27. In the doghouse
27
IN THE DOGHOUSE
Archer
It’d always been my dream to work with animals, particularly dogs. But I’d put that on hold when my dad got sick and I went for a job that made money, so I could help support my parents.
But with Micah meeting my emotional needs—there was still the big what if hanging over our head regarding mating—but we fitted together perfectly like puzzle pieces and for now that was enough. Maybe it would be forever.
My wolf demanding to mate Micah last week had scared me. Sure, we could do the whole biting thing, but with unicorns only able to mate with unicorns, it’d never be a complete bond. Gods, we’d been over this so many times.
I’d been able to rein my beast in—that time.
The new agreement with my boss that he wouldn’t bug me over the weekend or late at night opened up so many opportunities. One of them was getting to sleep in and Micah and I were able to shift more regularly, but now that my Saturdays and Sundays were free of work, I contacted an animal shelter and asked to volunteer.
While they were desperate for people to help them, being accepted wasn't easy. There were pages of forms to fill out, I had to have a face to face interview, and I needed referees. Micah joked that he’d give me one which read, “Archer has an uncanny ability to see into an animal’s mind, particularly canines. His insight almost makes me think he is one.”
He thought that was hilarious because I’d sussed out that the people who ran the shelter were humans. But I eventually jumped through all the hoops, and was accepted.
That Saturday morning I was up at dawn, and Micah grumbled I was more excited to meet homeless animals than be with him. “Come on. Who doesn’t love dogs?” He peeked out from the bed covers and raised his hand. I pulled them off him, exposing his naked body and his hard cock. “Are you serious?”
“They’re adorable to look at and I don’t hate them but they’re not fans of unicorns. And it’s the barking and the licking.” He made a face. “So much saliva.” He shuddered.
I covered him up again because his cock was distracting and there was no time for that this morning. “You’re forgetting unconditional love.”
“Don’t I get that from you?” he grinned. I tossed a pillow at him, grabbed my lunch and phone and blew him a kiss.
“Shower at Daire’s when you get back. I don’t want a doggy smell in the apartment.”
I thundered down the stairs, waved at Daire who was repotting plants in the front yard and cycled off.
Micah’s comment about Daire’s apartment brought up the uncomfortable detail that essentially Micah and I hadn’t moved in together. Everything I needed was at Micah’s and I popped into my room at Daire’s every so often. I paid rent so Ivor was happy as he was paying much less than before, even though Daire gave him a considerable discount.
While I was prepared to work hard for five hours at the shelter, I wasn’t expecting to be so exhausted. Cleaning out cages was an ewww job that no one enjoyed. But it had to be done and knowing the animals would be happier and more comfortable afterward made it worthwhile.
Walking the dogs was enjoyable. Poor babies being cooped up in cages most of the day was no fun and they spent the entire walk sniffing all the delightful smells they sensed that humans didn’t.
But there was one dog, not much more than a puppy that broke my heart. He was a mutt and had been in a fight before someone brought him to the shelter. Half an ear was missing and people looking to adopt didn’t want an ‘ugly’ dog. He kept staring at me with his big brown eyes every time I walked past while I was filling water bowls.
“Don’t look at me that way.” He didn’t listen.
“He’s a sweetheart.” Veronica, the shelter manager, said as she scratched the puppy’s head. “But nobody wants him. Poor little guy.” Oh, she was smart, tugging at my heartstrings. She and the pup they’d named Patch were in cahoots. “Would you consider fostering him?”
No way could I foster an animal. Once I took them home, they were mine. “I’m not sure my building allows pets.” That was true. I’d never asked Daire about it.
“You could find out?” She was pushing hard, sensing that I was wavering. Patch whined and poked his nose through the cage. “He’s already attached to you.”
I gave in and sent a message to Ivor, not wanting to ask Daire directly in case he said no. Are pets allowed in the building? I asked.
The tenant before Ryder had a cat. That was before I lived here but Daire mentioned it.
“There you go.” Veronica was looking over my shoulder and reading the message.
I wasn’t convinced as cats were much less intrusive than dogs. It’d take days to get Patch out of the shelter, what with vaccinations and I’d have to fill out a mountain of paperwork.
But Veronica said he was up to date with his shots. She got a leash and the food he liked and after paying what seemed like an exorbitant amount of money, he was mine. Any doubts I had disappeared as soon as I picked him up. He snuggled into me, his body shaking until I held him tight and he fell asleep on my chest but not before licking my face.
And that’s when I remembered Micah and what he’s said about dogs this morning. “We’ll convert that unicorn shifter, won’t we Patch?”
There was a pet shop near the shelter and I bought a doggy carrier, which was similar to a baby’s that you wore and kept the dog secure against your chest. No way could I manage Patch in one hand and ride the bicycle. I also got snacks, a chew toy and a ball.
Ivor was sitting on the porch and he waved as I locked the bike and walked up the path. “Be good,” I whispered to Patch.
“Whatcha got?” he asked, peering at the carrier. “You adopted a baby?” He giggled at his joke.
“A dog.”
“What?” he shrieked and stood on a chair. “Does it bite?”
All puppies loved to chew and bite but not in the way Ivor meant. “No.”
He flapped his hands. “Keep it away from me.” He leaped onto the floor, into 1A and slammed the door. The lock turned.
Wow, he really didn’t like dogs. “You’ll have to work your charm on him, Patch.”
“What’s that you’ve got?” Neil was emptying his garbage.
I didn’t get too close. After seeing Ivor’s reaction, I was prepared for Neil’s to be more extreme. “A puppy. Patch.”
“He’s adorable.” That was unexpected. Neil patted Patch and when he noticed his ear, his eyes filled with tears. “He’ll be so loved in Sunshine Manor.” I wasn’t sure that was true, but at least one person loved my new dog.
“Can I walk him later? Please,” Neil begged.
“Sure, but I want to introduce him to Micah and get him settled in first.”
“Knock on the door when you’re ready.” He kissed Patch and raced up the stairs.
After letting Patch sniff around the garden, he peed and pooped. I’d have to come down later and pick up the poop. Building up my courage, I paused outside Micah’s door. He didn’t like licking or dog smells. I had to remember that.
“You don’t smell.” I gave Patch a kiss and walked in.
“You’re back.” Micah strolled out of the kitchen, a big grin on his face. “And you have an animal.” The grin was replaced with a frown. He sniffed the air. “Please tell me you’re delivering said animal to its new owner.”
Patch wriggled, trying to get out of the carrier and I stroked him as I said, “Sort of.” Technically, I was doing just that. Except the new owner was me.
But Micah saw through my fib. “You got a dog.” Patch cried, wanting to get down. “Without asking me. But wait. You don’t actually live here so why ask me when we’re just neighbors, not roommates or even mates!”
I hadn’t thought this through and now it was bringing up all the big issues in our relationship. “Sorry.”
“Or is this because I can’t give you babies, and the pup is a substitute?” The annoyance was gone and replaced by sadness and resignation.
“No. Nobody wanted him and he was going to spend his life in a cage.” I pointed to his munched up ear. “I’m sorry I didn’t ask you. That was wrong.”
“Why is he doing that?” Micah asked. “Please tell me he’s not going to pee.” I couldn't guarantee that wouldn’t happen. New puppies meant cleaning up accidents until they were house-trained.
“He wants to get down and explore, and his name’s Patch.”
Another frown from Micah. He closed the bedroom door and glared at Patch. “You chew on anything and you’re…” He didn’t finish the sentence as the puppy tilted his head as though he was listening to Micah.
I put him on the floor and he ran straight to Micah, wagged his tail and barked. My unicorn shifter tensed and Patch stared up at him. “What does he want?” Micah made a face.
“I think he wants you to pick him up.”
“And do what?”
“Cuddle him.”
He bent down and gingerly picked up Patch who gave Micah’s cheek a lick. A bark and a lick. This wasn’t going well. Micah sighed and gave the pup a stern look. Patch met his gaze and held it. “You clean up any mess, Archer. I don’t do puppy do do.”
“That’s fine.” I let out the breath I didn’t know I was holding and put my arms around my alpha and our furry baby.
“Patch will need toys,” he said.
My phone beeped and I grabbed it from my pocket. There’s dog shit in the yard. Please clean it up. That was Daire. I’d forgotten about the poop.
Nei l
I took little Patch out of Archer’s hand along with the leash, snacks, a ball and poop bags. Puppies needed lots of stuff. I was so looking forward to taking him for a walk. Years ago when I’d walked dogs for friends, being out in the fresh air and enjoying how the dogs were so excited by simple things such as a butterfly, a scent, a bush that had to be peed on, tamped down my own anxiety.
And besides, I loved dogs.
“Come on, Patch. I’m going to introduce you to the park and we’ll have so much fun.”
“Hi, Neil.” Toby bounded down the stairs.
He and Martin were all moved into 3A and I was okay with it. My feelings regarding Martin were all a jumble and I’d pushed them aside for now.
Toby bent down and patted Patch who rewarded him with a lick. “Are you going out?”
“I’m taking Patch to the park.”
“Can I come?”
“Sure.” It was a slow walk as Patch insisted on sniffing everything. Toby and I chatted about school, soccer and how he liked Sunshine Manor. And when we got to the park, I sat on a bench while Toby threw Patch a ball. Both boy and puppy raced around for thirty minutes and when they were done, they both flopped on the grass exhausted.
“Toby! Toby! Can you hear me?” Both Toby and I stood up as Martin raced along the sidewalk, phone in his hand with Daire beside him. The ball of anxiety that was always in my belly expanded, and I clutched the park bench.
“Dad, I’m here with Neil and Patch.”
Martin tore across the road in front of a car that slammed on its brakes and wrapped his arms around his son as he panted. His cheeks were wet with tears and he hugged Toby as Daire came and stood beside me. “What’s our rule?”
Toby hung his head. “You always have to know where I am.”
“Right.” Martin closed his eyes and then kissed the top of his son’s head. “Daire, can you walk Toby home, please.”
What had I done? I was so wrapt up in Archer’s new puppy and myself, I hadn’t thought to find out if Toby had asked his dad’s permission. And now Martin was going to shout at me. And maybe forbid me from seeing Toby. My world was crashing down around me as the bubble of anxiety exploded.
“And Patch. Patch can come too, right, Dad?”
“Yes.” Martin waited until they’d crossed the road. “He’s a kid, Neil, but you’re the adult.” This was worse than shouting.
The disappointment in his voice stabbed at me. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t think.”
“You have no idea what ran through my head when I couldn’t find him.” His voice had a hint of steel to it. “He is my everything,” and he strode off.
I collapsed onto the bench howling, with no Patch to comfort me. Just me in the big open space. Alone. But Daire must have told Ivor and Archer because they arrived and held me until the tears stopped flowing.