baby girl. Claim this one. You ain’t gonna find a prettier one in the state. How’d he get a collar on you without you ripping his arms off and feeding them to him?”

“Uncle! This is Dale.”

Ethel’s uncle opened his other eye and both his brows rose. “Your Dale’s a hybrid?!”

“Surprised me, too,” she admitted.

“That explains the collar and the cuffs. You’re making him look all fierce for my brother and his lady?”

“I think he’s trying to prevent murders. Yours.”

Ethel’s uncle chuckled and lurched upright. “Don’t get all upset over nothin’, baby girl. So, son. You claimin’ the bounties?”

“That’s the idea, sir,” I replied. “I’m going to buy us a nice house with the money.”

“One good for puppies?”

I flicked an ear back and struggled to control my tail. Wagging wouldn’t win me anything except some embarrassment. “One that’ll survive two newly mated lycanthropes, sir.”

He laughed. “If it can survive that, it should survive puppies—maybe. You took your sweet time working my niece. You planning on landing her sometime this year, or are we going to have to encourage you to get a move on?”