by Bonnie Vanak
A while later, his pack slung over one broad shoulder, she walked with him down the forest slope toward the ranch, where they had seen a lodge when they’d first checked out the woods a few days ago. He stopped and turned.
“I’ll say good-bye now, before anyone sees you, Jenny.”
Suddenly she was in his arms, without even knowing how she’d gotten there. Gaze smoldering, Troy bent his head and kissed her.
Stunned, she surrendered to the subtle pressure of his warm mouth, her lips opening beneath his. His tongue delved inside, lightly teasing, tasting her.
He kissed her as if she were his next breath.
Jenny moaned and wrapped her arms around his neck, holding tight, drowning in the pleasure of Troy’s touch. Wanting more.
Needing more.
He released her as quickly as he’d kissed her.
“What was that for?” she whispered.
“A taste of home, Jenny. What you really need. A home, with me at your side, in bed each night. Once I get you into my bed, you’ll never want to leave.”
Then he smiled, but the smile lacked his usual charm. This smile looked hungry and predatory, as if his wolf surged forth.
Troy kissed her again, his time on the forehead, the friendly and casual kiss he usually gave out. Then he waved a hand and seemed to blend into the forest until he was gone.
Shaken, she rubbed her mouth. That kiss… whoa. She’d almost changed her mind.
Almost.
Jenny felt a wistful tug as she stared into the thick growth of pines, aspen and oak trees.
Troy seemed like he headed for a possible destiny, a secure spot in the world.
While she was still a wandering soul, uncertain of her own.
Chapter 2
The wood sign hanging above the open gates read MITCHELL RANCH.
A mile-long gravel road led to buildings he could barely make out. Green forest and mountains painted a pretty backdrop to the serene valley where horses grazed. Freshly-cut grass scented the air, threading through the smell of wildflowers and strong alpha Lupine markers.
Troy stood on the steel grates designed to prevent cattle from escaping and shuffled his boots back and forth. His future stretched before him, seemingly bright and beckoning, but much like the distant storm clouds, not always sunny.
Life was never totally trouble free. Hell he would settle for drama free.
But joining a pack presented a huge commitment when you’d been a lone wolf on the road for a long time. Not just a lone wolf, but a lone wolf with a crazed need to mate and breed. Might be a problem in a large pack filled with competitive males, except he already had the mate in mind.
If only Jenny would cooperate. Leaving her felt like leaving his heart behind, but he had to move forward.
Except now, he couldn’t. Couldn’t make his feet take another step.
Isn’t this what you wanted? Go.
Instead, he simply waited a minute, knowing the security cameras on the fence posts already picked up his presence. A wolf howled in the distance, signaling his arrival in a more basic, Lupine way.
Maybe his expectations ran too high and he feared being disappointed yet again. Easier to turn around, return to the forest with Jenny and resume their nomadic life.
Not this time. Something about this ranch called to him.
The trick to blending in with Skins was looking like them. He’d learned that long ago it worked with Lupines as well. Surely it would work now.
Troy pushed the Stetson back on his head to show his face as he started forward. Now wasn’t the time to hide. Alphas were smart. Wary. Protective of their packs.
The way you protect Jenny.
His thoughts skidded sideways. Nearly two months with her, teaming up like some kind of odd friendship when he’d wanted more. From the moment he’d seen her zapping those three Skins who wanted to rape her, he’d known she was his. His alone.
Lust kicked him low and hard as he recalled the softness of her skin, the sweetness of her mouth as he’d kissed her, the curves that had him salivating. Yeah, he was patient. Too patient. Other males would have pushed her hard, edging past the thin line of seduction to something darker and more primitive.
It lurked in the genes of every male Lupine, that raging lust that drove them to mate. He’d learned to control himself. But ah, around Jenny, control had a way of teasing away from him, letting the lust consume him.
Times like that he usually left her alone, headed into whatever town they’d bunked near, to get away from her.
Like now, except he wanted her with him. Permanently. Her panic attack had scared the ever loving shit out of him.
For now, he had to check out this place, see if they were good Lupines, a good place to settle, mate with Jenny, raise young.
See Zoe and how she was getting along. She sounded happy in her texts. There even was a cowboy she liked, and wanted to date, but she was afraid he’d find out her sordid past.
Troy started for the buildings, taking his time, assessing the surroundings. He gauged the sun riding lower in the sky. Best time to visit. Chores mostly would be finished, Lupines relaxed and ready for dinner, tending to family matters. The alpha wouldn’t be as busy.
Finally he reached the main building – a wood lodge that looked like both a hotel and a place of business.
He drew closer to the porch, catching the scent of two Lupines sitting there, booted feet propped up on the railing. One was lanky, with the blackest eyes Troy had ever seen, and razor sharp cheekbones. Troy pegged him as Native American, maybe Sioux. Fascinating. He’d met one or two Lupines with Sioux blood in his travels. Not wolves to tangle with, for certain. Like him, they stayed close to nature and were more feral than Skin. Beneath his white Stetson, inky black hair hung curtain rod straight down to his torso. His jeans jacket, white T-shirt and jeans were worn and slightly dusty.
His companion had shorter hair and a black Stetson. His body boasted of hard muscle beneath his jeans and blue chambray work shirt. He recognized the scent of the black-hatted Lupine. Hell, this was the same male who’d trekked through the woods near their camp. His gut reaction kicked in, wanting to growl in the male’s face. Still so protective of Jenny.
But this male had a hellava lot to protect, too.
Troy stopped short of the steps, focusing on the familiar male. Tall, short dark hair beneath his Stetson, he had a watchful look. Probably the pack enforcer.
Easy to recognize the type, the relaxed body ready to rip into action in seconds, triggered to either offer a hand in friendship or rip your throat out.
He’d done the same at his former pack. Troy nodded at the male, equal to equal.
Their gazes curious, but not mistrustful, the two males said nothing. Troy shouldered his rucksack, directing his attention to the Lupine he sensed held more authority.
“I’m Troy Gilbert, Zoe’s friend.”
At mention of Zoe, black Stetson relaxed, but the other, the Native American, stiffened. Troy continued.
“I’m looking for a job. Don’t know if you’re hiring, but I’m a hard worker, and don’t mind scut work. Been in the road a long time and looking for a decent pack. All I ask is food and board in return.”
The Lupine in the black Stetson removed his hat, ran a thumb along the brim. “Can’t say that we’re hiring. Or that we aren’t. How’d you find us?”
That hard look in his eye warned this Lupine wouldn’t take lies for truth. He’d find out soon enough.
Honesty up front prevented trouble down the line, especially since Jenny still lingered on their land.
“Camped out in your forest, saw the ranch, liked what I saw.”
A growl from the other Lupine, but black hat stilled him with a hand.
“Go on.”
Troy liked this Lupine, his calm demeanor. Maybe another less experienced Lupine would think black hat was a pushover, but he knew better.
Black hat wouldn’t hesitate to carve him to shreds if he sensed Troy w
ere a threat. Encouraged by the foot he’d shoved into the door, Troy went on.
“Didn’t know it was yours. Couldn’t catch any scent markers and there sure as hell wasn’t a fence. Land seemed wild and free, with game we needed for food.”
He locked gazes with the male, let him know he wasn’t a pushover. Respect would be given, but he demanded the same.
“We?” Black hat tilted his head.
Troy cursed inwardly. Hell, he’d played the game enough never to let others know his full hand. But he’d grown slack, used to thinking of himself and Jenny as a real couple.
At Troy’s silence, the other leaned forward. “I asked you a question.”
“And I’ll give you the answer, when I reckon I’m ready.”
Maybe he was wrong, his instinct off and this wasn’t the pack he’d figured worth their salt. Too insular and suspicious of outsiders.
Even outsiders ready to become insiders.
Then black hat gave the briefest of nods.
“True enough.” The male pushed to his feet. “You looking for wrangling work?”
Troy kept a blank expression, not letting the kick of relief show. “I can ride, but it’s not my specialty.”
“Uh huh. What is your specialty, wolf?”
Troy smiled and extended his hand, letting his claws emerge. “Hunting, tracking and enforcing. Just point out what you need and I’m your wolf.”
The other male smiled, a slow kind of smile Troy liked. “Good. I can use a wolf like you. Name’s Dale. I’m the head enforcer here.”
Retracting his claws, Troy stuck out his hand and climbed the steps to shake hands. “Troy Gilbert.”
“Welcome to Mitchell Ranch.” Dale jerked a thumb at the other male, who stood and nodded, but did not offer his hand.
“Snake,” the Native American Lupine drawled.
Troy’s mouth crooked. “Interesting name. Nickname for something or is your first name Rattle?”
Cold dark eyes stared at him. “Jon. Snake’s my Sioux name. Jon Whitesnake Landon. What about you, lone wolf? Troy short for Trojan, as in condom?”
Now he flashed a full grin. “My mama named me after a mythical city. Then again, werewolves are supposed to be mythical.”
Snake’s thin mouth flashed in the briefest of smiles. “Right. Especially during a full moon.”
Dale tilted his head up to examine the darkening sky. “Let’s get you set up. Dinner’s about to start, but you can grab your meals at the bunkhouse if you don’t want to mix with the whole pack just yet. Your choice. Bunkhouse or the lodge?”
Smart move. If Troy expressed desire to dine alone, it would highlight his lone wolf tendencies. He knew he’d have other tests to pass in the coming days, but this one ranked higher than most.
“I’d like to meet your alpha first,” he told Dale.
Dale’s mouth twitched. “Alphas. Aiden and Nia. C’mon.”
Thunder rumbled in the distance, the indigo clouds flashing lightning. As he ran up the steps to join Dale and Snake, his heart sank. Jenny. He hated leaving her alone in the woods during a storm, but what choice did he have if she wouldn’t join him? Would they ever have a chance of a life together?
Chapter 3
Putting on a brave face for Troy seemed easier when he was around. Alone, well, her bravado slipped like autumn leaves tumbling down after a strong wind.
Much as she longed to slip into her wolf and race through the woods, she promised Troy to stay in Skin for as long as possible. Getting shot by ranchers wasn’t on her top ten list of things to do, either.
Lightning flashed and thunder cracked in the distance. Shivering, she walked outside, jumping off the narrow porch to study the overcast sky. The little cabin seemed snug against storms, but she hated thunder. Violent thunderstorms had driven her alpha out of the woods to the open meadow…
Don’t go there.
Indigo clouds blotted out the sun. A cool wind brushed against the treetops, rustling the leaves. A pine cone tumbled to her feet, making her jump. She laughed.
Silly her. One would think she’d never been alone in the woods.
Trouble was, time with Troy had been with her, she’d grown accustomed to his comforting presence.
Well, now you have to adjust to being alone again. Being alone is better than being in a pack with an alpha who could lead you into danger like your last one did. Aren’t all alphas filled with their own egos and rule with an iron paw?
A low wolf howl echoed through the forest. Jenny stilled, and then tilted her head. Might be Lupine, but this howl had a distinctly different tone, laced with a high pitch.
Wild wolf. The same wild wolves she’d heard a few nights ago, calling out into the night.
Curiosity pricked her as the wolf howled again, this time a sound of utter loneliness. The wolf did not howl to connect to pack, but seemed hopelessly lost. She went inside, grabbed her jacket. On second thought, she grabbed a pack of dried beef jerky, then set off in search of the wolf.
Leaves crunched under her boots as she threaded through the fir and oak trees. Dim sunlight dappling the forest floor began to fade, replaced by the darkening thunderheads. Jenny squelched her own fear. If the wolf was lost, or even hurt, she felt a deeply personal reason to help the animal.
The forest thinned, leading to a stretch of green meadow peppered with wildflowers. Small fir trees sprouted here and there, scenting the air with pine. The sight made her smile. It looked like a Christmas tree farm in the midst of the wilderness.
A white wolf sat by one stubby tree, regarding her. Overhead lightning flashed and thunder boomed. Jenny jumped, steeled her nerves and slowly approached the wolf. Female, young, and definitely alone.
“Hey girl, you okay? You look lost.”
The blue-eyed wolf did not growl, nor did she back away. Definitely not a timber wolf. Timbers didn’t have blue eyes or white coats. This was an Artic wolf perhaps, but wrong time of year for the white coat. No snow to blend in.
She could shift to her wolf skin. But in the past she’d dealt enough with wild wolves to know how to approach them. Jenny sat a short distance away, and waited. She removed a piece of jerky, sniffed it.
Then howled herself, a deep, longing howl expressing all her frustration and feelings.
The white wolf’s ears pricked. It wolf loped up to her, sniffed the jerky she held out and then snatched it, gulping it in one giant chew and swallow.
Jenny selected a slice for herself and chewed the hard dried beef. “You know we’re cousins in a way. Not kissing kin, but we share a lot in common. And I sense you’ve lost your pack. Are you hurt?”
She did a quick study of the wolf, which had retreated a few feet away after taking the beef. No open wounds, no smell of blood or fear. Just a lost wolf.
Like me.
Ominous thunder cracked again, this time closer. Jenny shivered and glanced at her companion. “I need to get back to shelter. You’re welcome to join me. I have plenty of food and you can den down on the porch. If you don’t mind sharing space.”
The wolf did not blink.
Jenny rose and began hiking back, turning once in a while to see if the wolf followed. It threaded through the trees, and seemed to vanish, and then reappeared a few yards behind her. The air smelled damp of clouds ready to burst.
Fat raindrops splatted here and there. Her brisk walk turned into a jog, breath rasping in her lungs.
Nothing to fear. Just a storm.
At the cabin, she went inside, selected a small, raw steak from the refrigerator and brought it outside. The wolf paced back and forth like a caged lion.
Jenny waggled the steak. “Come and get it.”
The rain fell faster, and the wolf shook in an attempt to dry herself. Those eerie blue eyes stared at the food, but it seemed the wolf stared more at her. Again, she wondered about this wolf.
“Come on up to the porch. Nice and dry here.”
Doubtful the wolf would, for it had a natural distrust of Skins an
d even Lupines wearing human skin. To her delight and surprise, the wolf leapt onto the porch and snatched up the raw meat. It gulped it down in two bites.
“My grandma, what nice sharp teeth you have. The better to eat all my stash,” Jenny murmured.
She tossed the rest of the jerky to the wolf. Who could eat during a storm anyway?
Huddling in the corner, she shivered as the rain came down harder and the thunder crackled. Seemed as if it was right overhead. Jenny hugged her knees. The rustic cabin proved a little too rustic for her taste.
Especially in a rainstorm.
No, not a rainstorm. More like a tropical downpour.
Rain, she could handle. But this wasn’t a rainstorm with the gentle patter falling on the porch roof. It was a downpour, thunder cracking overhead. Rain fell in sheets, the gray skies flashing lightning overhead.
To her surprise, the wolf crept closer and then lay down right at her feet. With a trembling hand, she stroked the soft fur. The wolf put its head between its paws and closed her eyes, seemingly content.
Utterly unafraid.
Such lack of fear made her own terror lessen. If this wolf, a primitive creature, didn’t give a howl about a violent thunderstorm, why should she? It was nature, after all. Not a Skin with a rifle shooting at you from a helicopter like aiming at fish in a barrel.
Finally the rain slowed, then stopped, dripping off the overhang onto the ground. Jenny sighed and the wolf continued to nap.
Another howl echoed through the woods. The wolf sat up, alert, its ears pricked.
She went in front of the wolf and looked straight into those beautiful blue eyes.
“Listen to me, wolf. You stay away from that ranch and the livestock, okay? I don’t want anything happening to you! They might shoot you, and trust me, bullets are not a good way to die.”
The wolf put a paw on Jenny’s arm as if to say she understood. Then she raced off the porch and bounded into the woods.
The white wolf raced through the forest until reaching the meadow. A man clad in black, his ebony gaze intent, stared at her.
