***

The open space in front of his eyes removed some of the discomfort experienced while traveling upward in that strange contraption humans called an elevator. In his preparations for visiting the city, he had been warned that he would have to get used to such things. After all, Thomas Pembroke, his mate, lived on top of the world, and to get there, it would be impractical for Ryder to take the stairs every time.

He moved over to the large window in the middle of one wall to sweep the surroundings with his eyes.

“It’s all lights from ads now,” his host’s voice drifted to him from behind. “In daylight, it looks pretty plain, but I like it. It’s all concrete buildings, with the occasional glass and steel monster.” A short nervous laugh followed those words.

Ryder turned, bent on examining the lodging meant for him. There was a single bed, and the smell of clean linens tickled his nostrils. His wolf had brought him the large distance to the city, so now his human felt tiredness seeping into his bones.

He liked Average Joe’s abode. For how small the space was, its owner hadn’t crowded it with useless things. Ryder could truly breathe here, and that said something, seeing he was still trapped in the heart of this ruthless city.

“I’m sorry,” Joe started again. He moved his arms about, eventually settling for wrapping one awkwardly behind his back and catching the other elbow with his hand. “I just don’t do this often.”

Ryder nodded in understanding. Someone who would offer lodging to a stranger on a regular basis should have more than one bed. Also, it was clear that the efficiently-used space wasn’t fit for accommodating another person without difficulty.

“I am grateful for your offer nonetheless,” he said.

Joe snickered and looked away. Ryder sniffed the air. There was no craftiness in the human’s actions, or his senses were too dull indeed.

“Do you always speak like this? So formally?”

No, he could make himself understood well with a woof, a growl, or a grunt. But those weren’t things for Average Joe to know or learn.

“I am not from the city,” Ryder felt obliged to explain at least that much.

“I suppose that’s easy to tell. Would you like something to drink first? I only have,” Joe began to count on his fingers, “seltzer water, tonic water, alkaline water… and coffee.”

“Do you have just water?” Ryder asked. Humans needed so many types of beverages, it was difficult to keep track of everything.

“Simple water? From the tap? I’d advise against it,” Joe said, throwing an embarrassed look at his kitchenette, tucked to one side, but not separated from the open space.

“Then tonic water?” Ryder wasn’t sure what he was about to drink, but that name seemed less strange than the rest.

“Gotcha.” Joe smiled widely and pointed his index fingers at him, seemingly pleased with Ryder’s choice.

He took the proffered bottle from Joe’s hand and uncapped it. The smell of something bitter and sweet at the same time invaded his nostrils. Although he doubted he’d like it, he forced himself to take a sip and quickly handed the bottle back to his host. The disappointed look in Joe’s eyes made him feel guilty about not forcing himself to drink more.

“The tap water is safe to drink, I think, it’s just… it has way too much chlorine,” Joe explained. “Are you sure you don’t want to try any of the others? What do you usually drink?”

“Spring water,” Ryder replied.

“Ah, that’s a bit expensive for my budget,” Joe said, seemingly lost in thought.

Ryder was about to argue that it cost nothing to drink from a fresh spring, when he realized his mistake. “Give me the one you consider to be the least artificial.”

Joe beamed at him. “I think you’ll like the seltzer better.” He went back to his refrigerator and selected another bottle.

His host was right. Ryder drank greedily from the bottle, emptying it in one gulp. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and handed the receptacle back to a surprised Joe. “Thank you,” he said politely.

Joe nodded eagerly. Once he disposed of the empty bottle, he returned to Ryder. He moved closer, with hesitant moves, like a hunter on his first day out hunting. Ryder observed the human with a tinge of amusement. If they were in the wild, he’d have so many things to teach this young man.

When Joe touched him, the scent of arousal hit him all at once. He had caught a whiff of it during the car ride, but now it was so strong that Ryder wobbled on his feet for a moment. This human had so many nice smells.

“Did I come at you too strong?” Joe asked, pulling back some.

Ryder wrapped him in his arms. He didn’t mind the small bed, and the water with strange taste as long as he could take a break from the city’s poisons by breathing in the human’s scent. “I believe it is usual to discuss the payment terms first.”

Joe turned rigid in his arms and then pulled away. “Oh, gawd,” he groaned, “I should have known, right? Please, tell me I should have known.” The plea was clearly directed at Ryder, but the question made no sense.

“Known what?” Even his wolf was tired, and now that this human’s smell tickled him good he needed more of it.

“Oh, please, don’t play the innocent now. It doesn’t suit you,” Joe accused him openly.

Ryder was convinced a sort of misunderstanding was underway, and that it stemmed from his lack of familiarity with humans’ ways in general. However, without additional information that only the human in front of him could offer, there was little he could do to dispel it.

“I am not playing,” he said.

Joe put his hands on his hips and shook his head. “I should have known,” he repeated the same words he had just said. He was no longer looking at Ryder at all. “A guy like you wouldn’t come home with a guy like me. In a million years.” Another self-deprecating snort – Average Joe seemed to do that a lot – followed.

“That is not true. You offered me lodging. And something else. We must discuss the payment, as the custom demands it.”

“The custom.” Joe groaned and stared at the ceiling with a suffering expression on his face. “I have to admit that you’re insanely good. I mean, you definitely go against all expectations. You look like a bad boy, but you’re polite. You’re bold, and yet you’re the sort who takes off his shoes when entering a home.”

It had more to do with how Ryder had been longing to get rid of those shoes for a while now. Even if they were the comfortable type, for someone who was unused to being restrained in that manner for so many hours, they had ended up feeling like torture.

“And by the way,” Joe continued, his voice pitching higher, “your feet don’t even smell, although I was worried there for a second when I saw your shoes coming off! I mean, how come you’re so perfect?”

It was another question without an answer. Ryder had received a smartphone from one of his pack members to rely on for guidance, but he couldn’t take it out of his pocket and ask the female with the grating voice for assistance.

Joe’s shoulders sagged. “I’m sorry you misunderstood me. Would you mind leaving?”

Ryder didn’t want to leave this place with clean sheets and clean smells. Nor did he want to leave this human who smelled better than the whole city. “I see that there is a misunderstanding at play. I’d like to clarify.”

“Am I really playing this game?” Joe murmured to himself. He shook his head, and then pinched the bridge of his nose. “Fine,” he said, looking straight at Ryder, “I’ll go along with you since… well, I don’t know why. Do you promise to leave after we clear up our misunderstanding?”

Ryder nodded slowly. If the human insisted, he had no choice. He couldn’t howl at him to scare him and then take his bed for the night. Average Joe would call the local authorities and get him in trouble. A wolf in the city needed to keep a low profile; Cassandra, the elders of his pack, and even some of the youngsters had all warned him of that. The city could prove a very dangerous place for a wolf if he wasn’t careful.

Joe took a deep breath. “You’re a, um… you’re a… why is this so difficult? You know what you are, right?” He waved at Ryder with one arm.

“I know what I am,” Ryder said slowly, a frown starting to knit his eyebrows together. Could it be that this human could smell the wolf on him? Cassandra was half-human. She was capable of such things.

“Okay, glad we agree on something. And since you are what you are,” Joe said, the words leaving his mouth as if they had to force themselves out, “you said to me what you said to me.”

“I’m afraid you will have to explain to me the reason you are so upset.”

Joe threw his arms out and moaned loudly, looking at the ceiling again. Ryder looked up too. Was something there that offered this human the insight he appeared to possess? If Average Joe knew he was a wolfshifter, then things would get a lot more complicated than they already were. Ryder had no intention of hurting the human, but he didn’t need the city up in arms, ready to hunt him down, either. He only needed to meet his mate, establish the bond, and take Theodore Pembroke to Pinemoor with him.

“Just for the record, how much? I think this would make a good story to tell my bestie. I’m definitely sure I can’t afford you.”

The human’s words were as strange as he was. “You must name the price,” Ryder said. “And afford me? No, I must pay you.” He searched his inner pocket and took out the three bills he had. The young members of his pack had told him to use as little money as he could and, if his mission took too long, to secure employment in the city. Currency had no value for Ryder, but it had for humans.

He unfolded them carefully and offered them to Joe. The dumbfounded expression in the brown eyes observing him took him by surprise. It took him a moment to understand. “Is it too little? Unfortunately, it is all I have. May I rely on your kindness to allow me to spend the night here?”

***