“Mind your language, boy. You know your mama doesn’t like that word.” Traffin turned to the pack. “My name is Traffin. They don’t know it, because I never told them.”

  There was a small commotion as Jon was brought in and let go to join his family. He slapped Traffin on the shoulder as he moved to wrap his arms around Heidi and Katie. “You okay, man?”

  “I’ll be fine,” Traffin told him, but in truth all he wanted to do was shift back into a dog and stay that way.

  Jon caught it. “You don’t look fine.”

  Traffin ducked his head. “Yeah, well. That’s because of these assholes and not because of anything you’ve ever done.”

  Jon nodded, and touched Tobias on the shoulder, but the boy shrugged his hand away and stayed beside Traffin. Traffin took a step forward, focusing on the pack leader. “This is a good town,” he said.

  “They belong to the other side.”

  Traffin shook his head. “Nope. They got caught in the middle, made the best of it they could. You might not have worked it out yet, but they’re not all human here.”

  “They sure look it.”

  “You tried using your noses...or maybe the brain that’s meant to be between your ears? I mean, I know shooting them’s easier, but…” He pointed at Jonathan. “I came stumbling through his back door and he takes one look at me and says I won’t sit down until the lady of the house tells me I can. He knew exactly what I was...”

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  “So how come you’re still here.”

  “That’s a question I’ve asked myself every day for the last three years, but he knew, and I’m here, and he had plenty of opportunity to get rid of me. He could have given me up while I was still injured.”

  He looked back at Jon. “Why didn’t you, by the way?”

  Jon shrugged. “I didn’t like the Colonel?”

  “Why not?”

  Jon gaped at him. “You have to ask? That guy was a grade-A asshole. He treated his men like dirt, and everyone else like crap. Why would I hand you over to someone like that?”

  He frowned. “Besides, the vet would have been real upset to discover I’d had her patch you up, just to get you killed...and she scares me, man. That lady has one mean temper.”

  “You had a vet check him out?” the pack leader was outraged.

  “What? You wanted me to take my dog to a doctor? That’s just beyond stupid. What else do you think was a good idea—maybe hang a sign around his neck that says ‘I’m the shifter you’re looking for’... Please. Grow a brain.”

  The pack leader snarled, and Traffin stepped between them.

  “They are mine,” he snarled back. “Each and every one of them. MINE.”

  Several other growls answered him, and Heidi threw up her hands. “Oh, really!” she snapped. “You can shoot me if you like, but dinner needs to go on, and I’m tired of waiting to die. Come on, Katie. You can help me peel the potatoes.”

  Guns snapped up, and she pushed the nearest one away. “You come get me when you work out what you’re going to do with us. I’ll be in the kitchen.”

  Traffin watched as the pack leader signaled for her to be allowed to pass.

  Her voice floated back from the kitchen.

  “And, Woofer, for Heaven’s sake…and Katie’s and mine, put on some damned clothes!”