Page 19 of Pooch Planet

Antoine placed a round metal device on the table, the object not much larger than the cap on a bottle of ale.

“I’d like your permission to record the interview.”

Benji finally met Antoine’s gaze. It was all such a shame, really. Everything about Antoine appealed to him. From his striking black eyes and long hair, strong jawline, aquiline nose and lightly bronzed skin—he could stare at Antoine for days.

“Benji? Is it all right if I record our conversation?”

Beni mentally shook himself. The initial bonding with Antoine was only intensifying. While it would level out once they were mated, the urge to be close to his Alpha would never entirely go away.

“Yeah, sorry.” He pointed to the strange disc. “Go ahead.”

Antoine narrowed his eyes as if trying to see into Benji’s mind. “All right.” He swiped his palm over the top of the recorder and a pin head sized green light blinked on. “Let’s begin the night before last. How did you come upon the body of Coco?”

Benji cringed. “There wasn’t much of a body. More like…” He pressed his lips together as his stomach roiled. “Let just say I knew it was Coco by the shock of pink he always wore in his hair.”

“That’s all right, Benji.” Antoine lifted his hand as if he was about to reach for Benji, then quickly snatched it back. “We have the remains already, you don’t need to worry about describing the victim. Let’s focus on how you discovered him. Was there anything unusual about the surroundings, anything you heard before your arrival on the scene? Observations of that nature.”

“Yeah.” Benji swiped at the tiny beads of sweat that had begun to form on his upper lip. “I can do that.”

He wiggled into another position and more slick pooled between his ass cheeks. At the rate things were going, he was going to launch himself at Antoine—sheriff’s station be damned.

“Let’s see,” Benji continued, rubbing his forehead. “I was hanging out with my friend Shep at his place. I had an early shift at the factory—”

“Is that the kibble factory just outside the village?”

“Yeah, that’s the one. Anyway, Shep’s place isn’t too far from mine—we both live in the worker’s neighborhood—but as I was going home, I realized I didn’t have any energy brew left. There’s a market in the village square that stays open late, so I figured I’d grab some before heading home.”

Antoine sat back in the chair, crossing his arms. Benji didn’t sense that he was angry or anything, more that he was attempting to place an even larger physical barrier between them than the table could provide.

“And how far is the market from the worker’s neighborhood, approximately?”

“Oh, about a ten minute walk. Half that if I shift.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“I would’ve had to leave my clothes lying in the street then shop naked.”

Antoine quirked an eyebrow. “Of course.” He ran a hand across the top of his head then adjusted his position on the chair. He appeared as uncomfortable as Benji felt. “Then what happened?”

Benji wrapped his arms around himself, the trembles taking over—only they had nothing to do with excitement.

“Everything happened so fast, like really fast, so I’m not sure I’ll be much help. I spotted Coco also heading to the market but coming from the opposite side. R-right as I raised my hand t-to say hello, there was this ear-piercing shriek, and…” He gulped in a breath. “and whoosh, Coco seemed to be suspended in air, maybe six or seven feet from the ground, then it was like he exploded, white curly hair and blood flying everywhere.”

Benji slapped a hand to his mouth, worried that he might spew at any minute.

“Take your time, Benji. There’s no hurry.”

Benji took in several deep breaths, swallowing a few times then taking a sip of water. “That’s…that’s really all. Like I said, I’m not sure I’m much help.”

“You’re doing great, Benji. I noticed something in the sheriff’s report, something about things were blurry? Did you mean you were having a hard time remembering what happened, or did you mean something else?”

Benji shook his head. “No. I will never forget that horrific moment. It’s been forever emblazoned in my mind. It’s hard to describe because I’ve never witnessed anything like it. It was as if whatever it was that killed Coco moved so fast, that my brain couldn’t keep up with the image. Does that make sense?”

Antoine sighed. “Actually, quite a bit. Thank you, Benji. You’ve been very helpful.” Antoine swiped his palm over the device again, and the dot of light disappeared. He folded his hands on the table then glanced over his shoulder as if someone might be listening. “Now that I’ve taken care of my official business, I’d like the chance to speak with you alone. Would you be comfortable with me escorting you home, then speaking in private there?”

Judging from the way his cock was firming up, that part of his anatomy had no issue. But everyone in his neighborhood would see Antoine going inside his house. It’s possible they might conclude he was merely there to interview him, but who was he kidding? The episode in the bar earlier would’ve already been barked all over the village by now.

Oh well. He couldn’t avoid the inevitable. He was going to end up mated to an Alpha who would be in his life for a brief moment in time, then be left behind to raise his pups alone. He’d be the joke of the village for the rest of his life, with Butch probably coming back and sniffing around. He idly wondered if the G-Force would order Antoine to pay pup support.

His eyes burned. He didn’t want Antoine’s credits. He wanted him.

“If being alone with me concerns you, maybe we could ask Shep to chaperone?”

“Ha!” Benji almost choked on his own spit. “No way. He’s the last shifter I want around when I…Well anyway, I don’t want anyone else around. I’m okay with you coming to my place.”

This time, Antoine did reach for him. He clasped Benji’s fingers. “Benji?” Antoine locked eyes with him. “Everything’s going to be all right. I promise.”

Benji tried to keep the tears at bay. Could he trust the word of a gargoyle?