Doe and the Wolf (Furry United Coalition, #5) by Eve Langlais Page A

threatened, waving the blade in his direction.
    The confusion on Joey’s face lasted only a moment before anger set in. “What are you doing, Dawn?”
    “You need to leave.”
    “Not without you.”
    She shook her head. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
    Wrong answer.
    Nostrils flaring, and his left eye twitching, Joey took a step toward her. “Don’t make me angry. I can’t always control myself when I’m angry, and I don’t want to hurt you.”
    “And I don’t want to go with you. Please, Joey. I know it’s the injection that’s making you crazy like—”
    “I. Am. Not. Crazy!” Joey’s rouged lips twisted, and his eyes flared. His twitch jumped from his left eye to his right and back again. His skin began to ripple.
    Eep! She hurriedly spoke in an effort to calm him. “Sorry. That came out wrong.”
    His skin settled back to its regular pallor, and his twitch eased. “So you don’t think I’m crazy?”
    “Of course not. I mean, hey, if the injections made you nuts, then wouldn’t I be nuts too?” She threw him a wan smile.
    “We’re special.”
    Tin hat special. “Listen, all I meant was I know you’re having a tough time adjusting. I am too.”
    “I’m not having any problems. I’m perfectly fine.”
    “People who are fine don’t go around killing and kidnapping people.” Once again, her mouth got away from her as she tried to reason with him. What a waste of breath.
    “Why not? They’re weaker than me.”
    “It’s wrong. Not only that, but you’re going to expose us to the humans.”
    “So what? Isn’t it about time the world knew about us? Discovered our superiority? Once upon a time, I used to think Mastermind was a nutjob, but now I have to wonder if she wasn’t on to something. We are the better species, and those of us gifted with the injection even more so. Why, I’ve gone from being bottom of the food chain to eating the food chain.”
    “You’re going to get us all killed if you don’t stop.”
    The tic returned. “No, I won’t, but you might end up next on the menu if you don’t stop irritating me.” He took a step forward, and she brandished the knife she still held before her to halt him.
    “Please don’t come any closer. I don’t want to hurt you.”
    Judging by the speed he twitched, he didn’t appreciate her defensive posturing. “Be a good doe and put the knife down.”
    She shook her head.
    “Now, Dawn, be reasonable.”
    She tightened her grip.
    With a cry that was half scream of frustration, half growl of caged beast, Joey burst from his clothes and shed his humanity.
    Forget reasoning. Frankengecko was back, and, boy, did he look mad.
    And hungry.
    “Eep!”

Chapter Sixteen
    T he very pregnant FUC agent excused herself from the restaurant table and went to the bathroom, her partner and husband following, a good thing too because Everett had stopped paying attention several minutes ago. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. Really wrong. He drummed his fingers on the table as he stared out the window.
    Tom noticed his distraction and nudged him. “Why aren’t you paying attention?”
    “I am.” At Tom’s raised brow, he amended, “I was. But I’ve got this nagging sensation.”
    “Nagging how? Like a, need to pop a Tums because I ate too much deep-fried food sensation? A crack open a new package of toilet paper because I’m going to clog some plumbing? Or the, I think I left the stove on at home one?”
    “None of the above. I think something’s wrong with Dawn.”
    Tom slammed the table with a fist. “I knew it. I knew we shouldn’t have left that doe alone. She’s probably halfway to Canada by now.”
    “She didn’t escape. I think she’s in danger.” Everett rose and tossed a few bills on the table.
    “Where are you going?”
    “To check on her.”
    “On the basis of your gut?”
    “Don’t make fun. That instinct has saved our tails more than once.”
    “You know, they have this new technology