I dialed my cell.
“Well, well, well,” came a cheerful, teasing male voice. “I hear you’re the Big Bad Wolf now?”
Dominick Alvarez, Desmond’s younger brother and Lucas’s live-in bodyguard, was possibly the kindest, funniest, most charming man I’d ever met. If he wasn’t also the only gay werewolf I knew, I’d probably marry him, save myself a mountain of drama and live in a white-picket-fence neighborhood in suburbia.
Since he was an Alvarez, he’d probably make me clean up after myself too, though.
“He made it back okay, then?”
“Yes. If you’re calling to see if he’s following your instructions, I’m pleased to tell you he has indeed showered and shaved. As the one person who has to spend all day in close proximity to him, I thank you profusely for mandating soap. ”
Clearly Dominick wasn’t too worked up over the whole Kellen situation. The Alvarez family had known the Rains their whole lives. If anyone could be cavalier about Kellen’s behavior, it would be Dominick, since he’d been exposed to it since childhood.
“How long has he been like that?” I asked.
“Don’t hedge. Just spit out your question. ”
Damn him. He knew what I wanted to ask, but he’d never let me be coy about it. “Did he start acting weird because of Kellen or was it…sooner? Like…after the wedding?”
“Sorry, kid. This is new. ”
I chewed on my lip briefly. It was the answer I’d expected, but at the same time I’d hoped maybe Lucas had felt at least a little bad for what he’d done to me. Apparently not.
“Keep an eye on him for me,” I said.
“I keep both eyes on him. Always. ”
“Then can you do me a favor?”
A pause. “That depends. ”
“If he starts drifting again, let me know. I may not be with him, but as he so crassly reminded me tonight, I’m still bonded to him. And even if I weren’t, I’m still pack protector. He’s putting everyone at risk if he’s running around like a stinky vagabond. ”
Dominick made a sound like he was stifling a laugh. “I’ll do it, on one condition. ”
Oh God how I hated the words on one condition.
“I’m not going to have sex with you,” I replied jokingly.
“You say that like it’s a hard thing to manage. ”
“Ouch. ” Okay, I deserved that. “What’d you have in mind?”
“Go see Des. ”
My heart sank, feeling like a stone in my chest. “Dominick, I don’t think—”
“That’s my condition. ”
“He doesn’t want to see me. ” And who could blame him?
“You don’t know that. ”
“Has he said anything to make you think different?”
A pause. “Not to me. ”