Chapter 26
Desmond was relieved to hear that Jared was on the mend. He'd been very worried ever since the day of the Alpha ceremony, watching in horror as Jared first threw up and then was revealed to be in active early labor.
Glad that'll never be me. Men having babies is obviously not something to undertake lightly, magic or no. Thank God it's not a possibility for me anyways, I'm no Alpha True Mate.
He straightened his tie. He didn't have any work today, but there was a very cute doorman he hoped to flirt with on his way out the door to do a bit of shopping.
He whistled to himself as he made his way to the elevator, then switched to softly humming to himself as he rode down to the ground floor.
You don’t even know if he's gay, he chastised to himself. Still, a little look and a small flirt won't hurt anything, right? Not like the pack would allow anyone homophobic to hold such a position, even if they allowed them to remain within the pack.
He made his way across the lobby.
Yes! He's still on duty.
“Going out anywhere special?” the doorman asked conversationally.
“Just doing a little grocery shopping, Rafe,” Desmond replied.
“You look very nice indeed for that,” Rafe said, his eyes flicking Desmond from head to toe.
Oh ho! So maybe he is interested.
“Maybe I was hoping someone would notice me?” Desmond returned, giving Rafe a coquettish look.
Rafe raised an eyebrow. “Is that so, Mr. Cleary?”
“It is. Seemed to have worked too.”
Rafe tilted his head slightly. “That it did,” he said softly.
Whatever he said next was interrupted by the sound of barking.
A young dog came careening from around the corner, streaking past them in a desperate bid to outrun a man who was chasing him.
A moment later, a van with the words “Dog Protection Unit” stenciled on the side pulled up and man leaned over. “You seen a guy chasing a dog?”
Desmond was glad that Rafe did not answer immediately. Something seemed off. He didn't recall seeing any city vehicles marked in that manner nor hearing of any rescue groups with that name. Desmond shook his head at the man. “Sorry, no. But I just came down.”
Rafe kept quiet. The man swore and drove off. Rafe cleared his throat.
“Umm, Mr. Cleary?”
“Yeah? I only got a quick whiff as he ran past, but that dog...”
Desmond turned a sharp gaze onto Rafe, catching his meaning. He gave a sniff. There. Not wolf. More dog, but definitely a shifter. It seems vaguely familiar...
“Damn. I wish I'd gotten a closer look.”
Rafe met his gaze evenly. “It was a husky and a pup still at that.”
Well, damn.