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Dirty Laundry

Chapter Eight

By Roofles

Logan, Clem and Reese had ended up half carrying Domino into the garage. They made sure to keep the other dogs out as the three set things up for whoever Reese had called on the phone. Logan had always tried to keep pleasure and business separate, as hard as that was becoming these days and Reese seemed to understand the less people who knew the better.

Reese pulled out a rather large table from within the garage, setting it up in the dead center for them to hoist Domino's half conscious body up and onto. It was a large plastic table with strong, supportive steel legs that could hold the wolf's weight. Reese was already getting things out while the three of them waited as Logan stayed by Dom's side.

In a way, Logan knew bringing Domino here had been the right, if only, choice he actually had.

"I'm used to this." Reese just said without another word on the matter. Logan wasn't sure what to think about that as he held Domino's hand in his.

"Oh, Dom..." Logan muttered, petting the hand that squeezed his in turn.

The brown furred wolf was sweating profusely and was having fevered dreams. The three of them needing to restrain Domino, trying to keep the wolf cooled down until help arrived from the wounds he had received during the night raid on the wolf club downtown. Logan worried the wounds had gotten infected from the sewers they had practically crawled through to get out of there.

It was a miracle in itself they had gotten out alive. Let alone that Logan managed to bring Domino here in one piece. The human was beginning to feel the wear and tear of the night catching up to him and he did his best not to let it show. Even if he knew the other two did.

Logan hated showing weakness in front of others and would most likely die with a laugh rather than a whimper just out of pride alone.

Domino snarled in pain and Logan squeezed his hand in assurance, petting the wolf's head until he calmed down.

"It's me, Dom. I'm here... we got help coming. Just hold on..." Logan continued to whisper to the wolf, not caring how embarrassing it was in front of the other two.

There was a knock at the side door and Reese was already answering it, letting the collie in through the side garage door that led to the walkway around the house. They had locked the door leading into the living room; Logan noting how it had a keyhole on each side, able to be locked with a key but not unlocked otherwise from either side. The collie was... male? Female? Logan honestly couldn't tell as they moved over to inspect the patient without a moment's hesitation.

That was the least of his worries as a pained whine filled the room, Domino tossing and turning once more on the table they had laid him on.

"I'll have to remove the bullets before patching the wounds." The collie just said without introducing themselves to the either. Their voice was flat, monotone and the inflection was hard to read... some female dogs sounded very masculine, Logan wasn't sure which they were without feeling them up.

Reese seemed to know them and Logan tensed at that. Unable to do anything in that moment. Logan didn't have anyone to call like this. He was just some lone human in the world, trying to make it better for everyone else while never asking or expecting credit.

He had never felt so useless before as he stood there.

"Relax." Clem reassured the human, practically able to smell his unease about the situation. The boxer patted him on the back. "You might be new here but Reese got this covered." And the dog nodded towards the wolf talking with the collie.

"Shadow is an old family friend..." Reese explained seeing the worried look on the human's face as he watched the two; the collie already beginning to set things up on a workbench in the garage. Logan looked back at Domino then over at the collie. "He's an operator, or at least that's what we used to call them in our unit."Reese, sort of, explained. Trying to ease Logan's doubts.

"Right..." Logan wasn't reassured in the least.

"It's either this or the hospital." Clem just stated and Logan grumbled an agreement. The human had suffered a head wound, had thrown up out front and was putting on an act in front of the two as his head swam. All he wanted to do was take a stiff drink, pop a couple of Tylenol and crash for the rest of the month.

He also knew he needed to call in and report everything... and was having trouble bringing himself too. Logan wasn't about to rat Domino out, let alone Reese for helping them out in such a precarious situation as this one. That, and, Clem was a friend from work... if Clem vouched for Reese, Logan would have to begrudgingly go along with it fighting against his instinct, and fears, and trust the wolf.

"How can I help?" Logan just asked already going over to wash up for whatever procedure the Collie had in mind to stabilize Domino. The dog gave a single once over before just nodding in turn.

"I promise nothing." Shadow just said, looking at Reese once more before directing Logan and Clem around with harsh barks.

Tossing Clem some fur clippers, the collie walked over with Logan discussing what needed to be done. The boxer ended up shaving off large chunks of the wolf's fur as Reese stayed nearby to keep the patient under control.

It was a messy procedure.

Each bullet wound had been shaved down to the dark, grayish skin and thoroughly clean to help prevent as much infection as possible. The collie, Shadow, administered a syringe full of some clear liquid to the patient several times in different locations. They didn't even falter with jabbing the needle into Domino's arm and then one in his thigh; Logan wasn't sure how much anesthetic was needed for a wolf of Domino's size. Either way, that had to hurt and was sure to leave a nasty bruise in the morning.

Logan wasn't in the mood right now to question it, no matter how much he wanted too. Being forced to just shut up and rely on these... dogs... this wolf... it was a new experience for the human who'd only ever had himself to fall back on.

The collie had a pair of long thin tongs they used to probe around in the bullet wounds to extract each one. It seemed extremely painful and Logan felt for Domino who howled in pain as the tongs dug into his muscular bicep. Reese had to force the wolf to bite down on a leather strap, afraid he was going to swallow his tongue otherwise. Or bite it off.

The image of the lion doing so the other day crept up into Logan's head and he shook it away. The very act nearly made him hurl on the spot.

They had strapped Domino down with leather belts on the large table set up in the garage. The party table was usually used for games for the dogs in the house; this was the bloodiest game of operation Clem had ever played. The boxer made sure to keep the other dogs from being nosy and they knew not to bother Reese when he had... work to do.

Shadow just continued without stopping. Logan ending up being his nurse, for the most part, as he ran around the garage dropping off bloody utensils, getting new ones from the brown leather doctors bag they had brought along with them before jogging back over. Shadow demanded some boiling water to sanitize the equipment with as they went into the night.

It took less than an hour but Logan was about to pass out by the end of it.

His bloody arms and sides had been cleaned and bandaged shortly on his arrival with the wounded brown wolf. Logan's head was still ringing from where the lion had smacked it into the cement wall in the sewer. Shadow assured him he only had a mild concussion. Not exactly the worse news he heard all day.

And just as quickly as the collie had appeared, they were heading out with barely a word.

"He should make it." Shadow finished up with, stripping the surgeon's gloves off and just dropping them where they fell. They didn't seem to care about the mess they made as they turned tail, grabbed their bag and was making for the door.

"Thank you for showing up in the middle of the night." Reese said respectfully, treating the collie with great respect. "I'll send payment through the usual means..."

"Yeah, thanks doc." Logan just gave them a wave, sitting down and trying not to pass out on the spot as he held his head with a hand. The garage was spinning, and still, Logan couldn't just pass out here. There was more work to be done now that Domino was stable.

He also didn't like the idea of passing out around wolves... or dogs.

"I'm not a doctor... I'll send you the bill." And Shadow turned to face the wolf, giving him a single look before heading out without another word.

It took another hour to clean everything up, bleaching the cement garage and trying to hide any evidence of what had happened here. Just in case. It was a very Mafioso mentality to have but the human didn't question it. Logan joined in with Clem and Reese to get everything secured for the night.

The two ended up having to force the human to take a seat, sipping a cold glass of water and "relax" while they took care of the rest of the work.

"I just can't trust him with Domino." Logan was trying to argue with Clem, ignoring Reese. He knew the wolf was listening in. That's what they did. Always sticking their noses...

Logan took a breath, letting such thoughts go.

He needed to thank Reese after this, not questioning the wolf's kindness. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth and all that. Or in this case, the gift wolf. Logan really needed to work on that. Fighting his own baser instinct on the matter wasn't helping anyone out.

"Got to make sure you don't end up croaking, either." Clem just took a heavy seat next to Logan. The boxer gave his back a gentle rub and offered his shoulder for Logan to lean on. Logan refused the shoulder but offered a weak, almost timid...

"Thanks, Clem..." Logan in reply. He let out a breath, his shoulders sagging. Fuck, he felt tired. When was the last time he had a chance just to... relax? He hadn't got a proper night sleep since he began this case, always keeping one eye open just in case.

Logan usually ended up sleeping in his car. Taking a power nap at the police station or an uneasy rest at one of his lover's houses; such as Domino. Logan always woke up before the wolf did, getting out of their before Dom could wake up and realize the human had stuck around. Logan didn't want to know how that'd go...

And here he was, in this dog house, able to finally let his breath out. Let the unease and stress seep away and before he knew it, Logan was resting against the boxer taking a steady breath of the musky canine's body. Logan hadn't even realized he'd done it until he opened his eyes to see the boxer's face half tilted, half resting on his forehead.

"You stink of wet dog..." Logan chuckled weakly as the boxer wrapped an arm around him in a secure hug, mostly to make sure Logan didn't slip and fall face first on the cement floor of the garage.

"And you stink like a sewer rat." Clem turned his nose up, not about to ask what the two had been up too that night. After all, Logan had shown up on the door dripping blood, covered in scratches with a wounded, half dead wolf with him.

That was the least of Clem's worries in all this.

Clem just hoped Reese would take this in stride. The boxer unable to read the jet black furred wolf who was watching everything in silence. Thinking, mulling it all over as Logan finally explained to the two, somewhat, what had happened.

About the raid on the night club. About Domino and about him sneaking the two of them out of the club as it burned down around them. And finally showing up here, having literally no where else to go.

And Clem knew Reese well enough he liked to think by now to know the wolf would let them stay. He was Reese's oldest friend, after all. The wolf took in strays. That's what Reese did. He gave home and sanctuary to those who didn't have anywhere else to go. And knowing Domino was a fag like the rest of them seemed to have sealed the deal on the matter.

"You'll be staying in here." Reese just ordered Logan and the human didn't have it in him to put up a fight as he normally would. Logan was still trying to stomach the pills Shadow had given him for the screaming headache trying to tear its way out of the back of his skull.

With a weak nod, Logan conceded. His shoulder's dropping as he closed his eyes, turning away from the wolf and in the process exposing his neck to Reese. To the Alpha. Only with that, seeing Logan submit to him, did Reese head on back into the house to make sure the property was secure.

Reese had a few additional phone calls to make, trying to figure out exactly what was going on. In case he needed to call in a couple of favors or cash in on them, rather.

Only after Clem made sure Logan wasn't about to do anything foolish, such as try and drive to the police station, did the boxer help Logan over to join Domino on the sofa set up for the wounded wolf tucked away in the far corner.

"Don't do anything stupid while we figure this out!" Clem growled, getting up in Logan's face. Logan just wiped the spittle off his cheek as Clem backed up a bit, rubbing his neck. "Fuck dude, you could've at least let us know what was going on..."

"I didn't think..." Logan could only say, about to add more but just took a moment and Clem butted in before he could continue.

"Sleep. You need your rest. Explain everything to us in the morning, after a good night sleep that is. I'll make sure there's plenty of coffee in the morning." Clem just chuckled, a smile on his face. The boxer so at ease helped Logan relax, settling down on the floor next to the sleeping Domino.

"I'll toss him into the yard if you end up making a disappearing act overnight." Reese only warned coming back in; apparently the wolf had been listening to their entire conversation. He had his phone in hand. Logan would need to ask about that in the morning.

Logan was keenly aware the wolf had locked the garage door on him, practically trapping him inside with the wounded Domino after Clem headed back inside. Logan had never mastered the art of picking locks and in the shape he was in he doubted he could find the keyhole even if they had slipped him the key.

A weak laugh escaped him as he settled back.

"Fuck... almost died for one of these... wolves..." Logan let out another breath, looking over at the sleeping canine. Just seeing him here, alive, eased that tension in Logan's chest. "Fine. I'll do it for you... bud."

Logan wasn't in the mood to break a window or piss off a seven foot tall wolf who he owed his friends life too. Hopefully Domino would be as grateful. Reese didn't seem exactly happy with them showing up in the middle of the night; though Logan tried to reason out that was because they had shown up in the middle of the night.

"I'll just stay in here, I guess..." Logan mumbled as he looked over at Domino. "With you... funny, locked together... but it doesn't feel like a cage." Logan wasn't sure if that was because he had chosen this or not. Reaching out a hand, the human stopped.

He withdrew his fingers, not wanting to disturb the sleeping wolf. Or was he afraid of Domino? It was... hard to say. Logan had seen them at their worse and now, here with Dom, he was trying to see them at their best.

They had managed to stabilize the brown furred wolf and gotten him set up in the corner of the garage. There was a piece of carpet laid out in the spot with a sofa set up near an old TV. Clem had explained it used to belong to one of the other canines that lived here months ago without going into further detail. Logan just figured they were gone and weren't going to miss the stuff.

Domino breathing was heavy but his face wasn't twisted in pain as it had been before. Logan took a seat on the floor next to him. He pet over the arm draping off the sofa as he looked into his face. Logan wanted to just get up, to keep going but... he felt he owed it to Domino, if only once, to be here when he woke up.

"Dammit, Dom... you can't do this to me." Logan rested his head back against the wolf's furry chest as he looked up at the ceiling.

Favor from a wolf, Logan actually laughed.

"Fuck. How'd I manage that...? Huh, bro?" Logan asked aloud, thinking of his brother.

He fell into a restless sleep that seemed almost immediately interrupted as there was a loud bang against the door despite it being several, several hours later in the morning. Logan grabbed for the gun, that wasn't at his side, as he jumped to his feet. Instantly regretting it as the pain shot up through his body from last night's ordeal.

He was breathing quickly, looking around the room and quickly discern he was still in the garage. The wolf hadn't slit his throat in his sleep at least. Logan eased up a bit, still keeping an eye out as he settled back down.

"Relax..." Domino said faintly, catching Logan's attention. "Just those idiots in the other room... at it again..." The wolf closed his eyes. He could smell the canines in the house and Reese along with them. He knew exactly where he was; unsure why or how he was still alive or here.

Last night Dom had been running on pure adrenaline and now here he was waking up to a human sleeping at his side, in "the taboo and forbidden" infamous dog house all the wolves seemed to know about. Saved by a bunch of dogs and a human...

Domino wasn't sure how to feel about it as he mulled it all over staring blankly at the ceiling above.

Everyone in the pack had been aware of Reese's new "pack." A pack of dogs. Literally. It had been a running joke throughout the wolf pack. Of the dog house at the edge of the city. In a rundown house, down a broken road, a lot without a fence and a bunch of "stinking mongrels" was where Reese, the former Alpha's son, chose to stay. The old Alpha, Bale, Reese's brother, had ordered they leave him alone.

Everyone had laughed at Reese, leaving him to "play with the dogs." And here Domino was, owing his life to him and these very dogs he had laughed at...

In the beginning this place, this dog house used to be a dump. It was one reason why Reese had gotten it in the first place. It was a spectacle, making a large splash in the wolf pack back home when Reese returned to the city. Everyone, Domino included, thought Reese was returning to take his rightful place as pack Alpha. Bale had even planned to step down, from the spotlight anyways.

Only for the wolf to buy a literal dump.

Taking in stray dogs, Reese begun rebuilding the place and the property putting more work into it than most of the wolves in the pack had ever known in their entire life. This alpha had willingly gotten down on his hands and knees to weed the yard. Buying boards and nails to put up one the knocked over wall and here he was now... Reese lived with them, choosing to dwell with dogs. He worked with them, helped them, living in the same house as the rest of his pack!

It was a disgrace. An insult to his wolf heritage...

And here Domino was, saved by him. In this place as he slowly sat up, wincing from the pain in his shoulder.

"Dom," Logan was there, helping him out again. Again, this human, was there for him. "You need to rest. I'll get you breakfast." A human was here for him. Saving his life last night, not even straying from his side during the night.

The smell of him, of Logan, eased Domino's aching heart from it all. How many lives had been lost last night? His pack brothers and sisters? Just... gone... Would he ever see any of them again? He needed to call, to check at least when he got the chance.

"You stayed the night, this time." Dom tried to laugh, to lighten the mood with a joke but it hurt and he just winced, holding his chest. It felt like he had been hit by a truck and was sure, underneath his fur, he was bruised. Dom noted the bandages on Logan's arms and stomach.

The human hadn't fared much better than he did. If Domino hadn't literally body blocked for Logan last night, the wolf was sure the human would've died... died to protect him. And Logan, even know beat up and scarred... was trying to keep him safe.

"Well, I got too drunk to head home." Logan just shrugged it off, casually with that smile. His eyes though caught Domino off guard. They weren't the flirtatious, horny eyes of a club dancer... they were far more cold than Domino had ever seen Logan before.

Eyes of a wolf... A predator. Eyes of a killer, just like everyone else in the pack. Eyes of someone who would kill, to protect him...

Dom still wasn't sure what was going on as he settled back down. Logan came over to make sure he was comfy, tucking in another pillow under his arm and practically fussing over him like a mother would an insolent sick child. Dom watched Logan work. He was quick, proficient and optimized every movement, not wasting energy before moving towards the garage door to check out front on those in the living room.

Logan was proficient and skilled. He had sharp eyes and kept his ears up, metaphorically, as if waiting for those from last night to show up again. Or maybe, like a guard dog pacing around his charge to make sure he was safe. Logan was far more than he appeared and Domino wasn't sure what to make of it.

"I'll be back, Dom." Logan smiled at him then and those worries, fears and concerns... faded away.

"Don't stray far... I still have a lot of questions to ask you." Dom narrowed his eyes, folding his ears back and lifted his muzzle up in a growl. Only for it to falter at the smile he got back in turn.

Here Domino was, threatening him... and Logan just smiled, almost laughing... as if daring Domino to try something. With a wave, Logan headed inside the door allowing Clem to lock it behind him once more.

"He's awake." Logan started up, ignoring the other canines in the room as he walked over to address Clem and Reese.

It was a Saturday, so go figure most the canines living here were here today. Logan swore they needed to get lives, or jobs according to Clem. Several of the others watched him, sniffing in his direction. Logan just ignored them until the golden retriever, Brigsby, came up to sniff at him directly.

"Oh, hi... there..." Logan wasn't in the mood but wasn't about to be rude to the guy either. It was a tricky situation. Logan wanted to go into detective mode and begin grilling both Clem and Reese; while at the same time, wanting nothing more than to pat each dog on the head in the room and tell them that everything was fine and dandy and they could keep living their make believe, pretend happy lives while daddy Logan took care of all the nasty things that went bump in the night.

"Morning!" Brigsby wagged. "You're back. Again! Do you live here now? Does the other wolf live here? Are you two dating?" The golden retriever was way too energetic for the hangover Logan had; despite not drinking last night, Logan felt it in the back of his skull like an ice pick trying to drill its way into his cranium.

It was too early in the morning and Logan needed an entire pot of coffee before dealing with Brigsby energy levels.

"Tone it down just... all of it." Logan smiled though; he laughed lightly and kept that friendly air despite the pain. His arms hurt, his body was sore and tired and here he was making friendly conversation with a dog who had never seen the end of a barrel before. Or pulled the trigger of one...

Logan would bloody his hands so that someone like Brigsby, this good boy, would never have too. He was just glad they had let him use a shower this morning before forcibly changing his bandages.

"Ease up," Reese spoke up from the kitchen making the other dog back away. Brigsby retreated towards the others in the room, talking in hushed whispers about everything going on. It was hard to tell if they were afraid or excited about it.

"You're going to have to teach me that trick." Logan teased walking into the kitchen. He stopped, unsure if he should.

The kitchen was small. There was little room for the wolf, let alone a human along with him in the box shaped kitchen. The counter only shrunk what little space there was. A fridge sat nearby and Logan was already thinking of three different things to do if the wolf pounced him.

He was not ready for the cup of coffee Reese offered him.

"Relax..." Reese said the word low, speaking only to the human. "They'll pick up on it if you're so... jumpy." And the wolf grinned at the idea as if scaring a human into jumping was some kind of inside joke.

"Thanks..." Logan took the coffee, looking down into the cream colored cup. He didn't want to know how much sugar Reese put in here. "And, thanks... for... everything, else. Too." Logan struggled, unsure how to just say it.

"You suck at this." Reese snorted before lapping at his coffee. The wolf winced but didn't stop, not about to show the scolding hot coffee had burned his tongue.

"I'm the best, I'll have you know." And Logan walked into the kitchen, resting against the counter as he looked back at the canines in the room. "At sucking that is," and he winked at the wolf. Reese barely acknowledged what he said, not interested in the least.

Logan just smiled, tilting his head slightly to the side before taking a drink.

The simple act wasn't lost on the wolf. Logan had, once more, exposed his neck to the Alpha. It could have been seen as an insult, or seen as submission depending on the alpha in question. The small act was foreign and strange coming from a human though.

Brigsby rejoined the other dogs. Logan noted how there were more this morning than last time. There was Dodge the Dalmatian, Hunter the German Shepherd along with Muffin the blue heeler. There was also a beagle whose name he didn't know talking with Togo and an Irish terrier talking with Charles; or more, Charles was talking with the terrier who was just frowning in return at this other human.

"You're place is a bit... small..." Logan noted looking back at Reese. The way he said it told Reese what he meant.

"You and Domino can stay." Reese just laid out for him, taking a moment to lap at his coffee once more before continuing. "They're from the other dog house. I own." Reese added at the end, looking up at the human who just frowned in reply.

"How many?" Logan asked, unable to resist.

"Six." Reese answered and it was impossible to know if he'd been telling the truth or not.

"You have a lot of..." Logan wasn't sure how to say it.

"Strays." Reese just said for him. "They're all strays... like me." Reese closed his eyes, lapping at the coffee. "How did you get Domino to leave Vicky's pack?" Reese asked accusingly, looking up at the human with those golden eyes. Though Reese's voice was cold, it still had the same tone to it making it nearly impossible for Logan to read the wolf.

And Logan was thought of himself as an expert when it came to reading others.

"I have a way with words." Logan just smiled back as the two chatted as if they were old friends instead of tenuous allies at best. "Also sex. A lot of sex offered."

"Domino, along with the others, are followers." Reese just stated as a fact. Logan already knew and Reese picked up on that. His ears laid back, glaring at the human much as Domino had done earlier. "How did you manage it? To get him to leave...? They'd die for the alpha and here you are," Reese didn't need to point out that Logan was a human. "Got him to leave?"

Reese didn't directly state it but Logan knew what Reese was getting at. A wolf pack lived and breathed for the pack, the alpha and the continuation of it. They would gladly throw their lives on the ever growing pile if it meant the pack could live on.

"The truth?" Logan just offered back as he took a sip of his drink and cringed slightly at just how overpowering sweet it was. He wished he had some coffee with this sugar... "I just told him how things were going with things and once the raid started, it was just a matter of getting him to... follow." Logan offered once more, trying to say as much as he could without just letting it all spill.

He worried Reese was only keeping him alive for the information he knew. It wouldn't have been the first time. Logan had knowledge of this city most preferred to ignore even when it was spitting in their face. And in the right hands, information could be power.

"And V?" Reese asked, not bothering saying Vicky's full name.

"V was MIA at the scene." Logan just played along, breaking things down in case the nosy canines in the living room were eavesdropping. He was sure they were but the fact Reese was still talking, openly, like this meant they were somewhat in on it.

It just made Logan wonder how much these canines knew of everything going on.

"Interesting..." Reese muttered, thinking about it. Logan finished the thought for him.

"Most likely had the hand in the attack." Logan just said before taking another drink. Reese gave him a look. "They knew about the secret entrance or exit, as we used it as." Logan took a moment, thinking about it. "She most likely wanted revenge..."

"On the wolves?" Reese was the one confused by this.

Logan expected as such. He'd been stacking out Diamond over a year before she got her brains blown out. Vicky naturally took over and thus Logan began watching her instead. He saw her descent into madness and it was rather evident why that was. Logan had practically cataloged it keeping watch as he had.

"She blames the wolves, most likely... for what happened to D." Logan said, talking about Vicky's dead mate. "She probably wanted just too... watch the whole city burn." Logan couldn't confirm anything. It was one reason why he never bothered reporting into the police chief. He didn't have evidence to back up the theories but knew most of them to be true.

Reese just watched him for a couple of minutes before bowing his head, in a single nod. And to lap at his coffee mug. "Sounds like something that crazy bitch would do, yeah."

There was a knock on the garage door and everyone went silent, looking over at it then at Reese. Logan could read the fear and uncertainty on the canine's faces, reading their body language as one of them let out a soft whine. Reese was the only one who appeared calm.

Dogs and wolves didn't mix and here Logan was, inviting one over for breakfast.

"I'll prepare breakfast," Logan started up, reaching for a cupboard before wincing.

"Like hell you will." Alan spoke up, coming around the corner. He stopped, eying the garage before ignoring it and walking over to help Logan out.

"I'm not, not helping." Logan just stated and Alan was more than happy to have someone hang out with him as Reese moved over towards the garage.

Pulling a key out, Reese unlocked it, opening the door as he stepped back as if worried the other wolf was about to pounce him. The tension building up in the room could've been cut with a knife as a brown furred face poked their muzzle out, looking around the room before spying Logan... then focusing on Reese.

"Alpha..." Domino said with a single nod. Reese grumbled at that. "I need to pee..." The wolf just mumbled, keeping his head down, body language low. It was clear Domino was being submissive before Reese and Logan could only figure it was because A) he was wounded. And B) he didn't know Reese's left arm wasn't fully operational.

That was going to be tricky to manage and hopefully Logan could get Domino out before the wolf sniffed out the current Alpha's weakness... such weaknesses, didn't last in the pack. And he really rather not fight the wolf that had saved them both last night.

Reese grunted, motioning to the nearby door in the hallway and Domino nodded thanks before heading into the bathroom. The shower soon turned on as Reese looked back at everyone else in the room.

"What?" He snarled out making all the canines back down.

"Don't mind him," Alan just chuckled as he pulled out the whole carton of eggs planning to use them all for their additional guests. Where there was one carton, two more were soon stacked on top as Logan looked at the amount of food. "It's not my first time cooking for this army." Alan winked at him, teasingly.

It had been a poor choice of words, even for a joke. Army...

Logan saw it as just that. In a way, Reese had made his very own army. Even if he didn't expect the dogs to fight, this wolf was acting very... alpha, maybe just by nature. To carve out a piece of land, a territory for his pack. To have separate branches, each governed; Logan was sure, by a dog that reported directly back to Reese.

No civilian would do this. Logan just hoped it was a good thing instead of what he feared it might be.

Logan helped out until the bathroom door opened a good thirty minutes later, the human excusing himself to keep an eye on things as Domino and Reese sized each other up once more in the very cramped hallway.

Domino fur was slightly damp and he had stripped his jacket off, wearing only a loose open shirt and pants now from the suit he had on the previous night.

"I will stay in the garage...?" Domino asked, eyes moving over to look at Logan before back at Reese then down at the ground, subserviently.

Reese growled low, thinking it over. So Logan cut in.

"It won't be safe anywhere else." Logan felt the need to point out, helping Domino out in this case. The wolf had no real home to go back too. If Vicky had really sold them all out, their home addresses would be the second places the lions would hit.

Without their mansion up in the hills overlooking the suburbs, they really had nowhere else to go. Wherever the remnants of wolves had been gathered was most likely burned down, just like their club had been. Leaving a bunch of misplaced wolves. The ones who survived anyways.

Reese's ear twitched, looking over at Logan who just matched his look with one of his own. Logan was the one to back down first; he owed Reese and really rather not try fighting him. His wounds might open up again.

Plus... Alan and the other dogs were watching them now. Logan rather not drag them into their mess.

"Right..." Reese grumbled, growling low as he covered his muzzle with a hand thinking it over. "My house, my rules." Reese just stated to both Logan and Domino. "Dogs are off limits. Don't even think of touching one. Or the humans." Reese offered at the end.

"Gee, thanks." Alan rolled his eyes in the kitchen whisking the eggs together.

"Yes, Alpha." Domino nodded, lowering his head once more as the wolf, nearly the size of Reese, backed down effortlessly before him. Logan needed Reese to teach him that trick as well...

"The others will be here soon, so... just make yourself comfortable. And no fighting!" Reese snapped his jaws at everyone in the room, except for Alan who was still cooking in the kitchen. "Logan. Kitchen. Now!" He ordered and once more, the human just listened without a fight. "Dodge, move over. Domino, sit! Don't move or fight!"

Reese was exhausted and it was only morning as he wiped a clawed fingered hand down the side of his muzzle as everyone moved at his command and orders.

"Where's Clem?" Logan asked as he rejoined Alan, watching the living room underneath the counter tops.

All the dogs had been piled onto one side of the room for the two wolves to sit on the other side. Though Reese was pacing, rather than taking a seat next to Domino who looked very out of place on the sofa. He sat there, hunkered down as he kept his head low as Reese grumbled, muttering to himself as he paced back and forth in the living room.

"Clem went to pick up a couple friends." Alan just smiled in reply as he offered him a tabletop stove in order to increase the amount they could cook at one time. "It's best if everyone gets their meals at the same time," Alan just continued to explain giving a shrug as if to say "it's a dog thing."

Logan was familiar with pack customs. The alpha and their mate ate first. Then the beta leaders, their mates and then omegas and their mates. If they were allowed any that is... It was going to be interesting to see where everyone was going to fall in this pyramid of pack rule now that Domino had been, somewhat awkwardly, tossed into the mix.

He just hoped there wouldn't be any fighting involved, worried the dogs would get hurt in the process. It was usually how wolves decided hierarchy.

"I think you'll like Ralph." Alan continued, Logan hadn't noticed he'd been talking. "He's a good friend. We've been through a lot, together. This? Just more on the plate," Alan said as he began to serve up eggs onto large bowl shaped plates. "Nothing new." Alan almost laughed though his smile didn't meet his eyes as it normally did.

Logan took two of the plates and walked into the room, only then realizing what a mistake it was.

Every eye had turned towards him. Something as simple as breakfast was so complicated with pack mentality. Every dog was waiting to be served; depending how Logan served the food would, in a way, put them in the place in the pyramid or totem pole or whatever packs used; Logan wasn't sure. He was just a human.

"This is for Reese and Alan." Logan just said loudly, placing both plates on the counter before taking a seat next to Domino, not wanting to have to worry about where the next plates went too as he just wiped his hands of the full ordeal.

Alan laughed from the kitchen, coming in to give Logan and Domino plates. "Because they're injured!" Alan said looking at the others whining at him. "Go get injured and I'll serve you next," and with a wink the human headed back into the kitchen with Domino watching him.

The brown furred wolf's nose twitched as he smelled Reese all over the human. It was strange to see the alpha with such a... small, mate. He supposed the alpha didn't need to pair up with the best female to produce the strongest offspring if they were gay... still, it was strange to see.

There wasn't a single female here and the place stunk of males.

Bale had only mated with Sarah to produce the strongest offspring; Bale being an uncomfortably small wolf from an alpha lineage. Diamond and Vicky didn't bother with such things. Planning on manipulating and controlling their pack in order to produce offspring for them instead of being knocked up; Domino doubted either of the junkies could even properly have children any more after everything they had shot themselves up with over the years.

Hell, Domino had been near the top of the list for "Best sperm donors," something the wolf had even bragged to Logan once about. When he was drunk. Very, very drunk.

At that thought, Domino eyed the human sitting at his side. He could smell the dried blood, could smell the others mixed scents and then there was Logan somewhere in all of it. For some reason, Logan didn't seem like his scent belonged here making Domino question things even more.

If the room wasn't filled with dogs, Domino would've questioned him on the spot as the two thanked Alan for the meal before waiting. Both of them waiting for Reese to at least take a single bite before eating their meal.

"Eat or I'm tossing them both out." Alan warned wagging a spatula at the two. "I don't give a shit who's what in this house; you're injured and need the calories. Eat or so help me, I will forcibly stuff the eggs down your throat!" And Alan gave them one more look before heading back in.

Alan wasn't exactly threatening. The growl that soon followed it from Reese however made both of them quickly chow down on the food. It was a buttery, greasy, cheesy mess and it was the best damn breakfast Logan had ever had.

"I usually don't eat breakfast." Logan noted aloud, seeing as how literally no one else was speaking.

Togo had his man nearby, keeping an eye on the wolf just like all the other canines were. Domino wasn't sure what to say, or even do in this kind of situation and Reese was pacing behind them as his mate, Alan, cooked everyone breakfast in the kitchen.

That left Logan to carry the weight of this conversation, as well.

"Oh, why's that?" Togo had asked. The husky was always open and friendly. To see him this uncomfortable had offset everyone else here, not that Logan blamed them.

"I don't got the time, usually. Or I forget." Logan just laughed. "Work keeps me busy..." Logan frowned a bit, rubbing his forehead as he took a moment. Wondering if he should just fake it or not. Should he show everyone who he was or should he just be numb... like Reese.

"Oh. That makes sense... Yeah..." Togo nodded and the conversation died just as quickly as it had started.

Logan wasn't sure what to say or do as he just sat there looking at the plate of greasy eggs given to him. No one had made him breakfast before. Because Logan made sure no one was ever close enough too... The last person too had been his brother.

Fucking was fun. It was also extremely impersonal and Logan had mastered the dance of screwing without names. It was fun, got the job done and he was able to get out before anyone got hurt... or so he thought.

Domino had been watching him this entire time picking at his food aimlessly. The wolf not moving or saying anything as his heavy breaths filled the silence that fell around them. He was waiting for Logan to say more, to open up maybe? Maybe to try to figure out, understand him? Domino wasn't sure... wasn't sure what he was hoping to learn. Was he just afraid too? Afraid of who Logan was and...

What that meant for him.

Logan could feel those eyes boring into him. He didn't like it. And so Logan got up, making the brown furred wolf's ears fold back as he walked around, past Domino, to go back into the kitchen without even acknowledging him.

Alan met him halfway, giving him a knowing look at that.

"What? Reese told me to help you out, buddy." Logan just smiled, swapping plates with the human and heading back into the living room. "Three oinkers wearing pants, plate of hot air, basket of Grandma's breakfast and change the bull to a gill." Logan just gave Alan a wink. "What? It's a great movie." And he passed the food out to Togo and Charles before going back to help Alan.

Logan winced, holding his side from the sudden pain of turning so quickly. His face falter, that smile slipping away as he held his side. The wound had reopened and it stung like a bitch.

Domino jumped to his feet, wincing as well before offering a hand.

"I'm fine!" Logan slapped the hand away, glaring at the wolf.

Everyone in the room froze at that. Logan took a shaky breath, ignoring the lot of them as he moved towards the back door. They could be such children. Fawning over him like he was some kind of sick, helpless lamb. It sickened him.

"I need some fresh air. Stinks in here..." Logan just muttered bitterly, wincing as he stepped out before sliding the glass door shut behind him.

The cold air was nice against his exposed skin. Clem had thankfully gotten him some of Alan's old clothes to wear instead of the skimpy outfit at the club. Logan felt so warm in that room. Much like back in the club... He was getting too close to these canines. These dogs and wolves alike... Logan wasn't used to sticking around after the fun times came to an end.

"How do you act after sex..." Logan almost laughed as he stood on the cement back patio looking out over the lawn. This was... uncomfortable. Awkward, socially. He wasn't used to this. The dance, the game he was an expert at.

The after party? Not so much. Let alone with his head feeling as if it were about to split in two.

"You're bleeding." Alan brought up, having followed behind him. The other canine's at least could pick up on the fact he wanted some peace n' quiet. This human on the hand was too dense for that.

"'I'm fine..." Logan just frowned, not looking at him.

"You know. When people say they're fine, they're not fine." Alan chuckled coming out with a white tin box with a red cross on the front of it. Opening the medical kit up, Alan already began pulling new wrappings out.

He stocked it enough to know where everything was in it.

"Are you lecturing me?" Logan almost laughed. His face pulled up in a smile and yet... he felt very sad as he took a seat. Alan helping him out, unwrapping the bandage around his lower stomach to replace it with new ones after changing the gauss.

"Got a problem with that?" Alan jested. "I grew up with wolves, I'll have you know."

"Sounds, ruff." Logan said and Alan burst out laughing at that.

"That was terrible. I'll have you know, dogs ruff, wolves growl." Alan felt the need to correct as he helped Logan out. "Domino seems... nice."

Logan gave him a look.

"I had to twist Reese's arm to get him to tell me what's going on, sort of..." Alan frowned a bit. "I know you're a... coworker, of Clem's...?" Alan whispered under his breath only after looking back to make sure no one else had followed them out.

"Then you know I don't put up with most this crap, either. Alan." Logan just said, not wanting to have this conversation with Alan of all people. Something about him... put him at ease and he knew exactly why that was. And knew he'd never tell Alan that. Let alone, admit it to himself.

"Yes, yes. You're a big strong boy. Just like Reese. And Clem and Domino." Alan rolled his eyes. "You know he cares for you."

"He doesn't know shit about me, okay?" Logan said back far harsher than he meant too. "Sorry, Alan... you didn't deserve that." Logan grumbled, rubbing his brow with two fingers as he took a steady breath. "Domino... was a case... and now here I am, hauling him to your house in the middle of the night... I'm sorry to get you involved, everyone involved... in my shit."

"That's cool." Alan just shrugged it off. "You care. That much is clear. For me, for these dumbasses." Alan laughed thumbing over at the back door. "For Clem... that's why Reese likes you."

Logan gave him a look at that.

"What?" Logan had to ask, unable to ignore that.

"Reese? My boyfriend. The jet black fur wolf in there." Alan laughed as Logan punched his arm. "Okay, okay. Don't tell him I said this! Okay?" Alan took a second, looking back at the closed door. "Reese didn't pop your head off like a cork on a bottle... because; you risked your life to protect Clem. To protect these dogs... and me." Alan just took a seat next to him. "Reese admired that about you. You were willing to go to toe with him to protect the rest of us."

"It's my job." Logan just stated as a fact.

"That's a bunch of bullshit." Alan just laughed getting a look from Logan. "You could easily just lie. You could've come back with the entire station, but you didn't! You ended up trying to fight Reese in some misgiving attempt at saving us. Saving me." Alan just gave him a look. "I'm the princess who went, willingly, with the dragon. I'll have you know."

Logan rolled his eyes at that.

"You and him both..." Logan grumbled as Alan gave him a look. "My brother..." Logan took a moment, letting out his breath. Giving Alan a good long look before pulling his eyes away. "Said, nearly, the same thing to me... before he went over to our neighbor's house. And never returned." Logan exhaled with a shake of his head. "You're lucky Reese and you get along so well... nine times out of ten, this? Whatever this is," Logan chuckled. "Doesn't work. It doesn't last. And out of those nine, there is usually blood involved..."

Alan frowned a bit at that, recalling his own past with the wolves. He couldn't argue with Logan's logic. Statistically speaking, it was just a cold harsh fact.

"My first... boyfriend, and I? Didn't last. We wanted it too! Our families... didn't. There was blood and he... he got hurt, Logan. He got hurt real bad..." Alan shuddered, taking a moment before going on. "And the worse thing is? Even dating Reese? I still miss... my old friend." Alan couldn't say his name. Not in that moment. "I loved him. I still do!... I think. To some extent... it never gets easier, does it."

"I get it." Logan just nodded, jumping in to help Alan out. He rather not comfort the human if he had a nervous breakdown from the scarred over thoughts. Some scars were visible, like Logan's. Others were deep that couldn't just openly be seen.

Still, Logan rubbed Alan's arm offering his support.

"Milo, dated both of us. Behind our backs, mind you." Logan chuckled. "Well, I think him and my brother... were just good friends. He and I? We were more. I tell people the first person I been with was a fox? Why? Simple, it's easy. Foxes aren't... tigers." Logan grimaced thinking of their next door neighbor. "He gave me these scars, on my back... During it... he opened up, told me everything, as he fucked me."

Logan didn't laugh. His tone was dry and his face was blank as he recalled that horribly night.

Alan placed a hand on Logan's. He didn't need to be comforted, as Alan did. It was still appreciated. The thought behind it. Alan was a good person, Logan knew. And that was why he reminded him so much of his brother...

"It was how I learned my... trade," Logan chuckled then. "People open up in moments like that. He opened up how he was using us. Just playing with us because we were... humans." Logan frowned, unsure why he was opening up to Alan of all people. "He... thought it was funny. To mark me. To let everyone at school know what we did... By giving me these scars."

Alan frowned at that.

"My brother confronted him about it. And it... it didn't end well." Logan shrugged it off. Not going into the police report on the matter. No talking about how they raided their neighbor's house looking for his brother... and what they found. Some things were left better in the dark, for people like Logan and Reese to know about and people like Alan to be blissfully unaware of.

"I'm sorry to hear that... I never had any siblings." Alan took a moment. "The guys here? Are the closest thing to a family that I have. They're all good.... Good dogs." Alan said, keeping his voice low so none of them heard what he said.

"I won't hurt your family, Alan. I promise." Logan just smiled at that. "We should get back in there before they begin questioning why we're taking so long." Logan didn't need to point out he worried Reese was going to burst through the door and throttle Logan for upsetting Alan.

The two already aware the wolf had been watching them the entire time.

The two headed back inside to the same scene they had left. Domino was sitting on one side of the room, the dogs on the other with Reese between the two groups. His ears perked up, the jet black furred wolf looking over at Alan before focusing back in on the group.

"Maybe we should play Twister?" Logan suggested. "Get up close and personal. Best way for everyone to get to know each other!" He was joking and smiling, trying to break that tension in the room. He was unsure if leaving the back door open or not would help. As if hoping the tension would be sucked out, along with the smell...

Dog houses always smelled funny.

"Are you ok?" Domino asked as Logan moved around the back of the sofa Reese was sitting in. Alan hopped over it to join him, asking what was on TV. In his own way, trying to help break the weight that fell over the room.

"Good, good. Just reopened my wounds. Hurt like a mother." Logan just said back, taking a seat next to the wolf. He sat on the farthest edge of the sofa, trying to give Domino as much space as possible. "Sorry about, uh... earlier." Logan hated apologizing for stuff like that.

The simple gesture was caught by nearly everyone in the room who just glared at Logan, for making this more difficult than it needed to be.

"Should we just talk about the elephant in the room or pretend it's not there?" Logan brought up. Even Alan found that to be in poor taste but couldn't deny how affect his approach had been. "Wolves and dogs, let's go!" Logan clapped his hands together, smiling at the lot of them.

The dogs just grumbled, no one wanted to be the first to try and offer the olive branch of peace for the decades old feud between wolves and dogs.

Domino was the first to speak up, asking a question. "So... you're Reese's... lieutenant or something?" He asked Logan who exchanged a look with Reese at that.

"Yes...?" Logan said uncertain if it was ok to play up that route with Reese or not. He really needed to have a thorough conversation with the wolf about where he sat in all this. Being close ties to Clem, and according to Alan, Reese saw Logan as somewhat already part of his pack. Falling under that umbrella, anyways.

"So, you being a reporter..." Domino frowned.

"Is his day job." Togo was the one to speak up. The husky catching on quickly to what was going on and was giving a friendly hand to Logan who, in turn, gave him a smile in thanks. "He keeps an eye out on what's going on in the big city to keep the Alpha informed and up to date!"

Domino nodded at that, as if that made the most sense. The wolf's tail wagged, if only once as if glad that had been the logical conclusion to this and that Logan hadn't been some sort of cop or something.

An uncomfortable silence fell over the room once more and that heavy breathing of the wolf was putting everyone off.

"News is on." Alan spoke up, drawing everyone's attention to the TV taking up most of the room as he turned the mute off.

"In other news," the red panda on the screen began with. "A local night club, known as the midnight howl, was burned down due to an electrical fire." Everyone in the room frowned at that. "Other areas of the city also seemed to be experience... technical issues, Janet." The red panda had a matching frown on his face as if knowing what he was reading was bullshit.

"That's right, Teddy." Janet, a human anchorwoman, laughed loudly. She was wearing too much makeup as she slapped the smaller red panda on the shoulder, practically pushing him out of the way to take the spotlight. "In better news... The Wildcats played this weekend!" She started up with, talking about a local football team and all but forgetting the fires in the city.

Alan quickly turned the TV off, regretting his choice to have suggested it in the first place.

"Figures," Domino snarled out, baring his fangs in the room at his anger. That the deaths of his pack mates were just being swept away like that.

"No teeth..." Reese warned and the wolf instantly lowered his head at the alpha's command.

"Does that apply to all of us, or just those with a handsome smile?" Logan teased, giving Domino a wink as the wolf looked at him.

"Don't make me staple your face closed..." Reese growled at Logan. Alan slapped Reese on the chest.

"Don't threaten my friend." Alan warned.

"I was only teasing, pup." Reese just nosed down at him. Everyone else knowing Reese would've. Domino watched the scene with a frown.

Domino wasn't sure what to say to that, watching his... alpha? Back down to a human like this. Nosing, sniffing and licking at his mate as he bumped his muzzle against him; the human giggling in reply as Alan was pulled up into Reese's lap.

"If you don't like it, we can leave." Logan muttered under his breath to the wolf at his side. It would be a good out for the two. To leave these... innocent by standards behind while they sought refuge elsewhere.

Domino looked down at him, thinking for a moment before shaking his head.

"Everyone already knows about Alpha's... mate." Domino chose the word carefully. "Bale wanted to use him as a means of controlling the Alpha," Domino kept calling Reese by his title rather than his name. Logan picked up on it quickly. "Vicky found it amusing." Domino shrugged. "We all were sort of waiting for Alpha to come back..."

That seemed to catch everyone's interest. Domino hesitating, seeing the looks he was getting before speaking to Reese.

"We all knew you would return, uh... eventually." Domino grimaced, not meeting Reese's cold eyes. "After Bale's... demise, everyone left was waiting for you to swoop in and to restore the family. We knew you left... your brother in charge, because family..." Domino hesitated, unsure if it was okay to speak or not.

Reese hadn't stopped him. The jet black furred wolf just stared at him coldly with those unwavering eyes. Calculative without letting emotions show on his face. How a true alpha should be, unlike Vicky who was nothing more than a loose cannon that would fire on her own.

"Most have... accepted," Domino stressed the word forcing himself to say it as he looked over at the dogs. "The new pack you have created... and those you have taken in... these dogs..."

"Dom. Enough." Logan cut in before Domino could put his foot in his mouth any further. "Alpha chooses these things... not you." The human cut straight to the point, in front of everyone, calling the wolf out for his subtle tactics.

It wasn't that Domino had an issue with dogs, in particular. It was seeing these soft, fat canines before him that rubbed his fur the wrong way. They weren't fighters. Weren't some secret army Reese was trying to create. Domino, like many of the others, had thought Reese was just bidding his time before swooping in with his own militia to take over and cut off the would be head of the alpha.

Or at least, that's what they had been hoping working for Bale. And even after with Vicky. Hoping someone, reasonable, would step up to the plate next. Someone that would steer them all away from the storm and towards the promise land the wolves hoped for. Finding their place in this world.

Just trying to fit in. To belong...

"Yes, of course. My apologies, Alpha..." Dom bowed his head once more, not speaking further. Logan rolled his eyes at that.

No one pointed out that Reese hadn't accepted Domino into the pack yet and this all was more assumptions on the wolf's part.

"At least we only have one new wolf to deal with, right?" Logan tried to joke. Reese frowned and Dom just gave him a look. "Right, Dom?" The brown wolf didn't meet his eyes. "Dom... you didn't invite anyone else here, did you? When did you even have the time too!" Logan was already on his feet before the doorbell rang.

"Let them in Logan," Reese just sighed heavily as he moved Alan off his lap. "Everyone else, outside... we're having a meeting. Alan, watch over the dogs while I deal with this mess..." The wolf held Alan's hands tightly, looking into his eyes before nuzzling his face. "Just one more time, then we can be free..."

"Hopefully." Alan petted the side of Reese's face with a hand, giving him a soft kiss before following after the dogs who had quickly moved out of the room. Not wanting to deal with any other wolves.

"Going to have to air out the whole house," one of the dog's muttered talking about the wolf stench inside.

"Hopefully they had a chance to shower too," Logan grumbled as he reached the door. He really wished he had a gun right now as he swung it open and Barreth, one of the bouncers at the bar, greeted him with a growl from the other side. "Oh, hey there. Welcome... We've been expecting you..."