Page 13 of Jared

Jared sighed, then spying a customer glancing about with a look of indecision on his face, hurried over to offer assistance. He completely missed the look of speculation cast his direction by Desmond.

“So,” Desmond said, leaning across the tiny table and speaking in a low voice. “ You gonna tell me about your wolf?”

Jared sat stunned into silence. What? How the hell...?

Desmond gave a knowing smirk. “So he did tell you what he was.”

“How?” Jared couldn't bring himself to finish the rest of his question, his brain still short circuiting over the direction their conversation had taken.

“I could scent him on you. Through all the soap and all, you smell like wolf.”

“You can smell it?” Jared gave his arm a sniff. All he could smell was his fabric softener and a hint of the sandalwood and rice milk body wash he'd used earlier.

“I'm a husky myself.”

“Husky? Like- like the dog?”

Desmond nodded. “Exactly like. So, this wolf of yours, how'd he come to show himself? We don't usually do that with outsiders unless we really trust them. You'd only just met him at the club, right?”

Jared blinked. “You- you trust me?” His face brightened. “Thanks so much. I- I won't tell anyone, I swear. And, uh, well, last night... I met Steve when he saved me from these two guys.” He bit his lower lip and looked away, not wanting to meet Desmond's eyes.

“Two guys? What two guys?” Desmond's protective instincts kicked to the fore. “What did they do?”

Jared blinked again, this time in an attempt to keep the tears at bay.

“Shit, you okay, Jared? They were't just pawing you on the dance floor or propositioning you in the bathroom, were they?”

He shook his head then scrubbed a hand across his eye. “I... I was talking and laughing with them and they said they'd go eat at a nearby diner with me, just making friends...”

“And?” Desmond prodded gently.

“St-steve stopped them in- in the alley.” Jared still refused to look at Desmond.

“Oh my God, Jared! And you came in to work?”

Jared's shoulder's slumped. “I'm okay,” he said, looking Desmond in the eyes once more.

Desmond smiled at his friend's show of defiance. “Look at you. Not letting creeps get you down. But back to- Steve, you said his name is?”

Jared nodded.

“He went all wolf?”

“I- I don't know. I was kind of... out of it,” Jared flushed. Bad enough he guesses what actually happened in that alley with those guys, no need to confirm it. “But I didn't know until later. Umm... he took me to his place. Says I'm his True Mate or whatever.”

Desmond gasped. “That's huge! Do you have any idea how rare that is, to find your one true soul mate?”

“That's a real thing?”

Desmond sat back in his chair and regarded Jared solemnly. “You bet your sweet bippy it is.”

“Oh.Well, I did agree to date him.”

Desmond gaped at him. “Date? You got a wolf to agree to date when you're his True Mate? Was he not all growly and 'Mine, Mine, Mine'?”

Jared nodded. “Kinda. Well, yeah, actually. But I told him I needed to get to know him first. I just can't just meet some guy and become the star of “Bride of the Alpha Werewolf”.”

“He's the Alpha?” Desmond looked more astounded by the second. “What did you say his name was, again? Steve what?”