Broken Pieces

Chapter Twenty-Four

By Roofles

“Why?” Alan had to ask, had to know.

Had to know why. Not because PB hated the pack, no. No, it wasn’t about that. Alan knew why PB hated his old pack. Why he held this deep of a grudge against them. Alan had been there. Through it all. Every word, every abuse, every time they kicked him out… mocking him, ridiculing him, abusing him beyond just physical violence.

Hurting him in ways that left deep scars that weren’t visible to the eyes.

Knowing. Knowing PB had nowhere else to go and that he would always come crawling back to them. Crawling back through the mud and rain after being left out in the forest. A cruel “joke” the others had pulled on him.

His PB. Or at least once, long ago, PB had been his…

After they would gang up on him. Hitting him from behind with a baseball bat when PB’s attention was focused on one of the others. It was supposed to be a fair fight, between the two. A way to get yourself ranked in the packs hierarchy. A common wolf pack tactic. To fight. The others never played fair, though. Never letting PB rise above his standing. They cheated and lied. They ganged up on him or would trick him, telling him the wrong place to meet then ratting him out to the Alpha when he didn’t show up.

And that still, was only the tip of the iceberg. He knew all about that because Alan had been there. Not physically, but he felt as if, at times, he had been. From the stories PB had told him. That the wolf had cried in his arms, whining about what had happened after his defenses had been worn down and broken.

“It’s just not fair,” PB had cried out. Covering his face behind the school. One of the few places they could meet at, away from prying eyes. Away from those who would fly off to inform the pack what a weakling he was. To rat him out.

Crying, showing his emotion, daring to question their ways… as if, somehow, PB was in the wrong. An insult to their kind. PB was everything they had hated.

And, once upon a time ago, he had been everything Alan had loved because of that.

“Where does it hurt?” Alan had learned how to treat his wounds. Even going so far as to put a medical kit in the bottom of his backpack. He had to restock it monthly because of all the times PB had gotten injured.

Showing up to school with new injuries and wounds.

Sometimes it had been to protect Alan. Standing in the way as the punches were thrown. Using his body to shield the human and trying to keep him out of harm’s way. Fighting off the others at school. Not wolves, no. Most wolves were homeschooled so they could be groomed and warped by the Alpha in charge, convinced that it wasn’t safe to go there. In a way, they had been right. It wasn’t safe for a lone wolf to go to school and PB had been proof of that.

The larger herbivores in the class, like bovines or the pair of horse brothers who thought it was the most hilarious thing to pick on a wolf, had singled PB out from the first day of class. Targeting him, harassing him, bullying him. Picking on the wolf who had no one else to turn to. Even the teacher would turn a blind eye away from the abuse PB had suffered from…  

A wolf without a pack would die. Singled out and targeted by others. Like a wolf might do to a herd of deer. To find the weakest link, singling them out and remove them from the gene pool. Herbivores adopted this practice. Unable to fight on even footing, they would lie and trick predators into disfavorable situations and take advantage of them because of it.

Just like the pack had done to PB.

PB was all alone in the world. No one was there for him. Not until Alan.

Until he wasn’t….

Until PB had woken up in that hospital, alone. All alone to the cruel world that had broken him.

“Why?” Alan had asked the word, looking at PB as if he had turned into another person. The one person he thought would never hurt him. How could be involved in all this? Alan’s own biased blinding him to the signs.

It had been PB. His PB. The Peanut Butter to his jelly sandwich. The two… the two of them together, forever. In the field behind his house. Hanging out after school. Staying up late into the night so that they would have that much more time together.

“I love you,” PB had whispered underneath the blankets they shared to stay warm during the harsh winter months. Alan’s parents never bothered to pay for the heating. Instead, the two of them would leave. Leaving the trailer vacant and empty… leaving Alan behind.

To defend for himself.

PB had snuck over, those nights. Coming to Alan’s rescue, his aide. Keeping the human warm with his body as they shivered underneath the layers of blankets. Looking at only each other as they held hands.

“I love you,” Alan had whispered back and PB had smiled then.

Despite it all. Despite everything in their life, as long as they had each other. They could get through it. No matter how bad things had gotten…

Until that day when PB woke up, and he was all alone. Alone in a hospital. Unable to see out of one of his eyes. That blindness had crippled him in ways he hadn’t ever expected. The fear had gripped his heart like steel talons, clenching tighter and tighter until he could barely breathe.

PB was so weak. Helpless…. But that wasn’t the worse part.

“Alan?” He had asked to no answer. “Are you there?” No reply. “Where are you?” Nothing but silence. “Alan. Please. Please, I’m sorry. I’m sorry!” He had whined, he had begged, PB had pleaded and howled for an answer. Groveling and swallowing what little pride he had left. Begging for Alan to respond.

He would’ve done anything. Anything to see Alan walk through that door.

Alan never did.

And that had been the worse pain of all.

“It’s not like that.” PB couldn’t even look at him. Sitting there, at the table in that café that evening. Facing away from what he had done as he placed a hand over his phone, pulling it off the table to hide his crime.

Shame washing over the wolf as his muzzle dipped towards the table. A low whine filling his throat. Unable to even look at the person he had betrayed. The one who trusted him the most.  

Alan spotted the phone and put two and two together quickly after that. This entire time PB was texting them. Whoever they were. Feeding them information, telling them about their whereabouts. Where Reese was and the going ons in the pack. That the Alpha was missing and that Alan, the Alpha-mate, was exposed and vulnerable outside the safety of wolf territory today.

It all had been an elaborate trap to ensnare Alan in PB’s web of lies.

“You want me dead?” Alan choked on the words, covering his mouth with a hand. PB jolted at that.

“No! N-n-no, no, no! T-they aren’t going to hurt you! They just want those bastards,” PB tried to explain. Faltering halfway in as he grinded his fake teeth, his dentures, together. The metal cut into his gums as he tried, once more, to explain. “They have hurt so many people, Alan… killed so many others. Ruined lives. Destroyed families. I-It’s just time for them to get what’s due!”

“How is this any different?” Alan looked at him with tear filled eyes threatening to burst at any second as his hand clenched tightly at his side, shaking with raw emotion that Alan could barely process. Did he want to hit PB? Did he want to cry? What did he want to do at that moment…

“They deserve this!” PB snapped back, growling at him as he stood up. Hiding his shame and pain behind his anger. Lashing out at Alan as he had nothing else to do.

“PB… What about you?” Alan asked as he stood there. It was already too late for him to run for it. He had placed a hand into his pocket, finding his phone and trying to blindly text the others what was happening as he talked to PB. To drag out of their conversation.

Glancing over, Alan saw Ernie, one of the wolf guards, still standing between him and the massive bovine that had walked in. The bull snorted, sneering down at the smaller wolf. As if begging for Ernie to make the first move.

Alan knew Ernie’s brother was outside. He was keeping an eye on their vehicle and would’ve gotten a hold of the others. Or tried to. If PB had ratted them out… did he also rat Burte out as well? The wolf was their outside guard and would’ve been keeping an eye on things.

He didn’t know how trained these guys were, but they looked like professionals. At least the rhino who’d taken Barrett into the other room did. Alan could only hope the wolf was okay. He could hear noises in the bark, snarls and growls as the two fought.

Alan couldn’t do anything about that right now and would have to trust Barrett to be okay as he focused on what he could do, right now.

“What about me?” Alan asked PB. Looking at him and not letting his gaze break. Staring into his eyes so PB could understand just how much he’d hurt him in this moment. How serious this was. That this wasn’t a game you could take back and apologize for.

This was crossing a line. PB had hurt Alan’s new family and he… wasn’t sure what to do about that.

The pain in his voice was evident and PB turned to face him.

“No, it’s not like that! T-they don’t care about some human.” PB blurted out. “Y-you’ll be safe. T-they just want to hurt the pack!”

“Some human, huh?” Alan closed his eyes, taking a slow deep breath before letting it out between clenched teeth, hissing it out like a pot threatening to boil over. “Fuck. It’d be easier to just stab me with a knife, Peanut Butter.” Alan said his full name as his eyes opened, steeling himself as he heard someone approaching from behind.

There was a loud yip and something crashed to the floor. Alan didn’t look to see Ernie on the ground, holding his bloody side as the bull toss his head the other way with a harsh laugh. One of his horns dripping blood.

“I-I didn’t mean that! It’s just… you are human, Alan. You don’t belong with them. It’s not possible! Humans and wolves don’t mix.” PB fumbled with his words, standing up before his eyes widened. He covered his mouth with a hand, realization dawning on him from what he’d said to Alan. PB took a slow seat, not looking at Alan or the man standing behind him.

“Wolves and humans don’t mix? At least you’re finally showing your true colors, Peanut Butter.” Alan said coldly. Still just staring at the wolf as he heard the heavy step of someone close in behind him. He could feel their presence, the bull was so large and massive.

“G-get away from Alpha-mate!” Ernie tried to snarl at the bovine. He was holding his wrist as Alan glanced over at him. His wrist must’ve been broken from the uncomfortable angle it was pointed in.

Alan respected the fact Ernie hadn’t howled in pain from what had happened. It had happened so quickly. A snap of a wrist as the bull grabbed hold of it before skewering the wolf with one of his horns. Alan was sure this guy had done this before. Plenty of times.

How many predators had these people hunted down…?

“This the guy?” A deep baritone spoke behind Alan making him tense. He could feel their wide chest push against the back of his head. They were taller than he was, and he had to resist the urge to turn around.

Fear tightened in his chest as Alan’s clenched fist stilled. His body freezing up as he swallowed once. He let out his breath, letting the conflict of emotions inside die down. To calm as he tried to focus.

PB just gave a sad nod towards them, and Alan felt a heavy hand place itself on his shoulder. Those thick fingers with hoofed nails tightened painfully as they gripped him, making Alan wince.

“It’s funny, really. I’d never thought you of all people would say that.” Alan said as the steak knife slid from inside his sleeve into his hand. “I thought you were one of the better ones, Peanut Butter. Looks like I was wrong…”

“Harsh,” the bovine snorted in amusement. Gleefully watching the show as the wolf shifted uncomfortably in his seat. If PB still had ears, they would’ve folded backwards and if he still had a tail, it would’ve tucked between his legs.

But he didn’t. PB didn’t have those any longer and Alan had to question why. Why did PB never get prosthetics throughout the years. There were hundreds of individuals who lost their tails or ears or body part in some kind of accident. It was normal, even socially acceptable to get a prosthetic.

PB never had. Instead choosing to leave them bare and exposed. As a constant reminder to what they had done to him…

PB whined hearing his full name from Alan. He couldn’t look at the human. Or the herbivore standing behind him. The snort against his hair made the human shudder involuntarily. They stepped an inch closer, reaching around to grab hold of Alan’s wrist.

He knew, if he did, the human wouldn’t have a chance to escape. If he tried? He’d end up like Ernie on the floor with a broken wrist… Alan couldn’t let that happen.

In the open field, Alan would never have a chance. It was something Logan had taught him. Over these past three years. Picking things up from these wolves. Living with them. Fighting against them. And before that? Before then..?

“This is what Logan meant. Huh…? I didn’t expect it to hurt as much as it does…” Alan muttered to himself.

“What was that sugar cube?” The bull leaned in close, rubbing his snout against the side of Alan’s face as he placed a large dark brown furred hand on the table. His fingers were spread out as the bull pushed his weight against the table. Nearly breaking the thing in the process.

It creaked and tilted to the side from how strong he was. Showing off to the human, a warning. Warning Alan not to try anything stupid.

“Your breath stinks,” Alan said louder, giving him the side eye. The bull’s face twisted with anger, his lips opening as he was about yell some kind of profanity, most likely, at the human who disrespected him. Looking down on Alan as everyone else seemed to.  

His other hand had lifted, letting go of his shoulder, about to slap some respect into Alan’s face. That meaty hand could’ve knocked him out easily. It’d only take one good, clean hit. Exactly what Alan had been hoping for. The bull had underestimated the human, just as Logan had explained. Had told Alan about. Helped him practice in the backyard. Hours and hours of sweaty work as the other human, his friend, taught him the basics and then some.

The bull never saw the knife slipping from out of his sleeve as Alan gripped it so tight his knuckles turned white and jammed it into the bovine’s hand on the table with all the force he could muster. Piercing through the hand and straight into the table as Alan’s muscles flexed, and he cried out with the force he had used. Putting every ounce of his strength, fueled by desperation and the rising adrenaline rush he was getting. Topped off with anger he felt for PB in that moment.

All to make sure he got the point across.

The sharp steak knife had gone through the bull’s hand. Blood pooled from the wound, seeping into the table cloth as he tried to pull back. Instinctively withdrawing from the injury.

The bovine mooed, actually mooed, in pain as he tried to pull back. His hand was stuck, and the lapse in judgement was all Alan needed to spin around, using the full momentum of the spin, to bring his elbow around. A spinning back elbow aimed at the side of the bovine’s head, aimed for the jawline.

A bull’s skull was thick and durable. Alan would’ve shattered his elbow trying to hit it. He hadn’t just been standing there. He’d been trying to think “what would Logan do in this situation?” Knowing that, he aimed for the jawline. A spot he’d seen professional hit to knock out their opponent.  

Alan took advantage of every creatures weakness, the jaw. Or rather, the side of the jaw. His elbow connected at the tail end of the spin and pain shot up his arm, leaving his fingers numb and tingling, as it connected.

“Shit!” Alan cried out, not expecting the sharp pain and ended up stumbling back into the window. “Fuckin’ a, that hurts!” He held his elbow as the bull fell like a bag of bricks, shaking the entire room as he collapsed.

If only for a brief moment. Alan could see the bull’s fingers twitching, see him waking back up. In a dazed and confused state, not expecting such a violent attack from a human. Alan would have to thank Logan for teaching him that one.

“A-Alan!” PB yipped, jumping up as if to his rescue. “T-the others!” The two others standing by the front door stared over at their fallen comrade, at a loss for words. Stunned by the display before blinking it away and turning on the human.

“Little shit,” a javelina came towards them, telling his partner to guard the front door in case the human somehow got past him. “Break your fucking legs for that.”  

“G-good job, now they’re going to hurt you.” PB whined as if in warning, but it only ticked Alan off further.

“Oh, fucking grow a pair already!” Alan snapped back as gripped the back of his chair.

The javelina walked over, glancing down at the bull. Hesitating, fear building up inside. If the human could take down a bull… the second of doubt, of question and fear was all Alan needed to smash the chair over the side of his head and upper shoulder.

Using both hands, Alan took hold of the thick wooden chair and swung it like a bat, using his full strength and what was left of his reserved strength to smash and break the thing against the pig-like man’s side. The chair broke from the force and pieces flew in the air.

Ernie wasn’t the only one surprised by the act as PB’s jaw dropped staring at the sight. 

“Fuck that hurts,” Alan cursed Logan for not warning him how much that actually hurt as pain radiated up his arm once more. It felt like needles were pricking his fingertips. His whole arm felt numb and useless as he reached out and grabbed the scruff of PB’s neck.

PB was roughly pulled out of his chair as Alan was already running for the back room within the café. Around the counter and into the kitchen. Dragging PB along with him as he shoved the door open as he heard the scrambling of the two others behind him.

The kitchen was small. A large island took up most the space, leaving only the entryway and the backdoor. It could’ve led to the storage room for all Alan knew as he headed around the middle island. Several pots were boiling on the stove top. Whoever had been in here before had vacated quickly. Not even bothering to turn the stoves off. Threatening to burn the entire place down in order to get to them.

PB had picked this location for a reason. Or maybe, whoever he was working with had. They had set up the entire thing and Alan had stupidly walked straight into the trap. Bringing both Barrett and Ernie along with him.

“Shit, shit, shit.” Alan cursed for what was happening. Cursed and angry that PB had sold them out. Cursed for leaving Ernie behind…

There wasn’t a chance to go back for him. Alan barely had time to get out of there himself. He’d taken PB with him because… he didn’t fully know why. He should’ve left the wolf to his fate but… he couldn’t. Alan couldn’t leave PB. He had left Ernie but not PB.

Despite it all. His body had reacted on its own and by the time Alan was aware of what he’d done, he had fled from the scene.

The javelina was getting up, the bull was struggling to follow behind. It gave the human seconds to decide on what to do from here. Trapped. Trapped like a pair of rats as they closed in. He couldn’t lock the swinging door behind them and quickly made his way towards the back, dragging the wolf along with him.

Alan just hoped and prayed that it wasn’t a storage room and there was a back exit to this place. That must’ve been where the barista and chef had escaped to. He was sure or so he hoped…

“L-let go!” PB struggled and fought against Alan’s tight grip, but the human refused. His grip tightened and he had half a mind to smack the wolf upside the head or slam his face against the wall. Maybe he’d been hanging out with the other wolves too much if that was his first thought.

“Are you a fucking imbecile, PB? Did what happen to you rattle your brain too much? “ Alan shook PB like a disobedient pup, glaring into his face now as he turned on the larger man struggling to fight him off. “Did you suffer brain damage I’m not aware of?” He yelled into the wolf’s face who just looked at him with large eyes.

“A-Alan, your hurting me…” PB whined, and the human wanted to let go. He didn’t.

“Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck! God fucking dammit PB!” Alan cursed as he turned to see the javelina charging into the kitchen. The man was pulling something from his coat and Alan’s eyes widened. “I fucking hate fighting, PB. I hate hurting others,” and Alan pushed PB down onto the floor as several shots fired from the doorway. “I fucking hate it!”

Alan was right behind PB. Practically pulling the wolf down with his body weight as he jumped to the floor as the javelina opened fire on them.

The bullets hit the hanging ladles and pots from the nearby wall. Alan covered PB with his body as the shots continued to fire. Several shots embedded themselves into the wall, leaving holes behind. A dark visual for what could’ve happened to the two. Turning them into Swiss cheese. Another shot hit a bag of coffee grounds and it poured out onto the floor, next to Alan’s head.

“Little shit, get out here!” The javelina snorted as he walked further into the kitchen as he emptied the clip out. “That fucking hurt! Who the fuck do you think you are?” Alan heard the sound of the magazine hitting the ground as the javelina continued to rant and rage as he reloaded.

Alan could hear his heavy steps against the floor. Walking around the island, towards them. Alan waited. Waited for the right moment before jumping up.

Using both hands, Alan’s cried out in pain as he shoved the pot of boiling water on the stove top over towards the other side. Body checking the massive metal pot and scorching his hands from the surface as he shoved the hot metal pot off the center island stove tops and onto the javelina.

His fingers blistered but it was worth it to hear the screams of pain from the other man. The javelina swung covered his face with an arm, swinging out with the other blindly as he stumbled backwards. Slipping on the spilled water, the javelina crashed against the counter top and pulled several things off with him as he curled up on the floor crying as his skin began to blister from the burns.

“Now!” Alan grabbed PB’s hand, wincing from the pain as he pulled him back to his feet. “We have to leave!” Alan was already heading towards the back door.

“Alan, I can’t!” PB tried once more to explain, to say something.

Alan turned on him sharply. “Listen here you stupid fucking prick!” Alan snarled like a wounded animal and PB pulled back at that. “You have NO fucking idea who or what you are messing with. These people, these gangs, they don’t give a shit about some wolf like you. You might see me as some rando human, but they see you as an opportunity! A target. A patsy to use and abuse, just like the old pack did to you.”

PB pulled back with a low whine.

“B-but they… they have Uncle Gristle…” PB whined out, trying to say something. Defend himself. Explain. Explain why he had done this.

“Of course, they fucking do!” Alan actually laughed, dragging PB out the other door as the bull came through the first door. Running through the back hallway, Alan hoped the light at the end of the tunnel was an exit. “Do you honestly think, for one second, these bastards would actually keep their promise?”

“I-I mean…” PB couldn’t finish the sentence.

“You. Are. A. Wolf!” Alan had to stop, to turn on him and yell those words into his face as if PB somehow had forgotten that fact. “How do you not realize this? They?” He jabbed a finger towards the way they had come. “Will never, ever respect you! They will never help you. They might promise you lies? But they will gladly take them back and rub the fact they did into your face. You stupid, dumb idiot!”

“H-hey!” PB tried to stand tall, to not get disrespected by the smaller human. Alan just flicked him on the nose and the wolf jumped, letting out a yip as he covered his sensitive snoot with a hand. “You don’t have to fight! Just give up,”

“As you did?” Alan countered with and the wolf couldn’t say anything. He sighed, shaking his head. “PB. You know why I don’t fight, like the others do, PB? It’s because it’s easy. It’s so god damn fucking easy to hurt someone else. Words? Violence? Financially? It’s so god damn easy! I don’t want to be like that. I don’t want to continue that kind of hate… there is already enough in the world. In my family… in my blood. But, PB? I know words don’t always work. Fuck, I’ve seen that first hand. As you have. Just rolling over might stop the pain momentarily, but it doesn’t fix anything.”

The wolf turned away.

“PB… They are going to kill you.” Alan said harshly. “Once they get what they want? They will kill you. That is how life works. They don’t keep promises to predators!” Alan was breathing heavily, panting as he just stared at the wolf. Hoping some of his words got through.

“How do you know…” PB swallowed, not looking at him. “It’s my only chance… my only chance to save Uncle Gristle…”

“By sacrificing everyone else?” Alan wanted to laugh. “I live with Reese, dumbass. Of course, I’m aware of how these things work.” Alan dragged him along. Knocking over several of the shelves in the hallway stocked and filled with supplies for the café, Alan blocked the small hallway easily enough before dragging PB outside. 

The bright light of the outside was nearly blinding as the two covered their eyes as they stumbled out into the alleyway.

Alan’s hands hurt as he let go of PB, practically pushing the wolf away from the door as he moved out and began blocking it. There was an old slab of wood next to the door that might’ve been used as a makeshift ramp to get over the steps. These old places didn’t have ramps for the delivery and Alan was thankful for it as he jammed the wood into the handle and across the doorway, sticking the end behind the metal dumpster and hoping it’d hold long enough for them to get out.

“There. Fuck. I hope that works.” Alan pulled out his phone and was already texting the others. Clem, Logan, Reese… whoever he could think of to send an SOS out. Alan had even texted several of the other wolves back home to let them know what the hell was going on.

Texting Salt and Pepper and pushing send before he heard it. The distinct sound of a pair of boots stepping into the alleyway.

Alan turned on them, blocking PB’s body with his own as he faced towards whoever it was.

It wasn’t a herbivore. The man was tall with a long, lithe body and a dark gray furred long tail that swayed behind him with every step he took. The feline had the grace of one as every step was taken with predetermined purpose as if planning things out five steps in advance.

The jaguar pushed up the top of his hat, looking at the two. Glancing at the cowering wolf before facing towards the human standing before them.

“Who the fuck are you?” Alan glared, not letting his guard down. The jaguar made a shiver crawl up his spine. He was unarmed against the man and was still trying to protect PB. He had gotten lucky with the others but him, this feline, he knew he didn’t stand a chance against.

“Bosch.” The jaguar reached into his coat. Alan tensed and the jaguar paused, looking at him. He lifted up his other hand in a sign of peace before pulling out his badge. “I’m with the FBI.”

“Oh shit…” Alan said, jaw dropping open slightly as he stared at the badge. He hadn’t realized how deep things went and this man was just… flashing his badge at him. There was nothing the human could do as his brain went into overdrive, trying to figure it all out. “Are you… are you going to kill us?”

“Kill you?” Bosch blinked as he put the badge away. “Now why would I want to do that?” The feline chuckled, glancing at the wolf again. “I was the one who came to Peanut Butter to begin with.”

“Why?” Alan swallowed, feeling his knees shake as the jaguar’s predatory eyes turned back towards him.

“Why? To help. Of course,” Bosch said opening his arms magnanimously. “That’s what I do, Mr. Burges,” Bosch said using Alan’s last name. “We know everything. About you. About PB. Uncle Gristle… Reese,” he gave a fanged smile in warning. “Everything we need to know, we do.”

Bosch glanced over and the back door was hit by a massive force shaking the metal door in the doorway. There was a moment’s pause, then it was hit again. And again. A body hitting against it until the wooden board Alan had jammed into place broke and the door was sent flying open, smashing against the wall as the doorhandle broke and it swung open with enough force to lodge itself in the wall.

The bull stepped out, snorting heavily as he vehemently glared at Alan. Getting tunnel vision on the human as he stepped down, one step at a time, towards them. Alan backed away, keeping PB behind him until Bosch cleared his throat.

The bull glanced over, still snorting loudly. Seeing the jaguar, he eased up.

“Boss,” the bull began, and Bosch just gave him a single look. “Right. Right…” And the bull backed down, lowering his head as he stepped back behind Alan and PB. Off to the side but close enough to intervene if they tried anything. “Harvey got burned…” The bull explained.

“And?” Bosch asked, giving him a cold look.

“The human,” the bull gestured over.

“He should’ve been more careful.” Bosch words were flat and empty as he stared at the bovine as if thinking how easily it would be to rip out his throat with his fangs. “I told him not to hurt the human. We need a healthy, happy hostage. Not a dead one…”

“Uh…” The bovine said as he looked over as the javelina came out after them. He had his gun in hand, holding his side with the other. Trying to hide the burn marks he’d gotten from the boiling water.

“You!” The javelina’s eyes widen seeing Alan. His arm shook, threatening to lift his gun up.

Two pops. That was all it took for the javelina’s body to go stiff, then limp as he fell against the side wall. Two shots where blood began to seep from as he slumped down to the ground as Bosch’s pistol smoked from the tip. The jaguar had his gun drawn faster than Alan could’ve seen as he shot and killed the javelina before he could’ve hurt Alan or PB.

“Now then,” Bosch started up, but Alan lifted his arms quickly into the air.

“We give up.” He said and the jaguar blinked. “If you are with the FBI, this is far bigger than me. I was just defending myself, sir, officer, mister.. uh…” Alan stammered out, unsure what honorific to give the FBI agent.

“Hm… I’m glad you understand, Alan Burges.” Bosch flashed his fangs as he put his gun away. “Clean up this mess,” he ordered the bull and the bovine quickly jumped to do so. Dragging the javelina’s body further inside the café and out of the way. “Honestly, it’s so damn hard to get good help these days…”

“Just don’t hurt him, please.” Alan stood in front of PB. “Please. I’ll do whatever you want. Just don’t hurt PB… or the others inside. Barrett and Ernie… if they’re still alive.”

“Hurt him?” Bosch blinked before a laugh tore through his throat, sounding more like a roar as he nearly keeled over with the sound. “Hurt him? You are far more dense than the report led me to believe, or you really are some kind of saint…”

Alan just glared back.

“It is thanks to this wolf that I am even here.” Bosch shrugged. “You should hate him. Despise him. He betrayed you and-,”

“Just promise you won’t hurt him or the others. Let them go… and I’ll do whatever you want.” Alan promised and the jaguar’s smirk slipped from his face. Replaced with a look of frustrated annoyance as his lips pulled back in a thin line staring the human down.

“Fine.” He spat out. “I have no further use for a crippled dog.” Bosch waved PB off and the wolf flinched at his words, lowering his head even further than it was. “Oh, right. Right… I almost forgot.” The jaguar stopped then and reached into his jacket. Both PB and Alan tensed. “I forgot your just reward…” And Bosch pulled out a large vial filled with a strange liquid that sloshed back and forth as he tilted it side to side. It looked like melted gold. “Catch.”

And the feline flicked it towards the wolf as if it were a coin. With his thumb and middle finger, the feline made the canine dance for his amusement as PB scrambled forward and lunged at the vial Bosch carelessly tossed before them.

The wolf frantically going after, even shoving Alan aside, as the glass vial spun in the air and nearly came crashing down onto the dirty alleyway floor to shatter and break. PB caught it and held it close to his body as if it were his own child, keeping it safe and away from harm. The wolf was shaking uncontrollably, and Alan watched him with a renewed disappointed.

“Primal, it’s a kind of,” Bosch started to explain.

“Street drug. Yeah… Yeah I know what it is…” Alan said, looking at the wolf who was sniffing over it now as if to check that it was real. PB was shaking so badly. His hands nearly dropped the glass vial several times. He looked so small, pathetic, and weak in that moment that Alan’s heart went out to him. Just, this time, for a different reason. “It’s a type of street drug that makes you go into a frenzy… depending on the amount you use. It’s mostly used as a sex drug but, in small doses, it just gives you a high… a very addictive substance that makes you feel alive, while it slowly kills you inside.” Alan stated in a monotone voice.

“Yes. It’s a street drug that predators use to,” Bosch smug voice filled the alleyway but, once more, Alan cut him off.

“No.” Alan said as his shoulders slouched. “It isn’t.” He looked up at the jaguar who was watching him closely. “Drugs don’t care who the fuck uses them. It’s not for predators, or prey, or humans or… or whatever. Drugs don’t care.” Alan laughed. It lacked any humor to it. “You’re supposed to consume and take them but they’re what consumed you. Eats away at you from the inside. Inside your mind, your body… everything.” Alan bit the side of his lip looking at PB. “I should’ve seen the signs. I should’ve caught on sooner… this is my fault. Again, this is my fault…”

“Ah,” Bosch snapped his fingers finally figuring it out. “Yes, yes. I forgot. My apologies, Mr. Burges. You are rather familiar with this.” Alan gave him a look. “Your parents died in a trailer fire that their neighbors meth den started after it exploded.” Bosch waited for the response, the result of knowing about Alan’s past.

The human just looked at him.

“It wasn’t meth.” Alan said and the jaguar’s bravado faded away with that. “It was Primal. The neighbors were trying to create Primal. It was just another reason why I got out of there. The drug took that man and turned him into something out of a nightmare… way before it took his life. Or my parents life.”

“The report didn’t mention…” Bosch trailed off, tail lashing. He hated when he was given misleading information. The best way to get someone to cave in was to shove all the facts, data, and evidence you had against them into their face, using their past traumas to make them break down and give in.

“My parents took it.” Alan said and that startled Bosch.

“Your… human parents took Primal?” Bosch licked over his fangs, staring intently at the human. “It’s not supposed to be used by humans…”

“Not just them.” Alan shrugged one shoulder, turning away. “Everyone in that damn place was dipping their toes into the stuff. It was just coming out. The new street drug that was revolutionizing the party and play scene. Gay clubs began using it after it was introduced… It could make even an old, crippled woman into a frenzied beast if they took enough of the stuff.”

Alan laughed. He laughed and it sounded more like crying as he covered his face, turning away from PB who was drooling over the stuff. He didn’t even look like a wolf. Just another druggy you’d see on the streets.

Bosch’s tail flicked at that. Alan glanced over at him then.

“You know, I heard a funny rumor about it…” Alan sighed, shaking his head. “That the government purposefully created and released the stuff into predator run districts and neighborhoods in order to sow disorder and chaos within them. Turn them against each other… You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you? How that stuff ended up in that trailer park, my home… and ruined so many lives?”

“I have no clue what you are talking about.” Bosch smiled, his eyes laughing in amusement. “You are far smarter than the reports said about you. A simple office worker that was coerced into being kidnapped by a wolf. No criminal past. Scummy parents, but we all have those.” Bosch laughed. “Yet here you are with another wolf. You should be shaking in fear. Cornered like this. And yet, instead, you’re defending the very man that stabbed you in the back.”

Alan gave him a look and Bosch’s fur stood up slightly. It wasn’t one of resentment or hate or pity. It was one of sympathy.

“I’m sorry for that. For whatever happened to you in the past, Bosch. To make you turn out to be like this… to have to do this. To survive…” Alan honestly said as he looked down at PB. He crouched down and Bosch tensed, waiting for the human to do something but didn’t move to stop him if Alan did. If the human wanted one last pot shot at the wolf he had known and love. “Hey, PB…?”

The nutty brown furred wolf turned to look at him, his eyes wide with a vacant look to them as he pulled the vial away, closer to himself, away from Alan. As if afraid Alan would take it from him.

“No, no. I won’t take it from you. Promise… I’m just… I’m going to go away for a while.” Alan pet over PB’s head as if he were far younger than him instead of older. “I’m not mad at you.”

“Alan…” PB started but received a tight hug around the neck from the human instead.

“I forgive you PB. I’m sorry. I’m sorry I didn’t see the signs sooner. That I couldn’t save you like you saved me so many times before.” Alan pulled back, looking into his beaten, abused, scared face. “I’m sorry you had to turn to this, to Primal. To feel… something, again. I hope you can find happiness… somehow. Goodbye PB, again. I doubt we’ll ever see each other ever again…” And he stood up, walking towards the jaguar watching the scene unfold before him. “Do you cuff me or like…?” He asked, offering his hands up. “I’m unarmed.”  

Alan knew he stood no chance against the jaguar. In such an enclosed space, Bosch would have the advantage. He was armed and, even if he wasn’t, the feline also had those razor-sharp claws and bone crushing jaws that could snap Alan in two. Alan didn’t want PB getting caught up in this if something broke out between the two.

He had hurt PB enough. This was the last thing he could do for his friend. Going without a further fight.

“No, that won’t be necessary. You aren’t technically under arrest.” The jaguar’s tail flicked, glancing over at the wolf staring at them. Or rather, at Alan. “You just going to leave him like this? Last chance to get a kick in. He did sell you out. Betrayed you and the others.” Bosch let Alan go ahead, not bothering to hand cuff him.

“No. Hurting him wouldn’t solve or fix anything even if I did want to.” Alan just continued down the alleyway towards the vehicle that pulled up, waiting for them to get in. “Besides,” he stopped to look back at the wolf still curled around the vial he held tightly in his hands. “He’s the one who needs help…”

Bosch glanced back at the wolf.

“The drug wasn’t supposed to get outside the predator districts. The gangs were fanned into war between each other thanks to it. It wasn’t supposed to get out into the populace… not like this. They had hoped it would be coveted like gold…” Bosch stared at the wolf who didn’t even seem to realize where he was.

“Ah,” Alan snapped his fingers and Bosch looked at him. “I was trying to figure out why it looked like that. People have gone to the ends of the world searching for gold. It only makes sense to create something that would be so heavily coveted and desired, resembling it so. Something you would kill for… something you would lie for. Stab others for…”

“Right…” Bosch, the jaguar, said looking down at the vial. At the way the golden liquid inside sloshed back and forth. How it caught the light and shined as if were the most valuable substance alive.

The Aztec jaguars of old had been wiped out by invading nations seeking their gold. It only seemed fitting that one of their descendants now was using the very gold they lusted and craved after against them.

The door to the car opened and Alan gave one last final look towards the sky. It was blue like Reese’s eyes, and he hoped to maybe one day see them again as he climbed into the car. The jaguar was behind him.

The car drove off with PB lying there in the alleyway in a fetal position like a lost pup, craving the very thing that could take all the pain away with it…

“Alan…” PB whined out, closing his eyes as his hands gripped the only source of relief he had in these past twenty years apart…