Chapter Eight #2
They parked, and Reese helped get the dogs out of the truck.
Both animals seemed confused by the new location, their noses working overtime to process all the scents.
Delilah’s tail started wagging when she caught the smell of something sweet coming from inside the building.
Hercules was more cautious, staying close to Sonny’s leg.
The interior of Second Scoops was even more cheerful than the exterior. The walls were covered in photos of dogs enjoying ice cream, their faces covered in melted treats. A young woman stood behind the counter, her expression brightening when she saw them enter with Delilah and Hercules.
“Welcome to Second Scoops! Are these beautiful babies getting treats today?” Her voice was high and enthusiastic, the kind of tone people used when talking to animals. Delilah’s tail wagged harder in response.
“Yes. Definitely yes. All the treats. What flavors are dog-safe?” Sonny moved closer to the counter, reading the menu board mounted on the wall.
The options were extensive, everything from peanut butter to bacon to something called “Pupcake Delight,” which sounded both amazing and slightly terrifying.
“All of our dog flavors are in the case on the left.” The woman gestured to a separate freezer case filled with small containers. “No sugar, no artificial sweeteners, all natural ingredients. The peanut butter is our most popular, but the bacon is a close second.”
Sonny ordered both, unable to choose between them.
The woman scooped generous portions into two small bowls, her hands moving quickly.
The ice cream was lighter in color than regular ice cream, the texture slightly different.
Sonny accepted both bowls and carried them carefully toward the door, Reese following with the dogs.
The back patio was empty except for one older couple sharing a sundae at the far table. Sonny chose a spot near the middle, setting both bowls on the ground where Delilah and Hercules could reach them easily. Both dogs approached cautiously, sniffing at the unfamiliar substance.
Delilah was the first to taste it, her tongue darting out to lick the peanut butter ice cream.
Her whole body went still for a moment, processing this new experience.
Then her tail started wagging so hard her entire back end moved with it.
She dove into the bowl, eating with an enthusiasm that made Sonny laugh out loud.
Hercules took longer to commit, his caution evident in every movement.
But once he tasted the bacon flavor, he was equally enthusiastic.
Both dogs ate like they’d never experienced anything so wonderful in their entire lives, their faces getting covered in melted ice cream.
As they licked the treats off each other’s faces then went back to their bowls, delight bloomed inside Sonny.
“This was the best idea ever!” Sonny couldn’t stop smiling, watching the dogs enjoy their treats. “Look at them. They’re so happy. When was the last time they got to be happy about anything?”
Reese went back inside and returned with two more ice cream cones, regular ones for humans. He handed one to Sonny before settling onto the picnic bench beside him. The cone was vanilla with chocolate swirls, simple but good. Sonny took a bite, the cold sweetness spreading across his tongue.
The afternoon sun was warm but not uncomfortable, filtered through the umbrella shading their table.
Birds chirped from nearby trees. The scent of flowers drifted from planters arranged around the patio's perimeter. Everything felt peaceful in a way that Sonny’s life hadn’t been for months.
Maybe years. Just sitting here, eating ice cream, watching two traumatized dogs experience joy for probably the first time since being stolen from their original homes.
Delilah finished first, licking her bowl clean before moving to investigate Hercules nearly-eaten ice cream.
The male dog growled softly but without real heat, a warning that this was his food.
Delilah respected the boundary, settling onto the concrete beside Sonny’s feet instead.
Her tongue came out to lick the remaining ice cream from her muzzle, her tail still wagging.
Sonny reached down to scratch behind her ear, his fingers finding the spot that made her back leg twitch.
She leaned into the touch, her eyes closing in contentment.
Hercules finished his ice cream more slowly, taking his time with each lick.
When the bowl was empty, he limped over to join Delilah at Sonny’s feet, both dogs pressing against his legs.
“They trust you.” Reese’s voice was quiet, meant just for Sonny. “Completely.”
“Not sure why. I might’ve rescued them, but I dragged them across three towns while being chased by angry hyenas.” Sonny took another bite of his ice cream, the cold making his teeth ache slightly. “Not exactly responsible pet ownership.”
“You saved their lives.” Reese’s hand found Sonny’s knee under the table, making him forget what they were talking about. “They know that. Animals understand intention.”
Right. Dogs.
Sonny wanted to say something, but the words stuck in his throat.
His ice cream was melting faster than he could eat it, dripping down his fingers.
He licked at the mess, trying to keep it from getting all over his pants.
The vanilla was sweet, the chocolate richer.
Good quality ice cream, not the cheap stuff from gas station freezers.
An awareness crawled up the back of his skull like cold fingers. Someone was watching. Not the casual observation of strangers sharing space, but focused attention. Predatory attention. His bunny recognized it immediately, every instinct screaming danger.
He looked up slowly, scanning the area around the patio. The older couple was still absorbed in their sundae. A family had arrived and was ordering inside. Nothing seemed out of place, but the feeling persisted, making his skin prickle with awareness.
Then he saw him.
The hyena from yesterday stood across the street, leaning against a brick building. He wasn’t trying to hide, wasn’t even pretending to be doing anything except watching. His eyes were locked on Sonny, his expression unreadable from this distance. But the threat was clear. The message was obvious.
We know where you are. We’re watching. We’re not giving up.
Sonny’s hand found Reese’s arm under the table, gripping tight. His voice came out barely above a whisper, his bunny screaming at him to run. “He’s here. The hyena from yesterday. Across the street.”
Reese was already staring in that direction. His ice-blue eyes locked on the threat. His mate’s hand covered Sonny’s, squeezing once.
“We’re leaving. Now.” Reese stood in one fluid motion, his height towering over Sonny. “Bring the dogs.”
Hands shaking, Sonny grabbed the bowls and threw them in the nearby trash, along with his unfinished cone.
Delilah and Hercules sensed his fear, both dogs going tense.
He helped them up, his movements quick but trying not to communicate panic.
They needed to move fast, but running would only trigger chase instincts.
Reese was already heading toward the truck, his body positioned between them and the street. Between Sonny and the threat. The protective gesture made something warm curl through his fear, made his bunny settle slightly knowing his mate was there.
They made it to the truck without incident. Reese helped the dogs into the backseat while Sonny climbed into the passenger side, pissed their time had been cut short.
Reese started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot, his movements controlled despite the clench of his jaw. The truck turned onto the main road, heading back toward the house. Sonny checked on the dogs. Both animals were pressed together, sensing the sudden tension.
In the side mirror, movement caught Sonny’s eye. A motorcycle had pulled out from a side street, following them. The rider wore a helmet that obscured his face, but Sonny recognized the build, the way he sat on the bike. The hyena. Following them. Making sure they knew he could.
“He’s behind us.” Sonny’s voice came out tight, his fear bleeding through despite trying to control it. “On a motorcycle.”
Reese’s hands tightened on the steering wheel, his knuckles going white. “I see him.”
The motorcycle stayed several car lengths back, not trying to hide its presence. Just following. Watching. Waiting for an opportunity. Fear flooded Sonny, making his bunny panic and bounce around.
They were being hunted.
The hyena was hunting them.
There was nowhere to run in a truck on a public road.
Reese turned onto a side street, his driving steady despite the speed. The motorcycle followed.
Another turn, this one faster.
The truck’s tires squealed slightly against the pavement. In the backseat, the dogs whimpered, their fear adding to Sonny’s own.
The residential area gave way to something more industrial, buildings spaced farther apart. Fewer cars on the road. Fewer witnesses. Sonny’s stomach dropped. This was bad. This was really bad. The hyena could do anything out here, and no one would see.
The motorcycle accelerated, pulling up alongside the truck. Sonny could see the rider clearly now through the window. Definitely the hyena from yesterday. He made a gesture, pointing at them, then at the side of the road. Demanding they pull over. Demanding they stop.
Reese didn’t stop. His foot pressed down on the accelerator, the truck surging forward. The motorcycle kept pace easily, its smaller size and maneuverability giving it an advantage. The hyena swerved closer, too close, trying to force them toward the shoulder.
Sonny grabbed the handle above the door, his other hand bracing against the dashboard. In the backseat, the dogs were sliding across the leather, their claws scrabbling for purchase. Delilah yelped when she hit the door, her injured leg taking the impact. The sound went through Sonny like a knife.
The road curved up ahead, a bend that wouldn’t normally be dangerous. But the motorcycle was on their ass, crowding them toward the edge. Sonny’s eyes widen when he saw the sheer drop on the other side of the metal guardrail.
That was it. A flimsy railing between them and kissing their butts goodbye.
Sonny screamed as they drew closer to the edge. “Reese!”
The truck swerved, tires hitting the shoulder. Gravel sprayed up, pinging against the undercarriage. Sonny’s body jerked against the seatbelt, his head hitting the window hard enough to make his vision blur. The dogs were barking now, high and panicked. The truck fishtailed, back end losing grip.
Reese yanked the wheel hard, preventing them from careening over the steep embankment.
Then tires kissed road, Reese’s hands steady. The truck straightened out, accelerating hard. Behind them, the motorcycle had fallen back, the hyena apparently satisfied with proving his point.
He could reach them whenever he wanted.
He could force them off the road.
He had all the power here.
Sonny was trembling so badly he feared he would shake apart. He was gasping for breath, his bunny trying to force its way out. The only thing stopping it was Sonny’s refusal to turn small and furry, taking away the dogs’ comfort from his presence.
The rest of the drive passed in tense silence. The motorcycle didn’t follow them back into the residential area, disappearing after nearly killing them. His entire focus was on breathing, on keeping himself together, on not completely falling apart in the passenger seat as the dogs whimpered.
Reese pulled into the driveway and killed the engine. For a long moment, neither of them moved. The house sat in front of them, but Sonny couldn’t make his limbs move.
He tried to kill us.
The sanctuary he’d been trying to build crumbled under the weight of that reality.
“We’re okay.” Reese’s voice was rough, talking as if he was trying to convince himself instead of his passengers. “Everyone’s okay.”
“I think I peed my pants,” Sonny whispered.
In the backseat, Delilah was softly whining, her injured leg probably hurting from the impact. Hercules was panting hard, eyes wide, frozen in place like he’d just experienced the worst roller coaster ride of his life.
Same, buddy. Same.
They needed to get inside. Needed to check the dogs’ injuries. Needed to figure out what came next now that the hyenas had made their intentions clear. But Sonny just sat there, hands clenched tight, trying to remember how to breathe.
Reese’s hand found his, gently prying his fingers open. The touch helped to ground Sonny, pulling him back from the edge of a colossal meltdown.
They’d nearly died, but made it home. Alive. Scared shitless but alive.
Everything else could wait until his entire body stopped vibrating with terror, until his hands and arms and legs stopped trembling like he’d been plugged into a wall socket.
The inside of the truck was a vacuum—soundless, breathless, every molecule sucked up by adrenaline and the need to kiss the ground.
Sonny existed inside the emptiness for several heartbeats, staring at the glove compartment but not seeing it, feeling only the aftershocks of what could’ve happened.
He felt Reese’s gaze on him, but his mate didn’t move to open his door, didn’t rush to get out. Just settled deeper into his seat, like he was as traumatized by what almost happened.
In the backseat, Delilah continued to whine, her voice pitched high, more anxious than in pain. Hercules pressed his nose wetly to the thick glass, his breath fogging the window, as if making sure the danger was really gone.
Then he turned his head.
“Hell if I know,” Sonny murmured. “We can hide under the bed together, buddy.”
Needing reassurance he hadn’t died, Sonny squeezed Reese’s fingers. His mate’s adrenaline had to be wearing off if the deep growl was anything to go by.
The interior felt stifling. Sonny swung open his door and stumbled out, drawing in a deep breath, then screamed. The dogs howled in response.
He turned to Reese, his voice wobbly. “I’m good,” he lied. “We need to get them inside. Check Delilah’s leg. Make sure our bumper-car ride didn’t cause further damage.”
Reese’s gaze lingering on Sonny for one more beat before he got out and opened the back door.
Hercules leapt down first, stiff and wary, but already looking for threats.
Delilah hesitated on the seat, so Reese scooped her up like she was made of glass, and carried her to the porch.
Sonny followed on unsteady legs that threatened to give out any second.
Inside, he went straight for the first aid kit while Reese made a nest of blankets for the dogs in the cool shadow under the living room window.
Delilah sprawled on her side, letting Sonny check her.
No blood, no fresh swelling. Hercules hovered, panting hard, tail slapping the floor with nervous energy.
Only after both dogs were settled did Sonny let himself lower to the rug, knees pulled up to his chest. Reese sat beside him. The house was quiet, which only magnified what they’d just survived.
Sonny tipped back his head, resting it against the wall, then closed his eyes, only to see the guardrail racing toward him.
If he ever saw that hyena again, he was gonna punch the bastard in the nuts.