Lone Wolf

“

He was a killer, a thing that preyed, living on the things that lived, unaided, alone, by virtue of his own strength and prowess, surviving triumphantly in a hostile environment where only the strong survive.“

• Jack London ’The Call of the Wild

Fear. The scent of fear filled his nostrils as his long, leanly muscled legs carried him through the thick night-darkened forest. He could smell the prey up ahead as the human ran for all he was worth.

The wolf laughed at the man’s attempts at escape. The wolf loped easily along behind him, prolonging the chase that it so much enjoyed. The scent of blood was in the air but it wasn’t the wolfs blood or the mans. No, it was innocent blood that the man had spilled. The tiny girls body was still warm at the edge of town and the scent of it only served to further anger the wolf, increasing his blood lust.

Innocent blood has been spilled in his territory and that was something that he could not, would not, allow.

The prey was breathing hard, fast, ragged. His steps were becoming increasingly slower and he stumbled over a root. The wolf nearly shook with anticipation.

It loved the hunt. The kill. Spilling the blood of the monster that had spilled the blood of an innocent.

The wolf could smell the fear and the fatigue. The human was tiring fast. He was nearing the end of his endurance. The wolf was not even breathing hard.

He could see his prey up ahead, stumbling through the darkness as branches tore at his face and thorned bushes tore at his trousers and skin. His blood tickled the wolf’s sensitive nose and suddenly the chase was no longer fun.

The wolf wanted it over. He wanted to sink his teeth into the mans skin. Show him pain. Teach him what happened when you killed innocents in his territory. He might only be a lone wolf, a rogue, without the protection and extra strength of a pack, but he was a force to be reckoned with in his own right and this human had crossed a line.

The wolf let his legs carry him faster, surging forward with power and grace, quickly closing the distance between himself and the winded human. The man turned and let out a scream. He tripped on a large root and went down, turning on his back and staring at the wolf with sheer terror.

“Don’t kill me! Don’t kill me!” he cried out as he kicked and scooted backward across the leaf strewn forest floor.

The wolf smiled, showing his teeth, and then with a low growl he lunged forward and sunk his teeth deep in the murderers throat, letting his warm blood splash across his fur, the soothing liquid rolling down his throat and filling his senses.

He usually tried to satisfy his bloodlust with deer, bear, rabbits and other animals and it was always a treat when he was able to taste the blood of a human, which only happened when one took an innocent life in his territory.

He left the kill without filling his stomach, not wanting to taint his body with meat from such a human, and then set off into the woods to enjoy the last few hours of night he had left. He ran, his long body low to the ground and his powerful legs carrying him quickly through the maze of trees, branches, bushes and roots.

He ran to the top of a ridge and looked down on the sleeping town below. His town. It was quiet this time of night. Kerosene lanterns were lit to illuminate the streets as the townsfolk slumbered peacefully in their beds. All was calm but he knew that when the body of the girl was found in the morning things would not be so peaceful.

Sunrise would be coming in barely over an hour and he had not yet had any sleep so he headed back down into the clearing and the lake where had left his clothes.

He changed back into a man. Tall, lean, muscular and dark in the moonlight. He was covered in blood so he dove into the water to cleanse it and cool his heated skin. The change always left him sweaty and overheated. His blood tended to run hot all the time because of the wolf within him and forcing the change simply served to make it worse.

There was only one night a month, during the full moon when he had to change and any other time he could change at will. Though the wolf fought hard to come free whenever he lost his temper or gave in to passion.

He slipped into his trousers and shirt and headed off at a jog toward home, knowing he’d need some rest before resuming his human life in the morning.

Chapter One

Dawn looked at the empty stone building on the outskirts of town and let her imagination run away with images of what it would look like as her bakery.

She could almost smell the scent of fresh baked cakes, pies and pastries and she shook with excitement. She had left her home back east and alone, without the protection of a man, she had come out west to this frontier town to make her own life.

She wasn’t sure what had caused her to choose this town. She had simply been drawn to it and had decided to go with her gut, follow her instincts. This town was now her home.

She had brought a lot of money with her, and stowed it away safely at the town bank. It should be more than enough to buy or rent this building and start up her bakery. That is if the owner would even consider doing business with a woman, which Dawn knew was a long shot. No matter. She was persistent and determined and eventually she would get what she wanted.

Her parents had died when she was very young and her brother had taken over guardianship of her. Dawn felt a moment of pain as she thought of her brother. She had loved him so but he had had demons eating at his soul. Gambling, drinking and picking fights had eventually led to his death as well.

Dawn was twenty-eight, considered an old-maid, and plenty old enough to look out for herself, though it had been discouraged back east for a woman to live alone. It simply did not look proper the ladies had said. She did not care. Dawn had always been a bit of a loner and so this move had suited her.

The life of a housewife was something she did not want and she wasn’t what most men wanted. Her reddish, gold hair, freckles, pale skin and plump figure had kept her rather free at all the town dances back east.

“Ma’am, is there something I can help you with?” An older gentleman in a worn suit asked as he walked up to her. Dawn smiled the most charming smile she could muster and held out her gloved hand, which he shook as he gave her an odd look.

“My name is Dawn Patten, sir and I was actually hoping to speak to the owner of this empty building.” The man thought for a moment.

“I guess that would be Grange Michaels. It used to belong to Old Man Howell but he passed away a few years ago and left it to Grange, I believe.” Dawn nodded, happy to finally have a name.

“And where can I find Mr. Michaels?” The gentleman laughed good naturedly.

“He should be to town sometime today. He cuts timber and hauls it to the mill behind the lumber yard. He won’t know what to think if you call him Mr. Michaels. He’s just Grange to most folks around here.”

“Thank you so much.” Dawn said appreciatively and the man nodded.

“Don’t mention it. Grange can be a bit odd around folks he don’t know so when you talk to him tell him that Henry sent ya.”

“I’ll do that Henry.” Dawn assured him. She was about to turn to head to the diner for breakfast when Henry spoke up again.

“Can I ask what interest a woman would have in a building like this one?”

“I plan on starting a bakery if Mr. Michaels will allow me to lease his building.”

“A bakery? Where is your husband?” Dawn forced a tight smile and folded her hands in front of her as she gripped her tiny clutch.

“I do not have a husband.” she replied. “Nor do I have a father or brother accompanying me. As a matter of fact I have no guardian or chaperone at all.” Henry’s light eyes widened as he rubbed his wrinkled cheek.

“I can tell you’re from back east by the way you talk. You mean to tell me you came all the way out here by yourself and now you’re gonna start a business?”

“Yes I am.” Dawn replied proudly. She saw that he was about to offer his two cents and so she quickly offered a smile and tipped her head.

“I thank you for your help, Henry. I must be going now.” she turned and walked away, feeling more than a little defensive. Why must she be doubted simply because she was a woman?!

She let out a sigh and then pushed the thought away, deciding that it wasn’t something that was going to change and worrying and stressing over it wouldn’t help the situation.

She walked into the crowded diner and looked around for an empty seat. While this was a frontier town, it was a fairly well off town with the lumber, mines, farming and plentiful water. There were hundreds of residents that called the town and the surrounding land home and it was Dawn’s hope that a lot of them would appreciate good baked goods when they tasted them.

She took her seat, ordered soup and bread, and after eating she walked back out in the springtime sun and headed for the lumberyard. She hoped that Grange Michaels would be there as she was eager to get started readying the building for her bakery.

She thought about what Henry had said about Grange being odd around those he didn’t know. The same had been said in the past about Dawn herself so she hoped that he was just a bit of a loner just the way she was. She truly hoped she wouldn’t be forced to try to work with and do business with a crazy man.

---

Grange was restless. The wolf in him was still agitated by the innocent blood he could smell in the air. He hoped they would find the girl’s body soon, though he wasn’t going to be the one to show it to them. There were enough whispers in this town about the quiet man who kept to himself and didn’t seem to age.

He swung the heavy ax through the air and split the large log in two before putting one half on the stone and splitting it as well. Cutting firewood was a common thing for him. He cut it for everyone in town who needed him to. It helped burn off the energy and restlessness that came with being a werewolf.

“Oh you mean Grange?” Grange’s attention went to the mill owner as he heard him speaking his name, though he continued to chop wood. “He’s back behind the mill, cutting wood. A lady such as yourself really shouldn’t be back here….”

“I’ll be just fine, I assure you. Thank you for your concern.” Grange heard a feminine, eastern accented voice reply. What in the world would some woman from the east want with him? He heard her footsteps coming, they were confident and steady. He sat the axe aside and then rose to his full height of just over six feet and turned to look at her.

---

Dawn had been building herself up for this moment. The moment she would come face to face with Grange Michaels. The man who held her dream and her future in his hands. She had been confident, sure of herself and not in the least nervous…. She had

been that is until he turned around and she laid her eyes on him.

He was tall, clearly over six feet. He was lean and hard bodied. His black tunic styled shirt was sweaty and clung to his broad chest. His brown buckskin pants hugged his thick thighs and long legs. His well muscled forearms were bare and gleaming with sweat and he had big hands. Dawn had always been a sucker for big hands…. But it wasn’t those things that had her suddenly swallowing her tongue and forgetting how to speak. It was that face… Those eyes.

There was nothing exceptional about their color, though they were the deepest, truest blue she had ever seen. It was the way they seemed to pierce into her. There was an almost predatory light in them that made her feel small and in danger.

His face was rugged and dark. He was tanned from the sun, his cheekbones were solid and his jaw strong. His face was covered in a thick dusting of black stubble and the same color hair was in a messy, careless pile on his head.

He ran his hand through that hair and caused a bit of it to fall carelessly over his brow, which was lined and creased as he stared intently at her. She was sure she saw the nostrils in his narrow nose flare and his fists clenched, causing the muscles in his forearms to jump as he crossed them over his chest.

“A…Are you… Mr. Michaels?” Dawn managed to stutter, quite unprofessionally. She was angry at herself and so she squared her shoulders, smoothed out her brown skirt and swallowed hard. She looked at his chest, focusing on the worn black fabric of his shirt instead of on that face and those eyes. Why was he looking at her like that? So intense. So serious. Almost like she was his prey and he the big bad wolf.

“My name is Grange.” he replied tightly. His voice was deep and had an almost raspy, gravely quality to it. Dawn wondered what in the world was wrong with her as she felt herself trembling when the sound of it washed over her.

“Grange, I’m Dawn Patten. I am new in town.” she replied as she stuck her hand out. She must remember her manners and ignore the way her knees were shaking and her stomach was tied in knots. She had to make this man like her if she was going to get the building she needed for her bakery.

“I figured.” he replied, ignoring her hand as he turned away from her and picked up his axe. “What do you want with me?” Dawn stammered for a moment before snapping her jaw shut. He was being incredibly rude and yet she still felt her mouth go dry at the way that shirt outlined his muscles and the way those muscles worked as he swung that axe and split the log in half with ease.

“I have a business proposition for you, Mr. Michaels.” the man snorted and tossed the pieces of the log onto a pile of wood he had already chopped.

“And what exactly would a woman have to do with business propositions? Unless of course you’re offering me a roll in the barn loft. I might be tempted to take you up on that. Other than that, I don’t do business with anybody.”

Dawn didn’t know what to say. She had never , in twenty-eight years of life been spoken to that way! It made her angry. Very angry. Who did this Grange Michaels think that he was?

She stormed forward, her temper overriding her good sense and grabbed the axe he was lifting into the air, she jerked it from his grasp and he turned to look down at her. He wasn’t angry or shocked, instead he looked intrigued.

“Okay, Dawn, you have my attention and my axe. I will be taking both away in exactly one minute so get to talking.” Dawn could tell he meant it. She rested the axe head on the ground, shocked by just how heavy it was, and then leaned against the handle.

“Mr. Michaels, I have just moved here from my home back east. I have a large amount of money that I inherited from my parents and my brothers estates when they passed away and also some I earned as a baker. I would like to inquire as to whether or not you would be interested in allowing me to lease or buy the stone building you own at the edge of town.”

“And why would you want that big old building?” Grange asked with a slight raise of his brow. Dawn was all business now.

“I would like to start up a bakery here. I am aware the building will need some work to be a suitable place to do that but I am willing to put in the sweat and hire help myself as well to make it happen.”

“A bakery huh?” Grange asked as he studied her. “You a good baker, cuz I got one hell of a sweet tooth.” He gave her a grin that was so sudden and so breathtakingly lopsided and handsome that it had her stuttering and nearly gasping for air.

“Y..yes. Yes, I’m a good baker.” she finally managed to reply as she swept some loose hair from her face. “Would you be willing to talk about terms with me…..?” Dawn’s voice trailed off as cries broke out from the main street. A loud wail filled the air and before Dawn had time to wonder what was happening, Grange had swept past her and was heading around the mill.

Dawn all but ran to keep up. She still needed to know his answer and she was just as curious as he appeared to be about what was going on. Lord, he had long legs… It was all she could to do keep up with his strides, but at least the view was good from back here.

When they reached the main street, Dawn wished she had stayed where she’d been. There was a woman on her knees in the street, clinging to the dead body of a young girl. The girl was covered in blood, her dress was torn and her skin was pale and ashen.

Dawn gasped, felt her stomach roll and gagged as she covered her mouth with her hand. That poor girl couldn’t have been more than ten or twelve.

She was suddenly aware of a strange sound beside her and she glanced over to see Grange standing there with his arms stuck down by his sides and his fists clenched tightly. He seemed to be practically vibrating with rage, his face seemed to have been carved from rock and the strange sound was him growling. It wasn’t just the angry growl that most people let out from time to time.

This growl was animalistic and deep and it sent shivers down her spine.

“What the hell happened?” Dawn recognized Henry as he walked through the crowd and to the woman on the ground. She also saw another man with a star on his chest. The town sheriff, though she didn’t know his name.

“I found her.” A man that was pale and shaking said as he pointed down at the girl with one hand and covered his mouth with the other. “I found her like that. What kind of monster would do such a thing?!”

“Did you see anything else?” the sheriff asked as the mothers sobs and wails filled the midmorning air, though Dawn could still hear those growls coming from Grange. He was certainly weird alright.

“There was tracks all around her.” the man replied with a neck cracking nod.

“Tracks? Boot tracks?” the sheriff asked.

“No… No these was wolf tracks only bigger than any wolf I’d ever seen! They led off into the woods.” The sheriff nodded and then waved his hand, his deputy quickly came to him.

“Get the mother and the girl to the undertakers. Take care of the mother. Anything she needs, she gets.” he said. The deputy nodded and took the mangled body of the girl into his arms before leading her sobbing mother toward the undertakers.

“Let’s get together some men and follow those tracks.” the sheriff said to the man who had found the girl.

“Exactly what are you hoping to find? If it was wolves…” a woman began but the man who had found the girl cut her off, his eyes wide and shining.

“This weren’t no ordinary wolf. These tracks were big. Monstrous.”

“Monsters?!” Another man exclaimed.

“Our children aren’t safe!” A voice cried out.

“We have to find and kill this creature!” yet another added.

Dawn didn’t know what to think. Mangled children. Monster wolves. The townsfolk gathering up their revolvers, pistols, rifles and knives. Perhaps she shouldn’t have come to this town.

She saw Grange walking away toward where the sheriff was addressing the few men that made up the ‘monster hunting’ party.

“Wait!” she called out. He turned and looked at her. That rage that had been on his face, seemed to have faded some and he was no longer growling.

“What is it, Dawn?” he asked, sounding slightly irritated. It surprised her that he called her by her given name and Dawn cast a nervous glance at the group of men, who were building themselves up, yelling angrily and swinging their weapons.

“Do you really think there is a monster?” she asked, searching his eyes, knowing her question was ridiculous but finding that she had to ask it.

“Of course not, silly girl.” he replied, that lopsided grin once again forming on his face. “There’s no such thing as monsters.”

Dawn knew it was stupid, but she felt relief at his assurance. Then she called out again when he began to turn away. Again he turned to look at her, this time his annoyance was showing as he swirled his tongue around his canine tooth.

“What about the building? I know I shouldn’t be asking now of all times but this is my dream….”

“You can use it.” Grange replied quickly. He reached in the pocket of his buckskin pants and dug around, drawing Dawns eyes down to that area and causing her to blush. He pulled his hand out and held out a large iron key.

“This is the key to the building. Make a list of all you need bought and all you need done and I will make it happen.” he stated. Dawn was shocked. So quickly? So easily?

“What about money? What will I have to pay you monthly, or yearly, for the use of the building?”

“I have no use for money.” Grange replied with a shrug. “I simply want free baked goods. As often and as much as I’d like.”

Dawn blinked several times as she stared at him. Was he joking?! He didn’t seem to be.

“Of course!” she exclaimed happily. “Thank you so much, Mr. Michaels!” She was practically jumping up and down with excitement. Grange shook his head, somehow reminding her of a dog when something was confusing it and then he scratched at his cheek.

“Don’t be so happy. I eat a lot and, as I’ve said before, I have one hell of a sweet tooth. I gotta go now, Dawn.” With that he turned and walked away and Dawn nearly took off at a run down the road, eager to get a look inside what would soon be her bakery.

Chapter Two

Grange’s mind was not on the men around him. They were carrying on about monsters that murdered innocent girls. Grange was used to the blame. They would never believe that the creature that had done that to the girl had been a man just like them. A holy man. A preacher man. It was easier for them to believe that a dark creature of the night had done this than to come to terms with the fact that men were the biggest monsters of all.

This was why he wasn’t focused on the trail they were following on the muddy, leaf strewn forest floor. Instead he was thinking of that woman in town. Dawn.

Grange was a lone wolf and a lone man. Never had he had any interest in a wife or a mate. But clearly his wolf had other ideas. His wolf had already decided that he wanted the feisty golden haired woman. It recognized something within her, something about her scent, that excited the wolf and drew him to her.

Grange himself wasn’t quite so convinced. He liked being alone. The only time he took a woman was when his body needed release and that was only at the brothel in a town two hours away. He liked darker women. Tall with dark hair, dark eyes and with a mysterious air. Dawn was short, barely over five feet, her body was fuller and softer than what he liked and she was pale, light and innocent in appearance. Too soft and weak for being mated to a man like him. A lone wolf who had to fight and scrap just to stay alive.

Grange was pulled from his thoughts when a yell broke out.

“Another body!”

Grange’s nostrils flared as the scent of the dead man filled his nose. He felt that rage coming back as he remembered coming up on this man slaughtering that poor innocent girl.

“The tracks are all around him, sheriff.” A man called out. Grange stayed away from the body, pacing the perimeter and working hard to hold the wolf down.

“This is that preacher man.”

“The monster killed him!”

“Calm down, men.” The sheriff’s voice called out. “We need to figure out where this wolf went.” Grange knew they wouldn’t. The rage he had been feeling had made him careless while chasing the dead man but he had been more careful after killing him. He hadn’t left a trail.

“What do you make of all of this, Grange?” Henry asked as he walked up to him. Grange shrugged one broad shoulder as he stopped pacing and crossed his arms over his chest.

“I’m thinking that people need to be smarter and not wander in the woods at night.”

“Do you think there’s a monster?” Henry asked, with a just a bit of nervousness in his old voice. Grange snorted and shook his head.

“Of course not. It’s just a big wolf.”

“Wolves run in packs. Where’s the rest of the tracks?” Henry asked skeptically. Grange scratched as his thick black hair and shrugged.

“Not all wolves run in packs.”

“You mean a lone wolf? Aren’t they usually weak and sick?” Henry asked with a frown. A younger man from town, whom Grange knew was named Peter, walked over, nodding.

“Yeah they are. My dad had to shoot one once. It was skin and bones, its pack had abandoned it and it was desperate for food and trying to eat our chickens. One quick bullet to the head took care of the problem. That man up there lying dead is a big man and his throat has been ripped clean out but it didn’t eat him. That wasn’t no sick, starving wolf that done that. That was a big wolf. A strong wolf. Dangerous and deadly. One that just wanted to kill for sport.”

Grange couldn’t help but grin as he rolled his shoulders. It was all he could do to refrain from saying thank-you for the compliments.

“The tracks end here, sheriff.” A middle aged man said with defeat and sheriff Bishop nodded.

“When we get back to town, I’m implementing a curfew. I don’t want anyone out after dark from here on out. Not until we kill whatever killed these two.”

“I’m getting back to town then.” the middle aged man stated. “I don’t like being away from my wife and the children right now.”

“Alright,” the sheriff said with a sigh. “Let’s get out of these woods, men, but stay alert. We don’t know for sure that whatever this is only hunts at night.”

Everyone began the long walk back to town as the sheriff and deputy lifted the man’s body together to carry him back to the undertakers.

“So, Grange, did that woman find you this morning before all this broke out?” Henry asked.

“How did you know about Dawn?” Grange replied and the old man smiled.

“Already learned her name, did ya?” he teased and Grange nodded as he lifted a thorny twig and let Henry walk under it.

“I’m good with names.”

“I’m sure that’s it.” Henry stated with a grin. “And I’m the one that sent Dawn to you. Didn’t she mention me? I told her to.” Grange shook his head.

“No she didn’t.”

“Are you going to let her use the building?” Henry asked.

“Yes.”

“Yes?!” Henry demanded with shock. “That quickly? That doesn’t sound like the anti-social Grange Michaels that I know.”

“I’m not anti-social.” Grange grumbled. “I just don’t like most people.” Henry raised his brow.

“But you liked her?” he questioned suggestively.

Grange shook his head while the wolf inside of him basically wagged with happiness and agreement.

“I like pie. She wants to open a bakery. It works for me.” Grange replied matter of factly. Henry laughed loudly and patted him on the back.

“You need to settle down, Grange, maybe Dawn’ll help you do that.” Grange just growled under his breath and quickened his pace, knowing the old man wouldn’t be able to keep up.

Settling down wasn’t for a lone wolf. He had been lucky to maintain his territory and keep himself alive this long. He had been turned at the age of twenty, found this town at the age of thirty and had lived here for the last twenty years.

He knew he wouldn’t be able to stay here much longer. Already there were whispers about how he did not seem to age. While he could pass himself off as being thirty or thirty-five years old, there was no way he could pass himself off as a man in his fifties. While no one ever inquired about his age, he knew they wondered.

Taking a mate would simply complicate his already dangerous existence. Taking a mate would be like waving a red flag to every other established pack in the country that a lone wolf was starting up a pack of his own and that was something they wouldn’t allow.

At that thought the wolf in him rebelled and Grange found himself struggling to hold him at bay. The wolf didn’t understand things such as ‘could be’ and ‘what if’. The wolf only knew basic instincts and what it wanted in the here and now, and the wolf wanted Dawn. It wanted a mate. Wolves weren’t meant to be alone.

---

Dawn was sore and tired. Dusk was nearing and she had a long list made of all she would need for her bakery. It was going to be expensive but getting and using the building for free meant she had plenty of money.

She finished sweeping dirt and grime out the back door and then leaned the broom against the wall and swiped her work gloved hand across her brow.

Her clothes were filthy thanks to the dust and dirt that had been in this seemingly long abandoned building. She had a tear in her brown skirt and her white blouse was probably ruined but she didn’t care. She was proud of the work she had done. Proud of what she was going to have.

Dawn left the building, shutting and locking the door behind her, before slipping her key in the pocket of her skirt and heading down the road. She was starving but first she needed to go back to her room at the hotel, get cleaned up and change her clothes.

She was lost in daydreams about her bakery when she became aware of footsteps close behind her. She stopped suddenly and turned to find Grange staring at her. His clothes were dirty and torn in places from tramping through the woods all day. His hair was a mess and he had dirt streaked across his cheekbone. She saw his nostrils flare again as he took a breath and she frowned.

“Are you sniffing me?” she asked and that lopsided grin appeared on his face again.

“Of course not.” he replied. “That would be odd.” He fell into step beside Dawn when she started walking again. “Did you write that list?” he asked.

Dawn pulled out the piece of paper and handed it to him. Grange looked it over and nodded.

“We’ll have to order the extra ovens.” he informed her.

“I know.” she replied. “There are already two in there and they are fairly large. The counter space is really nice and the closet in that kitchen is nearly as large as the kitchen itself!”

“I’m glad you like it.” Grange said with a tip of his head. “The mercantile and the dry goods store will have most of what you need for the baking. You’ll have to go tomorrow since they are closed now.”

“Did you all find whatever got that girl?” Dawn asked quietly and Grange shook his head.

“No.” he replied. “Whatever it was is gone. But the sheriff has implemented a curfew which means you need to be getting off the streets before it’s dark.”

“I have to eat first.” Dawn replied and Grange nodded.

“Just make sure you don’t leave town after dark. I wouldn’t want you to get in trouble.”

“And why is that, Mr. Michaels?” Dawn asked, wishing he wouldn’t walk quite so closely. The man made her feel exposed somehow.

“Because you’re the town baker and I want a pie soon.” he replied with what Dawn was sure was teasing in his rough voice. Before she could reply Grange broke away from her and walked away.

Dawn shook her head. Henry had been telling the truth this morning. Grange was odd.

---

Grange stripped out of his clothes and folded them neatly before hiding them under the rock by his favorite pool of water. He stood naked in the half moon light and breathed in deep, taking in the scents of the surrounding forest.

Somehow, even though town was miles away, he smelled her scent over all the others. His mate.

Grange growled as he began to pace the bank of the mountain lake. The wolf in him would not stop with this obsession.

Nearly two weeks. Nearly two weeks, this woman had been in town and his wolf had been relentlessly craving her. Grange had always had good control. He had never been one to slip but lately he’d been having to fight harder and harder to keep the wolf at bay.

Whenever he was near Dawn and her scent filled his senses the wolf inside of him wanted to come out, wanted to take her into his arms, wanted to mark her as his and let her mark him as well……….

Grange shook his head roughly. He was a lone wolf. He did not want a mate. He did not want a pack. He had never wanted to be part of a pack since he tended to find it impossible to bend to authority.

He would simply have to get used to Dawn being around. Her bakery was now up and running, the extra ovens would arrive soon and she had everything cleaned, polished, painted and shining. She had even hired men to help fix the upstairs and she’d been using it as her home instead of staying at the hotel.

Grange had spent a lot of time with her, though he tried to keep a barrier between them. Never allowing her to get too close or their talks to grow too long. He had helped her every step of the way simply because the wolf in him had insisted on it. Mates did not abandon one another. If his mate needed help then she would have it. That was simply the way it was.

But now the work was winding down, she would no longer need him and Grange was relieved. Maybe if he was able to keep his distance then his wolf would change his mind and forget about Dawn Patten.

Grange closed his eyes and welcomed the wolf. Welcomed the change. He felt his body shift quickly, the pain only momentary and then he shook out his thick black fur and stretched the lean toned muscles of his legs.

A run. He needed a good long run. After letting out a long howl, he took off through the trees, relishing the release that came whenever a wolf ran free.

Chapter Three

Dawn was really settling in to her life in this small frontier town. Her baked goods were a big hit and she had plenty enough orders to keep her busy.

She was just pulling three loaves of bread from one of her wood burning ovens when the bell chiming above her door signaled someone entering. Quickly she sat the hot pans on the stone counter, wiped her hands on her apron and then walked into the entry room of her bakery, where she had cookies, cakes, pies and breads on display in glass cases that had been here when Dawn had inspected the building.

Grange had informed her that the cases were here because the man that had owned the building before had sold weapons and kept the nicest ones in these cases.

She saw Grange looking at the cases and rubbing his stomach. She shook her head when she heard his stomach growling from where she stood nearly twenty feet away. The man always seemed to be hungry, though she had no idea where he put it all seeing as how he didn’t have an ounce of extra meat on his entire body that she could see.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Michaels.” she said with a warm smile. She really liked Grange. There were days when he would laugh and joke and tease and then there were days when he was moody, distant and indifferent. But he had been her biggest fan and biggest help since she’d come to town. It was because of him that all the work had gotten done so quickly on the building and her upstairs apartment, and it was because of him raving about her cooking skills that so many people had already begun to order from her and give her business.

“My name is Grange.” he grumbled. Dawn sighed. It was going to be one of those days.

“Grange, are you hungry?” she asked patiently. Dawn had never had much in the way of patience but something inside of her was different when it came to Grange Michaels. She was able to overlook and even accept his moodiness most of the time.

She was drawn to Grange. And it was more than just his physical appearance. Dawn had never been the type to want a man as either a husband or a lover. She had always had bigger hopes, bigger dreams. But Grange?

Grange tempted her.

There was something in his presence that gave her peace while at the same time exciting and tempting her. His mere presence made her feel safe, protected, cared for. And there were times, when he didn’t expect to be caught, that she would turn to look at him and find those piercing blue eyes on her.

It took her breath every time. The way they would stare at her as if she was a treasure. As if she was beautiful. As if she was the single most tempting thing he had ever seen.

Dawn had never been looked at that way before.

“Of course I’m hungry.” Grange replied to her earlier question with a grunt. “I’m always hungry.” he added.

“I have some sugar cookies in the back that I just frosted, would you like some of those?” she asked. She knew he liked the ones with fresh soft frosting better than the ones that had been sitting for a day or two. Grange nodded and Dawn walked back into the kitchen.

She put several cookies into a cloth lined, woven basket that she had made herself and as she was covering them she heard the bell chime again.

Quickly she put the handle of the basket on her arm and stepped back into the main room, only to find another man standing inside her store. This man was young, probably only around twenty. He was handsome enough, though too boyish and very much a child compared to Grange.

Dawn was about to greet him when she heard that strange animalistic growling coming from Grange that she had heard several times over the last month or so. He was standing with his back to her, almost as if shielding her from the newcomer and he was tense. Every muscle in his body was rigid beneath his black tunic and buckskin pants. His fists were clenched at his sides.

The other man was just smiling, almost dumbly, as he stuck his hands in his pockets and looked around at both Grange and Dawn.

“Afternoon, ma’am.” he said. Grange nearly took a step forward and Dawn quickly grabbed his arm. What was wrong with him!? She wondered if maybe there was bad blood between the two of them. She didn’t recognize the younger man but perhaps he was someone that Grange knew.

She felt Grange’s arm tremble beneath her touch and he turned to look down at her. The intensity and the possessiveness in those blue eyes took her breath and had her clutching at her pounding heart.

“Uh… Um.. Here’s your cookies.” she stammered as she held up the basket. Grange nodded as he took it, letting his fingers dance across hers as he grabbed the handle and slid it off her hand. Dawn nearly burst into flames and melted into a puddle at his feet at the contact.

While she had been in town nearly a month, this was the first time Grange had actually touched her. Whatever defense she still had raised, fell almost immediately. She wanted this man.

She saw his blue eyes darken and she would swear those were golden flecks seeming to grow and burn inside of them right in front of her. She felt her throat get tight, her thighs tremble and her knees shake when he lowered his face toward hers and kissed her cheek, letting his face slide across her neck as he pulled away.

Grange pulled away and took a step back. The wolf in him was going crazy. It wanted to mark the mate. Leave his scent clinging to her so this wolf standing by the door would know she belonged to him.

The man in him was just as jealous. Just as territorial. Just as overheated and aroused at the contact that had just passed between them.

He had only wanted to ensure that his scent would be strong on her. Only a warning for the intruder on his territory but instead he was afraid he had crossed a line that he might not be able to come back over.

Grange saw the color in Dawn’s cheeks and the way her chest was rising and falling quickly. She was staring at him with shock, confusion and wonder. Grange forced himself to turn his back on her, knowing if he didn’t get away from her scent he was going to lose control of the wolf and of the man inside of him and that was not something he needed to do right here in the middle of the day…. Especially when Dawn did not know what he was.

He walked past the young wolf, knowing that he and the pup would be having a long talk once the sun went down. He made eye contact and nearly bit the pups head off when he had the nerve to grin.

Grange threw open the door and was about to step out when he heard the pup take a deep breath.

“You smell awful nice, ma’am.” he said with a chuckle. Grange lost control then. That careful control he had worked so hard to maintain for years completely slipped away.

He let out a growl, that was truly more of a roar, and stormed back into the bakery. He heard Dawn let out a cry of shock as he wrapped one big hand around the pups neck and drug him back outside.

He heard Dawn come out onto the steps but he was already leading the pup out of town and into the woods at a nearly breakneck speed, unattainable by most humans. He was thankful that the bakery was on the outskirts of town and the pup was coming quietly, therefore no attention was spared in their direction.

Grange did not stop until they were nearly a mile from town. Only then did he release his hold on the back of the pups neck and toss him forward. The pup fell to his knees and was about to rise when Grange growled low and he decided to stay down.

“Who are you?” the pup asked as he swallowed hard.

“My name is Grange. This is my town and it has been for years. What are you doing here? You’re not part of a pack.”

“How can you tell?” the pup asked.

“I smell no other wolves on you. Now answer the question.”

“My name is Trig.” the pup replied, keeping his eyes on the leaves at Grange’s feet. “I was just passing through. I meant no disrespect.” Grange breathed deep several times in an attempt to calm his temper and then he nodded.

“Get up.” Trig jumped to his feet and began to rub at his bruised neck. “So you’re passing through? Might as well just keep on going.” he warned. Trig shook his head.

“I like it here. I’d like to stay awhile. I’ve been constantly on the move for a decade since I got changed.”

“There are plenty of other towns.” Grange reminded him.

“Yes but you’re not in them…. You are different.” Grange growled and began to pace.

“I am just a lone wolf.” he shot back before ramming his fingers through his thick hair. Trig shook his head, still maintaining a submissive posture with his neck bent.

“No you’re not. I can smell the power running through your blood. You were created by an Alpha. Why?” Grange growled as his pace quickened.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“It does matter. Alpha’s don’t create competition. You were a slave weren’t you? A ‘pet’? And you rebelled. You got away. You escaped. Did you fight your way out? I escaped as well but I had to sneak. I’m not much of a fighter myself…..” Trig’s words were suddenly cut short when Grange shot forward and wrapped his hand around the front of his throat. Trig clutched at Grange’s hand as the bigger, older wolf lifted him off the ground.

“Will your trouble follow you here?” he demanded and Trig tried to speak but couldn’t. Grange loosened his hold, just a little, and Trig managed to gasp the word ‘no’.

Grange tossed Trig away and went back to pacing. The basket of sugar cookies Dawn had given him, swinging with every step he took. He could feel the wolf rising. Already Grange’s muscles were tight and bulging, his teeth were sharpened to points and he knew his eyes would be burning gold like liquid fire.

“No trouble. If you start trouble or trouble follows you, I will kill you.” Grange warned the pup and Trig nodded quickly. “No killing the humans. They are my pack.” Trig stuck his tongue out and made a face of disgust.

“Humans are a bit too rich for my tastes.” he assured Grange. The wolf in Grange was soothed a little by the other wolves submissiveness. The wolf in Grange liked knowing it was the Alpha.

Grange shook his head roughly to clear that thought. He was no Alpha! He was a lone wolf and that’s how he liked it.

“Any more rules?” Trig asked as Grange turned to walk away.

“Like what?” Grange demanded, keeping his back to Trig just to show how unafraid he was.

“The woman. The one you rubbed your scent all over. Is she off limits?” Grange’s fists clenched and he felt pain fill him as his bones attempted to shift and he fought it back. A thin layer of sweat coated his brow when he turned to face Trig.

“Yes.” he snapped.

“Why haven’t you changed her? Marked her? Any creature could show up here and take her as their own until you do.” Grange snarled, revealing his sharpened teeth and Trig whimpered and took a step back, slumping his shoulders and lowering his head in submission.

“You will stay away from her. Do not overstay your welcome in my territory.” With that Grange walked away from the pup and pulled a cookie from the basket. He took a bite and tried to calm himself. He had to find a place to hide his clothes and make the change. The wolf in him had to be let out, before it just showed up without an invitation.

---

Curiosity killed the cat and Dawn figured it would one day be what killed her as well. She knew they were supposed to be under curfew but there hadn’t been any killings since the preacher man and the girl and Dawn was like the rest of the town. They all were beginning to believe that whatever had done those horrible killings was long gone.

So that is what had led to her bribing the livery hand to saddle a horse for her. That is what had led to her getting on said horse and sneaking away from town and into the woods as darkness began to settle.

She had the moonlight and a kerosene lamp for light as she followed the road that she had been told would lead her to Grange’s cabin.

She wanted, needed, to talk to that man. She needed to let him know that advances, such as the ones he had made today in front of her customer, would not be tolerated. At least not unless Grange was willing to give her more…. Dawn felt herself tremble at the thought of more and she shook her head to clear it.

Neither Grange nor the newcomer had shown their faces again all day and if Dawn were being honest, she would admit that she was worried about Grange.

She wanted to see him, hear his deep, rough voice and know that he was okay. Something in her was drawn to the man and she didn’t even have to think about where she was going as she took her horse off the main road and onto a dusty, nearly overgrown trail.

Grange was this way. She could feel it deep inside of her. The oppressive darkness gathering in the forest seemed to press against her, closing in and causing fear and doubts to nibble at her spine. Maybe she shouldn’t have come out here alone after dark…..

She had been traveling for what had to be miles when she heard water ahead. The forest suddenly split apart and the trees cleared, revealing a large lake, being fed by several trickling streams. The moonlight shown off the dark, still water. It was beautiful.

Dawn was appreciating the beauty of the place when suddenly her horse spooked. Dawn barely had time to tighten her grip before the horse took off underneath her.

Dawn screamed with fear and then the scream turned to one of sheer terror when something huge and black began to run beside her panicking horse. Dawn could hardly believe her eyes when she realized it was a wolf, but it was bigger than any wolf she had ever seen or heard about. It’s head was nearly level with her horses back!

Where was Grange? What if this wolf had gotten him? What if Grange was the newest victim?

The wolf snarled and nipped at the horses legs as they made it back to the main dirt road toward town. The horse seemed to recognize where it was and took off at a breakneck pace toward town. Dawn turned to see the wolf just standing in the middle of the road watching her go. She was still scared nearly to death but very relieved that the beast wasn’t going to follow her.

She turned just in time to see another wolf, this one tawny in color and smaller than the first wolf but still much bigger than what a normal wolf should be, run out in front of her. Her horse reared, Dawn fell off its back and struck her head sharply against the ground.

The kerosene lantern crashed into the dirt, shattering and going out, leaving her with nothing but moonlight to see by.

She was faintly aware of the sound of snarling, a terrible growl and pain filled yelps before silence filled the air. Her horses hooves faded into the distance and Dawn knew she was going to die.

She lay on her back and turned her head to see the big black wolf stalking toward her. His eyes were piercing and golden. She let out one last scream of fear and then lost consciousness as everything went dark.

Chapter Four

“Did I not tell you to keep your distance?!” Grange snarled after he had changed back into a man. Trig grinned sheepishly, he too had changed back, and rubbed at his bleeding, swollen arm.

“Sorry.” he mumbled. “I think you nearly bit my arm off.”

“Better than your head!” Grange warned and Trig nodded with whole hearted agreement. “She is mortal and could have been killed when she fell off that horse.” Grange reminded him. Grange knelt beside Dawn and prayed she wouldn’t wake up too soon. It would be hard to explain why he was standing over her naked in the woods.

He flared his nostrils and took in her scent. She would be okay. A mixture of fear and the bump to her head had caused her to fall unconscious. What had she been doing out in the middle of the woods at night?

“Go back to town, Trig. You could have caused worse to happen to her and I would have killed you for it.” Trig lowered his head.

“I was just trying to play with her.” he said guiltily. “I get carried away sometimes.”

Grange just shook his head and pointed toward town and Trig nodded, before changing back into a wolf and loping off.

Grange picked Dawn up into his arms, pulling her soft, full body against his and relishing in the way she felt against him. There was no raging desire from the wolf at this point, only an urge to care for the mate and hold her close to his body. She was sick and the wolf wanted to make her better.

Grange found himself kissing her reddish/gold hair and then his heart did a slow roll in his chest when she moaned and snuggled closer to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. She was so small, so fragile, so weak… Too soft for the life he was so desperately beginning to yearn to bring her into.

Grange had no choice but to take her back to his cabin. His wolf would not allow him to be anywhere but by her side while she was unconscious and he couldn’t very well drop her off in town while he was stark naked. They were a good half mile from his cabin so Grange held her tighter and got started on the walk.

---

Dawn snuggled deeper into the warm fur blanket she was wrapped in and stretched out her legs. She didn’t remember her bed at the bakery being so large or so warm.

Then she took a deep breath and breathed in the scent of eggs and ham. She certainly didn’t remember being able to smell the diner from her bedroom. Had she left the window open?

She rolled onto her back and the let out a cry of pain and sat up quickly when the back of her head rubbed against the pillow. She touched the large welt that was beneath her hair and frowned as she looked around the tidy, unfamiliar cabin she was in.

She was in a small bedroom but she could see through the open door into another room that seemed to serve as both living room and kitchen. Where was she and how had she gotten here?

Memories of the night before came flooding back. She’d been going to talk to Grange and that monster wolf had appeared and chased her… Then another wolf had come and she’d been thrown to the ground. The big black wolf had been stalking toward her and she had known he was going to kill her…..

So why was she still alive?

She nearly cried out again when Grange suddenly appeared in the doorway holding a plate full of more eggs, ham and potatoes than she could ever hope to eat, wearing his tunic and dark buckskin pants.

“Grange?” she asked hesitantly as she raised her hands and tried to smooth out her messy hair. “What am I doing here?”

“I found you on the road last night.” he replied as he entered the room and sat the plate on the nightstand beside the bed. Dawn suddenly had trouble breathing. He seemed to fill the entire room with his heat and power. It became apparent to her that she was sitting in a bed, his bed, and they were seemingly alone in his home……

“What happened to the monster?” she asked. Grange picked the plate back up and held it out to her until she took it.

“Eat.” he ordered and for reasons that Dawn did not understand she found herself obeying. She was surprised to find that the food was actually quite good and she quickly scooped a second spoonful of scrambled eggs into her mouth.

She looked out the window and realized that it was early morning. A misty fog was still clinging to the treetops and birds were ringing in the new day with their beautiful music.

“Grange, I saw the monster. It was a wolf, a giant wolf, and it attacked me.”

Grange shook his head as he stared down at his arms folded over his knees. He had not been attacking her. He had only been trying to send she and her horse on a quick track back to town, where Dawn belonged. It was that stupid pup that had spooked the horse into rearing and caused Dawn to be injured. Trig was lucky all he’d received was a bite to the arm.

The anger was coming back and Grange took a deep breath, filling his senses with Dawn’s sweet scent and felt himself relaxing.

“I didn’t see any monster, Dawn. All I saw was you lying in the middle of the road. What were you doing out there alone at night?” Dawn smiled guiltily as she took a bite of ham.

“I was coming to see you.” she replied and Grange raised a brow.

“Do I not come to your bakery every day? You couldn’t have waited until today to see me?” Dawn flushed at the way he said that and after taking another bite of potatoes she sat the plate on the table. At his curious look she patted her stomach.

“I’m full.” she assured him. Grange shrugged and grabbed the plate, shoveling spoonfuls of food into his own mouth.

“And I was worried about you!” she informed him. “You growled like some kind of crazy person, grabbed a man by his throat and stormed out of town and I never saw you again!” Dawn was caught off guard by the sheepish grin that split Grange’s face and then he shoveled a heaping spoonful of potatoes into his mouth.

“I apologize.” he said through the mouthful.

“Why did you act that way? Did you and that man have bad blood between you or something?” Grange shook his head.

“I’d never met the man.” he admitted. Dawn frowned.

“Then why….?” her question was cut off when Granges’ nostrils flared and he stood quickly. He stalked out of the room and something in his movements reminded Dawn of the big black wolf from the night before.

She heard the front door open and looked around him to see the man from her bakery the day before. The sleeve of his blue chambray shirt was rolled up and his forearm was wrapped in a white bandage.

He ran his hand through his tawny colored hair and grinned at her as he waved.

Dawn rose to her feet and covered her heart with her hand. Surely the suspicions in her mind had to be crazy… didn’t they? The tawny colored wolf with the same fur as this mans hair. The whimpers. The growls. The bandaged forearm…

“What are you doing here?” Grange demanded with a snarl that only served to cause Dawn to take a step back.

“I wanted to talk to you.” Trig replied. “About what happened last night.” he added as his eyes darted to Dawn.

Dawn froze when Grange turned and captured her in his gaze. That intense gaze that reminded her of a predator. It reminded her of the black wolf from the night before. Her mind swirled.

Was that possible? Was it werewolves that had killed that girl and that preacher man and was Grange a wolf? She didn’t want to believe that he was a monster but all the signs were there! His appetite, his speed, his strength, the growling, the predatory way he looked at her and the agility with which he moved. His refusal to talk about his life…..

The wolves had fought last night and now the man from the bakery shows up speaking about the night before while wearing a bandage on his arm.

Suddenly Dawn knew what it felt like to be a tiny creature caught in a predators trap as Grange took a step toward her.

“Stop!” she cried out as she pushed herself against the rough wooden planks of the wall. Grange did and he tilted his head, his blue eyes searching her own.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Are you the monster?” she whispered, her voice trembling and her knees very nearly knocking together beneath her blue calico dress. Grange shook his head.

“I already told you there are no such things as monsters.” he assured her, but Dawn wasn’t convinced.

“I’ve heard people talking about how you don’t age…. I’ve heard you growl, you’re stronger than any other person I’ve ever met and you look at me just like that wolf did last night. The big black one. Oh my God…. You killed those people!” she exclaimed as she covered her mouth with her hand. Dawn knew she sounded crazy but now that she had this idea in her head it simply wouldn’t quit.

Grange shot Trig a look and the man nodded and backed out of the house. Grange turned back to Dawn and sighed.

“Dawn, please don’t be afraid of me. I don’t know what put this idea in your head but you’ve known me a month now. Have I ever acted like a crazed murderer to you? I’m strong because I’ve spent my entire life working hard and I’ve always been too intense. I’ve been told that makes people nervous when I look at them. As far as the aging thing goes,” Grange shrugged. “I’m lucky I guess.”

“Then what was he talking about that happened last night?” she demanded, still unconvinced.

“I admit I overreacted but there was something about the man I just didn’t like.” Grange replied with a shrug.

“And his arm?” Dawn asked, beginning to feel more than a little foolish.

“I have no idea. And I have no idea why he‘s here now.” Grange felt guilty for lying to Dawn and the wolf in him was rebelling strongly to doing so but he had seen the fear in her eyes. She would never accept what he was. In her eyes the wolf was a monster.

“I’m sorry.” Dawn said, her eyes locked on Grange’s feet. She felt like a million kinds of a fool.

“Don’t be sorry.” Grange replied tenderly. He put his finger under her chin and lifted her head. His mate never needed to be submissive to him. She was Alpha female.

Grange shook his head to clear those thoughts. Dawn had not agreed to be his mate, and if her reaction to thinking him the ‘monster wolf’ was any indication, she would never agree to be. And Grange had no interest in having a pack and being an Alpha. Did he?

“Now I need to get you to town and let the doc look at your head. You have got a pretty nasty lump.” Dawn raised her hand to her hair and winced, which brought a small growl from Grange.

Dawn frowned and watched him as he grabbed the now empty plate from the bed and walked out of the room. He waved to indicate that she was supposed to follow him and so she did but the whole time she was thinking.

What if he was the wolf she had seen last night? It all was so crazy, so insane, so impossible and yet it would make perfect sense! Except for the two dead bodies that had been found when she’d first come to town.

Was she falling for a man who was really some sort of creature of the night that was a cold blooded murderer, capable of killing a young girl? She didn’t want to believe that was possible.

She followed him through his cabin, which was tidy but contained minimal possessions. When they stepped outside she realized they were completely in the wilderness with thick forest pressing in on all sides. She saw that man standing beside the barn.

“Trig, why are you still here?” Grange grumbled and Trig stood up straighter.

“I need to talk to you about something I smelled.” he replied.

“Smelled?” Dawn asked with a frown. Grange just shook his head and sent Trig a look that had the other man looking down at the ground.

“I’m taking her to town, we’ll talk when I return.” Grange replied before going into the barn. Dawn stayed out in the open, suddenly unsure that she wanted to be in such an enclosed place with Grange. A werewolf? A shape shifter? Dawn had read stories, she heard tales but she had never actually believed they were real.

She glanced at Trig and saw him unwrapping his arm. As his skin became revealed to her she realized that it looked perfectly smooth, unmarked other than a small white scar. The bandage was covered in blood on the inside… How was that possible?

She chose not to say anything. Maybe it was an old injury and bandage. Maybe he’d been wearing it yesterday at the bakery and she just hadn’t noticed.

Grange came out of the barn several moments later with two saddled horses. They didn’t seem to be bothered by Grange so that had to mean he wasn’t really a wolf monster didn’t it? Or maybe they were just used to his scent.

Grange gave her a leg up and helped her into the saddle of the smaller of the two horses.

The ride into town was quiet and tense. Dawn kept trying to convince herself that she was just thinking crazy. That there was no way Grange could be anything more than just a man and her imagination was simply running away with her.

Grange glanced over at her. He wanted her. His wolf wanted her. But to admit what he was would be risking would be risking her rejection and tough as he was, he wasn’t sure he could stand that. He liked having her near him. He liked seeing her everyday, even though it was a constant fight to keep himself in line around her.

And even if she did accept him, that would mean he would be taking a mate. He would start a pack and no longer be a lone wolf. He knew that Alpha blood flowed through his veins. The Alpha that had created him had been a powerful one and Grange had killed him shortly after being created. He had ripped out his throat and he had escaped.

Grange had wanted to ignore what he was, the blood he had, but it was getting harder. He was beginning to want a mate. To want a pack. To be the Alpha that he knew he was meant to be, but that would only bring trouble.

Rival packs would come. They would be determined to wipe out the rising competition and Grange would have two others beside himself to defend. Dawn and Trig. While he wasn’t very fond of Trig he knew the pup would want to stay.

Would Dawn accept him? Would she let him mark her? Would she become his Alpha female? His real mate?

Dawn turned to face him and he saw her eyes widen. He realized just how intensely he had been staring at her and forced his gaze to soften.

“I trust you can get to town from here?” Grange asked as the sound of the sawmill came to their ears.

“Yes.” she replied quickly.

“Just put the horse up at the livery. I have to take care of a few things.” Dawn nodded and Grange turned his horse, he never went to the livery. His own horses were used to his scent but other horses were not. That alone made it hard to walk down the street without drawing attention, the livery would be impossible.

“Grange…” Dawn whispered and he stopped and looked over his shoulder at her. “Promise you won’t hurt me?” Grange frowned.

“I don’t understand what you’re asking.” he admitted. Dawn swallowed hard and met his gaze.

“Whatever you are, do you promise not to hurt me.” Grange froze and his eyes widened as she looked at him with a mixture of fear and confusion. She knew. Even though he had tried to tell her she was wrong at the cabin, she knew what he was. Or at least what she thought he was.

“I promise I won’t hurt you.” he assured her, his voice softening. He wanted to reach out and touch his hand against her soft cheek but right now she looked as if she were just barely keeping herself from bolting away from him. “I could never hurt you, Dawn. You are special.”

Dawn swallowed hard. He had just admitted that he wasn’t human. That he was something different and instead of running, like any mentally sound person would do, she wanted to ease the fear and worry in his eyes. She chose not to investigate the fact that she was special to him any further just now. Her mind was reeling enough without adding to it.

“And those bodies?” she asked, though it was barely more than a whisper. She knew she was probably putting herself in danger by asking the question but she found that she needed the answer and, oddly enough, she trusted Grange to give her the truthful one.

“The man was killed by a wolf.” he replied with a tip of his head. “But not the girl. A wolf, a decent wolf, never sheds the blood of an innocent. The girl was killed by the man.”

Dawn saw the golden flecks again appearing in Grange’s eyes as his muscles tensed. She recognized the signs that his temper was rising when his fists became clenched and a low growl emitted from the back of his throat.

“I’m not sure what to think, Grange.” Dawn admitted. She saw doubt and dread fill his eyes and it was so foreign an emotion to see in them that it shocked her more greatly than his admission. Grange was always confident, always sure of himself. She had never seen him seem so lost.

“Just find me once you’ve had time to think, Dawn. Just make sure you don’t come after dark.”

“Do you lose control after dark? Is that why you attacked me last night?” Grange appeared to be insulted.

“I never lose control and I would never attack you. I was just trying to get you and your horse back to town since you weren’t supposed to be wandering the woods at night.” he reminded her. “It was Trig’s foolishness that caused harm to come to you.”

“He’s a…. werewolf too?” Dawn whispered, finding that the word was hard to say aloud. Grange nodded.

“Yesterday was the first I had seen him and I didn’t appreciate having another male in my territory… In your bakery.” Dawn shook her head and pressed her fingers into her temples, almost painfully.

“No more, please!” she exclaimed. “Just let me process what you’ve already told me.” Grange nodded.

“Like I said before, find me when you’re ready to talk more.” Dawn watched him until he rounded a corner and was gone from sight.

Chapter Five

“Grange!” Grange stiffened when he heard Trig’s voice. He had smelled the pup but had hoped he’d have the sense to leave him alone. Clearly Grange had been wrong.

“What?” Grange growled as he turned from the lake and looked at the other man. Grange had been here since leaving Dawn several hours ago. He had been thinking about life. About the added responsibilities his life would hold if he took a mate and started a pack. Things would be forever changed and it wouldn’t necessarily be for the best.

“Wow you seem grumpier than normal. I take it that she didn’t take learning what you are well?”

“She took it better than I thought she would.” Grange replied with a shrug as he looked back out at the water. “At least she did not call me a monster and run screaming to gather up the townsfolk and pitchforks.”

“A joke? From you?” Trig tilted his head and grinned. “I’m proud.”

“Why did you follow me out here?” Grange asked and Trig suddenly became more serious which instantly put Grange on high alert. He could smell the uneasiness rolling off the pup.

“I didn’t go straight back to town, instead I went for a run after I left you last night and on the other side of town, about a mile out, I smelled a wolf.”

Instinctively Grange took a deep breath, taking in all the scents of the forest but the only wolves he smelled were himself and Trig.

“Are you sure?” he asked and Trig nodded.

“Yes I’m sure. I couldn’t track it and that confuses me but I’m sure it was a wolf. A male.” Grange sighed. Another wolf sniffing around his territory was the last thing he needed right now.

“You didn’t recognize the scent did you?” he asked Trig and the pup shook his head.

“No. I know you’re worried about my past following me but they never did try to catch me. I wasn’t exactly a top priority. Besides that was the New England pack. They wouldn’t come all this way just to find me.” Then Trig frowned. “What about your past?”

“I left there thirty years ago. I’ve seen none of them since.”

“The alpha that turned you?” Trig asked.

“Dead.” Grange replied without looking at him. “That was a southern pack, I don’t see them coming out here, thirty years later, to get their revenge.”

“I guess you’re right.” Trig admitted. “Besides this wolf smelled more like a loner. I think it’s rather neat that all us lone wolves are being drawn together because of you. Because of the alpha in you. If you change your mind about the whole pack thing, I’d be happy to be your beta.”

Grange let out a bark of laughter and ran his hand through his thick black hair.

“All the other packs would fear and respect us for sure then.” he mumbled.

“I’m tougher than I look.” Trig stated defensively.

“Go patrol.” Grange ordered. “See if you smell the scent anywhere else.” Trig nodded.

“Yes, sir.” Before Grange could tell him not to call him sir, Trig was shifting and loping off into the woods.

Grange looked out over the water and crossed his arms loosely over his broad chest.

Ready or not, it looked like the change he had always dreaded was coming his way.

---

“What happened to your head?” Gladys Bishop, the sheriff’s wife, exclaimed as she came bursting into Dawn’s bakery that afternoon. “I talked to Missy, who talked to Allie, who heard from Gina that you were at the docs this morning with a lump on your head!”

Dawn’s already smoking brain gears nearly ceased to function all together as she tried to grasp the chain of communication that Gladys had just laid out.

“It’s fine.” she assured the plump middle aged woman. “I went for a ride and my horse got spooked. She reared back and I fell and struck my head on the ground. It’s nothing to worry about.” she promised as she sat a pan of chocolate éclairs on the counter and Gladys quickly grabbed one.

“You really should be more careful.” she scolded before taking a bite. Dawn smiled with the woman’s eyes rolled back in her head and once Gladys was done savoring her first bite she fixed Dawn with a stern gaze.

“Rumor has it you stayed the night at Grange Michael’s place last night.”

“It seems everyone in this town likes to talk don’t they?” Dawn asked tightly as she wiped down her countertops. She was about to close up for the day and head upstairs for a nice hot bath. She had drawn the water this morning, all that was left was to heat it and enjoy.

“You went into the woods in the middle of the night on the road toward his cabin and someone caught sight of the two of you riding back toward town this morning. You need to be careful about where you choose to lay your head at night.” Gladys warned.

“And what business is that of yours?” Dawn asked, forcing a polite smile. “I hardly see how where I choose to lay my head at night would concern you at all.”

“Your reputation will be soiled with that man. Most of the town loves him, mind you, my husband included, but there are those that whisper. Those that think he might be more than what he lets on….” Dawn’s eyes widened and she laid her elbows on the counter and leaned toward Gladys with interest.

“Really?” she asked, feigning shock. “And what exactly do they think that he is? A creature from the moon? A goblin? Perhaps one of those little elves who wear dancing shoes?”

Gladys sniffed and stiffened her shoulders.

“Go ahead and laugh!” she exclaimed as she grabbed another éclair and raised her powdered nose. “But don’t say that I didn’t warn you when you become the victim of rumors and accusations.”

“I am twenty-eight years old, I have never been seriously courted or wed and I have always had dreams of business and freedom, Gladys. I am very used to being the victim of rumors and accusations.” Gladys stuttered several times and Dawn simply stood there with a smile on her face.

“Yes, well, plenty of men have been wanting to court you since you came to town but none wanted to fight with Grange Michaels in order to get close.”

“Then they are not worth my worry are they? Say what you will about Grange but the man has been nothing but good to me. If you don’t mind letting yourself out now and flipping the sign to closed, I am done for the day.” Gladys was muttering under her breath as she quickly went out the door and flipped the sign.

Dawn threw the cloth she had been using to clean her counters roughly, blew her hair from her face and then headed up the stairs to her apartment. Regardless of what Grange was, he was decent and she would not stand to have anyone saying bad things about him to her.

Dawn lit a fire and then put one of the buckets of water over the fire, knowing she’d have to heat them all one by one and then she collapsed in her small armchair.

Grange.

He had been on her mind all day. Who was she kidding? He had been on her mind since she’d first met the man. Dawn kicked off her shoes and pulled the pins from her hair, letting the reddish gold waves cascade down her back.

It would figure that the first man to ever cause her to think about taking a lover, perhaps even a husband, had to turn out to be some kind of creature. A werewolf. A hairy, panting, man-killing werewolf.

Dawn sat there a long time thinking about Grange. Finally she stood and, using a towel to keep from burning herself, she picked up the large bucket and poured it into the tub before setting another over the fire.

What she needed to do was make a list. She was good with lists, figures, facts. She lit several lamps around the room to illuminate the space and then she went to her small writing desk and pulled out an ink well and a quill, before finding a piece of paper and sitting down.

On the paper she made two columns. One for positives and one for negatives. Was this a complete waste of time and probably the least logical and practical way to come to terms with what she had learned today? Yes. But it was the way she was going to do it none the less.

Grange’s positives. He was strong. He was intelligent. He could sometimes make her laugh and nearly always make her smile. He had been her biggest supporter in starting this bakery. He loved to eat sweets and she loved to cook them. He made her feel desired when he looked at her. He seemed to genuinely care about her. His voice made her tremble, his touch made her melt and his lips had felt incredibly soft against her neck just the day before…..

The room suddenly felt hot and Dawn stood and removed her blouse, skirt and petticoat before sitting back down in only her thin, cream colored chemise.

Grange’s negatives.

Dawn tapped her quill against her lip several times as she thought.

Werewolf was obviously the number one negative. That wasn’t exactly what most women looked for in a future spouse. Fleas.. Did he have fleas? Oh she sincerely hoped not, though he did scratch at his head an awful lot. Perhaps she would have to ask him. The growling. The growling was certainly annoying. And then of course there was the fact that he had killed at least one man. Though the man he had killed had murdered an innocent girl so he would have been strung up by his neck if the law had caught him. Either way he would have been a dead man.

Dawn realized that her negative list was dwarfed in comparison to the positives and she could think of yet more positives as she sat here. She sighed and stood back up, removing the second bucket of water and pouring it into the tub. One more bucket should do. Dawn put it on the fire and walked over to her window.

Darkness was now beginning to fall, town was quiet. The moon wasn’t full tonight but still it lit the sky fairly well, casting shadows.

Dawn’s attention was drawn to a man standing on the street. He was just standing there looking around as if he were lost or searching for something.

Dawn felt a shiver of unease pass over her and was about to close her shutters when the mans eyes suddenly went to her window and locked on hers. She could hardly tell for sure from this distance but she was fairly certain that his nostrils flared as his face stared up at her, expressionlessly.

Dawn saw him starting her way and felt panic rising in her. She quickly went to her dresser and opened the top drawer, pulling out the revolver she had there before racing back to the window.

The man was nearly to her bakery now but then suddenly he stopped. Dawn heard a familiar growl and looked to the left to see Grange, seeming to materialize from the shadows. The mystery man suddenly made a run for it and Grange chased him. It didn’t take long before they were out of Dawns’ sight and heading into the forest.

Dawn was about to close her shutters when she saw Trig coming toward her bakery. He looked up at her and waved and she realized he was coming in. She quickly slammed her shutters closed and grabbed her silk robe off the wall.

She had just finished tying it when a knock came on the door to her apartment, which was right at the top of the stairs from the bakery.

“Just a minute.” she said. She thought about answering the door without her gun but then decided she’d rather have it.

Just in case.

She opened the door and Trig had a goofy grin on his face as he stepped in.

“Good evening.” he said as he looked around.

“Evening.” Dawn replied as she wrapped her arms tight around herself. “Who in the hell was that in the street and what are you doing here?” she snapped, finding that her tolerance level for other people’s crap had officially been blown to millions of itty bitty pieces.

“Don’t know who that was but don’t worry, Grange will catch him and find out, and I’m here because Grange told me I have to keep an eye on you just in case someone else shows up.”

“He assigned you as bodyguard?” Dawn asked skeptically and Trig stuck out his tongue and wink.

“Crazy, isn’t it?” he agreed. “So you getting ready to take a bath?”

“Yes. Or at least I was until attack of the wolves and whatever that was in the street.” Dawn replied.

“Oh he was a wolf.” Trig assured her. “I told Grange this would happen. Lone wolves are drawn here because Grange has Alpha blood. Wolves are meant to be a part of a pack. We aren’t meant to be alone. That means we’ll be drawn here even if we don’t understand why.”

Dawn nodded, attempting to act like this was a completely normal and logical conversation.

“Did Grange say you actually had to stay in my room?” Dawn asked as she fought the urge to smack Trig’s hand while he picked at the soft blanket on her bed.

“You want me to leave don’t you?” Trig asked and Dawn nodded.

“Yes.”

“Really bad?”

“Yes.”

Trig laughed and nodded.

“Okay, I’ll sleep downstairs. But if I do that can I have some food?”

“Is that all you wolves think about?” Dawn demanded and Trig shook his head.

“No, we think about other things… But mostly that.” Dawn nodded.

“Fine you can have food, just don’t eat too much.” she replied. Trig was heading toward the door and then became sidetracked and headed for her writing desk instead.

Dawn tried to reach it first but she was no match for his supernatural speed.

“What’s this?” he asked with a grin as he picked up the list she’d been working on and looked it over. “A list of Grange’s positives and negatives, huh?”

Dawn flushed bright red as Trig laughed and read over it.

“Really? He makes you tremble and melt? And he has soft lips?” Trig was obviously amused while Dawn was wondering if flinging herself out the second story window would be enough to kill her or just land her in bed with a broken leg. “His lips might be soft but there ain’t nothing soft about that hand when he wraps it around your neck.”

“Alright, that’s enough.” Dawn exclaimed as she reached for the paper, but Trig sidestepped her and kept reading.

“Negatives are… FLEAS? We don’t have fleas!” he exclaimed with indignation as he scratched at his dirty blond hair. “That’s just insulting.”

“Forgive me for not being well versed in the lives of creatures that go bump in the night.” Dawn mumbled. “Now kindly get out.” Trig tossed the paper back down on the desk and sighed.

“And him being a werewolf shouldn’t be a negative either. He’s a good werewolf. He’s an alpha which means he’s strong and powerful. Just think how much worse it could be if he was some annoying little weakling pup?”

“Oh you mean like you?” Dawn asked, finding herself grinning evilly when his face fell.

“Wow you’re mean.” he muttered. He walked out the door and then turned to look at her. “Really though, don’t worry about whoever that was, Grange will take care of him. He wouldn’t let anything happen to you and neither will I. A pack sticks together and looks out for their own.” With that Trig closed the door and Dawn collapsed on the bed.

Pack?! They considered her part of the pack? When oh when had life gotten so complicated? A few short weeks ago all she cared about was starting her bakery, living her dream. Now she was worried about accepting Grange and all his quirks . She was worried about who that had been outside her window and she was worried about fitting in in a wolf pack.

She stood up and poured her last bucket of water into the tub, deciding that a warm bath is what she needed. She slid from her robe and chemise and then stepped into the tub, sinking down and letting the steaming water rise over her shoulders. Maybe the bath would relax those smoking brain gears of hers and she would be better able to think.

---

The wolf was not enjoying this chase. The wolf was angry. Someone had entered his territory and been near his mate. Those were things you did not do if you wanted to stay alive and breathing.

He could smell the prey ahead, another wolf, fully changed and running smoothly through the forest. Grange could keep up with the wolf, but not surpass him. This wolf was strong but he smelled more like a beta than an Alpha. Though it was clear from the lack of other wolf scents on him that he was a lone wolf just the same as Trig and Grange had been.

Suddenly Grange realized the prey was no longer in front of him. Instead he had circled back and was coming up behind him. Grange turned quickly and lunged, grabbing the wolf by the neck and throwing him to the ground.

The wolf quickly rolled to his back, showing his stomach and wrapping his tail between his legs in submission. Grange released his hold and jumped back. This wolf was gray in color and scarred. It was clear that he was a fighter. Surely he had once been a Beta. Doing the dirty work for a pack and keeping it safe.

Grange growled low in his throat and the other wolf crawled forward on his stomach and then stuck his nose against Grange’s jaw as a sign of respect. The wolf in Grange was appeased by the submissive gestures but the man was still mad as hell.

He quickly shifted back the signaled for the other wolf to do so as well.

Grange eyed the man with suspicion as they stood there together in the dark forest. The man was pale and also scarred. He had dull blue eyes, and a cleft chin. Small scars were visible on his face, chest and arms. He was leanly muscled but it was clear he was strong and had been taught to be stern as he stood there as still as stone with his eyes focused on Grange’s feet.

“Who are you?” Grange demanded.

“Nickolai.” the man replied. Grange frowned.

“You don’t talk like any Nickolai I’ve ever met.”

“I was born in America.” he replied matter of factly. “But my parents were from Russia.” Grange nodded.

“Okay then, Nickolai, what were you doing outside my mates home? Why were you sneaking around my territory?” Grange was still fuming. His fists were clenched and he could tell that his eyes were burning gold. He was using nearly every ounce of his self control to keep himself from attacking this Nickolai .

“I meant no harm or disrespect to you or your mate.” Nickolai assured him. “I was drawn to this town, though I knew not why until I got here and smelled your scent. I have been a lone wolf for many years and now I want to join a pack, your pack. I smelled your scent near the woman‘s home and thought you were there. I had no idea she was your mate. She is still human and you have not marked her.”

Grange growled at the reminder. Yes he had been at the bakery, lying in wait in the shadows. Unwilling to leave Dawn unguarded when the scent of another wolf was in the area.

“If you meant no harm why did you run?” Grange questioned. Nickolai tipped his head.

“You are intimidating.” he replied honestly.

“I have no pack.” Grange informed the other wolf and Nickolai nodded.

“You do. You are a reluctant Alpha, I can tell, but you are an Alpha none the less and we are being drawn to you. I am a good fighter. You will not regret having me.”

Grange just shook his head. He was unwilling to admit that he had a pack but he did need to lay down the ground rules if this wolf was going to stay around. Grange chose to ignore the fact that he had never allowed other wolves to stay in his territory before Trig and Nickolai.

“No killing humans. Not unless they have spilled innocent blood and you have a direct order from me. And then it is only done away from town under the cover of darkness.”

Nickolai did not reply. He simply nodded and Grange knew the wolf was taking his word as law. As badly as Grange had not wanted to be an Alpha, the wolf in him was pleased at the obedience.

“The female is off limits to you.”

“I would never do anything inappropriate with the Alpha female.” Nickolai replied, sounding offended. “I will protect her with my life if need be.”

Grange only nodded and then signaled for Nickolai to leave him alone.

Nickolai left and Grange stared out into the darkness. Odd that after so many years of solitude he almost felt comforted in the thought that he now had pack members. Pack brothers. He could smell the obedience and honesty on both Trig and Nickolai. Wolves did not need to get to know one another the way humans did. Wolves could sense things that humans could not.

Trig and Nickolai would be good Betas. And Dawn would be the Alpha female, that is if she decided she ever wanted to speak to him again. Because like it or not, his life had been altered. Grange was no longer a lone wolf. He was an alpha with a pack and as soon as he marked Dawn as his own it would send up a flag to all other packs that he was staking his claim as ruler and boss of this vast frontier land.

Life would be forever changed.

Chapter Six

It had been two days since Dawn had learned what Grange was. Two days since she had seen him, other than catching glimpses of him coming and going from the sawmill.

He had been true to his word and kept his distance, giving her space and waiting for her to come to him. The same could not be said for Trig who had been spending every minute of every day hanging around the bakery and had even been sleeping downstairs. When Dawn questioned why, he had simply said that the pack had to look out for one another. Which Dawn figured translated to ‘Grange wants me to keep a constant eye on you just in case the boogie man jumps out of your closet.’

Dawn opened her apartment door and started down the stairs only to find herself tripping over a body sprawled across them. She let out a scream as she found herself tumbling through the air. She tried to prepare herself for the pain and she squeezed her eyes tight only to find herself suddenly being snatched from the air and pulled against a warm body.

“Thank God you were there, Nickolai.” Dawn heard Trig’s voice behind her. If Trig was what she had tripped over and he was now behind her then who the hell was holding her in their arms?!

Dawn opened her eyes and nearly screamed. It was the man from outside her window two nights ago. He was pale, with dull blue eyes, a cleft chin and small scars littering his face. He was scary and emotionless as he looked down at her.

“Put me down!” Dawn ordered, though she had no idea where her brave words were coming from. The man, Nickolai, gave a barely perceptible nod and then walked backward down the remaining stairs before setting her on her feet on the floor below.

“Are you okay!?” Trig exclaimed as he ran around her, checking her for injuries. Dawn smoothed out her hair which was pulled away from her face by pins and hanging down her back and then ran her hand over her brown wool skirt.

“I’m fine, Trig. I would be better if you would stop sleeping on my stairs.”

“That really is an unwise place to sleep. She is weak and easily injured.”

“And who exactly are you?” Dawn demanded as she once again looked up at Nickolai. He wasn’t tall, a few inches under six feet, and he was lean but she had felt his strength when he had caught her in his arms.

“That’s Nickolai.” Trig replied with a grin. “He’s our newest pack brother.” Dawn covered her face and shook her head.

“It’s not our pack!” she exclaimed. “I haven’t decided that I want to be a part of your particular brand of crazy.” She pushed past the two men and walked into the kitchen to get her ovens fired up.

“She is feisty. She will make a good female for the Alpha.” Nickolai observed aloud. Dawn struck a match and lit her first oven.

“Can we please call each other by our first names instead of alpha and pack brother? I don’t want a customer walking in and hearing that!”

“When are you going to talk to Grange?” Trig asked as Dawn went about lighting the other three ovens. She sighed as she stood straight and looked at the two men standing in her kitchen.

“I don’t know.” Dawn replied honestly. She wanted to see him. She wanted to hear his gruff voice talking to her. His soft lips caressing her cheek again…. But could she accept him? And all of this mate talk, she was smart enough to understand that she was supposed to become what he was. Could she do that? Could she allow herself to be turned into something that wasn’t human?

“If it’s fleas you’re still worried about, we really don’t have them.” Trig assured her and as if on cue, Nickolai scratched at his dark brown hair.

“Yes I see that.” Dawn replied dryly.

Dawn had things she wanted to know. Questions she wanted to ask. The only problem was that being around Grange made it hard for her to think. The attraction she felt for him, the intensity with which he looked at her, caused her to forget things that she needed to say.

But there were two other werewolves she could talk to and both were standing in her kitchen.

Trig was sticking his fingers in the icing on the cookies she’s baked last night and licking them clean with a childish grin while Nickolai stood with his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes seeming to take in every movement and his ears seeming to hear everything around him.

Dawn had thought that Grange was intense but even Grange knew how to lounge, how to smile, how to relax at times. Nickolai reminded Dawn of a soldier. Of a man who had been trained to be on high alert at all times and never let his guard down.

“Trig, can Nickolai and I have some privacy for a while? I have some questions for him.” Dawn stated suddenly. Trig was just shoving a cookie in his mouth and he frowned the best he could around the mouthful.

He pointed to himself and nodded. Dawn shook her head.

“You are a nice guy and all but you annoy me a little bit. I want to talk to someone a little more…. Mature?” Trig swallowed down the cookie and looked hurt.

“I’m mature. I’m older than you.” he mumbled.

“Don’t be mad.” Dawn said as she stepped forward. “I like you and you’re cute but I want to talk to Nickolai.” Trig smiled broadly and punched Nickolai in the arm. The man showed no reaction other than the slight raise of a single brow.

“She called me cute!” he exclaimed and then he grabbed a handful of cookies and all but danced out of the kitchen. Dawn waited until she heard him leave the bakery and then she turned back to Nickolai.

“If he was in wolf form his tail would be wagging.” the stern man said, though he did not smile. “I do believe you made his day.”

“I do believe he’s been driving me crazy for the past couple of days.” Dawn replied with a sigh. “I’m not sure I understand why Grange has him staying here with me but nothing I say makes him leave.”

“The Alpha, Grange, worries about you. You are his mate and he will always be protective of you. It is the way of the wolf.” Dawn put her fingers on her temples and squinted as she looked up at Nickolai.

“But I haven’t agreed to be anyone’s mate.” she reminded him and he shrugged.

“That does not matter. Whether you accept him or not, his wolf has chosen. You are his mate and he will not ever find another.” Dawn sat down on a stool as that fact sunk in.

“You seem surprised by this.” Nickolai stated and Dawn nodded as she looked at her hands folded on the dark stone counter.

“I am. I admit I know nothing about werewolves.”

“I am older than Grange and I have been around many more werewolves than he has. He may not realize what I know to be fact and that is probably why he is giving you a choice on whether to accept him or not. I know my mate would not get that choice.”

“Why?”

“Because if you refuse him, not only will he never find another mate but he will also never be able to take another woman at any time for any reason.”

“You mean he wouldn’t be able to….” Dawn let the question hang and Nickolai nodded.

“That’s correct. The wolf would not let him because wolves are loyal to their mates.”

“Thanks for the added pressure.” Dawn mumbled and Nickolai shrugged.

“You ask a question and you will get an honest answer.” he replied. Dawn nodded.

“So Grange is the Alpha, that means he’s the boss?”

“That’s right.”

“And you and Trig are loyal to him?”

“Yes.” Nickolai replied without hesitation. Dawn scrunched up her forehead and shook her head with doubt.

“Really? After just a couple of days?” Nickolai nodded.

“Wolves do not have the same social needs as humans. As time passes our bonds may grow stronger but the loyalty is immediate.”

“And because I am his mate….”

“We are loyal to you as well, of course that loyalty will be solidified once you are fully mated to Grange.”

“And that would mean I become a werewolf.” Dawn stated. Nickolai shrugged one shoulder.

“There are worse fates.”

“Why are you being drawn here now? Trig said you’ve been drawn here but Grange has lived here for years.”

“It has been happening for a long time I would assume. Though in the past Grange ran any newcomers off because he wasn’t interested in sharing his territory. Meeting you brought out his urge to have a mate, to have a pack. And his Alpha blood just makes it natural for him to take over that role.”

“Are there other packs?” Dawn asked and Nickolai nodded.

“Of course. There are several well established packs and several more start-up packs that are fighting for dominance.”

“They have to fight?”

“More packs equals more competition for the alphas. More competition for territory.”

“Are they going to fight with Grange?” Dawn whispered as she chewed at her fingernail. Nickolai tipped his head.

“They may. Probably not as long as we’re just a rag tag group of lone wolves gathering together. They will sense that something is happening but we’ll just be a tiny dot in the broad scope of things. But when, or if, he takes you as a mate; when he marks you as his own then things may change.” Dawn swallowed hard and crossed her arms tightly around herself.

“Why?” she managed to squeak, though the thought of being ‘marked’ had caused a nearly unbearable heat and yearning deep in her body. Why? She had no idea. She was almost certain that she did not even know what ‘being marked’ entailed but maybe something deep inside of her did….

“Because that would send a message throughout the werewolf community. The other alphas would feel it instantly that a strong alpha wolf was taking a mate, furthering his blood line, they won’t like that.”

Dawn slumped down in the stool and felt tears pricking her eyes. Instantly Nickolai stiffened. He stepped toward her and his hand fell gently on her shoulder.

“Are you okay?” he asked awkwardly.

“Grange must hate me.” Dawn mumbled as she looked down at her feet.

“I don’t understand.” Nickolai admitted and Dawn sighed as she covered her face with her hand and tried to fight back her tears.

“I ruined his life.” she stated. “He had a good life here and then I showed up and now either way the man’s life is ruined.”

“Ma’am?” Nickolai asked, sounding like he would rather be anywhere than here.

“If I refuse him then he’ll be a monk the rest of his life and if I accept him then other wolves will come to kill him.”

“I do not know the inner feelings in the Alpha’s heart so I cannot say whether or not he hates you, but in answer to your other comment, you would actually be the bigger target since you would be what he needs to further his bloodline.”

“Great!” Dawn exclaimed as she threw her hands in the air, inadvertently smacking Nickolai in the nose. The man growled and took a step back and Dawn’s eyes widened as she stared at him with a mixture of shock and fear.

“I’m sorry!” she gasped. Nickolia’s lips split in a smile that looked somehow out of place on his stern face.

“You pack a good punch for a mortal woman.” he admitted.

“I need to go for a walk.” Dawn stated. “I need to think.”

“I will accompany you.” Nickolai replied and Dawn shook her head.

“Please, I haven’t been alone in days. I just want to be alone for a while to think.”

“As you wish.” Nickolai conceded. Dawn frowned.

“Really?”

“You are the future alpha female so I am bound to obey you. That and I wasn’t given the order from the alpha to watch you. That was given to Trig and he has already left.”

Dawn just shook her head, chose not to argue about the alpha female comment and then she slipped out the back door of the kitchen that led almost directly into the forest behind the bakery.

A good long walk is what she needed to clear her head and come to terms with all she had learned.

---

Grange could not stand it any longer. He had to be around Dawn. He needed to fill his senses with her scent and fill his eyes with the sight of her. Strange that when she first came to town he had thought she wasn’t beautiful when now all his eyes wanted was to see the sight of her bright smile, her blue eyes, her freckled cheeks and that single deep dimple that showed itself when she was amused.

He wanted to feel her soft body against his again just like he had felt it when he had carried he through the woods. It had been the closest to heaven that a werewolf had ever been and he wanted to experience it again.

He wanted to hear her speak. That sarcastic, sometimes dry wit, that could always leave him chuckling. Now that he had come to terms with what his life was going to be he was eager to get it started. He wanted his female with him. He wanted to have his mate by his side.

Surely she had had plenty of time to think about things by now. It had been days! Maybe he would just go to the bakery, using hunger as an excuse, and while he was there she would decide to talk to him.

It was worth a try.

Grange tossed the axe down that he was using and headed around the mill. He stopped at the water pump, filled a bucket and went about cleaning off his face, hands and arms. It was a little past noontime and he was happy when he felt his stomach growl. He wouldn’t be lying when he told Dawn he was hungry.

As he got to the bakery and opened the door, he knew instantly that something was wrong. He smelled Trig and Nickolai but Dawn’s scent was faint. She was not here.

“Nickolai! Trig!” he exclaimed as he stood inside the door. The two wolves came out of the back and Grange tilted his head at the strange sight. Nickolai was wearing a white apron and mitts on his hands as he carried a pan of freshly baked pastries and Trig was balancing a basket of cookies in both hands and one on his head.

“I don’t know how she does this all day. There are orders coming in like crazy. Thankfully Nickolai here is a damn good cook. Not as good as Dawn but I doubt the humans will notice.”

“Where is Dawn?” Grange growled. He smelled someone approaching the bakery and moved out of the way to allow a woman with three young children running in circles around her to enter.

She raised her brow at the sight of Trig and Nickolai but then one of her children smacked another and screaming ensued. She blew out a tired breath and asked for the cookies she had ordered.

Trig handed her a basket, she handed him the money and then she was ushering her children back out while Grange held open the door. When they were once again alone Grange turned back to Trig and Nickolai.

“Where is Dawn?” Trig whimpered at the anger in his voice and lowered his head. Nickolai kept his eyes cast downward as he stepped forward.

“She said she needed some time alone to think about the talk that she and I had this morning.” he admitted.

“Talk?” Grange asked.

“Yes. She wanted to discuss werewolves, packs, what it would mean to be your mate.”

“She wanted to talk to you about that?” Grange asked, surprised by the hurt and betrayal he felt. She was his mate, not Nickolai’s. She should come to him, she should be able to confide and trust in him.

“I’m sorry if I overstepped.” Nickolai conceded. “I was merely trying to help her and she demanded answers.”

“She made me leave.” Trig added. “When I got back she was gone.”

“And neither of you thought to follow her?” Grange demanded and Trig and Nickolai shared a look before Trig shrugged.

“She wanted to be alone.” Grange growled and left the bakery. He walked to the back and caught Dawn’s scent going into the woods. She was going to talk to him. He had given her time but he was tired of waiting. The wolf needed her. The man wanted her. Grange was an alpha and he was not going to be kept waiting forever.

Whether her answer was yes or no, he was going to have it today.

---

Paranoid men were dangerous, Dawn decided as she sat in the bottom of the deep hole that had been dug and covered with sticks and leaves as a trap to catch the ‘monster’. She was dirty and wet since the bottom of the hole was full of water. She was beginning to get cold and this hole was deep, she had to crane her neck just to see the opening that seemed to be miles away.

Add to that the pain that was radiating from her swollen ankle, that she suspected might just be broken, and Dawn was having a bad day.

“Help!” She yelled, though she doubted anyone would hear her. She was far from town, the hole was deep and no one knew where she had been walking.

She heard a noise above her and looked up but saw nothing.

“Is someone there?” she called cautiously. Hopefully it wasn’t some kind of animal looking for an easy meal. She nearly screamed when a big black furry head was suddenly looking down at her.

Golden eyes locked on her and Dawn felt a tremor rush down her spine.

“Please tell me that you are Grange and not a wild creature wanting to feast on my rotting corpse once I die down here in this God forsaken pit.” Dawn heard a snort and she would swear it sounded like the wolf was chuckling. Suddenly she knew it was Grange and her fear melted away.

“Never thought I’d be so happy to see that furry face.” she said with a sigh as she relaxed against the muddy side of the hole. Grange suddenly disappeared and when he again looked down the hole, he was a man and Dawn nearly choked on her tongue.

“Where are your clothes?” she squeaked. She couldn’t make out details but she could see his bare shoulders and the muscles of his broad chest.

“I destroyed them when I shifted. I hadn’t planned on shifting but I was still a good distance away from you when I smelled your fear and your pain. I lost control of the wolf for a moment.” Grange admitted.

“So you’re naked?” Dawn asked as she swallowed hard. Had she been cold a moment ago? She couldn’t seem to remember now.

“Yes.” Grange replied as if it was no big deal. “But if that makes you uncomfortable you can close your eyes when you get out of the hole and I will shift and lead you back to my cabin as a wolf so I can dress before taking you to town.”

“Okay.” she mumbled. She shifted her weight and then nearly cried out in pain but managed to bite her tongue to hold back the sound, though her brow became covered in sweat and her heart began to pound.

“Where are you hurt?” Grange asked and Dawn could hear the tension in his voice.

“My ankle. I landed on it wrong when I fell.” she replied.

“I’ll be right back.” Before Dawn could beg him not to leave, he was gone. She felt herself filling with panic. She had never been the panicking type but something in her needed his presence. She needed the reassurance that her mate was near. Her mate?!

Oh dear.

“Calm down, Dawn. I’m back. I wouldn’t leave you.” Grange assured her. Dawn looked up at him as relief flooded her.

“I wasn’t worried.” she lied. He raised his brow and gave her that lopsided grin, as his hair fell carelessly across his forehead.

“Whatever you say.” he replied. Dawn had a sneaking suspicion that he could smell her emotions, which was incredibly odd.

She let out a squeak of surprise when a brown dried out grape vine was suddenly dropped down beside her. She saw Grange holding the other end and smiling reassuringly at her.

“I made sure it was strong enough.” he promised. She had no choice but to trust him if she wanted out of this hole and so she grabbed the end tightly and then nodded up at him.

Dawn nearly screamed with surprise when she began to be lifted into the air. Grange was strong! She was being lifted effortlessly and within seconds her head was popping over the top of the hole. Her eyes took in something other than dirt and mud and she couldn’t stop the happy smile that lit up her face.

She pulled herself up onto the ground and then cried out in pain when her ankle hit the side of the hole. Instantly Grange was crouching beside her and taking her foot in his hands. Dawn took in the sight of him. Every inch of him was long, tanned and lean. A dark dusting of hair ran in trail down his chest and stomach to his…..

Dawn closed her eyes tightly and felt herself flushing bright red.

“I don’t think it is broken.” Grange assured her. “Though I will be able to tell more when we get your boot off.”

“Uh-uh.” she squeaked.

Grange looked down at himself and then back at her. Her eyes were closed tight and her cheeks and neck were flushed red. He smiled when he realized she was embarrassed because he was naked.

Being naked was natural for Grange. It wasn’t something he even thought about but clearly his mate was not used to seeing men without their clothes on. This made him happy.

“I’m going to shift now. Please don’t be afraid.” he said and he stepped away from her. He welcomed the wolf and the change happened quickly. He let out a yip and Dawn jumped as her eyes flew open.

Dawn gasped as she took her first up close and personal look in the light at Grange in wolf form.

He was huge, she knew that if she stood his head would be nearly at the same level as her own. His body was muscular and his fur was thick, dark and was glowing in the sunshine.

“You’re beautiful.” she gasped and then she laughed when he snorted and shook his head. “Handsome?” she amended and she would swear that he grinned.

“Can I touch you?” Dawn whispered and Grange stepped forward and lowered his head. Dawn’s hand was shaking as she reached out, hovering over him momentarily before dropping her fingers into his thick fur.

She was amazed by how soft he felt and then she realized that his eyes had slipped closed and his body was trembling beneath her touch. He leaned against her hand and Dawn felt her heart swell.

Was she in love with Grange? Even this part of Grange? She wasn’t repulsed as she thought she would be. She wasn’t afraid either. She realized with a shock that she was in love. She had known him for about a month, she knew him, how he would react in situations, his smile, his laugh, all the little things. She may not know much about his past but those were things that would be learned over time.

Grange was her mate.

Suddenly he moved away from her and pressed his nose to her ankle causing her to whimper. He moved toward her and tossed his head. Dawn frowned. Grange grabbed her arm gently between his teeth and put it over his neck before tossing his head again.

“You want me to climb on your back?” Dawn exclaimed and Grange nodded. “I’m too heavy!” Dawn warned and Grange snorted and she was sure his eyes rolled.

Dawn knew she had no choice. She couldn’t walk and they were in the middle of nowhere. If Grange was sure she wasn’t too heavy then she was going to trust him. She felt awkward as she climbed up on his back, wrapping her arms tight around his neck.

He let out a yip, that Dawn thought sounded happy, and then they raced off through the trees.

Dawn held on to him for dear life and yet had to admit that it was fun. She was almost disappointed when his cabin came into view. Dawn was surprised when he gently eased her to the ground and then he ran into the house.

Dawn stayed where he’d left her and waited. Several minutes later he came back out, dressed once again in a black tunic and buckskin pants, though he was barefoot.

“Are those the only kinds of clothes you own?” she asked as he ran his hand through his thick hair.

“Clothes aren’t important to me.” he admitted. “Now let me look at that ankle.” Dawn yelped with surprise and then wrapped her arms around his neck when he lifted her into his arms and carried her inside. She found herself nuzzling her face against his neck, breathing him in. He smelled like the forest and of sweat and there was something else. A unique scent that was unlike anything she’d ever smelled before. Something inside of her knew that the scent was his and his alone.

“Stop doing that.” Grange growled and Dawn pulled away enough to see that his face was tense and his eyes were turning golden.

“I’m sorry.” she gasped, though she could feel the heat coming off of him and it was heating her as well. Grange said nothing as he sat her down on the small sofa and knelt in front of her.

Grange wondered if she knew what her simple touch did to him. Nuzzling his neck was something the wolf in him took as a mating sign. He was fighting very hard to get control before he ended up marking her right here and now.

Grange pulled off her boot and her stocking and examined her ankle. It was red and swollen but did not appear to be broken. She had only sprained it. He stood and walked into the bedroom, coming back out a moment later with a long white strip of cloth.

“What’s that for?” Dawn asked. Grange knelt back down and began to wrap it tightly around her ankle.

“You’re going to have to keep that boot off of it for a couple of days. And you’ll have to stay off the foot.”

“But the bakery….”

“Nickolai can handle that. He’s been handling it all day.”

“He has?” Dawn asked and Grange nodded. “Just the same as he’s been handling your issues that you talked to him about.” Dawn grinned guiltily and folded her hands in her lap.

“I’m sorry.” she whispered.

“For?” Grange asked as he finished wrapping her ankle and looked up into her eyes.

“Ruining your life.” Grange tilted his head and studied her.

“What are you talking about?”

“Nickolai told me that I’ve ruined your life.” Grange growled and his eyes flashed.

“He told you that?” he snarled. Dawn was taken aback by his temper and quickly touched her hands to his to calm him.

“Not like that he didn’t.” she promised. “He just said that if I refuse you that you could never have another woman but that if I don’t refuse you, if I accept you, then it will bring other wolves here to destroy you. Either way I’ve ruined your life.”

Grange took her hands in his and rubbed his rough calloused thumbs along her wrists, causing shocks of awareness to shoot through her. She forced herself to look into his eyes and was shocked by what she saw there.  Was that… love ?

“If you accept me, my life would not be ruined, Dawn. Was I happy when my wolf first saw you and decided that you were what it wanted? No, I wasn’t. I liked my life the way it was. But then I got to know you. Be around you. You are what I want. Me, Grange, the man, not just the wolf. If you accept me then things could get complicated around here but to have you by my side, as my mate, it would all be worth it.”

“I want to be with you, Grange.” she whispered and Grange’s eyes widened with surprise. “But can we take it slow…” Grange nodded as he caressed her cheek with his hand.

“As slowly as you need, love. But please don’t make me go days without being near you again.” Dawn smiled and leaned into his touch.

“I promise.”

Chapter Seven

“Don’t know how you do it, I love the way I lose it everytime. What’s even better is knowing that forever you’re all mine. The closer you get the more my body aches. One little stare from you is all it takes. I melt everytime you look at me that way. It never fails, anytime, anyplace. This burn in me is the coolest thing I’ve ever felt. I melt.” Rascal Flatts ‘I melt’

“Dinner?” Dawn asked with a frown.

“Yes.” Grange replied as he grabbed a handful of freshly baked dough balls rolled in cinnamon and sugar.

“Stop that!” Dawn scolded as she swatted at his hand. “I have a big order for those and I’ll never get it done if you don’t keep your furry paws out of them.” Grange grinned.

“Sorry.” he replied, though he didn’t look sorry as he shoved them into his mouth.

“And you want to take me to dinner? How can you be hungry when you’ve been here every hour on the hour eating all my merchandise?”

“I have to make sure you’re staying off that foot.” he countered.

“She’s staying off it, Grange. I’ve been doing the running and Nickolai has been doing the cooking.” Trig assured him as he came out of the kitchen with flour smeared across his nose.

“A big change from the work I did in my last pack.” Nickolai admitted with just the slightest hint of amusement in his voice.

“Grange, it’s been three days since I hurt my ankle. It’s actually feeling nearly completely better.”

“Which only shows that I was right in keeping you off of it.” Grange replied and Dawn rolled her eyes. “And I promise you that I am hungry enough to eat dinner. It’s part of being a wolf, we eat a lot.”

“Dinner at the diner? I’ve never seen you eat at the diner.” Dawn stated with a frown.

“I don’t usually.” Grange admitted. The scents were overwhelming in the diner and he usually chose to eat his meals elsewhere.

“I think he’s trying to do ‘normal’ things with you so you don’t feel so overwhelmed.” Trig whispered and Grange’s eyes narrowed as he glared at the pup.

“Why don’t I go to the diner, order us something to eat and we can go have a picnic somewhere away from town?” Dawn asked as she laid her hand on Grange’s bare forearm. As always she was amazed by the amount of heat he put off. “I don’t want you to make yourself uncomfortable simply to spend time with me.” she added.

“Can we come on the picnic?” Trig asked happily as he shoved a cookie into his mouth.

“No.” Both Grange and Dawn snapped in unison.

“I think that was a negative.” Nickolai stated before going back into the kitchen.

“They will help you close up and I’ll be back in an hour.” Grange said, turning his attention back to Dawn. She nodded and then stopped breathing when he moved in and let his lips dance across her cheek, coming to a rest on her ear. “It will be nice to have you alone.” he whispered and while Dawn was still busy trying to get her mouth and brain to function together once more, Grange slipped from the bakery.

She was only faintly aware of Trig chuckling quietly as he walked back into the kitchen to help Nickolai clean up.

Dawn was equally pleased to finally have time alone with Grange. The last three days since coming to terms with what he was and accepting him in her life had been great. She had had plenty of time to adjust and think about the future but she hadn’t had any time alone with Grange.

He didn’t want her staying at his cabin because of what the townsfolk would say and whenever they were in town, Trig and Nickolai were always somewhere near by. Days of rain and her own injured ankle had kept him from whisking her away into the woods but now her ankle was feeling much better, the weather had cleared and she was finally going to spend some time alone with her… man? Beau? Mate? She wasn’t sure what label to assign to him.

She smiled as she stood up and began emptying out her cash register.

She was going to finally be spending some time alone with her wolf.

---

It’s beautiful out here today.” Dawn said with a sigh as she and Grange rode side by side on his horses through the woods.

“Yes it is.” Grange replied, though his eyes were on the way the sunlight shone off her hair instead of on their surroundings.

He loved having her out here in the wilderness with him. This was where Grange felt most comfortable and to have her here with him simply served to make it feel even more like home.

“Let me know if your ankle begins to hurt too badly.” he warned her and she smiled over at him, causing that deep dimple in her cheek to show.

“My ankle is fine, Grange.” she assured him. He knew she wasn’t telling the complete truth because he saw the way she kept shifting her leg but he wasn’t going to argue with her. She was a grown woman after all and didn’t like to have anyone question her capability to take care of herself. Grange was actually surprised that she hadn’t rebelled against having Trig keep an eye on her while Grange had been keeping his distance and he figured it was because, regardless of how much she insisted Trig drove her crazy, Dawn actually liked the hyperactive pup.

“So where were you born, Grange?” Dawn asked as they rode comfortably side by side. Grange scratched at a bug biting his arm and guided his horse around a large oak.

“Georgia a long time ago.”

“How old are you?”

“Fifty. Give or take a year or two.” Dawn’s eyes widened.

“You don’t look fifty.” she stated matter of factly.

“I haven’t aged much since I was turned thirty years ago. A little but not much. Werewolves live a long long time.”

“How long?” Dawn asked and Grange scratched at his hair.

“I can’t say for sure. Forever maybe. The one that turned me was nearly five centuries old and still very strong and powerful. Though most don’t live that long because it’s a dangerous life.”

“So when you turn me, I’ll stop aging?” Grange felt his heart begin to pound against his ribs when she said ‘when he turned her’ instead of ‘if he turned her.’ He was glad that he had decided to have patience with her, she was coming around much more quickly than he had thought she would.

“For the most part, yes. You’ll age so slowly that you won’t notice it. The wolf that turned me did not look like he would be nearly five centuries old. He looked like a healthy, fit thirty-five year old man.”

“Well I guess virtual agelessness might make the fleas worth it.” Dawn stated teasingly and Grange barked with laughter.

“We don’t have fleas!” he assured her, though was fighting the urge to scratch at his head. It wasn’t fleas, it was habit, but he knew what her reaction would be.

“That’s what Trig keeps telling me.” she replied.

“Yes he told me about your list.” Grange informed her. “My positives and negatives.”

“He did?” Dawn squeaked as she blushed bright red and became very interested in her mares dark brown mane.

“Yes he did.” Grange replied with amusement. “The positive side was a big boost to my self esteem. Not so much the negatives.” he added with a frown.

“Well, I wrote that the first night I knew what you were. My opinion may have changed since then. I may no longer consider you being a wolf to be a negative.”

“Really?” Grange asked, knowing that she was teasing him. Dawn nodded and winked over at him.

“I had a lot of fun being carried through the forest on wolf back.” Grange gave her that lopsided grin and ran his hand through his hair. Dawn felt her heart beat just a little faster. She heard Grange’s stomach growl and laughed lightly.

“This looks like a good place for a picnic. It sounds as if your stomach is contemplating whether or not it wants to eat your backbone.”

“What backbone?” Grange asked with a wince as his stomach growled again, more loudly.

They brought their horses to a stop and while Grange hooked the reins over a low hanging pine bough, Dawn laid out a blanket beneath the shade of a large oak. She opened the basket that she had packed and began to lay out their dinner of fried chicken, fresh baked rolls and beans.

“That looks good.” Grange stated as he sat down cross legged, across from her on the blanket. “But I smell more than that.” he added as he tried to peek in the basket.

“Curse you and your werewolf nose.” Dawn mumbled as she swatted him away from the basket. “I made Apple dumplings for us to share but they were supposed to be a surprise.”

Grange’s mouth began to water instantly and he smiled at her. She was an amazing woman. A huge shock had just been issued to her days ago, a huge burden laid on her shoulders, and yet still she was carrying on and had even made his favorite dessert.

“You made those in an hour?” he asked and she shook her head.

“No. I started them this morning. I was going to make sure we got some time alone today to enjoy them before you ever came and suggested we go to dinner.”

“Really?” Grange grinned as he let his eyes travel over her. The lush curves of her body were covered in a light blue dress that he could tell was new. The fabric was soft and almost dainty. The neckline was lower than he had seen her wear before and it drew his attention to the pale, freckled skin of her collarbones and chest. The cap sleeves also awarded him a fine view of her smooth shoulders.

He knew the sleeves weren’t the style that most ladies wore, neither were they something that Dawn normally wore and he realized that she had worn that for him. Desire flooded his senses and he quickly tried to swallow it back down as he picked up a piece of chicken and tore off a bite.

“What about the other negative on that list?” he asked after he swallowed it down. Dawn frowned as she tried to remember what her list had said and then the word murderer flashed through her mind.

She bit her lip and shook her head.

“I don’t think you’re a murderer, Grange.” she promised. He looked out into the woods and picked at his chicken.

“I have killed. I will kill again. This is my territory and I will not allow anyone to kill innocents when they come here.”

“I understand.” Dawn replied with a nod and Grange couldn’t smell any hint of dishonesty in the air as she spoke. “But you won’t be able to stay here forever will you? People already whisper about the fact that you haven’t aged, surely that will become more than whispers after a few more years.” Grange sighed.

“You’re right. But I’m expanding. I plan on staking most of the far northwest as mine. That will give the pack plenty of towns to call home and places to live so that not so much attention is drawn to us.”

“Aren’t you just asking for trouble by doing that?” Dawn asked skeptically and Grange shrugged.

“It has to be done. I am an alpha with a pack and I need a territory. A few square miles just won’t do. I’m thinking closer to one or two thousand square miles.”

“Really?!” Dawn exclaimed as she tried to get a grasp on just how vast an area that would really be.

“Yes. I never wanted to be an alpha but now that I’ve become one I want to ensure that my pack is well supplied with land, places to rotate between, animals to hunt and room to run. Those things are important to a pack. None of this land out here is claimed so I may as well claim it.”

“Can you handle the backlash, Grange?” Dawn asked with trepidation. “I don’t want….” she stopped talking and stared down at the blanket they were sitting on. She couldn’t explain, or put into words, the terror and fear she felt at the thought of something happening to Grange.

He reached out and took her hand in his, stroking her wrist gently with his thumb. She forced herself to look into his blue eyes and she saw the intensity of what he felt for her looking back into her own. Dawn knew that no other woman in the history of the world had ever been looked at quite like that.

“I can handle myself.” he assured her. “And so can Nickolai. Trig can as well, even if it might not seem like it at times. And nothing will happen to you either.” he vowed. “I will guard and protect you with my life.”

“Just because I’m your mate?” Dawn asked, wondering why that thought bothered her. A small smile curved Grange’s lips and his hand released her wrist and moved to her cheek as he scooted across the blanket and closed the distance between them.

“That.” he replied, his gruff voice washing over her. “And because I love you.” Dawns heart skidded to a stop behind her ribs and her jaw dropped at his admission. She saw him swallow hard and search her face.

“Say something.” he whispered after several moments of silence. Grange might be able to smell fear, pain and nervousness on someone when they were near him but he was no mind reader and love was something he couldn’t sense. Did she love him? Or had he only imagined that look in her eyes and what all the little things she did for him meant?

“I… I love you too.” she managed to say around her heart which was up in her throat. Dawn had barely finished speaking before Grange acted.

His hand slipped to the back of her head, sinking into her hair and he pulled her closer. His lips burned a path over her ear, across her cheek before finally landing on her lips.

The breath seemed to be sucked straight from Dawn’s lungs as his hungry mouth seared her own. Dawn had never been kissed and she had certainly never expected for her first kiss to be like this. All fiery, hot possessiveness.

She offered no resistance when he nipped roughly at her lip and his tongue demanded entrance to her mouth. Instead she matched his intensity, dueling her tongue against his own.

Suddenly his mouth left hers and his lips began working their way down her neck and over her collarbones. Heating her skin and marking her with scorching brands that only her heart could see. Dawn felt as if her body was on fire. His every move increasing the passion and pleasure she was feeling.

When Grange’s lips moved back to hers she lost all sense of time and reality. There was only this place. All that was real in the world was this moment. Dawn was only faintly aware of his movements as he removed her from her clothes, laying her down and sliding her from her dress, petticoats, chemise and even her boots.

She thought for sure the forest would erupt in flames as his hungry eyes, filled with golden embers and they and his mouth took in every inch of her. Memorizing the sight and taste of each curve of her body as his deep growls of appreciation filled the quiet forest air.

Dawn had had no idea that a mans rough, calloused hands could feel so soft against her. She realized that at some point during his assault on her body and senses he had removed his own clothes and her eyes roamed over his body appreciatively. She saw several scars she’d never before noticed and wondered absently what had caused them.

Grange braced his long, hard body over hers and Dawn knew what was about to happen. She may not have had any experience herself but she had been raised by her brother and he had been a fan of the fairer sex and his exploits had been well documented.

Grange looked into her eyes and Dawn could see that he looked almost as if he were in pain. His eyes were a wild mix of blue and gold and his jaw was tight. Concern filled her.

“Are you okay?” she managed to whisper, though how she found enough air to do so with his thumb stroking her swollen nipple, she had no idea. Grange nodded.

“I’ll be just fine, Dawn. I’ll try to go easy.”

“I don’t want easy, Grange… I want you to let go.” she replied as she grabbed the back of his head and then pulled his mouth down to hers.

She heard him growl and then she felt him enter her. There was a moment of sharp pain but it was quickly replaced with a throbbing kind of delicious pleasure when he began to move swiftly.

Dawn clung to him, reveling in each new sensation he created within her body and then she found herself calling out his name as suddenly the building pressure and pleasure seemed to snap and she was blinded by a bright white sensation that rendered all her other senses useless.

She was aware of the snarl that came from deep within Grange as his body stiffened and then he fell limply to the side and pulled her body against him, wrapping her safe within his strong arms. The heat here was nearly unbearable but Dawn never wanted to leave his embrace.

“That was……..” she couldn’t seem to find the word and so she simply stopped speaking and sighed as she snuggled closer to him, burying her face in his sweat slicked, broad chest and breathing him in. She felt a rumble beneath her cheek as he chuckled.

“Agreed.” was all he said. Dawn stayed right like that, feeling more content, more satisfied, more limp and tingly, than she had ever felt before in her life. Then her own stomach growled and instantly Grange was pulling away from her and pushing a piece of chicken under her nose.

“What are you doing?” she asked as she slowly convinced her body that it wanted to sit up.

“You’re hungry. You should have eaten….” Then Grange smelled the blood, he looked at her thighs and saw it there and he swallowed hard with guilt. “I was too rough..”

“If that was too rough then that’s how I always want it.” Dawn replied and then she blushed at her own brazen comment. She took the chicken while he smiled proudly. She took a bite and chewed it slowly as she watched him shoveling bite after bite of apple dumplings.

“Hey, save some for me.” she scolded and he grinned sheepishly and removed his hand from the last one. Dawn looked at the blanket they were sitting on and realized with a shock that there were tears in it.

“What happened to the blanket?” she exclaimed. Grange rubbed the back of his neck.

“I may have gripped it a little hard.” he admitted. She flushed and bit her lip as she looked away from him quickly.

“Your eyes were turning gold you know.” she informed him.

“Yes. That was the wolf.” he replied. Dawn tossed her empty chicken bone into the woods and smiled when Grange held the apple dumpling to her lips. She took a bite and then looked down at herself. She had never sat naked like this with anyone. She was surprised that she didn’t feel as awkward and shy as she had thought she would feel. It felt natural somehow to be this way with Grange.

“How will I become a wolf?” she asked. She looked up just in time to catch Grange’s eyes flashing with gold.

“When I mark you.” he replied, and she was sure she heard desire once again in his deep, gruff voice.

“You didn’t mark me?” she asked with a frown. She knew for sure that he had certainly changed her body. She would never be the same after the way he had touched her, the way he had loved her.

“No… To mark you I have to bite you.”

“Bite me?” Dawn gasped. She saw him nod and she swallowed hard. “Will it hurt?” she whispered with trepidation.

“For a moment it may.” he admitted, hoping that wouldn’t make her question whether or not she wanted him to mark her. “When you are ready I will do it, but I will wait until we are making love and then the pain will only be dull and it won’t last long.”

“And then I’ll be a wolf?” Dawn asked, feeling more than a little excitement at the thought. Others may think it was odd to suddenly want to be a werewolf but now that she had accepted that that is what her life would be she was eager to get it started. She wanted to be what Grange needed her to be. His alpha female. His mate in every way.

“Yes.” he replied, smiling at her excitement. It certainly took a weight off of his shoulders to know that she wanted to be changed. It also made the wolf in him scream to be let out. The wolf wanted to mark her. The wolf was angry that he hadn’t marked her as they’d made love.

But Grange had been afraid to let himself lose that much control. He had already been too rough with her for her first time and if he had allowed himself to bite her it would only have been worse. That and tomorrow was the first night of the full moon, which meant all werewolves had to shift. Grange hadn’t wanted to put Dawn through that so soon after being changed.

He saw her coming closer and then he felt her soft lips caressing his shoulder.

“I’m ready if you are.” she admitted. The sun was nearly set and the shadows were growing. Grange felt himself quickly losing control as her tiny hands danced across his chest. He swallowed hard, jerked himself away from her and rose to his feet, finding his pants and stepping into them quickly.

“What are you doing?” Dawn asked with disappointment and hurt.

“We cannot do that again right now, Dawn.” he said gently as he picked up her underclothes and motioned for her to come to him. She stood and he slowly helped her begin to dress.

“Why?” Dawn questioned. “I want to become your mate in everyway, Grange.” Grange felt his chest tighten as he looked down into her blue eyes. He caressed her cheek gently with his hand and then kissed her brow.

“And you will, I promise you that, but you are sore, or will be, from what we’ve already done and I will not hurt you further.” Dawn sighed as he buttoned up the bodice of her dress. She knew he was right. She was sore, but it was the good type of sore. The type of sore she would have no problem getting used to.

“I love you, Grange Michaels.” she whispered as she threw her arms around his neck. Grange wrapped her tightly in his arms and kissed her hair.

“And I love you.”

As they made their way back to town, Dawn asked him about his scars.

“I have no idea where most of them came from.” he admitted. “Fights over the years I suppose. I have always been running other wolves off of my territory. Them and vampires, the occasional demon, other shifters that aren’t wolves….”

“Why am I actually surprised to hear that more than just werewolves exist?” Dawn asked with a frown.

“There’s much more out there.” Grange replied. “But you do not have to worry. I will protect you from all of it.” he assured her. Dawn smiled.

“What about that one big one on your arm? I’ve noticed it before now but never asked.” Grange looked down at the raised pale scar that marred his forearm.

“I got this the night I escaped from the wolf that changed me. He found me one night, drunk and acting stupid in the alley behind a saloon. I was going to prove my manliness to a bar maid but he showed up and took me away. I wasn’t like this then. Back then I was skinny, barely twenty and had no sense of self worth or value. I was not a man. I was pathetic.”

“I have a hard time believing that.” Dawn said gently and Grange shrugged.

“Whether you believe it or not does not change the fact that it is the truth. The man drugged me once we were a short distance from the saloon and I woke up in a stone cell. It was dark and damp and I was scared. I remember that I cried like a baby when he came to see me. He was tall, strong and the scariest thing I had ever seen in my life. He bit me and then the torture began.

“I was his pet. His play thing. He would torture me himself some days and then some days it was his pack members or friends of other types that had their fun. I grew stronger, though I hid that the best I could from them.

“Two months after he changed me, he came to visit. He was about to begin, I saw him choosing a whip to beat me with and I decided that enough was enough. I broke my chains, killed him and made my escape, though I had to kill many more to get out alive. I came west, learning skills and fighting to stay alive. I settled down here five years later. This scar is the only reminder of that time that I have and it was caused by my chains when I ripped my arm from them.”

“You’ve never told me any of that before…” Dawn whispered. “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

“It made me strong and it taught me a lot. I am grateful for it, as strange as that may sound.”

“I’m glad you killed him. He deserved it.” Dawn stated as she looked at the forest ahead of them. Grange smiled.

“I would have to agree.”

---

When they made it back into town, Grange took his time kissing her goodnight outside of her bakery. Dawn was angry when she felt him stiffen and growl before releasing her as Trig walked up to them.

It was clear that Trig had been at the saloon and had consumed a fair amount of whiskey while he’d been visiting. He looked from Dawn to Grange, his nostrils flared and then he grinned, quite stupidly in Dawn’s opinion.

“Have a good time?” he asked. Grange growled again and his hand fell sharply across the back of Trig’s head.

“You’ve been drinking.” he scolded. Trig nodded.

“Yes and you’ve been……” He was cut off when Nickolai came out of the bakery.

“Is it always going to be like this? Are we always going to be surrounded?” Dawn demanded of Grange and he shook his head.

“No.” he assured her, but at the same time as he spoke so did Trig.

“Yep.” Dawn shook her head, pinched her nose between her fingers and looked up at Grange.

“I’m tired.”

“Sleep well, love. I’ll see you tomorrow.” he replied. Dawn kissed his cheek, sent a glare at Trig and then stepped around Nickolai who stopped her just before she shut the door in his face.

“There is warm bath water waiting for you upstairs.” he informed her. “I thought you might enjoy a bath and it would be good to soak your ankle after your excursion this evening.” Dawn blushed red, mumbled a thank-you and then closed the door, realizing that her ankle was indeed sore, but certainly not the only sore part to her body.

“Sir, feel free to tell me to mind my business….” Nickolai started once Dawn was gone.

“Mind your business.” Grange snapped as he turned and began to tie the reins of Dawn’s horse to his own. He had used his own horses for their ride so neither would spook at his scent.

He began to lead both horses down the nearly empty street and he realized that Nickolai wasn’t going to mind his own business as he followed after him. Trig had gone back to the saloon.

“I am glad that you and Dawn have settled all your differences and taken your places beside one another, however I couldn’t help but notice that while you were out today, and clearly had the perfect opportunity, you did not mark her. She is still very much unchanged.”

“Of course she is.” Grange grumbled.

“Sir, it is unwise to leave her in that state much longer. She is weak and the slightest thing could end her life.”

“I am aware of that.” Grange snapped as he turned on Nickolai and the man took a step back and lowered his head. “I could not very well change her tonight when tomorrow night is the first night of the full moon and we will have to shift. She will need time to adjust before being forced into a shift.”

“Of course. You’re right.” Nickolai agreed. “Sorry I questioned you.” Grange just shook his head and shoved his hand through his hair.

“We will be gone for two night starting tomorrow.” he informed Nickolai. “I do not want to leave Dawn alone but since I will be marking her soon I need to start setting the boundaries of my territory. Eventually I would like to expand it for several thousand square miles but we will mark it bit by bit. I will not leave Dawn long enough to do it all at once and I will not take her on a journey like that until I know she is well adjusted to her new abilities.”

“Of course.” Nickolai replied. He understood the alpha’s position. He had a mate to think about and the mates safety would always come before anything else. It had to be that way. The alpha female was vital to the survival of Grange’s bloodline.

“I want you to keep an eye on Dawn tonight. Trig is obviously in no position to do so. Tell him to stay at the hotel tonight, or the brothel if he prefers but I do not want him near Dawn in the state he is in.”

“He would never hurt her.” Nickolai said in defense of the young and somewhat dimwitted pup. Grange grinned and laughed lightly.

“Yes I know, but it’s not her safety I’m worried about.” he replied. A rare smile graced Nickolai’s face.

“Ah, yes, the young pup does know how to push her buttons.”

“Exactly.”

Chapter Eight

“You’re leaving?” Dawn asked with a pout as she flipped her bakery sign to closed the next day. Grange nodded as he wiped some flour from her cheek with his thumb.

“Yes. Tonight is the night of the full moon, meaning that every werewolf has to turn. I am going to take advantage of that and spend the next two days setting up some boundaries for our territory.”

“You should have changed me yesterday so I could go with you.” Dawn stated as she put her hands on her full hips. Grange shook his head.

“You will need time, Dawn, to get used to being a werewolf before you are forced into a change.”

“So what am I going to do for two whole days without all three of you here?”

“Stay in town, don’t go out after dark and keep your shutters closed.” Grange replied and Dawn sighed.

“Yes, sir.” she mumbled. “I was actually more worried about what I’m going to do with myself without having you all here to entertain me.”

“I thought you would be happy to know that Trig won’t be under your feet for a while.” Grange countered as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close to him.

“I kind of like the overactive, little pup. Don’t tell him I said that.’ she added sternly and Grange chuckled and kissed her hair. “And I wasn’t really thinking about Trig. I was thinking about what I’ll do without you.”

“It will only be two nights. I will be home the day after tomorrow.” he assured her.

“Why do you act like it’s so easy for you?” Dawn asked with a frown. She was lost at the thought of Grange being gone. She didn’t even like the idea of Trig and Nickolai being gone. Dawn had never had much in the way of family. Her brother had been too busy to concern himself with her most of the time. But here with these three wolves she truly felt like she had people she could count on and a real family.

Grange growled and held her tighter.

“If you knew how badly this was tearing me apart then you wouldn’t have any doubts about how hard I find this. I do not want to leave you. I want to be near you all the time but this has to be done. I have to start setting up boundaries and expanding before I mark you.”

“Because once you mark me, they could come.”

“That’s right.” Grange replied with a nod. “Marking you will let them know that I plan on starting a bloodline of my own.”

“Don’t you need my agreement to do that?” Dawn asked with a smile. Grange chuckled.

“I don’t think you’ll put up much of a fight.” he replied. Dawn found herself laughing.

“Pretty sure of yourself, are you?”

“I’ve heard that once a woman gets a taste of wolf she is never satisfied with less again.”

“Yes I’ve heard that too.” Nickolai replied as he stepped into the bakery. Dawn blushed and quickly pulled away from Grange.

“Have you ever thought of knocking?” she scolded and Nickolai shrugged on shoulder.

“It had crossed my mind.” he stated simply. Trig came bouncing in before Dawn could say anything else.

“Are we ready to go? I’m ready to go. This is gonna be great! A chance to really get some wolf time in. It will feel good to run and feel the wind in my fur.”

“Yes we’re going.” Grange grumbled. He could feel the wolf in him coming alive as sunset neared and while neither the wolf nor the man in him wanted to leave Dawn, he knew that he really had no choice. These boundaries had to be made. He was an alpha with a pack now. That meant he had to think about more than just what he wanted or did not want to do.

“I’ll miss you!” Trig exclaimed as he wrapped Dawn in a tight hug. She patted him on the back and felt her heart ache a little. She was going to miss his annoying backside too.

“The alpha is about to rip your head off, pup.” Nickolai stated dryly. Trig grinned as he pulled away and looked at Grange’s face and his tight jaw.

“Aww come on!” he exclaimed. “I’m allowed to hug my pack sister.” Dawn shook her head and pinched her nose.

“You really shouldn’t say those things when someone could walk in and hear you!” she scolded.

Grange grabbed her and pulled her aside. He took her face gently in his hands and looked deep into her eyes with those intense blue eyes of his.

“Stay in town. No going out after dark. Keep your gun in your pocket.” Dawn shifted her feet nervously.

“Do you think something is going to happen?” Grange shook his head.

“If I thought that something was going to happen then I wouldn’t leave you. But it never hurts to be cautious and prepared.”

“You better be careful yourself.” Dawn warned him. “Don’t pick fights you don’t have to pick.” Grange nodded.

“I’ll be careful.” Dawn stood on her toes and kissed him gently and then she gasped when he pulled away suddenly and left the bakery without a word. She looked questioningly at Nickolai who just shrugged.

“He has not been looking forward to leaving you. It is hard on him.” Dawn nodded and watched Trig and Nickolai leave the bakery. She locked the door behind them and felt loneliness settling in instantly.

---

Dawn woke up the next morning and cleaned her apartment and the bakery. It was Sunday and so she wasn’t opening today and she had the whole day to do nothing.

It was around eleven in the morning when she made her way outside in the sunshine and looked up the road.

Most of the people in this town were in one of the several churches. Dawn walked down to the small log church down the road and stepped inside only to be stopped at the door by the sheriffs wife Gladys.

“I don’t think you’d feel very comfortable in here, dear.” she whispered with a sniff. Dawn looked over her shoulder at the preacher up giving his sermon and frowned.

“Why is that?” she asked. Gladys ushered her out the door, giving Dawn no choice but to obey her or else cause a huge scene.

“Your relationship with three men is not the kind of relationship that is acceptable in the eyes of our little church.”

“Relationship with three men?” Dawn asked with a frown. Her brow creased as she looked at the other woman. “What are you talking about?”

“You have one of those men staying with you nearly every night. You are taking private horse rides with another and staying at his cabin. Did you think folks would not notice?” Dawn laughed off her statement but inside she felt the sting of the harsh judgment.

“I don’t need to defend myself to you, Gladys. You have no right to tell me I cannot come into church.”

“As head of the church committee I would have to disagree.” Gladys stated. “Now you seem like a nice enough girl but not the type of girl that needs to be in our church. Perhaps you’d be more comfortable in the brothel?”

Dawn’s jaw dropped at the woman’s candid statement. She had no idea how to respond and while she was busy stammering and stuttering, Gladys turned and walked back into the church.

“I’ll say a prayer for you, Miss head of the church committee.” Dawn grumbled and then she walked down the road toward the livery.

“Good morning, Miss Patten.” the stable hand said as she walked in. She smiled at the young man, who was probably only around twenty years old and always wore a happy smile.

“Good morning, George.” Dawn replied as she walked to the nearest stall and patted the appaloosa mare on the neck. The horse snorted at her and shied away slightly but Dawn grabbed a sugar cube from her pocket and the mare decided she wasn’t so bad.

Grange had told Dawn that being around he, Trig and Nickolai would leave the scent of a wolf on her and cause horses to shy away. Dawn had planned on coming here after church and that was why she had stuffed the sugar cubes into her pocket.

“You want to go for a ride this morning?” George asked and Dawn frowned and bit her lip.

A ride would be nice. She needed to get out and enjoy the beauty of the day after being told she belonged in a brothel by the head of the church committee. Grange had told her to stay in town but surely he had meant at nighttime. It wasn’t even close to sunset and the day was sunny and bright.

What harm could come from a short ride?

“Yes, George, I would.” she replied with a smile. She waited outside while George readied the Appaloosa and he brought it out to her several minutes later.

“There you go, Miss Patten. It’s a pretty day for a ride.” he stated. Dawn nodded.

“Yes it is. Thank you.” she replied. She reached in her pocket and pulled out some money. She slipped it in George’s hand, climbed up into the saddle and then set off down main street.

She went behind the sawmill and followed a trail that led to a deep, tranquil bend in the river.

The day was beautiful. The birds were singing, bees were buzzing as they went about their busy lives around her and the sun was shining brightly through the trees.

Dawn smiled when the river came into view. She loved this bend. She longed to be able to swim in it some day but she wouldn’t risk that today. She did not want someone to ride up on her barely dressed, she could only imagine the reaction that her protective wolf would have to that.

She smiled when she thought of the way he made his presence known whenever another man was around. She should probably be bothered by his territorial possessiveness but she wasn’t. He was a wolf and it was natural for him to be that way around her. Dawn wondered if she would become just as possessive of him when she was turned. Of course she was already fairly territorial over him.

She remembered when one of the brothel girls had tried to speak to Grange on the street one evening. He had been trying to be polite and make an escape without being rude but Dawn had stormed over and let that woman know she was barking up the wrong tree.

Of course that had been before she and Grange had actually been in a relationship other than friendship and he had seemed to find it entertaining and hilarious.

Dawn missed him. She dismounted and looped the mares reins around a bush before walking to the water. Dawn slipped off her boots and stockings and sat down on the edge of the bank, letting her feet dangle in the cool water.

Dawn wanted her man back but it would be tomorrow before he arrived. She hoped everything was going okay. She worried that he, Trig and Nickolai might run into trouble that they couldn’t handle.

Dawn shook her head to clear those thoughts. Grange was tough, Nickolai was a trained warrior and Trig was…. Trig was safe with them. Dawn looked up at the white puffy clouds and leaned back on her elbows. She was drifting off to sleep when she heard a twig snap to her right.

Instantly Dawn’s head whipped around toward the sound but she saw nothing. She looked over at the mare but if the horse was spooked she wasn’t letting it show as she munched at the grass.

Dawn tried to slow down her racing heart and called herself silly for being so on edge. She had never been one to panic or worry but Grange’s paranoia about leaving her alone had obviously rubbed off. She decided she might as well head back to town and she pushed herself to her feet.

As she reached down for her stockings she heard a thud behind her and turned quickly to see a man in a blue chambray shirt with ripped off sleeves and black trousers. He was tall and broad, muscular and rugged.

His blond hair was long and his skin was pale. He smiled, but the gesture was cold and it brought no emotion to his eyes, which were almost silver in appearance.

“You’re not leaving so soon, are you?” he asked, his voice smooth and soothing. Dawn found herself calmed by the sound of it.

“I was just going to head back to town.” she replied. He nodded as he crossed his arms over his chest, the muscles in his arms bunching and tightening.

“I wish you would stay.” Dawn found herself nodding, though she didn’t know why. She needed to leave! This man was dangerous! He had followed her out here. They were completely alone and those eyes weren’t natural! They weren’t…. human.

“I really should go.” she whispered, even as her feet refused to move.

“No you shouldn’t.” he purred as he stepped closer and began to move in a slow circle around her. “You can stay here with me for just a while longer.” His long fingers grabbed the ends of her hair and twirled it gently. Dawn swallowed hard as her heart began to thunder behind her ribs.

“I really can’t.” she said before swallowing hard.

“I’m surprised your wolf left you alone.” he said, his breath on her neck as he stood behind her. “They do not usually let their pets run free.”

“I’m not his pet.” Dawn replied, though she didn’t know why she was speaking. It was as if she’d lost control of herself. She could feel his breath on her neck. His hands closing around her upper arms and yet she was unable to fight against him. “I’m his mate.” she added.

“Mate?” the man asked with surprise in his voice. “He has not yet marked you.” His fingers tightened on her upper arms until they were nearly painful. Dawn glanced down and saw her skin whitening under his touch. “That is his loss, I suppose.”

Dawn felt a pain in her neck and she realized that he was pressing his teeth against her skin. She let out a cry when they pricked into her skin and that was when whatever spell he’d cast over her, seemed to break.

She reached into her dress pocket and pulled the gun she had there. Reaching behind her, she pressed the gun into his body, though she wasn’t sure where since he held her tight, and she pulled the trigger.

The sound deafened her and he let out a cry of pain as he released his hold on her. Dawn jerked away from him and ran barefooted to her horse. She grabbed the reins and jumped in the saddle before finally looking back at the man.

His eyes were narrowed and almost appeared to be glowing as he held his side and blood poured from between his fingers, forming a puddle on the ground at his feet.

Dawn screamed when he hissed loudly and started toward her. She fired her gun again and this time her bullet struck him in the head. He let out an animalistic yowl of pain and then fell to the ground. Dawn didn’t wait around to see if he would move again, instead she rode hard and fast away from him.

She wasn’t thinking clearly, she was afraid, she was panicked, she was in an enormous amount of pain from where his teeth had pricked her neck. It had caused her very blood to feel as if it were on fire and her vision was blurry. She had blood on her dress from the man and from her own neck.

She had no idea where she was heading until she saw Grange’s cabin come into view. She wondered if she should turn around and go into town instead but she was so scared that that man was going to come back and all she wanted to do was lock herself away someplace safe and stay there.

She quickly put the appaloosa up in the barn and then let herself into Grange’s cabin, happy to find the door unlocked, though she quickly locked it behind her. She went into Grange’s bedroom, shutting that door as well and got in his bed, pressing her back against the wall and pulling her knees into her chest.

 Dawn sobbed into her skirt as she covered her bloody neck with her hand and wondered if she was going to die while the fiery pain continued to course through her veins.

Chapter Nine

Grange was feeling good about the amount of territory he, Trig and Nickolai had covered. They had marked a great deal of boundaries with their scent to let any werewolf, vampire, demon or other supernatural being know that this land belonged to them.

Grange was ready to get to Dawn and didn’t want to take time to stop at his cabin but he and the other men had to get clothes. They couldn’t very well show up in town as wolves or as naked men. He wanted a kiss from his woman, he wanted to fill his nose with her scent and then he wanted a big freshly iced sugar cookie, and knowing Dawn, she would almost certainly have a whole pan ready for him.

He shook out his fur as he neared his cabin, planning to change quickly and then get to Dawn as fast as he could but the scent that reached his nose had him filling with the closest thing to panic that Grange had ever felt.

Dawn. Dawn was in his cabin. She had been bleeding and she was in pain and feverish. But the thing that frightened him the most and had the hair raising on his neck and the growl forming low in his throat was the scent of a vampire. A young vampire. The vampire wasn’t here, hadn’t been near the cabin, but Grange could smell his blood.

Grange gave no thought to the other wolves with him. He didn’t spare them a glance as he jumped through the cabin window, breaking the shutter and landing with a ear splitting growl on the floor below.

He saw his bedroom door was closed and he burst through it, faintly aware of the sound of cracking wood.

His eyes fell on Dawn and everything in him filled with terror. She was lying on his bed, wearing only her thin chemise. Her skin was pale, nearly gray in color and slicked with a sheen of sweat. Her hair was soaked and clinging to her and her neck and chest were covered in dried, cracked blood.

She was shivering and mumbling incoherently. Her blue eyes were glossy and unfocused. Grange could smell that she had soiled herself as she lay there and he could also smell the vampire venom currently coursing through her veins.

Instantly the wolf in him backed off, knowing that only the man could tend to the mate. After he shifted, he was shaking as he neared the bed.

“What the hell happened?” Trig demanded as he came into the bedroom wearing a pair of trousers. Grange dropped to his knees and ran his hand down her arm.

“Vampire.” Nickolai stated as his nostrils flared slightly. Grange felt a rage fill him like he had never felt before.

“Find him.” he snarled in a voice that was barely human. Trig and Nickolai instantly left the cabin. Grange swallowed hard.

“Dawn, love, can you hear me?” Dawn didn’t respond other than to cry out in pain. Grange could tell that the blood on her skin was old. From yesterday if he had to guess. The crumpled dress in the corner was what was covered in vampire blood.

What the hell had happened while he’d been gone?! He put his wrist to her brow and drew it back with a growl when her skin burned him. He felt desperation sinking in.

She had been bitten by the vampire. His poison was slowly eating Dawn’s body from the inside out. His mate was dying. She would already be dead if the vampire had gotten a good dose of venom in her, but judging by the wounds on her neck the vampire had not been able to really sink his fangs in before Dawn had gotten away.

But how had she managed to get away from a vampire that had been preparing to feed from her?

“Dawn… I need you to wake up.” Grange begged as he ran his knuckles along her cheek. He knew what had to be done but he didn’t want to do it. Not like this. Not with her delirious and nearly unconscious. He had wanted to turn her, to mark her, as he made love to her and held her tight.

But if he didn’t do this now then she would die. Vampire venom killed humans. It wouldn’t turn her into a vampire. Vampires had to nearly drain a victim dry and then feed them their own vampire blood in order for that to happen.

And vampires could bite without injecting venom. As a matter of fact they very rarely injected venom and killed their quarry because bodies popping up with holes in their necks would cause too many questions. Grange wondered if perhaps Dawn had somehow hurt this Vampire while he’d been biting her and that was why he had injected her with his venom.

Grange brushed his lips against her fevered jaw and whispered her name again. Suddenly her hand shot up and Grange barely had time to recognize the glint of a gun barrel before the boom of a gun shot filled the air and burning pain filled his arm.

So that was how she had gotten away from the vampire.

“Don’t hurt me! Grange will kill you!” Dawn yelled hysterically and then she collapsed against the bed and her blue eyes glazed over before closing.

“Dawn!” Grange shouted with fear. He laid his head on her chest and heard the faint beating of her heart. He was almost out of time. It may be too late already.

Grange closed his eyes and called on the wolf, who was only to happy to try to make an appearance. Grange felt his teeth sharpen, his muscles bulge and his eyes burn as they turned from blue to gold.

He turned her head and rubbed his nose against her right shoulder, which was blood free. He could smell the vampire on her and it enraged both the wolf and the man in him. How dare anyone think they could touch what was his?

He wished he could wash the scent off of her before he marked her but there was no time. Her heart was barely beating. Without wasting another second, Grange bit down on the soft flesh between her neck and shoulder.

The wolf in him fought to come all the way out but Grange held it back and he felt Dawn’s body stiffening beneath him. He forced himself to pull away from her and wiped her blood away from his lips with the back of his arm. Then he used his teeth to slice open the skin of his forearm and he poured his blood between her pale lips.

He was sure his own heart ceased beating as he watched her for signs of recovery. He put his hand to her brow and realized the fever was gone. He smiled but the smile was quickly replaced with a frown when her shivering ceased, her skin became ice cold and her heart beat stilled.

“Dawn….” he whispered, barely able to find his voice through the fear clogging his throat. “Dawn, please….” he grabbed her shoulder and shook her but her neck just flopped loosely, the bite he had inflicted was failing to heal quickly the way it should have.

His shaking became rougher and his yells louder and more desperate. He wasn’t even aware of his actions any longer. There was nothing. Time had ceased. The world had stopped spinning. All he could see was Dawn, his mate, the other half of his soul and every hope for any happiness in his future, lying dead in front of him.

He had been too late. He had been too late to save her. He never should have left her!

A snarl of rage left his mouth, followed by a roaring growl that shook the log walls around him. He stood and strode from the cabin, shifting as he walked.

He breathed in deep and caught the scent of the vampire. He was scared and running from Trig and Nickolai. Grange started off on a northeast trek, knowing that this would allow him to cut the vampire off.

The vampire was responsible for his mates death and Grange would be the one to end the vampires pathetic existence. He would allow it to be no one else.

Grange ran for a long time, his muscles began to ache, his lungs began to burn and still he ran, giving it all he had and sparing nothing. It didn’t matter if his lungs ceased working or his heart exploded. His soul was already dead.

Then he caught sight of the vampire. The vampire was running straight toward him. Grange saw the vampire’s eyes widen and he skidded to a stop when he caught sight him. Grange did not hesitate. He lunged at the vampire, who caught him in the air, and the two of them flew backward through the air.

They crashed into an oak tree, cracking the wood, and sending shockwaves of pain through Grange’s body, though he did not feel them. He tore at the vampire with his teeth, ripping into him with his claws.

Grange heard Nickolai and Trig coming up behind them and he quickly whirled around and snapped at them, letting them know the vampire was his. The two wolves backed down but paced uneasily, ready to jump in and help their alpha if the need arose.

Grange jumped at the vampire, grabbed him by his throat and threw him to the ground. The vampire had lost a lot of blood at this point and it had weakened him greatly. He wasn’t offering much in the way of resistance.

Grange shifted back to his human form and held the clawing vampire down.

“Why did you do it? Why did you choose my mate?” Grange growled. The vampire managed a smile with his bloody mouth, the blood was a mixture of his own and Grange’s.

“Because she was there.” he replied. “All alone in the woods, smelling of dog but with no big bad wolf to protect her. She tasted good.” Grange punched the vampire in the face with everything he had and the vampire hissed with pain as his nose shattered.

“You killed my mate!” Grange screamed, not caring that he sounded hysterical. He heard Trig and Nickolai whimper behind them as they heard the news.

“Yes well you will pleased to hear that your mate shot me twice and got away. Perhaps if you had kept a better eye on her then her death would not have happened.”

Grange saw red and he shifted as he tore into the vampires body, tearing him, quite literally, limb from limb. Grange continued to rip and tear until what the vampire had once been he was no longer.

Finally Grange stepped away from the mess of flesh and blood and sent up a long, lonesome howl before taking off through the forest.

He didn’t know where he was going or what he planned on doing when he got there. He simply ran. His body was bloody and beaten from the vampire. The vampires venom, while not strong enough to kill him, was enough to cause intense pain and Grange could feel it weakening him.

Between the bites, the loss of blood, emotional turmoil and sheer exhaustion from the last few days of running, Grange did not make it far before he found himself collapsing to the ground.

He wanted to give up. He wanted to die. He had failed his mate. He had not kept her safe. Dawn was the one and only for both the wolf and man in him. She had been his light. His hope. Everything he would ever need and now she was gone.

Grange was aware of whimpering around him and noses nudging him. He growled and snapped at Trig’s face causing the pup to yelp and jump back. Nickolai stepped forward, laying his scarred gray head on Grange’s back. When Grange tried to snap at him, Nickolai growled and snapped back.

Grange gave up and slumped down and the other wolves curled up against him, sharing in his grief over the loss of their pack sister. They stayed this way for a long time. No one moving, no one pushing anyone to get up.

It was Grange who finally shoved himself weakly to his feet. His body too tired, too beat down to remain a wolf, shifted back to his human form and Nickolai shifted quickly as well, catching Grange when his weak legs caused him to stumble.

“You’ve lost a lot of blood.” Nickolai stated as he put Grange’s arm around his shoulder and helped support the other man.

“I’ve lost more than just blood.” Grange replied, the sound of his cold, emotion free voice shocking even him.

“Is she really dead?” Trig asked sadly as he went to the other side of Grange and helped to support him.

“Do you think I would lie about something like that?!” Grange snapped. Trig whimpered and they began the long walk back to the cabin.

“The pup meant no harm in asking.” Nickolai scolded and Grange glared over at him.

“Do you realize what I’ve lost?” he asked, his voice breaking. Nickolai’s pale blue eyes grew haunted and he nodded.

“Yes. Yes, I realize exactly what you’ve lost for I have been where you are now.” Grange looked at the other man with surprise.

“I didn’t realize….”

“I don’t let the pain show.” Nickolai replied with a shrug. “You will be okay, Grange. Never again good, but okay.”

Grange just stared straight ahead as he let his pack help his weak body get home. He didn’t believe Nickolai. He didn’t believe that he would ever be ‘okay’ again.

Chapter Ten

Dawn sat bolt upright in the bed and let out a cry of pain. Her body felt as if it had been beaten with a stick. No, not a stick, the entire tree. It felt as if some giant had uprooted the entire tree and then proceeded to beat her with it.

She looked around her surroundings, recognizing Grange’s bedroom from the one other time she had been inside it. She curled her nose. What was that smell? She looked down at herself and saw the sweat, the blood and the embarrassing proof that she had soiled the bed. Her nose began to burn and her eyes began to water.

She had never had a great sense of smell but suddenly every scent was assaulting her. She could even smell the trees and the nearby river. She could smell water? What the hell was going on? How had she gotten here?!

Then she began to hear things. The birds singing, the birds beaks running over their feathers, the squirrels gnawing on nuts and the grass blowing in the breeze.

Grass blowing?!

A fear began clawing at her from inside. She didn’t understand what she was feeling. It was almost as if there was something living inside of her, fighting to get out. Fighting to be free and be in control.

The scents confused her nose, the sounds hurt her ears.

She jumped from the soiled bed and ran to the broken bedroom door. She could smell Grange but he wasn’t here. Wait, why could she smell him? What had happened to her?

She remembered the man, (or whatever he had been), in the woods biting her on the neck. The pain had nearly been unbearable. She had rushed to Granges cabin and she had curled up in Grange’s bed and soon had drifted off into unconsciousness, not able to remember anything else until waking up just a few moments ago.

A fly began buzzing around Dawn’s ear, the sound nearly deafening her, and she swatted at it, before letting out a whine and then covering her mouth quickly with her hands as her eyes widened.

She ran to the corner, pulled her knees into her chest and began rocking back and forth as she wondered what in the hell was wrong with her. Had that creature turned her into something? Where was Grange? Where was the mate! The mate! She needed the mate!

Dawn shook her head to clear the desperate outcry currently filling it. Something was very very wrong.

---

Grange was more asleep than awake as Trig and Nickolai all but carried him through the forest. As they neared the cabin, Trig suddenly jumped away and yipped excitedly.

“Grange! Grange, I smell her! She ain’t dead!” he exclaimed. Then he frowned and his brow creased. “But she does stink to high heaven.”

Grange’s head snapped up, his fatigue momentarily forgotten, as relief and happiness filled his entire being. He could smell her too. She was afraid, and she did indeed stink, but she was very much alive !

He had no idea how she was alive but he wasn’t about to question it. Instead he broke away from Nickolai and Trig and ran into the cabin.

“Dawn!” he called out and he burst into the bedroom to find her sitting in the corner with her hands over her ears.

“Stop yelling!” she exclaimed. “What is wrong with me?” she demanded with tears shining in her eyes. “Everything smells too strong and the noises are hurting my ears!” Grange saw the gold flecks forming in her eyes. That was a trait that not all wolves possessed and he knew she had gotten it from him.

“Dawn, love, do you remember what happened to you?” Grange asked in a whisper so that her ears could adjust to her heightened sense of hearing.

“I can’t think straight.” she replied with a frown. “I need my mate because for some reason my brain won’t shut up about you!” Grange smiled when he realized that it was her wolf calling out for him. He was more than happy to go to her.

He dropped to the floor beside her and pulled her into his lap. She sighed with contentment and nuzzled her face against his neck. His arms tightened around her, too tired, sore and weak for lovemaking, but needing this contact just as much as she had. He had thought he’d lost her, he had lost her, but somehow she had come back.

He could tell that she was still scared but his presence, his touch, seemed to be helping her calm down. He was glad that Trig and Nickolai were keeping their distance and staying outside, though he figured that was probably Nickolai’s doing more so than Trigs.

“Dawn, do you remember anything?” he asked gently as he stroked her damp, stiff hair.

“I remember going for a ride and while I was at the river someone came….” She frowned as she sniffed him. “You are hurt.” she stated, pulling away enough to look at his beaten and bloody body. “What happened to you?!” she demanded.

He saw the gold once again filling her eyes and he kissed her brow to soothe her. It would take her awhile to learn to control the wolf. Wolves were simpler in a lot of ways but they felt their emotions very strongly. When they were angry, they were very angry. When they were sad, they were very sad. When they were worried, they were very worried. Wolves didn’t do anything halfway.

“I’m okay, Dawn. Better than okay actually. Just continue with your story.” he urged. He wanted to scold her for disobeying him and wandering into the woods while he’d been gone but that didn’t seem important now. He didn’t want to fight with her, he just wanted to hold her and to love her.

“I don’t know what he was but he wasn’t human. I wanted to run. I wanted to leave but there was something about his voice when he spoke that held me there. It was almost like I was in a trance. Then he came up behind me and held my arms tight….” Dawn made a face as her stomach growled. “I’m really hungry.” Grange nodded. He reached out and grabbed a blanket off the chest next to them. He covered them both up and then shouted for Nickolai.

“You’re alive!” Trig exclaimed as he entered the room and Grange rolled his eyes.

“Of course I’m alive.” Dawn replied with a frown. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Uh…..” Trig looked at Grange who shook his head.

“What did you need?” Nickolai asked.

“Food. She needs food.” Grange stated and Nickolai nodded.

“We will see what we can do.” he replied as he grabbed Trig by the back of the trousers he had put on and pulled him out of the bedroom.

“Grange, what is wrong with me?” Dawn whispered. “I feel like I’m losing my mind. I don’t understand any of my emotions right now….”

“Dawn, what found you in the woods was a vampire. They have the power to influence your moods and even your actions to a certain degree.”

“No, it couldn’t have been a vampire. It was daylight. The sun was shining.” she argued.

“A strong vampire can come out during the day. Sunlight only hurts the newly changed or the weak.”

“He bit me, Grange!” Dawn stated with a touch of panic. “Is that why I feel so odd? Did he turn me into a vampire?” Grange shook his head and kissed her brow.

“No, my love. He would have had to drain you dry and then make you feed off of him for that to happen.” he assured her. “But his bite sent venom into your blood. When I found you this morning you were barely alive, you had a raging fever and you had been here a while.”

He felt her eyes on his jaw and knew she was thinking.

“Grange, what did you do?” she asked cautiously. He shifted restlessly on the floor beneath her and laid his head on her clean shoulder, the one he had bitten, the one that now held the pale scar that she would carry forever. His mark.

“You were dying, Dawn. There was nothing I could do to save you other than to… To bite you.” Silence followed his admission but Grange was too worried about her reaction to lift his face from her shoulder.

“You bit me?” she whispered.

“I had no choice.” Grange insisted. “You were dying.”

“You bit me and then you left me to wake up alone like this?” she demanded and he could tell that her temper was rising.

“No!” he replied quickly. “I bit you to save your life but your heart stopped beating. I thought you were dead. I thought I had arrived too late to save you. I lost it. I went crazy. I ran out of here and chased down the vampire. I killed him and then I collapsed. I only made it home with the help of Trig and Nickolai.”

“I died?” Dawn asked with shock and Grange nodded.

“Yes.”

“Then why am I alive now?” Grange sighed as he kissed her soft skin.

“I’m not sure. The best I can figure is that your body gave up but my bite brought it back. I just didn’t stick around long enough to realize your heart was going to start beating again. As soon as it stopped, I lost it.”

“So I’m a wolf now? I’m really your mate?”

“You were already really my mate but, yes, you are a wolf now.”

“Well that explains the ears and nose… And you weren’t joking when you said wolves are always hungry.” she added as her stomach growled once again, even more loudly than the first time.

Grange chuckled as he kissed her lips gently and then, as if on cue, Nickolai and Trig reentered the room. Trig had a glass of cool water in his hand and Nickolai had a glass jar of canned pears from the cellar.

“Pears? Really?” Grange grumbled and Dawn smacked his arm.

“I’m hungry! I’d be happy with anything they bring me.” she assured him. She took the jar of pears and the fork that Nickolai offered and Grange took the water.

The men watched with different levels of amusement as Dawn quickly shoveled bite full after bite full of pears into her mouth, The juice was dripping down her chin as she tipped the jar up to get every last swallow.

When Dawn realized they’d been watching her, she blushed and sat the jar down before using the blanket to wipe her face clean.

“Sorry.” she said sheepishly as she snuggled closer to Grange. “I was hungry.”

“Perfectly normal.” Nickolai replied with a tip of his head. “It is just good to see you looking so alive . You gave us quite a scare.”

“Hell yeah you did!” Trig agreed. “I thought about never hearing you jumping my ass for getting on your nerves again and it broke my heart into a million tiny pieces.” Trig was practically shaking with happiness and suddenly it was obvious he couldn’t contain his excitement anymore and he jumped forward and wrapped Dawn in a hug, nearly pulling her off of Grange’s lap in the process.

Strangely enough Dawn wasn’t irritated by the contact, instead she was comforted by it. This was her pack brother. Her family.

“To think that I never would have tasted your cooking again….” Trig whispered in her ear and then everyone turned and stared at Nickolai in shock when his low laugh filled the air.

He frowned and raised his brow at their surprised expressions.

“What?”

“You laughed.” Dawn replied quietly and Nickolai nodded.

“Yes. What he said was funny.” he replied with his usual stern tone. Dawn shook her head as Trig released her and she curled back up to Grange.

“I stink.” she stated, reaching up to plug her nose.

“Yes you do.” Grange agreed and she glared at him.

“Well take me to the river and let me get a bath.” she replied. Dawn wanted to be alone with Grange. She wanted to talk to him about all that had happened. Learn while with him alone what it was like to hear, see and smell as a werewolf. Right now everything seemed so overwhelming. She hoped that he would be able to help her make sense of it all.

She was a wolf now. She could feel the difference. She could sense changes in herself. Her temper was worse for one. She was having a harder time reining in her emotions. And she was hungry. She couldn’t decipher all these scents filling her nose and her entire body hurt. She felt hot even though she was barely clothed.

Was this how Grange felt all the time? She didn’t understand how the man ever appeared to be calm and at ease. She was on edge, though sitting in Grange’s arms like this did give her a sense of peace. He was her mate and she would always be safe with him.

Grange motioned to Trig and Nickolai and the two men quickly left the room, closing the broken door the best they could behind them.

“When did you break the door?” Dawn asked.

“When I arrived home the first time and smelled you bloody and scared. I was in wolf form so I couldn’t just open it.” Grange stood, lifting Dawn with him and setting her on her feet, though he kept his hands on her hips, helping to hold her up.

“Are your legs okay to stand?” he asked gently. She tested her weight on them and nodded.

“Yes.” she replied, with more certainty than what she felt. She looked him over and gasped when she saw the deep claw marks across his chest and the bite marks on his arms. There was also a hole in his arm that looked suspiciously like a gunshot wound.

“Grange, you’re spending all this time worrying about me but what about you? Are you okay?” She demanded as she put her hands on her hips. Grange smiled. Dawn had been through hell and back in the last twenty-four hours and yet she was still Dawn. Still telling him what for and letting him know what she thought with those tiny hands on those round hips.

“I’ll be just fine, Dawn. That vampire just took a few chunks out of me is all.”

“And that?” Dawn asked as she pointed at the hole in his arm. It looked as if it was trying to heal but it was still bloody and painful looking. Grange rubbed at the back of his neck and then scratched at his thick dark hair.

“You thought I was going to hurt you. You were delirious with fever.” Grange replied and Dawn’s eyes widened with horror.

“I shot you?!” She gasped and Grange nodded slowly. Dawn felt something inside of her panicking at the thought. She couldn’t explain why she was suddenly trying to rub against his wounds in an attempt to soothe the pain. Grange growled and pulled away from her.

“Stop rubbing all over me.” he said firmly. “I’m not in any shape for that and neither are you.”

“I was just trying to help you feel better.” Dawn replied and Grange shook his head.

“I told you I’ll be fine. I’ve healed quite a bit already.”

Dawn nodded and watched him gather two clean outfits from his dresser. Two pairs of buckskin pants and two black tunics. He also grabbed a belt from the dresser and a bar of soap and some rags.

“Let’s go.” he said as he took her hand.

“You aren’t going to get dressed first?” she asked and he shook his head.

“What would be the point?” Dawn had no answer for that and so she let him lead her out of the cabin and through the woods to the river.

“I had no idea this was here.” Dawn gasped as she looked at the deep wading pool. Grange grinned. “This is actually the reason I chose this spot for my cabin.” he replied. He laid their clothes on a rock before helping her slide from her thin, soiled chemise.

Grange led her gently into the water and Dawn shivered as the cool water hit her heated skin.

“Grange, why am I so hot?” she inquired after dunking her head under once and soaking her long red/gold hair.

Grange began soaping one of the rags he had brought with him and then began to cleanse the blood and sweat from her skin. The water was just above his waist and nearly to her breasts. Grange could feel his passion and desire rising but now was not the time so he fought to swallow it back down.

“You are hot because wolves are hot. I’m not certain as to why that is.” he replied honestly. Dawn sighed with contentment as his hands washed away the filthy reminders of the last day and night.

She smiled when he moved behind her and she leaned into him, allowing his long arms to snake around her and his big hands to stroke her breasts and swirl the rag around her stomach before sinking lower to the junction between her thighs and then working his way back up.

Dawn felt her body coming alive. His every touch was intensified and she felt them all deep down in her blood. Every stroke of his calloused fingers made the fire grow brighter and more red hot.

She could smell his desire for her as well. He wanted her just as badly as she wanted him and out here in the water in the woods her senses were easier to handle. She could focus them all on Grange with no distractions.

“Dawn, I’m sorry for the way things turned out.” Grange whispered, his breath washing over her neck in the same spot as the vampire had bitten. “I should have been here to protect you. I should have never let harm come to you.”

“It wasn’t your fault, Grange. I shouldn’t have gone into the woods when you told me not to.” Dawn replied, sinking further against him and feeling his desire for her pressing against her low back.

“Still, I wanted to mark you while we made love. I wanted to hold your body close to mine, feel myself inside of you as close as we could get and then make you my mate in every way.” Dawn felt one of his hands move up to her shoulder and she looked down to see his fingers brushing against the pale scar that he had left there.

“Things don’t always go how we plan.” she replied breathlessly. “All that matters is that we are both alive, both together and I am finally your mate in every way.”

Grange growled and turned her in his arms. He kissed her, meaning to keep it gentle, but quickly falling over the edge and becoming hungry and heated.

Dawn had never felt anything like this. She’d had no idea that being a wolf would mean she ‘felt’ things more intensely but she did. She had no idea how Grange had managed to control himself so well during that month they’d been so close to one another but hadn’t actually been together.

She now perfectly understood his intense gazes, the tension in his jaw, the way he had quickly jerked away anytime they had brushed up together.

It was as if every nerve ending in her body had been sleeping up until this moment and was just now coming to life under his expert hands and kisses.

She had loved Grange before, but now? Now it was deeper. It was more. Suddenly she understood exactly why he had lost it at the thought of her being dead. If she lost him it would kill her. He was as essential to her existence as air.

He lifted her up and her legs went instantly around his waist. Dawn cried out when she felt him enter her and then he carried her to the bank and laid her down gently without breaking the contact between their bodies.

Dawn felt the wolf in her coming alive as Grange began to move. She wanted it to be harder, faster more intense. She wanted to bite and scratch and let every ounce of her passion loose.

Grange could tell what Dawn wanted and his wolf wanted it too but Grange knew it couldn’t be that way. Dawn’s body had been through too much. Dawn’s body needed slow, gentle loving.

Grange hissed as a delicious kind of pain coursed through him when Dawn sank her teeth into his shoulder. She seemed surprised by her own action as she pulled away but then her eyes flashed with gold and she tried to thrust herself against him.

Grange knew her wolf was taking over and so he growled sharply and instantly her eyes became blue. The alpha had spoken and her wolf had backed down.

Grange made love to her long and slow, loving the way she clung to him and moaned his name. He waited until he felt her stiffening and moaning against him before he too let himself fall over the edge.

“I bit you.” Dawn whispered as they lay together, breathing hard on the grassy bank.

“Yes you did.” Grange replied. He traced the pale scar on his shoulder and smiled. “I knew you would. Your wolf had to mark me. Let all the other female wolves know that I am taken.”

Dawn smiled and snuggled closer.

“I could feel the wolf trying to take over… She would have if you hadn’t growled when you did.”

“You’ll learn to control it, Dawn. It just takes time.” he assured her.

“You’ll help me, right?” she asked quietly and Grange smiled as he pulled her closer.

“Never again will we be apart, Dawn. You face nothing in this life alone from this moment on.”

Chapter Eleven

“Grange, I believe those clothes are swallowing that woman whole.” Nickolai stated with amusement. Grange chuckled as he looked at Dawn. The sleeves of the black tunic he had given her to wear only came to his elbows when he wore it but they hung down to her wrists. The shirt itself hung nearly to her knees and while Grange had folded the legs of the buckskin pants a good ten times and still they were too long for her petite legs.

“I like them.” Dawn replied honestly as she buried her nose against the shoulder of her shirt. “It smells like Grange.”

“That’s just because he never does laundry.” Trig replied with a grin. Dawn wrinkled her nose as she smelled something so sickeningly sweet that it made her stomach turn.

“What is that smell?” she gasped. “I smelled it earlier but didn’t know what it was then either.”

“Sickly sweet?” Grange asked as he stood behind her with his arms wrapped tight around her waist.

“Yes.” Dawn replied, snuggling deeper into his chest. Grange kissed her hair and Dawn was sure she saw a flash of pain pass over Nickolai’s face as he watched them and then he turned away.

“I will go clean up any mess that was left before someone else finds it.” he stated and then he took off at a fast clip into the woods.

“Trig, why don’t you go inside and get rid of that dress Dawn was wearing. I’m sure that’s what she’s smelling.” Grange said and Trig nodded and went into the cabin.

“Is the vampire what I’m smelling?” Dawn asked and Grange nodded.

“They stink. Sickly sweet.”

“All of them smell like that?”

“Yes. They each have individual scents as well but if you smell sickly sweet it usually means there is a vampire around.” Grange released his hold on her and kissed her hair.

“Where are you going?” she asked as he started to walk away.

“The barn. I have to feed the animals.” Dawn felt an overwhelming sense of panic and sadness fill her at the thought of being apart from Grange for even a moment. She couldn’t explain it but she suddenly found her legs running to catch up with him and her arm snaked through his and clung tightly to him.

“What are you doing?” he asked with amusement as he raised his brow and looked down at her. Dawn blushed and pulled her arm away, though she didn’t leave his side.

“I don’t want to be apart from you.”

“Now do you see how hard those two days were on me when you needed space?”

“You felt that the whole time?” Dawn whispered with shock and Grange nodded.

“I have been feeling that every second that you and I haven’t been together since I met you.”

“How on earth do you deal with it?” Grange smiled and kissed her hair.

“You will get better at ignoring and dealing with the wolf’s emotions, though they will always be there.” he assured her. Dawn had her doubts but for now she would just take his word for it. He had a lot more experience than she did when it came to being a werewolf.

Dawn helped Grange feed the horses and few cows that he had, taking in all the new scents that she had never before noticed. As they left the barn a breeze kicked up and Dawn’s mouth began to water and her stomach rumbled when the scent of baking ham reached her nose.

“Who’s cooking ham?” She asked, blushing when she realized there was drool on her lip. She quickly wiped it away with the back of her hand as Trig came out of the cabin.

“Nickolai put it in before he brought you your pears earlier today. It seems he’s a regular old chef in the kitchen. Who would have thought that?” he asked as he put his arm over Dawn’s shoulders and grinned.

Nickolai came racing back to the cabin then and Dawn could smell his uneasiness. She felt Trig’s arm stiffen and she could sense Grange’s tension.

“What is it?” Grange growled.

“The body was discovered before I got there. They are forming yet another ‘monster’ hunting party as we speak. I believe they were going to come out and recruit you as well.”

Grange growled and shook his head. He had been careless tearing that body apart that way so close to his own home. He would have no choice but to help them search for the ‘monster’ since they would be suspicious if he did not.

Grange ushered Dawn, Trig and Nickolai into the house and the four of them quickly ate heaping plates of ham and bread. They were just finishing their meal when they heard the mob of men and horses approaching.

“Dawn, stay.” Grange ordered. “Trig, stay with her.”

“I want to be with you.” Dawn countered and Grange shook his head.

“There will be too much anger and panic in the air. I don’t want you around all of that just yet.”

“She’ll be fine.” Trig promised as he ruffled Dawn’s hair. A growl escaped Dawn’s lips and she quickly covered her mouth with her hand and rolled her eyes.

“Great, now I sound like you.” she grumbled, shooting an accusing glance in Grange’s direction. Grange gave her that lopsided grin that still managed to make her heart stutter.

“I love you.” he said before giving her nose a quick kiss and then walking outside with Nickolai following close behind.

Dawn could feel the wolf’s uneasiness as it smelled and heard all the men gathering outside. She could hear them telling Grange about the mutilated body and her eyes widened when she heard just how the body had been ripped apart. Trig saw her horror and he shrugged.

“In Grange’s defense, he did think that the vampire had killed you.” he stated as if that was all the excuse needed for ripping someone limb from limb.

“That monster is back, Grange, and he’s close to your cabin. Did you hear anything? The body was killed recently.” Dawn recognized the sheriff’s voice.

“No, I heard nothing. I just recently returned home from my two day trip.” Grange replied.

“We heard a horrible howling, growling and screaming and that alerted us. Are you sure you saw nothing?” the sheriff asked with just a bit of suspicion in his voice. Dawn pulled back the corner of the curtain just in time to see Grange shrug, though he said nothing else.

“Grange, Dawn is missing.” George, the stable hand, said nervously as he stepped forward and rung his hat in his hands. “She borrowed a horse from the livery yesterday morning and never did come back.”

“He didn’t let us know until this morning that she had gone.” Henry spoke up as he glared over at George. “It wasn’t her body.” he added hastily to Grange. Grange nodded.

“I know it wasn’t. She is inside.” he stated matter of factly. Dawn winced. Now that Gladys’s husband knew she had stayed the night at Grange’s once again, Dawn would be completely shunned from society, not just the church house.

“Well let’s go then men. We’ll see if we can find and follow any tracks this time. I want this monster found, killed and done away with. I want his head staked out front of the jailhouse so that the people in and around my town can finally sleep in peace at night when they lay down their heads.” the sheriff said loudly and cries of agreement went up in the air.

Dawn saw Grange glance back at her and she was fairly certain she saw nervousness in her eyes. She could feel the wolf in her fighting for dominance. It wanted to run and flee away from the mob of angry men.

Trig glanced at her and saw the gold flecks in her eyes, the paleness in her cheeks and the way her knuckles were turning white as she clutched at the curtain.

He saw that the mob of men were nearly out of sight and he put his hand on Dawn’s shoulder only to have her turn and snap at him. Trig lowered his head in submission and whined quietly. Dawn’s eyes widened as she covered her gaping mouth with her hand.

“I just tried to bite you!” she exclaimed with horror and Trig nodded.

“I should have known better than to touch the alpha without permission.” he replied apologetically. Dawn shook her head and rolled her eyes.

“I’m not the alpha . I’m still Dawn. And you are Trig. And you are as annoying as a case of head lice but I still shouldn’t bite you!” Trig’s tongue lolled out and he tilted his head with a grin.

“Head lice?” he asked with a chuckle. “I love it when you talk mean to me.” Trig was happy to see her smile. She was shockingly good at controlling the wolf so soon after being changed. It took most freshly changed wolves days or even weeks to simply be able to have a normal conversation but Dawn seemed to be handling things like a veteran.

“You oughta go clean the kitchen up, Dawn. It will give you something to do.” he said matter of factly. He knew that he needed to keep her busy, keep her mind on things other than Grange, the dead body and the angry mob of rioting townsfolk.

“I don’t think you’re suppose to boss around your alpha.” Dawn scolded with a smile and Trig surprised her by hugging her tight and kissing her cheek.

“Yes, but you’re just Dawn.” he reminded her.

---

Grange paced the perimeter of the group of men as they examined the tracks around the mutilated body of the vampire. The blood in the air was driving his wolf insane. The blood thirst was nearly more than even Grange could stand as his wolf recognized the scent of the vampire who had harmed his mate.

“There’s more than one of those damn things!” a man yelled and Grange saw them studying Trig and Nickolai’s tracks. Grange was uneasy and on edge. He had no idea what the men would find when they followed these tracks.

Grange had not been in the right frame of mind after killing the vampire. He hadn’t bothered to hide his trail or worry about leaving tracks for someone to follow.

And they had changed to men and finished their walk to the cabin on foot. Did they leave tracks and evidence of that as well? It was very possible that Grange would have to kill to protect his pack today. He had always considered this town and the people in it to be his pack. He had often vowed that he would die, if necessary, to defend them. But looking at them now he realized he had simply been running from what he really was and using these townspeople as a fill in for the wolf pack he was meant to have.

In order to protect his mate and his pack brothers he would do what must be done. If that meant that some of these men had to die in order to get his pack safely away then that is what would happen.

“No point thinking the thoughts you’re thinking until it comes to that.” Nickolai said quietly as he walked up beside Grange. Grange just growled in response and continued to pace.

“I believe they went this way after they murdered him.” the sheriff stated and Grange knew he was following his own bloody prints away from the body.

They all started off through the forest, following the trail, and Grange noticed that everyone seemed to be avoiding him. Even Henry, who normally talked Grange’s ears off was keeping his distance today.

“You should be glad they can sense your bad mood and are staying away. Your eyes are more gold than they are blue right now. You need to get control.” Nickolai warned and Grange glared at him.

“Who is the alpha in this pack?” he questioned and Nickolai raised a brow with amusement.

“You, of course.” he admitted graciously. “However even the great need a little help from time to time. Or so I‘ve heard. I have never been one of the great.” Grange ran his hand over his face roughly and let out a long breath.

“I should have been more careful, Nickolai. This trail might just lead them straight to wolf tracks that become human tracks and then lead straight back to my home. To my mate. If these men become a wild mob of monster killers that swarm my home, Dawn will lose control.”

“Dawn will be fine.” Nickolai countered. “The same cannot be said for these men however if they should choose to attempt to harm her.”

Grange nodded. It was nice to know that he and Nickolai were on the same page about what must be done if these men got too close to discovering the truth.

---

“Grange!” Dawn exclaimed with relief when his scent filled her senses. She threw open the door and ran outside into the rain that was pouring down by the bucket fulls.

She jumped into his arms and he held her tight against his rain soaked chest as the cool droplets quickly drenched her own clothes and plastered her hair to the skin of her neck and face.

“You’re okay.” she whispered against the heated skin of his neck.

“Of course I am.” he assured her. Dawn pulled away and smacked his arm.

“Don’t leave me behind again. I can’t handle sitting here worrying about you.”

“She’s lying, Grange. She actually handles herself quite well. Better than any other newly changed wolf I’ve ever seen.” Trig spoke up. Grange smiled proudly down at Dawn who blushed and wiped rain from her cheeks, though the droplets were quickly replaced by newly fallen ones.

“Let’s get in out of the rain.” Grange urged as he guided Dawn to the door.

“What happened out there?” she asked as they stepped into the house. She laughed when Nickolai stepped inside and then shook out much like a dog shaking out his fur when he got wet.

“We were worried for a while but then the rain started and washed away all the tracks before the men had managed to follow them to where we shifted back to human form. It really was quite a lucky break to tell you the truth.” Nickolai said as he stood with his back against the wall and his arms crossed over his chest.

“When can I shift?” Dawn asked with a hopeful smile. She was eager to let the wolf free and it was eager to be let free. Grange shook his head.

“Not yet. Give yourself time to get used to handling the wolf while you’re in human form before you try shifting. When you shift it is much harder to keep any control over the wolf.” he said. Dawn pouted and he sighed.

“Give it two weeks. Two weeks to adjust and then we will take you to a safe place for your first shift. Will you do that?” Dawn looked at the three men around her. Grange, calm and understanding. Nickolai, stoic and emotionless against the wall and Trig, grinning like a fool and shoving leftover biscuits into his mouth.

Dawn sighed with defeat.

“Okay. Two weeks.”

Chapter Twelve

“I have discovered a very serious problem with being a werewolf and running a bakery.” Dawn said with a defeated sigh as she slumped down on a stool in her bakery kitchen three days later.

This was the first day that Grange had allowed her to come into town. He had wanted to give her time to adjust to being a wolf before bringing her around all the new scents that town would offer.

Dawn was honest enough to admit that at first town had been a sensory overload but truly she hadn’t felt as if she was going to lose control. Grange had let her know that most newly changed wolves struggled when changed and that sometimes innocent people paid the price for their missteps so Dawn understood his hesitation but had finally convinced him that she was not worried about losing control herself.

Trig and Nickolai had helped, both saying that she was handling the change much better than any other werewolf they had seen. She knew that Grange loved her and just worried about harm coming to her if anyone discovered what she now was and so she hadn’t been angry at Grange for his own hesitation.

“What problem is that?” Trig asked around a mouth full of freshly baked cookies. She and he were alone in the bakery. Nickolai had gone on patrol and Grange was at the sawmill cutting up firewood for the townsfolk who had been complaining that they were running low.

“Between you and I, we are eating more than we’re baking!”

“Is that apple crisp I smell?” Trig asked with a hopeful smile and Dawn nodded.

“Yes but it’s not yours. It’s for a customers order.” Trig stuck his tongue out at her and then grabbed another handful of cookies. At the rate they were both eating Dawn would be completely out of inventory by the end of the day, or quite possibly by lunch.

“You are an evil alpha.” Trig grumbled with a smile. Dawn was about to reply when the bell on the door chimed and she quickly walked out into the sale room to find Henry peering through the glass display cases.

“Good morning, Henry.” she said brightly. “How are you?” The old man smiled as he stood up straight and placed his hands on his low back.

“It gets harder and harder to move everyday.” he stated with a wince. “I’m craving some of them there chocolate cocoa cookies you make.” he added as he pointed at the cookies under the glass. Dawn smiled warmly.

“Of course.” she replied, knowing they were his favorite. She cut a square of brown paper off the roll and selected six cookies from under the glass. She carefully placed them on the paper and then wrapped them up before tying them with white twine.

“I sure did miss having my cookies the last few days.” Henry stated as he rummaged through his pockets for money. Dawn nodded.

“I missed baking them for you.” she replied.

“Are you feeling better after your sick spell? I wish you would let the doctor look at you. Though I must say that you don’t look like you’ve been sick.” Dawn tipped her head.

“Thank you. Actually I’m feeling much better. Grange took very good care of me while I was ill.”

“You’ve been staying there with him… Now I know it ain’t none of my business and, darling, trust me when I tell you that I’m not judging you none because I like you and Grange both real good, but other folks ‘round here aren’t so open minded. There’s some that are starting to wonder what an unmarried woman is doing out there living alone with a man.”

Dawn just smiled and took the money from his hand before placing it safely away in the cash register.

“It’s sweet that you worry, Henry, but I know what I’m doing.” she replied. Henry just nodded and picked up his package of cookies.

“Don’t take my question the wrong way, Dawn. I am very fond of both you and Grange.” Henry assured her. Dawn nodded.

“Of course.” Henry offered her one last smile, waved at Trig who had stepped into the kitchen doorway to watch the conversation between he and Dawn and then quickly left the bakery with his treasured cookies under his arm.

Dawn frowned when Trig quickly excused himself as well. It wasn’t often the hyperactive pup left her alone. Then again, technically Dawn was the pup now.

She smiled as she walked back into the kitchen to check the apple crisp.

---

Grange stood straight, leaned the axe against the building and swiped his arm across his sweat covered brow. He breathed deep and took comfort in Dawn’s scent mingling on the breeze with the scent of cookies, cakes and pastries.

He had been uneasy about bringing her into town but he was beginning to believe that his fears had been unnecessary. Dawn seemed to be handling the wolf extremely well. Grange was as proud of her as a mate could be.

He loved her. He ran his hand through his thick hair and pictured her smile only snapping out of his daze when he heard a throat clear behind him. His nostrils flared and he recognized Henry’s scent.

“Hey there, Grange.” The old man said and Grange turned to see him standing there with a wrapped brown package, that Grange could tell were the chocolate cookies that he always had Dawn make for him.

“Good morning, Henry.” Grange replied, grabbing his canteen from the stump next to him and downing a long drink. “Those wouldn’t be chocolate cookies would they?” he added with a smile as he sat the canteen down.

“Yes they would.” Henry replied with a grin. “And no you can’t have any.” he added, gripping the package a little tighter.

“So what brings you back here today?” Grange asked as he hefted up his axe and laid the heavy hunk of wood and metal over his shoulder. Henry shifted his feet uncomfortably and his eyes went down to the dirt at Grange’s feet.

“I just wanted to have a man to man talk with you about Dawn.” Grange stood there with his legs spread wide and the axe slung almost carelessly over his shoulder. He ran his free hand through his thick black hair and nodded.

“What about her?” he asked though he was sure he already knew what was coming. While Dawn was Grange’s mate and his life would essentially end without her, to the townsfolk he was soiling, or had soiled, an innocent woman by keeping her at his home without the legality of marriage.

“Gladys is on a rampage.” Henry admitted. Grange frowned.

“The sheriff’s wife? Why would she be on a rampage and what does that have to do with Dawn?” he asked, knowing that Gladys was a nosy busybody who knew nothing about minding her own business.

“She is hell bent on closing down Dawn’s bakery and sending the ‘trash’ to the brothel.” Henry held up his hands when Grange stepped forward with an angry growl.

“Those are her words, Grange, not mine.” he assured the bigger man. “I just wanted you to be aware of the fact that she’s sinking her teeth and digging her claws into what she considers to be a scandal in ‘her’ town.”

Grange shook his head and his knuckles whitened as his hand tensed on the axe handle.

“What is her plan exactly?” he ground out between his clenched teeth.

“She had all the ladies in town who would, sign a petition to have Dawn’s bakery closed down and she’s going to deliver it to her when she gets the amount of signatures she wants. She plans on bullying that poor girl right out of town.”

“Why?” Grange growled, though he already knew.

“You know the answer to that.” Henry sighed with a tilt of his head. Grange looked around Henry and toward main street, though he couldn’t see Dawn’s bakery from here. Gladys had always hated Grange. She didn’t trust him, didn’t like him. Grange supposed it was because she suspected something was off about him and she just assumed that meant he was bad. But now she had her sights set on his mate because of Dawn’s relationship with him and as far as Grange was concerned that was going too far.

Grange knew what he had to do. While his wolf instincts and emotions saw Dawn as something so much more meaningful than simply a ‘wife’, he would have to make her his wife in order to take away Gladys’s ammunition. Once Dawn and Grange were legally married, Gladys wouldn’t be able to do anything other than blow some smoke, which everyone in town was accustomed to her doing anyway.

“I’ll take care of things, Henry. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.” he said as he removed the axe from his shoulder and walked back over to the logs he was chopping.

“Grange, you need to marry that girl. It ain’t proper to have her living out there with you. You’re ruining her reputation….” Grange turned and fixed Henry with the icy glare of an alpha that meant business and Henry didn’t have to be a wolf to know that it was time to be quiet and just walk away.

“I just wanted to let you know, Grange.” he stated apologetically and then he walked away as quickly as his old legs would allow.

Grange growled and swung the axe with enough force to split the long in half and then lodge the blade deep into the stump the log had been sitting on.

“Grange, you need to marry Dawn.” Grange felt his shoulders tense when he heard Trig’s voice behind him.

“That has nothing to do with you.” Grange warned as he turned. Trig nodded and stood his ground though his eyes were focused on Grange’s chest instead of in his eyes.

“It affects the pack so it affects me.” he countered. “There are those that don’t approve of an unmarried woman staying with an unmarried man and that could cause unneeded stress and trouble for Dawn. Marrying her would put a stop to that.” Trig looked up and saw the intensity of Grange’s face and it caused him to take a step back and cough lightly. “But then again I could be wrong. That has been known to happen from time to time.”

Grange found himself chuckling with amusement and nodded.

“I have a feeling that it happens more often than not.” he replied and Trig grinned and flopped his head to the side.

“Yeah probably.” he replied. “It’s just that that Henry guy came in and talked to Dawn. He was real polite and she managed it fine but….”

“Someone else might just push her too far and cause her to lose control.” Grange finished for him. “I’ll go talk to her right now so she’s prepared.”

“I’ll go with you,” Trig agreed and Grange shook his head.

“Why don’t you work on getting that axe out of that stump.” he replied. Trig sighed and nodded with defeat. Grange walked away but paused and glanced over his shoulder just as Trig gave a hard yank on the axe handle, his hands slid off and he went tumbling to his backside in the dirt.

At the sound of Grange’s loud laugh, Trig jumped to his feet and turned red with embarrassment as he brushed the dirt off the back of his pants.

Grange was still shaking his head with amusement as he turned onto main street but that amusement quickly faded when he heard the loud, angry voices coming from the bakery.

---

“You are a trollop and trollops belong at the brothel! You shouldn’t even show your face on our streets in the daylight!” Gladys exclaimed and her two friends Tracy and Berdine, nodded in agreement as they clutched their closed parasols in their hands.

“Excuse me?!” Dawn yelled as her temper snapped. For the last ten minutes Gladys had been in here insulting her. Calling her a whore, accusing her of bedding half the town, and Dawn had been taking the insults with a grain of salt and laughing them off but now her good nature had been worn down and she was ready for Gladys to shut up and be gone.

“You heard me, Dawn. Did you really think that us ladies wouldn’t have a problem with you and your loose ways?”

Dawn could feel the anger building. The wolf wanted to be let out to deal with the annoyance. There was a fire building in Dawn’s gut. Her breathing was erratic and a pain was beginning to spread throughout her arms and legs. Her head was swimming and her eyes were having trouble focusing on Gladys’s pointed nose.

“Is she okay?” Tracy whispered and Berdine shook her troll sized head when a low growl escaped Dawn’s throat.

“She doesn’t seem okay.” she admitted. Gladys took a hesitant step forward as Dawn clutched the edge of the counter with shaking hands and tried to breath through her nose to stop what was happening.

“D..Dawn? Are you quite alright?” Gladys whispered. Before Dawn could answer the door was thrown open with enough force to break the cord attached to the bell at the top.

Grange quickly took in the scene and knew that Dawn was about to shift. He could smell it in the air along with her anger and her hurt over these women being here. Grange quickly crossed the bakery in several long strides, went around the counter and took Dawn in his arms, wrapping her up in a tight embrace before turning to glare at the three trembling ‘ladies’ with a greater contempt and hatred than he had ever felt for mere humans before in his life.

“Get out.” he managed to growl out and Gladys, Tracy and Berdine wasted no time in doing just that, seeming almost happy to do just as he commanded them.

Once they were alone, Grange kissed Dawn’s hair soothingly and rubbed his hands down her back.

“I’m here now. It’s okay.” he whispered comfortingly. He felt her trembling against him but slowly and surely her breathing evened out and then she began to cry against his shirt.

“I was going to kill her, Grange. I was going to kill them all and I couldn’t stop it…” she sobbed quietly and Grange kissed her hair again and tightened his hold on her.

“It happens to all of us from time to time.” he soothed her. “That is what the pack is for. To help keep us all in check.”

“I didn’t know it would hurt so badly when the wolf tried to come out… It felt like my body was being torn apart. I couldn’t even breath!”

“There is always some pain but it isn’t normally severe. The reason it hurt so badly was because you were trying to fight against it. Your body was literally at war with itself and that caused the intense pain.”

Grange was fighting his own war within himself. What he wanted to do was go wring that good for nothing, judgmental, busy bodies neck but he knew that that would do more harm than good and solve nothing.

“You should have heard the things she called me.” Dawn stated as she pulled away and wiped her face with a sniff. “On second thought, it’s probably a good thing you weren’t here.” she amended and Grange silently agreed. Dawn shifted her feet restlessly and Grange knew what she needed.

“Let’s go outside and get some fresh air.” he urged as he ushered her toward the door. They stepped out into the sunshine and he could sense the peace that came over her as she took in all the fresh air but that peace was short lived when suddenly Gladys Bishop came waddling back toward the bakery.

“Gladys, it’s not a good time.” Grange said as politely as he could manage. He glanced toward the sawmill and saw Trig jogging toward them.

“I won’t take up much of your time at all.” Gladys replied bravely. Grange knew that her bravery stemmed from the fact that she was the sheriff’s wife. Most people would never mess with a woman of her ranking and yet Grange wasn’t most men and he wasn’t above punching her hefty jaw and forcing her to swallow that wagging tongue.

“What do you want?” Dawn asked quietly as she snuggled into Granges’ arms. Public displays of affection weren’t considered very proper but the wolf in her didn’t care. She simply wanted to be comforted by the touch of her mate.

“To give you this.” Gladys stated as she held out a piece of paper. “It is a petition signed by the ladies of the church insisting that your bakery be shut down. We do not want a woman with such low moral values running a business that serves families.”

Dawn nearly erupted with rage but Grange’s arm tightening on her shoulders kept her quiet. Grange smiled at Gladys, though the sight was more menacing than it was good natured.

“We won’t be needing that petition.” he assured the woman. He turned to Dawn and smoothed her hair from her face. “Let’s go get married.” he stated.

“What?” Dawn whispered as her jaw dropped. Marriage was something she had never thought would happen to her and while what she and Grange shared was deeper than any marriage vow, marriage still seemed like a big step… A step she had never thought she’d take with anyone.

“Marry me, Dawn. I know you love me and you know how much I love and need you. You are my soul mate, might as well become my wife.”

“Pretty it up a little.” Trig urged with a nudge of his elbow after several seconds of silence. Grange glared at him before turning back to Dawn and waiting for her answer.

“Uh.. Yes.” Dawn finally managed to stammer. “Yes, I’ll marry you.” Grange smiled broadly and then lifted her up into his arms, cradling her against his chest.

“If you’ll excuse us, ma’am, we have to go get ourselves hitched.” he said with a wink in Gladys’s direction. Gladys stuttered and her mouth worked up and down but no words formed. Grange leaned toward Trig and winked again.

“Some of us are good enough to get the job done without all the pretty words.” he said and Trig laughed loudly as Grange carried Dawn away.

Trig walked over to Gladys who was staring at Grange’s back and looking very befuddled. Trig grabbed the paper from her shocked hands and smiled as he tore it in half.

“I don’t think you’ll be needing this anymore.”

---

“My first night here as your wife.” Dawn said with a smile as she walked into the cabin that evening. Grange smiled as he leaned against the wall.

“I have to go patrol for an hour or two. Trig is coming with me. Nickolai will stay around here with you.”

“Are you sure you have to go?” Dawn asked with a bit of a whine and Grange nodded.

“I’m sure.” he replied. His wolf desperately needed to be let out and as the alpha he needed to patrol regularly and ensure his scent was strong. “It won’t take long.” he promised. Dawn nodded and shrugged her shoulders.

“I guess I’ll cook something for dinner while you’re gone.”

“That sounds like the best idea I’ve ever heard.” Trig stated with a grin as he came loping into the cabin.

“You’re the only couple I’ve ever seen that get married and then go back to work afterward.” Nickolai added as he stepped in as well.

“I had things to bake.” Dawn replied with a laugh and Grange nodded.

“And I had wood to finish cutting.” he agreed. He caught Dawn’s eye and the hunger in his gaze had her trembling. She knew what his plans were for her once the sun went down and she was more than willing to give him exactly what he wanted.

Her husband. Her mate. The man she knew she would love for the rest of her life.

Grange turned and left the cabin without saying a word and Trig followed quickly after him.

“Nickolai, are you okay?’ Dawn asked as she began to peel potatoes at the counter. She had noticed that he had seemed down and sad since returning to town and being whisked to the church by a bouncing Trig. Grange and Dawn had simply been joined together in a fast, simple ceremony with the preacher, Trig, Nickolai and Henry. No fuss, no big celebration. It wasn’t needed.

Dawn and Grange were so much more than husband and wife that getting married had simply been for society’s sake.

“Of course.” Nickolai assured her. “Did Grange ever speak to you about my mate?” Dawn stared at him with shock.

“No…. You have a mate? Where is she?” Nickolai stepped forward and began to help with the potato peeling. His light blue eyes were full of so much sadness that Dawn found her own heart hurting.

“She is gone. She was killed.” Dawn dropped her knife and threw her arms around Nickolai’s neck. The stern soldier stiffened at first but then he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her in return. Dawn held him a long time. There was nothing romantic in the gesture. Simply one pack member giving comfort to another.

“What happened?” Dawn asked gently as she pulled away. Nickolai went back to peeling potatoes and focused on those as he spoke.

“She was the daughter of the alpha of my pack. I was changed at a very young age by a rogue wolf and was found by the alpha of the pack shortly after. He took me in, he trained me to be a soldier. A warrior to keep the pack safe. Brie was so beautiful and gentle. The complete opposite of me. There was an attack, I was busy fending it off and someone snuck through and into our pack house. Brie was alone in our room, the young wolf that was supposed to be guarding her during the attack had been too tempted to join the fray and had left her unguarded….”

“Nickolai, I had no idea… I’m so sorry. Did you find her?” Nickolai shook his head.

“No. I was still cleaning up the mess when the alpha found me. He told me that his daughter, my mate, was dead. I had roughly the same reaction that Grange had when he thought you had died. I found the young wolf who had abandoned her and I ripped him limb from limb before leaving the territory and never going back. I wouldn’t have been welcomed after killing a pack brother and I couldn’t have continued my life there around her father and her scent without having my Brie.”

“Can you find another mate? Since yours…..” Nickolai’s eyes were angry as he fixed her with a glare. Dawn found herself lowering her gaze and taking a step back despite knowing that she was the alpha.

“There is only ever one mate. I could have other women, perhaps fall in love, since I am no longer tied to Brie, but I am not interested. No bond I form could be as strong or as intense.”

“I didn’t mean to make you upset.” Dawn admitted and Nickolai shook his head.

“I overreacted.” he replied, his face once again becoming a mask of stoic self-control.

“How old are you, Nickolai?” Dawn asked as she began to cut the peeled potatoes.

“One hundred.” he replied. “I was fifteen when I was changed and twenty when my old alpha brought his daughter to live with him. My Brie and I had five years together before she was killed.”

“And you wandered for seventy-five years before coming here?!” Dawn exclaimed, wondering just how lonely that must have been.

“Yes.” Nickolai replied with a shrug. “I could have found another pack sooner but I was angry and hated everything and everyone for a long time. I am better now.”

“That’s good to know.” Dawn replied and she saw the ghost of a smile on Nickolai’s lips. She wondered what kind of man he had been before being changed. Before he’d been turned into a warrior.

“Word of warning to you, though.” Nickolai stated and Dawn frowned. “Do not back down to anyone the way you did to me. I will never take advantage of such a show of weakness because I genuinely care for you but other wolves and supernatural creatures would not be as kind as me.” Dawn fought the urge to pout at being scolded but knew that Nickolai was being truthful and trying to help.

“Thanks for the advice. What should do next time? Growl?” Nickolai’s laughter filled the kitchen and Dawn wasn’t sure whether to laugh along or be insulted.

“Yes.” Nickolai gasped as he covered his stomach and tried to stop laughing. “Yes a growl should be sufficient.”

---

“No, I did not know that had happened to his mate.” Grange replied as he held Dawn close beside the tranquil river. The dark night air was chilled but their sweat slicked bare skin was warm as their hearts thundered and they lay together on the grass.

“He asked if you told me so I thought that you knew.” Dawn replied, breathing in and savoring Grange’s unique scent.

“He did say, in not so many words, that his mate was dead but he did not elaborate and I did not ask.”

“I feel so terrible for him.” Dawn admitted and Grange grunted in agreement and kissed her hair. They listened to the sound of the crickets singing and the owls filling the night with their never answered question.

“Seventy five years ago his mate was killed and he said he’s been alone since. He said he could probably find another woman and fall in love but I thought that once a man found his mate he couldn’t take another woman because his wolf would not let him be unfaithful.”

“His wolf won’t as long as his mate is alive. But if your mate dies then that changes things.”

“He said he hasn’t even tried. That he’s not interested in any other woman. Can you believe that loyalty? Seventy-five years and his loyalty to his Brie has never wavered.”

“Wolves are loyal to a fault.” Grange replied. Dawn bit her lip and then looked up at his strong jaw.

“Would you be that loyal to me?” she asked quietly. Grange raised a brow and looked down at her.

“That’s a very human thing to ask.”

“Well I was a human for a lot longer than I’ve been a wolf so humor me.” Grange was quiet for a moment before responding.

“No. No I would not be that loyal.”

Dawn felt tears instantly fill her eyes as hurt filled her chest. She jerked away from Grange and sat up, pulling her knees into her chest and wrapping her arms around them.

“Oh.” she managed to choke out around the lump of tears in her throat. Grange sighed and sat up, pulling her into his lap, though she kept herself wrapped up tight and refused to look at him.

“I wouldn’t be that loyal for so long because I wouldn’t live that long. When I thought you were dead I lost my will to live, Dawn. I had every intention of finding a way to get myself killed.”

“Grange! I wouldn’t want you do that!” Dawn exclaimed as she let herself relax once again in his arms.

“Then don’t die on me.” he replied simply with a shrug.

“I want to learn to fight.” Dawn stated suddenly.

“Why?” Grange asked. “I’ll fight for you.” Dawn rolled her eyes and growled.

“That was an extremely egotistical male thing to say.”

“Yes well I’ve been one of those for a long time so humor me.” Grange replied with a grin and Dawn found herself laughing.

“Really Grange, I want to learn how to fight.” Grange sighed and nodded. While the thought of Dawn having to fight for her life caused his stomach to churn and tie in knots, he knew it would be a good thing for her to know how… just in case.

“Okay. I will have Nickolai give you, I and Trig lessons. He was a soldier so I’m sure he can teach all of us a thing or two.”

“He can teach me how to drop kick Gladys the next time she starts spouting all her self-righteous chatter.” Dawn grumbled and Grange laughed.

Chapter Thirteen

“Are you ready, Dawn?” Grange asked with a mixture of nervousness and excitement in his voice. Dawn’s own stomach was being plagued by nervous jitters that nearly made her feel as if she was going to be sick on the forest floor but she held her chin up and nodded as if she wasn’t afraid at all.

“I’m ready.”

“We will leave you alone to shift. We will be out of sight but close. Just accept the wolf and she will come out. Whatever you do remember not to fight against her during the shift.”

Dawn nodded, remembering the intense pain she had felt that day in the bakery when she had been fighting so hard to stop the shift that had been coming.

“You’ll do just fine.” Nickolai assured her, though his voice was emotionless just as it was most of the time.

“Sure she will.” Trig agreed as he nudged her in the ribs with his elbow and his tongue lolled out of his mouth. “She’s one tough broad.”

“Broad?” Grange asked with a raise of his brow and Trig grinned.

“Did I say that? I meant to say a tough alpha female.” Dawn was too nervous to laugh at Trig’s usual antics but she managed a small smile.

“Of course that’s what you meant.” Grange gave Trig and Nickolai both a look that had them backing away and disappearing into the dark forest full of shadows.

“Do we have to do this at night?” Dawn asked Grange as she looked uncertainly at the darkness that seemed to be pressing down on them from all sides.

“Your wolf won’t be bothered by the dark, Dawn, I promise. And yes it is safer for you to shift at night. Especially the first time. There’s less chance that you’ll be seen if you happen to wander too close to humans. But don’t worry, Nickolai, Trig and I will be right there with you once you shift to help keep you in line.”

“I just don’t want to screw this up and disappoint you.” Dawn admitted and Grange smoothed her hair from her face and ran his thumb along her jaw.

“You could never disappoint me, love.” he assured her. Then he kissed her brow tenderly. “I wish there was a way I could make it so you wouldn’t feel pain. Just remember that the more times you make the change, the less it will hurt.”

“I’ll be okay, Grange. I’m tougher than I look.” she promised before raising on her toes and kissing the bottom of his jaw. Grange nodded though he had his doubts about that. Dawn was so soft, so delicate, she didn’t even realize her own fragility.

“You’ll want to take your clothes off before you change.” he stated and then he kissed her lips softly and walked quickly away into the woods, disappearing into the darkness and shadows.

Dawn was trembling as she slid out of her clothes. She hoped that Trig and Nickolai had their heads turned and, knowing Grange’s possessive nature, they did.

She breathed deep, taking in the scents of the surrounding forest. The water of the pool Grange had brought them to for their shifting, the trees, Grange. She could smell Trig and Nickolai as well but Grange’s scent was the strongest.

Then suddenly his scent changed. It became more wild, more dangerous. He had shifted. She could tell. And the wolf in her responded. It fought to get out and at first Dawn panicked at the strange feeling of her body being taken over. She fought against it momentarily and then felt a razor sharp pain in her arms as her bones struggled with their urge to shift and change.

She was afraid. Afraid that if she shifted, if she allowed this change, she would no longer be Dawn. Afraid that as a wolf she would lose what made her herself and become a wild bloodthirsty animal.

She took a deep breath through her nose and focused on Grange’s advice. Go with the change. Accept the wolf.

She felt sweat cover her skin and her stomach turned a little as she blew out her breath and closed her eyes. Accept the wolf.

Dawn felt the changes happening once again but this time she allowed them. She did not fight against them the way she had before. She felt her bones rotating and shifting, cracking as they moved into place.

She fell forward onto her hands and felt fur cover her skin. Suddenly she felt different. She felt free. Scents were even more detailed, sounds more plain to hear.

Dawn opened her eyes and realized with a shock that she could suddenly see. The darkness and the lack of light not bothering her keen eyes in the least.

She stretched out her lean legs and shook her thick soft fur, enjoying the feeling of the night breeze blowing through it. Dawn took a step forward and then jerked her paw back. She held it up and looked at the bottom of it. Paws were much more sensitive than she had thought they would be. She could practically feel the earth moving beneath them as bugs and small rodents burrowed in the ground.

Her ears swiveled to follow every sound around her. The crickets, the owls, the bugs buzzing around her head.

Suddenly she heard a twig snap to her left and her head whipped around toward the sound. She saw Grange step out of the bushes, his black fur shining in the moonlight. He was an impressive sight.

All power. The alpha. Her mate.

Their eyes locked and if Dawn had ever once had any doubts about his feelings for her they were gone now.

As wolves all pretenses were gone. Gone was the human capabilities to hide emotions and fake their feelings. Wolves were real. They were true and pure. Dawn saw nothing but love, respect and admiration in Grange’s golden eyes as he looked at her. This was her mate. Her one and only. Just as she was his.

She walked to him and he surprised her by wagging his tail and letting out a yip before rubbing his body against hers. She returned the gesture and Grange touched his mouth to hers, before nuzzling his snout into her neck.

Trig came bounding out of the bushes, a blur of tawny fur dashing through the night, just before jumping on Dawn and tackling her to the ground.

Dawn growled loudly and snapped at the younger wolf as she jumped to her feet and Trig lowered his head, dragging his belly on the ground as he approached her.

Dawn wasn’t sure why she had bitten him. The wolf had seemed to think that was the appropriate response to such an attack by a beta. Dawn looked at Grange and saw that he seemed to approve of how she had handled Trig.

She rolled her eyes at him and then yipped and leapt over Trig’s back, grabbing his tail and giving it a yank before releasing it and letting out a snort. Trig let out a canine laugh and the two of them began to circle one another, jumping forward and nipping playfully at each others flanks.

Dawn grew bored with the game after a time and looked back over to see that Grange and Nickolai were sitting side by side watching them with mild forms of amusement shining in their eyes.

Suddenly Dawn wanted to run. She wanted to run for miles with the wind in her fur and the scenery soaring past her. Grange seemed to sense her desire and he tossed his head before taking off into the woods.

Dawn let out a short howl of excitement and then followed after him.

The four wolves ran as one. Dodging trees, leaping over logs and splashing through rivers and streams.

Dawn had never felt so free. So at peace. There was something about this. Being together with her pack and just running through the night that made her soul feel lighter. Purer.

A scent reached her nose and she stopped, skidding in the slick leaves. Grange, Trig and Nickolai stopped as well and raised their noses to scent the air. Dawn wasn’t certain what she smelled but she knew it was food. Prey.

She shook her head. She wasn’t some kind of animal!

She shook out her fur and realized that, yes, yes she was. And the wolf in her wanted to hunt. Grange tossed his head, let out a growl of anticipation and then took off, leading the pack through the woods. He let out a yip and Trig and Nickolai broke away in opposite directions but Dawn stayed with her mate.

The scent grew stronger and then Dawn nearly howled with excitement when she saw the large elk up ahead. It was a bull, a lone bull, with no other herd members to warn it or offer any protection.

Dawn wanted to race ahead of Grange but he nipped at her side and had her falling back into step alongside him.

The elks head raised suddenly and he froze for several long seconds before kicking up his heels and running as if his very life depended on it, and Dawn knew that it did.

She was running on pure instinct now as she chased after the packs prey. Their meal.

She watched with shock as Nickolai and Trig materialized out of the shadows on either side of the bull and penned him in, just as Grange’s long, muscular body shot through the air and took the bull by the neck.

The beast staggered under Grange’s weight and that was all it took before Dawn was leaping on its back to help bring it down. Together the pack ended the elks life and began to feast.

They ate until they were so full they were nearly bursting and then Grange led them to a small stream to clean their fur. They made their way back to the clearing by the pool where they had first shifted and then they collapsed on the ground in a pile of very full, worn out, content wolves.

Dawn snuggled up against Grange and he laid his head over her neck. Dawn was happy and content. This was where she belonged. This was what she had been born to be.

---

The sing song whistles of the morning birds brought Dawn from her peaceful dreams of running through the woods and splashing through rivers beside Grange. His thick black fur was shining in the sunlight and his muscular body was stretching out long and lean.

Dawn yawned and shifted her body, snuggling up closer to Grange’s warm skin. Grange was naked? Dawn stiffened as a breeze blew over her own bare skin. She was naked?

She felt an arm wrap around her and nearly let out a scream when she realized it couldn’t be Grange’s because his arm was already wrapped securely around her waist.

She took a breath and caught Trig’s scent. Trig?! She glanced over her shoulder and saw him behind her and realized with heart stopping shock that he too was naked and snuggled close to her and Nickolai was curled up at her feet, also appearing to be naked!

“Grange!” she whispered harshly as she looked back over at his face. His blue eyes instantly flew open and a satisfied, lazy smile came over his face.

“Good morning.” he replied sleepily.

“Grange…. We’re naked.” Grange’s eyes roamed down the front of her body which was pressed close to his own and his smile grew.

“Yes we are.”

“So are they!” Dawn exclaimed, doing her best to keep her voice down in her horror. Grange glanced at Trig and Nickolai and shrugged.

“We’re always naked when we shift back, Dawn. To us, nudity is normal.”

“There are two naked men curled up to your wife and you call that normal?!” Dawn hissed. Grange glanced down at Trig’s arm wrapped around Dawn’s waist and his lip curled back with a low snarl. He grabbed Trig’s wrist and threw his arm off of her, causing Trig to whimper in his sleep and then flop over onto his other side.

“Better?” Grange whispered as he smoothed Dawn’s hair from her face and kissed her brow. Dawn sighed and snuggled closer to him.

Being naked around Grange had gotten easier but the thought of being naked around Trig and Nickolai still made her uncomfortable. It didn’t matter how many times Grange told her that it was normal, her human side wasn’t buying it. Though she figured that given enough time she would probably become more accepting of the idea.

“I would rather have some clothes on.” she stated. Grange grumbled under his breath and pulled away from her. He had been enjoying holding her in his arms and wasn’t happy to have that interrupted, especially over something as trivial as modesty.

He felt Dawn’s eyes on him (she certainly didn’t seem to mind his nudity, he though with a smile) as he walked over to her folded clothes and grabbed up her dress and underclothes. He made his way back to her and motioned for her to stand up.

He saw her glance nervously at Trig and Nickolai and he sighed.

“They will not look at you.” he assured her, knowing they would hear him as well. Dawn stood up and Grange began to help her slip into her clothes, enjoying the feel of her skin beneath his fingertips.

“How did I do last night?” Dawn asked as he laced up her underclothes. Grange smiled proudly.

“You’re an old pro.” he replied. “I’ve never seen anyone change so fluidly their first time or take to being a wolf so naturally.” Grange saw her face light up at his praise.

“I was born to be a wolf.” Dawn replied honestly and Grange chuckled.

“Is that so?”

“Yes.” Dawn replied matter of factly as she stepped into her dress and Grange slid the soft gingham fabric up her body. “I was born to be your mate, wasn’t I? Which means I was born to be a wolf.”

“Her logic makes perfect sense to me.” Trig said with a lopsided grin as he rolled over onto his stomach and looked at them.

“I thought you weren’t supposed to look.” Grange stated and Trig let out a bark of laughter.

“She’s dressed.” he pointed out. Dawn noticed that Nickolai had gotten to his feet and was stepping into his pants.

“How did you enjoy your first night as a wolf?” Nickolai asked as he buttoned his trousers. Dawn smiled happily.

“I loved it!” she exclaimed. “I want to do it again. Tonight.” she added hopefully as she looked at Grange. Grange shook his head and rubbed the back of his neck.

“You’ll be too tired.” he assured her and Dawn scoffed.

“I’m not tired!” she argued. As a matter of fact she felt very energized. Grange pulled her close.

“You will be. Give it a few hours. The change takes a lot out of your body and it will catch up with you. You are still new to this and need to give your body time.”

“You’re bossy.” Dawn stated with a pout and Trig bounced to his feet and patted her on the head.

“Well he is the alpha.” Trig stated and Grange raised his brow nad looked Trig up and down.

“That much is obvious.” he drawled slowly. Dawn just shook her head.

“Since Nickolai is the only one dressed, I’ll let him start to lead me back home. I have to get to town and open up the bakery. I have a few bread deliveries I have to make.” Nickolai nodded and Dawn fell in step beside him.

“Whenever you two are done comparing your anatomies you are welcome to join us.” Dawn called back over her shoulder and she heard Nickolai chuckling beside her.

Chapter Fourteen

Dawn hated when someone else was right and she was wrong but given the fact that her backside felt like it was dragging a full twelve feet behind her ankles, she was forced to admit that Grange had been right.

She. Was. Tired.

She knew she’d have to close up early. She was simply too exhausted to keep the bakery open until five when it was only two and she was already falling asleep where she stood behind the counter, wrapping up cookies for a young boy.

“Thank you!” he said happily as she placed the brown paper package in his eager hands.

“You’re welcome. Just don’t eat those before dinner and ruin your appetite.” she warned. The boy laughed.

“Yes ma’am.” She watched the boy leave and pushed herself to her aching legs. Her body felt as if it had been run over by an entire stampede of horses. Not sweet loving horses, no, fire breathing, red eyed, evil horses that had a sick obsession with trampling unsuspecting women beneath their dirty, pointed hooves.

She walked around the counter, her feet dragging the ground with every step she took as she made her way to the door. She was just about to flip the store sign to closed when she saw Gladys Bishop approaching the bakery.

Dawn wished she could just hide but the woman had already seen her. Dawn was in no mood to argue, fight or be called names this afternoon. And she was alone with no one to back her up or run Gladys off.

Grange was delivering firewood. Trig was out delivering bread since Dawn had been too tired and Nickolai had gone to the mercantile to get Dawn some more supplies.

Dawn opened the door and stepped away, allowing Gladys and her hips to enter.

“What can I do for you this afternoon?” Dawn asked, forcing politeness into her voice. “I was actually about to close up early.”

“Are you feeling okay, dear? You look very tired.” Dawn self consciously ran her hand over her hair and touched her puffy eye lids. Why did people insist on pointing out when you looked tired? Did they think it was a polite way of saying ‘Oh my Lord, you look like hell’?

“I am rather tired today.” Dawn admitted with a nod.

“I won’t take up much of your time, Dawn.” Gladys assured her as she wrung her hands on the tiny green clutch she was grasping tightly. “I actually came to apologize.”

“Apologize?” Dawn asked with surprise. She certainly hadn’t been expecting that!

“Yes.” Gladys said sadly. “I was horribly cruel and judgmental. I assumed the worst about you and your living situation and it was not fair. It is clear that you and Grange are very much in love and I had no right to treat you the way that I did.”

Dawn blinked several times and then nodded.

“Thank you, Gladys.” she replied. “And I accept your apology.” Glady’s perked up at that news and smiled warmly.

“Perhaps you’ll also accept my offer as well then.”

“What offer?” Dawn asked suspiciously.

“I feel that I pushed Grange and you into getting married. You did not get a big wedding with the guests and food and celebration that is customary in our town whenever there is a marriage. I would like to arrange a big ceremony for the two of you. I’ll cover the costs and arrange everything, all you would need to do is show up.”

“That’s really not necessary, Gladys, but thank you.” Dawn said with appreciation.

“Are you sure?” Gladys insisted. “I feel that I owe it to you both for the way I acted. I feel as if I made you rush into half a wedding in order to save your bakery and that just wasn’t right of me to do.”

Dawn glanced out the bakery window to ensure that there were no flying pigs and then smiled at Gladys.

“Thank you for the offer, Gladys, I really do appreciate it and I will let Grange know but we are actually very happy with the wedding we had.” she replied honestly. Truthfully ‘marriage’ was small when compared to the bond they shared as mates and Dawn wasn’t worried about having a bigger wedding. That particular bond had already been sealed.

“I just don’t want there to be hard feelings and anger between us anymore, dear. I was a terrible terrible Christian and a horrible person toward you and I want to atone for that.”

Dawn fought back a yawn and slumped down in the chair beside the counter.

“You could do me a favor.” she stated and Gladys nodded.

“Anything. What do you need?” Dawn folded her arms on the counter and rested her chin on top of them.

“Flip that sign to closed on your way out.”

---

Trig was balancing the now empty bread basket on his head as he walked down the dirt path back toward town. He liked delivering the bread for Dawn and getting to walk to the all the homesteads outside of town.

He was hoping to talk Grange into going to Tipton soon. Tipton was a small town nearly one hundred miles away that was a haven for supernaturals of all kinds. Trig loved that town. Maybe if he couldn’t talk Grange into coming he would just go on his own for a couple of days…. There was a witch there that really knew how to show a wolf a good time. Trig smiled as he thought about the last time he had been with her. He still had a scar on his back from her long nails but it had been worth it. Very worth it.

He began whistling a tune as he enjoyed the feel of the sun on his face but he quickly fell silent and stopped walking when he caught a scent on the breeze.

Mountain Lion. But no regular mountain lion. This was a werelion. A female werelion and she was watching him. Trig had never smelled her around before now and he wondered if Grange knew the lion was passing through.

Trig grinned. This was a chance for him to prove himself a little. He could question the werelion and make sure she knew she couldn’t stick around and couldn’t harm any humans while she was here.

“Here, kitty kitty.” he called out as he took the basket off his head and propped it under his arm. He scanned the forest around him, unsure where exactly she was and then he swallowed hard when she stepped out of the trees.

She was in mountain lion form and, just like when werewolves were in wolf form, she was bigger than any normal mountain lion. She was long and sleek and her fur shone in the sunlight as she entered it.

Her eyes were a light gray with rings of darker gray around the black. They were slanted and intense as they studied him.

“Pretty kitty.” Trig stated as he tilted his head and studied her. His wolf liked her, which was weird since most wolves and cats hated each other. The lion began to circle him and he forced himself to stay still, though it made him nervous as hell to have his back to her, he wanted to appear confident.

“I’d like to have a talk with you, kitty, but I’d prefer to do it to a human face instead of a furry one.” As she came back around them, Trig noticed that she was limping. She was trying hard to hide the weakness but Trig saw it none the less.

“You’re hurt.” he stated. “What’s wrong with your leg?”

Her lips pulled back and her ears flattened as she snarled and Trig took a step back and raised his hands.

“Nevermind. I didn’t see you limping. Nope. Didn’t see a thing at all. Could you change now so this conversation could be a little less one sided?” The lion nodded and then tossed her head. Trig took the hint and turned his back to her.

His ears picked up the sound of her body changing and then she cleared her throat.

“You can turn around now.” Her voice was strong and nearly emotionless. It actually reminded Trig of the way Nickolai always spoke only her voice was lightly accented with what sounded like French. Not enough to make her hard to understand but just enough to know it was there.

Trig turned and then he was sure he swallowed his tongue as his bottom jaw bounced off the ground at his feet. She was a good five feet, nine inches of long, lean woman. Her legs were long, toned and tan, curving into curved, feminine hips, a triangle of dark hair at their center. Trig forced his eyes up a little higher, following the lean muscles of her stomach, along her narrow waist and then to her full tan breasts, most of which were hid from his view by her long, thick, silky strands of dark hair.

His gaze went to her face and that was when he truly forgot how to speak or even think.

She was flawless. Clear, sun darkened skin unmarred by freckles, lines or scars of any kind. Her lips were full and heart shaped. Her nose long and perfectly shaped above her mouth and her eyes…… Her eyes were big, hazel orbs curtained with long lashes that fell upon her cheeks when she blinked.

She was the single most perfect, beautiful woman that Trig had ever seen in his entire life. And she was also a werelion, he couldn’t forget that.

“Here.” he said quickly, once he found his voice again. He sat the basket aside and took off his shirt. He held it out for her and she eyed it with suspicion. “I thought you might want to put something on.” he stated.

“Thank you.” she stated blankly as she snatched the shirt away and slid it on, doing the buttons quickly with her long, slender fingers. Trig couldn’t help but notice that her eyes looked a little crazy and she acted nervous.

“What’s your name, kitty?” Trig asked and her eyes narrowed.

“Farrah.” she finally replied.

“Okay, Farrah, what are you doing here?”

“Passing through.” Farrah replied as her eyes darted around them. “I’m running… They’re after me.” She moved sideways and her leg gave out beneath her. She nearly fell but Trig ran forward and grabbed her quickly.

She hissed and fought against him and he growled loudly.

“That hurts!” he exclaimed. “I was just trying to keep you from falling.” He released his hold on her and she stumbled several steps before catching herself.

“Who’s after you?” Trig asked, instantly worrying that her presence here might put his pack in danger but unable to find it within himself to tell her to leave.

He realized then, by the look in her eyes and the way she was weaving on her feet that she was exhausted and then before either of them could say anything else her eyes rolled back in her head and she collapsed to the ground.

Trig shook his head and looked down at her. One extremely attractive, unconscious, helpless werelion lying in the dirt at his feet and wearing nothing but his shirt was now going to have to be carried into town. That should be fun to explain to the members of law enforcement.

---

“Who is she?” Dawn demanded as Trig came in the back door of the bakery with a woman, wearing what appeared to be his shirt, tossed over his shoulder.

“Her name is Farrah.” Trig replied. Dawn caught her scent and the wolf in her was suddenly uncomfortable.

“What is she?” Dawn added.

“She’s a were creature. A mountain lion.” Trig replied. “And she’s heavier than she looks and naked other than my shirt so can we sneak her on upstairs now?”

Dawn snapped out of the shocked daze that Trig barging into her kitchen with a half naked woman tossed over his shoulder had caused.

“Of course. The bakery is closed and the curtains are drawn so you can take her through there.” Dawn replied. Trig nodded but before either of them could walk out of the kitchen, Grange and Nickolai burst in with angry growls, skidding to a stop and frowning when they saw Trig and the woman he was holding.

“What the hell is going on?” Grange asked as he reached for Dawn’s arm and pulled her to him, wrapping her safely in his embrace. “Why the hell are you carrying a lion and why would you bring her here to my mate?” Grange asked, his voice dangerously low and calm. Nickolai just stood to the side with an expressionless face and watched.

“I found her. I was on my way back to town and smelled her. She came out of the woods, shifted and then collapsed. She seemed really tired and maybe even hurt. I couldn’t just leave her there.”

“I’ve never seen her before.” Grange stated. “There are several male lions that pass through now and then and a single female with a cub but she is new.”

“Did she say anything about where she came from?” Nickolai asked and Trig shook his head.

“No. Nothing. She said her name was Farrah and then she collapsed.” he lied. He wasn’t about to tell them that she had said ‘they’ were after her. Grange would quickly toss her right back out of his territory and away from his pack and mate, and for reasons he couldn’t figure out, Trig couldn’t let that happen. Not until he knew she’d be safe.

“Not trying to be a nag but can we please get her upstairs. The sign says closed but that doesn’t mean somebody else won’t barge in.” Dawn stated matter of factly and Trig nodded before quickly walking out of the kitchen, through the show room and up the stairs.

After he had laid her down on the bed, Dawn walked over and looked down at her unconscious form.

“Nickolai, I had some water heating downstairs to mop the floors, can you bring it up to me please?” she asked and Nickolai quickly nodded and left the room without a word.

“Trig, are you certain she said nothing else?” Grange asked skeptically and Trig nodded though Dawn noticed he kept his head down. She suspected that he was lying but why would he lie to Grange, his alpha? She glanced at Grange and saw his anger and confusion. It seemed her mate knew that Trig wasn’t telling the truth as well.

Nickolai came back with the water and Dawn looked at all three men.

“I would like to be left alone with her to get her cleaned up and changed. I’m sure she would appreciate the privacy.” she stated. Grange growled.

“I don’t think so. Do you have any idea how dangerous and unpredictable werelions are?”

“No, actually I don’t, but I’m not exactly helpless myself. Now go.” Dawn stated more firmly. Trig and Nickolai both walked out the door, accepting their alpha’s order but Grange stood his ground.

“Dawn, I don’t like this. There is something that Trig isn’t telling us and lions aren’t like wolves. They have no loyalty, no sense of pack and they… Well they are more than a little crazy.” Dawn rolled her eyes.

“Grange, please, she’s not in any shape to be dangerous right about now. I’m just going to clean her up and get her dressed. You can sit right outside the door if you like.”

Grange wanted to argue further but he knew the look in Dawn’s eyes well. It clearly said that she was sinking her claws in and refusing to back down. He could also tell she was exhausted. The circles around her eyes looked much like bruises and she was a bit more pale than usual, causing her freckles to stand out more sharply against her skin.

“Dawn, you’re exhausted.” he said gently and she nodded.

“Yes, so stop making me waste energy by arguing with you.” Grange grumbled under his breath and then turned and left the room, closing the door behind him. Dawn could hear him pacing the small space at the top of the stairs and she sighed. He really was very overprotective but that just made her love him all the more.

She turned her attention back to the woman on the bed. She was dirty, her tan, flawless complexion was smudged with dirt and her hair was full of tangles, twigs and leaves.

Dawn scanned her face and then ran her fingers along her scalp checking for head injuries, though this made the wolf in her nearly panic. Something inside of her didn’t trust this cat and didn’t want to be around it. Dawn quickly shoved that aside. Assuming that this woman would harm her simply because she was a werelion was both small minded and wrong.

Dawn felt a sting of jealousy as she unbuttoned Trig’s shirt shirt and slid it off of Farrah. Farrah was built like those statues of greek goddesses. She was built the way a woman was supposed to be built. Not short and plump like Dawn.

Dawn shook her head and pushed those thoughts aside. Why worry about things like that when you had an amazingly well built, muscular werewolf mate who looked at you every single time he saw you like you were his greatest treasure? This thought made Dawn smile as she began to clean the dirt from Farrah’s skin.

When she got to her hip she saw the bruise there and frowned. There was another bruise on her low back and more on her thighs. It almost looked as if she’d been kicked repeatedly.

Dawn took a closer look at Farrah. On second inspection the woman looked a little too thin in places and her face was drawn as if she was in pain. She had small scars on her wrists that almost looked as if something had been tied around them too tightly for a long time.

So this woman had scarred wrists, was covered in bruises and dirt. She was on the skinny side and had collapsed from exhaustion at Trig’s feet.

“Who are you, Farrah? And where exactly did you come from?” Dawn asked aloud and then she went back to washing away the dirt.

---

They waited until darkness had fallen and the town was asleep before slipping a still unconscious Farrah out the back of the bakery and out of town. Trig shifted and they laid Farrah across his back so he could carry her to the cabin.

Grange shifted as well and carried Dawn who was too exhausted to make the shift herself. Nickolai was in charge of getting the horses home.

Once they had Farrah settled down on the sofa and Nickolai and Dawn were starting on dinner, Grange grabbed Trig by the back of the neck and dragged him outside.

Trig whimpered and nearly fell when Grange released his hold and shoved the pup forward.

“I won’t be lied to by members of my pack.” Grange growled.

“I didn’t lie!” Trig insisted.

“You are lying now!” Grange countered angrily. “She said something else to you and you are going to tell me what it was and you are going to tell me now!” Trig shifted his feet and scratched at his hair.

“She was running from something.” he finally replied quietly as he started at the dirt in front of Grange’s feet.

“Something or someone?” Grange inquired and Trig sighed with defeat.

“Someone. She said they were after her but she didn’t say who.”

“She leaves now!” Grange ordered and Trig looked up then.

“No. She’s unconscious! She can’t leave!”

“She can if I carry her to the edge of the territory and toss her out of it.”

Trig growled, surprising Grange.“I won’t let you do that.” he warned. “She’s in trouble and we’re going to help her!”

“She’s a lion! They’re dangerous!” Grange insisted. “And trouble may well follow her here.”

“Then we’ll deal with it when and if that happens.” Dawn stated as she stepped out of the house. “But we won’t turn our backs on an innocent person who needs our help.”

“You don’t know she’s innocent.” Grange reminded her and Dawn shrugged.

“And you don’t know that she isn’t.” she countered. Grange growled and rubbed the back of his neck.

“So you’re siding with Trig?”

“I don’t want to pick sides but yes, this time I’m siding with Trig.” Grange shook his head.

“Fine. But when all this blows up in your faces just know that I’m not above saying ‘I told you so’.”

“Understood.” Dawn replied with a smile. Grange kissed her cheek and then strode away toward the barn.

“Gee thanks, Dawn. For a minute there I thought I might just end up with my ass kicked.” Trig said happily as he put his arm around her shoulders. Dawn looked at him out of the corner of her eye.

“Now you owe me an answer.” she replied. “Why are you so dead set on helping this woman you don’t know?”

Trig frowned and breathed deep, taking in the woody scent of the sleeping lion. His frown deepened when the wolf in him all but wagged his tail with happiness.

“I don’t know.” he answered, though he was starting to think that maybe he did know…. But he didn’t tell her that because it was too soon to know for sure.

“Well I stuck my neck out for you, Trig, so don’t make me regret it.” Dawn warned. Trig flashed her a placating smile and kissed her cheek.

“You can count on me.” he assured her. Dawn rolled her eyes and then scratched at her hair.

“Great!” she exclaimed as she threw her hands in the air. “Fleas. I knew I’d get fleas!” She turned and went back into the house with Trig laughing behind her.

Chapter Fifteen

Grange had sent Trig and Nickolai patrolling, though Trig had come very close to disobeying the order before Nickolai had finally grabbed him and dragged him out the door, and Dawn was out grooming the horses, after having said that Grange’s pacing was driving her crazy.

Grange was pacing beside the couch waiting on the sleeping werelion to wake up. He didn’t like her sudden presence here, especially covered in bruises and clearly dead on her feet. She was running from someone dangerous, clearly, but were they dangerous because she was bad or because they were, that was the question he needed answered.

His agitated pacing came to a sudden stop when he heard the woman moan. She sat up quickly, a crazed look in her hazel eyes, as she glanced all around her and then her gaze settled on him.

Grange saw her tense, saw her lip curl in a feline snarl.

“Farrah, attacking me would not be in your best interests since I would have to kill you. My beta, Trig, found you and brought you here to my pack and my home. Do not make me regret allowing you to spend the night here.”

“Night?” she whispered as she jumped to her feet and ran to the window. The dress that Dawn had dressed her in was much too short and came up on her shins and Dawn had cinched it at the waist with a belt in effort to help it fit Farrah’s much more slender frame.

“Yes. You slept the entire night. Now what are you doing in my territory?” Grange asked as he crossed his arms over his chest and studied her. She moved with the lithe grace that all cats moved with. But there was something different about Farrah.

She was scared. She seemed almost a little crazed as she paced by the window and kept her eyes on the surrounding woods. Somehow this did not make Grange feel any better about her being here.

“I must go.” Farrah stated, and Grange heard an emotionless in her tone. Was she a soldier? It was well known that werelions were common mercenaries. Killers and thieves who were loyal to whoever was offering them the most money at any given moment.

“I can’t let you do that until you convince me that you are no danger to my mate or to my pack.”

Farrah turned and looked into his eyes for the first time. Grange scented the air and studied her eyes. Paying careful attention for any sign that she was a threat or a liar as she spoke.

“I am no threat to anyone here. But I really must go.” Grange nodded and motioned for the door. He certainly would not make her stay and he believed her when she said she was no threat. Grange saw her eyes fill with surprise and then she turned on her heels and quickly slinked out of the cabin.

Grange was relieved that she was gone, at least until he heard her hissing outside, following by a warning growl that had him running forward.

He jumped out the door, grabbed Farrah by her long dark hair and then threw her backward away from Dawn, though she caught herself before she hit the ground. Farrah remained crouched with one hand on the floor of the cabin bracing herself. Her long hair fell forward over her face as she looked up at Grange with her teeth bared.

“Grange!” Dawn exclaimed. “What in the world are you doing?!”

“I heard her threaten you.” he growled back as he stalked toward Farrah. Dawn gripped his arm and tugged on him.

“She was just scared. We bumped into each other.” Grange frowned and looked down at his mate. She was so small. Barely over five feet, light skin and an angelic face. She brought out every protective urge that he possessed and he could admit that the thought of her being harmed made him a little crazy.

But the idea of this werelion, who Grange had no doubt had been trained to kill, would be afraid of Dawn? That was laughable. His mate was soft, kind, gentle, a great cook, an amazing baker and even funny most of the time but scary? That she was not.

He turned back to Farrah and took a closer look. She still looked tired and she did indeed appear scared to death. Grange could hear her stomach growling and she seemed to still be favoring her right hip.

“Grange, we have to help her.” Dawn insisted. Grange sighed. As badly as he just wanted to kick this lion and whatever was chasing her clear away from his territory he knew that he could not deny Dawn anything she asked.

And in truth, in order to build a good reputation as a dominant but respectable alpha wolf he needed to not only defend his territory but show that he was fair and would help those in need. Grange growled and shoved his hand through his hair with annoyance.

“Warm her up some of what we had for breakfast.” he said to Dawn and Dawn smiled happily and rose on her toes to kiss his jaw. Grange kissed her hair and sent Farrah a look that held the threat of death if the lion caused any harm to his mate. Farrah rose to her feet and licked her lips before nodding slightly, seeming to understand where Grange was coming from.

“You will stay here until you are well enough to leave. You will tell me who and what you are running from and why you are running from them and if I can offer you any assistance then I will.”

“Why should I trust you?” she asked skeptically.

“Because I have not killed you yet.” Grange replied simply and he heard Dawn grumble something and was sure it was something about him acting like a ’hardass’. The woman needed to learn that someday him being a ’hardass’ is what could save her life and keep them all safe.

Footsteps sounded on the porch and Trig and Nickolai entered the cabin.

“You’re awake!” Trig gasped with obvious relief. Grange noticed the wariness but also the happy light that sparked in Farrah’s eyes when she caught sight of the excitable pup.

“Yes it seems that way.” Farrah replied as she crossed her long, toned arms across her chest. Pushing her firm breasts upward and causing a line of cleavage to appear at the top of her dress. “Can we go outside?” Farrah suddenly inquired as she eyed the walls, looking at them as if they posed some form of threat.

“Why?” Grange asked and Farrah shifted her bare feet.

“Because the walls close in if you stay within them.” she stated as if that should be an obvious fact that everyone knew.

“Of course.” Trig said quickly, even as everyone else shared a look that clearly said they thought Farrah was more than a little crazy. He ushered Farrah out the door, though when he tried to touch her arm she jerked away and hissed a warning.

Grange and Nickolai followed closely behind them and Dawn assured them that she’d be out just as soon as she got a plate of food ready for Farrah.

“Okay, now that we are free of any threat of being crushed by the walls, I suggest you get to explaining where you came from.” Grange stated dryly once they were out on the porch.

Trig sent him a look that said he didn’t’ appreciate the sarcasm but Nickolai seemed to find it amusing and his mouth curved in a small smile.

Farrah looked off into the woods and then tilted her head and frowned when she looked at Grange.

“From?”

“Yes.” Grange stated. “From. As in where did you come from? Where were you before you were here?”

“I was there.” she replied as if Grange was the one not making any sense. Grange growled and was about to just grab her by the throat and throttle the answer from her but Trig stepped forward.

“Where was there?” he asked with a calm patience that Grange had never heard from him before.

“It changed. Sometimes dark, sometimes light. Always behind stone or beams.”

“Who had you in that place?” Trig asked and Farrah shivered despite the heat in the early summer air.

“ He did.” she whispered. Grange growled again and Trig knew that Farrah was about five seconds away from being attacked.

“Who was he?”

“We called him master.”

“You were a slave?” Nickolai inquired and Farrah nodded though she didn’t look at any of them. Instead her eyes stayed focused on the forest around them as if waiting on an enemy to burst from the trees.

“For a time. First I was a prisoner. Kept in chains. They gave me scars.” Farrah held up her hands and showed them the white raised scars on her otherwise perfect skin. Grange heard the growl from Trig and saw the wolf stiffen and he frowned.

Trig wasn’t normally hot tempered nor was he ever calm and in the last few minutes he had displayed both qualities. He had also lied to his alpha to protect Farrah. Was it possible for a wolf to pick a mate that was a supernatural creature other than itself? Grange had never heard of it before but that did not mean it didn’t happen. And it would certainly explain the changes in Trig.

“Do you know who he was? Was he human or….”

“No.” Farrah said quickly. “He was an elf.”

None of the wolves found humor in hearing the man that Farrah was so afraid of was an elf. Elves were dangerous. Deceivingly beautiful when they wanted to be, weavers of magic spells with the ability to influence the weather and bend it to their will. Elves were conniving, lying, deceitful creatures who lived only for pleasing themselves. They would give you their word and shake your hand with one of their own while crossing their fingers behind their back with the other.

“And were you alone there with him?” Grange asked.

“No, no, no.” Farrah replied, shaking her head and causing her long hair to swing around her shoulders. “There were many of us slaves and prisoners. He also had a handful of loyal followers. Different types of supernatural creatures.”

“And that is who’s after you?” Grange asked and Farrah shook her head while chewing on her full bottom lip.

“I was a prisoner for a long time. Though I do not know how long for the day I escaped was the first time I had seen daylight in what felt like eons. Master finally trusted me enough to release me from my chains and he trained me as a soldier to protect him. I faked obedience and then when the guard was down I made my escape. I doubt the master cares that I am gone.”

“Then who is after you?” Grange growled and Farrah blinked several times and then nodded.

“Yes someone is after me.”

“WHO?!” Grange yelled, his eyes flashing with gold, causing Trig to wince while Farrah took a step away from him.

“I ran on foot a long time and stumbled upon a group of miners. Many miners. They had guns, clubs, knives….. I was in this form and I was bare of any clothes because the Master chose not to let me have any, when I stumbled upon those men…. They were cold and cruel. They grabbed me, kicked me and hit me with their clubs.”

“Why didn’t you shift and kill them all?” Trig demanded, his voice practically dripping with anger.

“I had been trained not to. Whenever the master or his minions saw me trying to shift I would be poked with a hot, sharp stick. Eventually I stopped shifting to avoid the pain.”

“But you were a mountain lion when we met.” Trig reminded her and Farrah nodded.

“Yes. One of the men tried to mate with me and I panicked then. I shifted right in front of them. But there were too many and I was so tired from running for so long and it had been so long since I shifted. I killed several but was overrun….. I ran and they chased. They are still coming. They promised they would avenge their friends and kill the monster .”

Grange felt relief fill him. No demon hordes. No vengeful elves. No ravenous packs of wolves or lions. Just a couple of angry miners who wanted revenge.

“You’ll be safe here.” Trig assured her. “The pack will protect you.”

“Trig.” Grange snapped. “Can we talk for a moment?” Trig lowered his head and looked suddenly a little worried as he followed Grange off the porch.

“Grange, we have to keep her here and keep her safe.” he insisted as he looked at Grange’s boots.

“Why?”

“Because…. She needs our help. She was kept a prisoner for a long time. She’s afraid of her own shadow. She’s tired, weak, hungry….”

“She’s not a wolf. She’s not a pack member. Why risk our own well being for her?” Grange insisted.

“Dammit, Grange…” Trig grumbled as he shifted from foot to foot and clenched his fists. “I think she might be my mate. My wolf won’t shut up about her and….”

“Is that even possible?” Grange interrupted and Trig shrugged.

“It must be.” he replied and then he met Grange’s eyes. “If you make her leave then I’ll leave with her.”

“You would abandon the pack?” Grange questioned with a raise of his brow. Trig sighed.

“I wouldn’t want to but if she leaves then I’ll have no choice.” Grange threw his hands in the air.

“I didn’t want any of this!” he grumbled. He hadn’t wanted a mate. He hadn’t wanted a pack. He hadn’t wanted to be responsible for anyone else! And now his pack was growing at an alarming rate. He was clearly going to have to take in a damn werelion who was obviously more than a full bubble off of plum and may possibly have an angry elf or his small army of loyal men hunting for her.

He looked back up at the porch to see Dawn stepping out of the cabin and handing Farrah a plate of food, which the lion quickly dug into.

“If you want a home here with our pack then you have it. If you cause harm to our pack, if you turn on our pack or if you ever do anything against our pack, I will end your life myself. Do we have an agreement?” Grange asked in a no nonsense tone that made it clear he was in alpha mode.

“Yes. I understand.” Farrah replied around a mouthful of scrambled eggs. Grange couldn’t sense any form of dishonesty from her and so he nodded.

“But you all will need to make her a room in the barn loft. Dawn and I will not share the cabin at night with anyone.” he added sternly and then he motioned for Dawn to come to him. Dawn quickly did and the two of them walked off into the woods.

“How long were you a prisoner?” Nickolai asked Farrah as Trig joined them back on the porch and stood behind the cat who was sitting in one of the rocking chairs. Farrah tilted her head as she chewed thoughtfully.

“I do not know.” she finally replied. “Many years I would guess. No sun. No way of knowing day from night. Time loses its meaning in places such as those.” Nickolai nodded, he understood completely.

“I am Nickolai.” he said with a tilt of his head. “Welcome to our pack.”

“Nickolai?” Farrah asked with a frown. “That is odd.”

“Why is that odd?” Trig asked as Nickolai raised his brow.

“There was a wolf who was a favorite pet of the Master. He treated her special. Kept her well fed, well clothed and well bathed so that she would have energy to satisfy him and not stink up his bed. She talked about a wolf named Nickolai.”

“What was her name?” Nickolai asked, unable to stop himself. An image of his Brie flashed through his mind and he felt the pain so sharp in his heart it was as if he had lost her yesterday instead of nearly a century ago.

“Master called her Puppet and she never spoke of what her name might have been before or where she was from. We were encouraged not to talk often. Anyway, you couldn’t be the Nickolai she spoke of.”

“Why is that?” Nickolai asked and Farrah laughed.

“You’re not dead.” she replied as if she feared his brain was a little dense. “The wolf she spoke of died before she came to the master.”

Nickolai cursed himself for feeling the disappointment he felt in that moment. He knew Brie was dead so why had he tortured himself with the hope that maybe he’d been wrong? He stood and went to the barn to be alone with his thoughts.

“Farrah, uh… My name is Trig.” Trig said as he sat down in the chair beside her.

“I know.” Farrah replied simply before taking a large bit of sausage.

“I’m happy I found you.” Trig added, feeling more than a little awkward. Farrah stopped eating and looked in his eyes. He wondered what was going on behind those hazel orbs and then she smiled broadly, her cheeks crinkling and her face lighting up in a way that made his heart skid to a stop.

“I am too. You seem different.” Trig just smiled back and sunk down in the chair, feeling content to just be beside the slightly crazy lion for now.

---

“You’re miserable, aren’t you?” Dawn asked gently as she and Grange sat beside the water. He shook his head and picked at grass.

“No, why would you think that?” he questioned.

“Because I love you and I can tell.” she replied. Grange sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. Dawn smiled knowingly and crossed her legs before pulling Grange to the side and resting his head in his lap.

He sighed with contentment and stretched out while she ran her fingers through his hair and stroked him comfortingly.

“You never wanted any of this, Grange.” Grange just shrugged. There was no point denying that point when she knew the truth.

“Life just happens, Dawn. We can either go with it or fight it but it is going to become what it was meant to be eventually.”

“Do you regret meeting me?” Dawn asked sadly as she looked at the trees. Grange felt her hand pause above his temple and he grabbed it in his own and pressed it against his lips.

“Look at me, Dawn.” he ordered gently. She looked down at him with red rimmed eyes. “I will never regret meeting you. I had never had a good thing happen to me in my entire life. I was abandoned as a child. I have no idea who my father was and my mother did not want a son. I was beaten by the headmaster at the orphanage and I finally escaped when I was twelve and was on my own, living on the streets and fighting to stay alive. When I was twenty I was taken prisoner by a wolf pack and changed by that alpha. Even after I escaped and found this town, I lived a half life. Just going through the motions, never really feeling anything. Then I saw you….” He smiled as his heart swelled with nothing but pure love for this woman, holding him in her arms.

He would NEVER regret meeting her and the changes that had happened after. She was his very reason for living.

“I just want to make you happy, Grange. That’s all I want.” Dawn replied and he reached up and stroked her cheek.

“Then you have accomplished your goal, love.” he replied. Dawn sighed and went back to stroking his hair.

“So what made you agree she could stay?” she asked after a few moments of peaceful silence. “What did Trig say?”

“That she is his mate. She is who his wolf chose.”

“But she’s a werelion! Is that possible?”

“He certainly seems to think so and I have no choice but to believe him. He said that if I made her leave she would go with him.”

“He did?” Dawn exclaimed with surprise and Grange nodded.

“Yes. And I couldn’t let him leave. I’ve grown attached to the annoying pup.”

“Do you think she’s dangerous?”

“Do I think that she herself poses a threat? No, I don’t.”

“The miners?” Dawn asked, having heard everything they had spoken about on the porch from the kitchen.

“No. They are no threat. I could easily handle a group of mortal men.”

“What if they tell others what they saw her do?”

“Then we will color them as embarrassed men who tried to take advantage of a lost, scared woman and were shamed when she fended them off. They made up the ridiculous story about ‘monsters’ to make themselves look better.”

“But you’re worried about something.” Dawn said and Grange nodded.

“Yes. The elf she said was her master.”

“Are elves really dangerous?” Dawn asked skeptically and Grange nodded.

“Yes, they really are. And they are very possessive of their ‘collections’.”

“So you think he’ll realize she’s gone and come for her?”

“Oh he’s already realized she’s gone, I’m sure of that.” he replied. “And it will remain to be seen just how far he’s willing to go to get her back. She’s pack now and so I’ll fight to keep her safe.”

“I guess we should have Nickolai increase my fighting lessons.” Dawn said with a nervous laugh and Grange nodded.

“It probably wouldn’t hurt.”

Chapter Sixteen

Puppet made her way hastily down the empty hall. Her bare feet echoing off the cool stone floor and her heart thundering in her chest. Her white cotton shift dress was damp from both sweat and the moisture in the stale air and it clung to her chilled skin.

Her stomach was tied in knots but now that she had started on her mission to escape she knew that she had to see it through.

She was so close!

The Master was distracted by the disappearance of his pet lion and the lion’s escape had finally snapped Puppet from her obedient trance. She had no idea how long she had been in this place. It had felt like lifetimes. Eons.

She came to a corner, the last turn before she came to the door that would lead her out of the dungeons and into the back courtyard. From there she could slip through the gap in the hedges that she had noticed the last time she’d been taken out for a walk.

She pushed her back against the rough stone wall and took a deep breath to calm her heartbeat as she scented the air. She could smell the blood, sweat, urine, waste and fear that was always cloyingly strong here in the dungeons. The sound of creatures begging for their freedom filled her ears but she couldn’t worry about them.

Puppet had to worry about herself for once. She had to get herself free. The Master had been using her and her body for long enough. She would not allow him to do so any longer.

She had been here for so long that she had forgotten most of what her life had been like before. Flashes of her past would come to her now and then. Memories of the life she had once had. She could not remember anything about her pack or her family. But there was one person, one part of her history that she remembered vividly.

Nickolai. Strong, stoic Nickolai. She could remember the way his pale blue eyes had always looked at her with so much love, so much desire. She could remember what his thick brown hair had felt like as she had run her fingers through it. What his lips had felt like against her own. The way his hand had always seemed to find its way to her own.

She remembered Nickolai and she also remembered that Nickolai was dead. A man in her memories, she suspected he was her father but couldn’t really remember now, had told her so. That was when her Master had come. He had taken her away, and she had been too heartbroken and devastated by the loss of her mate to put up any sort of a fight.

Puppet shook her head to clear her thoughts and peeked around the corner. Empty. The final one hundred feet to the outside was clear.

Her thin cotton dress whipped around her shins as she ran to the exit and then took a deep breath before grabbing the rusted iron handle and opening the heavy wooden door, just a crack, with shaking hands.

The rusty hinges squeaked and Puppet winced, though she had knocked out the guard with her iron feed bowl, she worried that someone else may hear the sound and call up an alarm.

She let out a light sigh of relief when everything remained calm and then she poked her head through the door crack and looked around the courtyard. It was dark, and while there was a tower guard who kept an eye on the courtyard, she knew that he was only a half demon and therefore his eyesight was no better in the night than a mortals. It was his sense of hearing that made him dangerous but Puppet knew how to move silently. She had mastered at least that much while she had been her Masters prisoner and mistress.

If she stuck to the shadows then she could make it.

Where would she go? She didn’t know. She would worry about that later. Her first priority was simply getting away from here. Away from her master. Away from his bed and his cruelty. She slipped out the door, closing it silently behind her and then slipped through the shadows.

Her heart was thundering. Her stomach was tied in knots. A cold sweat covered her brow and her palms. Her mind kept playing tricks on her, causing her to hear things that weren’t there and her skin was crawling as if eyes were watching her from every direction. From behind every shadow, bush and tree.

But there was no one and Puppet made it to the gap in the hedges. She couldn’t believe how easy this has been. How foolishly she had stayed all this time when escape was so simple. But then again it wouldn’t have been so simple if her Master hadn’t been so distracted. Puppet slipped through the hedges and then she ran.

She ran as if her very life depended on it, and it probably did. She didn’t think about where she was going, she didn’t wonder at why her legs seemed determined to take her in a certain direction, she just ran and prayed she could make it a good distance before her Master realized she was missing.

---

“Farrah, you wanna go for a walk with me?” Trig asked his reflection in the mirror on the backside of the barn. He frowned and then puffed out his chest and stood as straight as he could manage. “Farrah, I wish for you to accompany me on a walk.”

Trig frowned again and his shoulders slumped. No matter what he did he just couldn’t seem to make himself as impressive as Nickolai. Sure he was taller than Nickolai by a good three inches but the other man just had a tough as nails exterior that Trig lacked.

No, he more than lacked it. It was completely non existent in the entire scope of his existence. Now normally Trig was very fond of himself and didn’t compare himself to anyone else so why was he suddenly feeling inferior to Nickolai?

Because Farrah seemed to be glued to Nickolai’s side. Three days! Three days she had been here and in those three days she and Trig had only shared a few words in passing. Trig, who had never been real suave with the ladies, was a complete and total bumbling idiot around the beautiful lion, and she had eyes only for Nickolai.

Okay so truthfully she was glued to Nickolai because he had been training Dawn and Farrah had seemed to be very interested in the fighting techniques he was using but still…. Farrah was his ! She was supposed to be glued to his hip!

Trig shook his head and then put on his best stoic face. It was hard since his lips seemed to be prone to curving into a smile all the time for no reason. He looked in the dirt smeared mirror and forced his eyes to become dull just like Nickolai always seemed to be.

“Farrah, it would satisfy me greatly if you will please go for a walk with me today.” He was feeling very proud of his Nickolaiesque performance when he heard a throat clear behind him. He spun around and felt himself flame red with embarrassment when he saw Farrah standing there staring at him as if he were crazy.

“Um, I would be more than happy to go for a walk with you but that’s not me. That’s a barn.” Trig coughed to cover up his embarrassment and nodded quickly.

“Yeah, I uh.. I know that.” he replied. “I was practicing…”

“Practicing for what?” she asked as she tilted her head.

“For um.. Asking you to walk with me.” Farrah rubbed at her arm and shook her head.

“That is…. Strange.” she finally replied and Trig nodded.

“Yep.” he replied, silently wishing that a giant black hole would open up beneath him and swallow him whole.

“Are we walking now?” Farrah asked quizzically and Trig nodded.

“Yeah. Yeah, we’re walking now.” he replied quickly.

---

Grange watched Trig and Farrah walk off into the woods and frowned. Dawn was around back washing clothes and so Grange walked to the edge of the forest where Nickolai was standing and simply staring off into the distance.

“Nice day.” Grange stated as he came to stand beside the wolf and looked up at the cloudless blue sky. Nickolai grunted and gave a small nod in response.

Grange worried about the other man. He had been more distant than usual for the last day or two. He spent more time simply staring or pacing with agitation. It almost seemed as if he was jumping back and forth between dazed and restless.

“You seem to be thinking hard.” Grange stated, unsure of how to work around to asking what was wrong with Nickolai. Grange wasn’t a man who knew much of anything about conversations or feelings so a conversation about feelings was completely unexplored territory.

Nickolai was silent for so long that Grange was about to take the hint and walk away when finally the sad wolf whispered;

“It has been seventy-six years today since my Brie was taken from me.”

Grange felt his own heart twist. A member of his pack was hurting and Grange understood his pain. Albeit he had only thought his mate lost for mere hours not three quarters of a century but the heartache was the same.

“I am sorry.” Grange replied quietly. “I did not know.”

“I cannot explain it, Grange.” Nickolai stated with confusion. “I had made peace with her death. I had accepted it. Yet the last few days I have suddenly started thinking of her more. I have this urge in my soul to get to her. Which makes no sense when she is dead…”

Grange wished there was something he could say but he knew there wasn’t and he didn’t think Nickolai really wanted him to comment. The man was just venting. Simply thinking out loud.

“Dawn seems to be coming along well with her lessons.” he finally said, filling the silence that had overcome them both. Nickolai nodded and some of the sadness disappeared from his face.

“Yes she is a natural. Today she nearly blacked my eye.” he chuckled. “Of course afterward she apologized profusely and nearly cried before saying she would bake me a carrot cake to make up for it.”

“She’s a lover not a fighter.” Grange stated with amusement and Nickolai nodded.

“Yes she is. In many ways she reminds me of my Brie. I regret not teaching her to protect herself. I trusted that I and those of the pack would always do the protecting for her.”

“We are wolves, Nickolai, it is in our nature to be protective. You could not have known what would happen.”

“I should have known.” Nickolai argued and Grange said nothing. Finally Nickolai sighed and crossed his arms over his chest.

“I see Trig finally got around to getting Farrah alone.”

“Do you really believe that she is his mate?” Grange asked and Nickolai shrugged.

“Trig certainly seems to think so. He would know more so than I.”

“But she’s a werelion. Is that even possible?”

“I have heard of matches such as that before.” Nickolai assured him. “Though Farrah is unlike anyone I have ever met. Stern like a soldier one moment and more than a little odd in the next.”

“Yes she is certainly unique.” Nickolai was about to reply when suddenly the sound of hoof beats reached both of their ears and they stiffened and turned to look at the road.

Grange relaxed slightly when he saw that it was sheriff Bishop. He and Nickolai walked out to the road and met the lawman as he came to stop and dismounted his horse.

“What brings you all the way out here, sheriff?” Grange asked good naturedly. It was a good hours ride at a pretty fast clip from town to here and not many people made the trip unless they needed to.

“Well, Grange, as much as I’d like to say it was just a friendly visit, it’s not. I’m looking for a woman actually and was wondering if you’ve seen her.” Grange glanced over at Nickolai but the man’s face was unreadable. Grange had never met a person who could hide emotions as well as he himself did but he had found that person in Nickolai.

“Has this woman does something wrong?” Grange asked and sheriff Bishop frowned.

“I really probably shouldn’t talk to you about that….” he started and Grange smiled, though he knew the smile wouldn’t reach his eyes.

“Come on now, sheriff. If that woman comes around I have a right to know if my wife is in danger.”

“There were some men in town that said she is dangerous.” Grange raised a brow but inside he groaned. Looked like the miners were still after the ‘monster’ that had attacked them.

“Trig has a woman with him. She’s a tall woman, real pretty with dark hair. She showed up a couple of days ago.” Grange replied and he felt Nickolai’s eyes land on him, even as he saw Dawn come around the cabin.

“That sounds like the woman I’m looking for.” the sheriff stated. “Where is she? I’d like to ask her some questions.”

“She’s gone with Trig. But I might have a few things to say to those men that are looking for her. Where are they?”

“They left town when I told them I didn’t think she was here. Something about them seemed off and their story seemed a little far fetched.”

“What was their story?” Grange asked, happy that sheriff Bishop was a fair man who didn’t believe in what he considered ‘fairy tale’ creatures.

“They claim she transformed into a giant cat and attacked them before running away.” sheriff Bishop replied. “Given the attacks in recent weeks I have to at least ask questions, no matter how ridiculous I think it is.” Grange and Nickolai shared a look of mock disbelief and Grange chuckled as he turned back to the sheriff.

“That’s a lot different from the story we heard. Those men are just licking their wounds and their damaged pride after she handed them their asses.”

“That’s what I figured.” sheriff Bishop replied with a nod. “But I’d still like to talk to her.”

“I’ll tell you what, sheriff, I’ll make sure Farrah comes into town tomorrow and talks to you. Will that work?”

“I guess it will have to, won’t it?” Grange nodded with a grin and the sheriff sighed. “I’ll be heading back in to town then, Grange. Sorry to bother you.”

“No bother, sheriff.” Grange assured him. The sheriff mounted his horse, tipped his hat to Dawn, who was walking to them and then rode off back toward town.

“What was that about?” Dawn asked as she approached them. Grange grabbed her and pulled her into his arms.

“Just the visit we’ve been expecting.” he replied. “Apparently the miners found our town and asked the sheriff about Farrah. Thankfully he sent them on their way but he does want to speak to Farrah tomorrow.”

“Do you think she’s ready for that?” Dawn asked skeptically. They hadn’t yet taken her into town. She was odd and unpredictable and they were afraid of how she would act if for some reason she felt threatened.

“She has to be.” Grange replied with a shrug, though he wasn’t sure himself.

Silence followed and then the silence was broken by a pain filled yelp in the distance.

“That sounded like Trig!” Dawn exclaimed.

“That was Trig.” Grange growled. “Get in the cabin and stay in the cabin.” he warned her as he scented the air. He could smell them. The miners. The stench of a group of mortal men and their anger filling the breeze.

“But I…” Dawn started and Grange growled loudly and pointed at the house. Dawn glared at him but then quickly ran to the cabin and slammed the door closed behind her. Grange and Nickolai quickly pulled off their clothing to save them from being destroyed and they were running into the woods even as they shifted.

Chapter Seventeen

“I wondered when you would want to spend time with me.” Farrah said matter of factly as she and Trig walked through the trees. Trig frowned and glanced over at her.

“You seemed busy.” he replied. She frowned and picked a big green leaf from a nearby tree. She began to tear strips from the leaf as she looked over at him.

“Busy? I have not been busy.” she replied and then she sighed. “Busy is busy. Busy is when you have no time to think. Busy is better.”

“Better than what?” Trig asked.

“Than thinking.” Farrah replied quietly. Trig wanted to slip his arm around her but was afraid she would shy away from his touch the way she always seemed to.

“Life was hard there wasn’t it?”

“The Master kept it simple. No need for making decisions. Just do as you’re told and you might get food and no beatings. Do wrong and you will wish for death but not receive it.”

“You’re not in that world anymore, Farrah, and believe me when I tell you that you never will be again.” Farrah studied him for a moment and then tossed her leaf aside.

“It was very kind of your pack to take me in.” she said, looking away quickly. Trig sighed. He was sure that Farrah was his mate. The way his wolf reacted to her could not be mistaken for anything else and the fact that he did not have any desire for any other woman, not even that voluptuous raven haired beauty at the brothel who had been his favorite before Farrah’s arrival. But even though he was certain of this, she had yet to mention it or even act as if Trig was anything special.

Now Trig wasn’t a coward but he also wasn’t real eager to open his mouth, vow his devotion to the woman and have her laugh in his face.

“Have you been having fun watching the lessons with Nickolai?” he asked, and Farrah frowned and ran her hand through her long silky hair, causing Trig to lose focus on his footsteps and trip over a root, he nearly fell on his face but Farrah caught him by the arm and held him up.

At the feel of her touch Trig very nearly lost control. He wanted nothing more than to grab her in his arms, lose his fingers in all that hair and kiss her until she was breathless. He should be able to, after all, because she was his mate. She had been made just for him and him for her.

Farrah must have seen the hunger in his eyes because she quickly released her hold on him and stepped away, her own eyes shining with fear.

“You don’t have to be afraid of me, Farrah.” Trig said gently as he stepped toward her and she matched his movement by stepping back and keeping the distance between them. “I won’t hurt you.” Her eyes darted back and forth and then she crossed her arms and began walking again.

“What is fun?” she asked suddenly. Trig blinked several times as he stared at the empty space where she had been standing moments ago.

“Huh?” he muttered, unsure of what she was talking about.

“You asked if I was having fun. What is fun?”

“Really?” Trig asked with a frown as he caught up to her. “You don’t know what fun is?”

“It is a concept I do not understand.”

“Fun.. It means..” Trig thought about a way to explain fun. “When you’re having fun you feel freer. Lighter. It makes you laugh and makes you smile.”

Farrah thought for a moment and then a bright smile lit her face. Trig felt his mouth go dry at the sight and his heart began to thunder.

“All those things you said are me with you.” she said happily. “You are fun.”

“Glad you think so.” Trig replied, feeling his heart swell. He reached out a tentative hand and wrapped his fingers around her own. Farrah looked down at their hands with a frown and then she smiled and squeezed his hand tighter and stepped closer to him as they walked.

Trig wondered how to bring up the fact that she was his mate. How would he tell her?

They came to a bit of a clearing in the trees and Trig stopped and pulled Farrah to a stop as well.

“Farrah, I’m really glad that you found me on the road that day.” he admitted and Farrah nodded.

“And I’m glad I found you as well. Could have been worse, much worse, had I found someone else.” Trig grinned and pulled her closer, surprised when she allowed herself to be moved.

“Farrah, can I kiss you?” he asked quietly as his heart thundered in his chest and nerves danced in his stomach. Farrah smiled but then she frowned and a line creased her brow.

“No!” she exclaimed loudly. Trig’s eyes widened and he took a step back.

“Okay….” he replied slowly. “I’m sorry I asked.” he added with a disappointed pout. He saw Farrah’s nostrils flare and then a panicked light came to her eyes.

“No! No! No!” she cried out.

“What’s wrong?” Trig demanded and he scented the air himself only to have a growl coming from deep in his chest when he realized that there was a group of angry men fairly close and closing in. He could even hear them now that he was listening.

He’d been too consumed in Farrah. Too busy thinking of her to realize that any danger had been near.

“Are they the men that hurt you?” He asked but Farrah was lost to her panic.

“Run. Run. Have to run!” she exclaimed. Trig would be damned before they ran. He wasn’t going to let those men get away with what they’d done to her. Her bruises might be healed and her limp might be gone but they had hurt his mate and that wasn’t something that he would allow to go unpunished.

“Stay here.” he ordered and Farrah shook her head. Then the first of the men came into view and Farrah growled loudly. Trig realized she was about to shift and he quickly wrapped his arms around her.

“Hold on to it, Farrah! Now is not the time!” he urged as soothingly as he could. But she fought wildly like the cat she was against him. It was all Trig could do to hold her in place as she screamed with a mixture of fear and anger. Then her body began to change in his arms.

“It’s the monster!” the man yelled. Trig cursed and tried hard to keep his hold on Farrah but she let out a panicked hiss and swung her arm, which was now more cat than human and equipped with long, razor sharp claws that raked across his cheek.

Trig let out a loud yelp of pain and jumped away from her. Within seconds she had become a large tan mountain lion. Trig met her eyes, gray and full of fear and then she quickly turned and ran off into the woods.

“After her!” One of the men yelled. Trig turned to see the miners had all entered the clearing. Close to twenty men all on horseback with guns, knives and bad tempers.

“Leave her alone.” Trig growled as blood poured down his cheek and soaked into the collar of his white chambray shirt.

“Like hell!” one of the men on a large white horse stated as he came forward. “We plan on killing that thing! It killed our friends.”

“I’m afraid you’ll have to kill me first.” Trig warned. While he had hoped she wouldn’t shift in front of the men yet again, he was glad she was out of danger. Trig would do what must be done to prevent any of these men from going after her.

“Whatever you say.” The lead man said with a smile and a shrug. He pulled his black powder revolver and fired a shot. Trig felt the pain, like a fire, spreading down his arm as the bullet slammed into his shoulder. He stumbled backward and then he looked up and met the shooters eyes.

The man looked confident and cocky until a smile curved Trig’s lips and then without warning, Trig lunged forward, leaping through the air and shifting while airborne before slamming into the man and throwing him from his horse, ripping out his throat before they even hit the ground.

Cries of shock, terror and fear filled the air, along with gunshots. Though the shots didn’t meet their marks as Trig darted from man to man, taking down horses and riders alike. That was until one man managed to get his rifle from his scabbard and fired a shot. The bullet hit Trig in the side, slamming through his ribs and hitting his lung.

It wasn’t enough to kill Trig but it slowed him down. The pain nearly unbearable and his breathing was becoming more difficult. He lunged toward the man with the rifle, who was busy trying to reload, but then another man jumped on his back and began to slam the butt of his revolver against Trig’s head.

Rifle man had another shot loaded and suddenly Trig was worried. Several men were reloading their spent revolvers and Trig wondered if perhaps he was going to die today. He swung his head back and caught the man on his back by the arm, pulling him off and slamming him to the ground before going for his throat.

Trig looked up to see the rifle man taking aim and he braced himself for the impact of the bullet only to hear a scream unlike anything he’d ever heard and then a large, tan blur flew through the air and caught the man with the rifle, knocking him sideways and breaking his neck with a horrific sounding crack.

Trig realized that Farrah had come back for him and then a howling filled the air and Trig caught Grange’s and Nickolai’s scents just before the other two wolves came bursting into the clearing.

The chaos ended within moments and Trig shifted back to human form quickly and collapsed on the forest floor. Breathing was hard and the bullet was still lodged inside of him. His face was a mess of cuts from Farrah’s claws and welts from the revolver being slammed against it and his shoulder was throbbing from the bullet that had gone through it.

He was bleeding hard and losing consciousness fast.

His eyes were about to slip closed when suddenly Farrah’s face appeared above him. Her long, silky brown hair hung down and brushed against his face and his lips curved in a smile.

“Trig?” Farrah whispered. “Trig, are you going to be okay?”

“Just.. Fine..” Trig managed to whisper painfully.

“Good.” Farrah said with relief. “I don’t want to lose my fun.” Trig chuckled but then began choking on the blood in his lungs.

“I’m more than just your fun.” he finally whispered. She nodded.

“Yes. Yes you are.” Her hand lightly stroked his unmarked cheek and Trig leaned into her touch. This was the first time she had ever voluntarily touched him, or anyone else since coming to stay with them.

Grange had shifted and walked over just as Trig slipped into unconsciousness.

Farrah looked up at him with nervousness but Grange gave her the most comforting smile he knew how to give.

“He’ll be fine. It takes more than that to kill a wolf. By tomorrow morning he’ll be bouncing around and driving me crazy yet again.”

Grange heard a whistling sound behind him and turned to see Nickolai had also shifted and was walking toward him with a broken nose.

“Looks like someone landed a good hit.” Grange stated with amusement and Nickolai raised a brow.

“I landed a better one.” he replied, though his voice was more high pitched and wheezy than normal, given the state of his nose. Grange found himself chuckling as he hoisted Trig up and laid the pup over his shoulder.

“I’ll clean the mess.” Nickolai offered and Grange shook his head.

“You need to go home and let your nose heal. I’ll clean the mess just as soon as we get Trig settled in at the cabin.” he replied. Nickolai just tipped his head in acknowledgment and the three of them began walking back toward the cabin.

“What happened?” Grange asked Farrah.

“He wanted a kiss.” she replied as she glanced off into the trees.

“One of those men?” Grange asked with confusion and she shook her head.

“Trig.” she amended. Grange let out a long sigh, counted to three for patience and then tried again.

“Those men, when did they come?”

“When Trig wanted a kiss.” Farrah replied, acting as if Grange was simply not paying close enough attention. “I was going to kiss him but I smelled them. I am not proud of my panic but Trig was brave. He faced them all down just to protect me.”

“Well they are gone now.” Grange stated with relief. There was now one less thing to be worried about.

As they neared the cabin an unfamiliar scent came to Grange’s nose and he paused.

“There is a wolf at the cabin.” he growled, instantly fearing for Dawn. “A female wolf.” He scented the air more closely but smelled no blood or fear. “I don’t think she is a threat but I do not recognize her scent.”

“I will be no help.” Nickolai replied, motioning toward his nose which would need a good day to be healed completely.

“It’s Puppet!” Farrah exclaimed with surprise. “Puppet got away!” Grange and Nickolai shared a look, both of them instantly wondering if Puppet had come alone. Grange could not smell anyone else but that didn’t comfort him. Until he saw that Dawn was untouched and unharmed he would be on edge.

He set off at a run with Nickolai and Farrah running alongside him. The cabin came into view and Dawn stepped out on the porch.

“Oh my God! Is Trig okay?!” She exclaimed with panic as she ran to Grange. Grange nodded.

“He will be fine just as soon as the bullet is removed and he heals.” he replied. “Who is here?”

“Puppet.” Farrah replied as if worrying Grange might really be either hard of hearing or stupid.

“Yes. She says her name is Puppet. She is looking for Nickolai.” Dawn replied.

“Me?” Nickolai asked. “I know no one named ‘Puppet’.” Nickolai’s eyes went to the cabin and then he stumbled back a step when a small red head walked slowly out the door.

Grange studied her. She was short, shorter than even Dawn, probably not even five feet. Her hair, long red curls, surrounded her soft body. Her skin was pale and littered with light freckles and her eyes were a mix of green and gray.

Grange looked over at Nickolai who took a hesitant step forward.

“Nickolai?” the woman asked in a voice that sounded as light and airy as she looked.

“Brie… ?My Brie?”

Chapter Eighteen

“Brie?” Puppet asked with a confused frown. “Is that my name?” Nickolai stepped forward and nodded. This was the first familiar face for Brie. The first person she recognized from before the Master had taken possession of her.

“Don’t you remember?” Nickolai asked, still standing several feet away. Too many feet as far as Puppet was concerned. Brie, she thought to herself with a shake of her head. Brie was her name.

“I don’t remember anything about my life before my Master bought me. But I do remember you. My strong soldier. My Nickolai.”

Brie watched him take another few steps forward and reach out a trembling hand but he stopped inches from her waiting cheek. The look in his eyes told her that he was afraid. Only she had ever been able to read Nickolai, and now, even after years of being apart, she could still read him.

He was afraid and she thought she knew why. The trembling in his hand told her that he was avoiding touching her, for fear that she would disappear. For fear that she wouldn’t really be there and this was all a trick of the light and the brain.

Brie closed the remaining distance between them and leaned her cheek against his rough, calloused hand. Her eyes slid closed as the sensations washed over her. So long it had been since she had felt this. For so long she had known only cold, wicked evilness but now she was once again feeling the tender caress of her Nickolai’s hand on her skin.

Grange understood that privacy was needed for the reunited mates and so he motioned for Farrah to come with him and led she and Dawn into the cabin, closing the door behind them.

Grange laid Trig on the floor and grabbed a small pillow from the couch to support his head.

“What happened?” Dawn asked. She grabbed a blanket off the sofa and tossed it to Farrah who frowned but then tied it around herself to hide her nakedness.

“Those men found us. Trig was so brave.” Farrah replied with a small smile as she studied his drawn face.

“Thank you, sweetheart.” Trig whispered and Dawn and Farrah both gasped in surprise when his eyes fluttered open. “That was a nice rest but do you think you could get the chunk of lead out of my chest?”

“Sure thing.” Grange replied. He turned to Dawn.

“I need to go get that mess took care of before anyone else finds it. Can you handle this?” Grange could tell Dawn wanted to say no but instead she squared her shoulders and nodded.

“Yeah.” Grange kissed her brow and then went out the back door of the cabin. Dawn couldn’t help but blush and follow the movements of his sleek, naked body until he was out of sight.

She looked down at Trig’s injuries and felt bile rise in her throat at he sight of the bloody holes between his ribs and on his shoulder. She swallowed hard and looked up at his face.

His brown eyes were shining with pain, his skin pale and slicked with sweat. She grabbed a small swatch of cloth she’d been sewing off the sofa and laid it over Trig’s waist to save her eyes from traveling in that direction.

“I guess I’ll have to get a knife or something to help get the bullet out. I hope that will….” Dawn didn’t have time to finish her sentence before Farrah reached forward, a long, sharp claw forming at the end of her finger.

She stuck the claw into the hole in Trig’s chest and Dawn covered her mouth with her hand and nearly let out a cry of shock when she began fishing around for the bullet.

Trig’s jaw clamped shut tight and his eyes widened as his muscles tensed and his tendons bulged.

It only took Farrah a matter of seconds before she was pulling her fingers from the hole with what was left of the bullet pinched between them.

“Got it!” she said with a proud, happy smile. Trig took several long deep breaths and then managed a weak smile as his blood covered the floor beneath him.

“Good job, sweetheart.” he managed to gasp and Farrah beamed with pride.

---

“How are you here?” Nickolai managed to whisper as his thumb stroked his Brie’s soft jaw. “Your father said you were dead. He told me you were dead.”

“My father..?” Brie asked thoughtfully. She thought back to her memory. The man, she had always assumed was her father, telling her that Nickolai was dead and then selling her to her Master. Her Master had handed her father a good deal of money and then taken her away.

“Do you remember him?” Nickolai asked.

“I remember his face, though I did not realize for sure that the memory was of my father.” she replied. “He told me you were dead.”

“That makes no sense.” Nickolai stated and then he shook his head. “I don’t want to talk about that right now, I just want to hold you.”

“I want to be held by you.” Nickolai pulled her into his arms and felt his legs begin to shake as he held his Brie’s soft, small body against his own.

So long it had been since he had felt this kind of peace. The peace that only Brie had ever given him. Why had Colin lied to him? Why had her father told Nickolai that Brie was dead? Why had he told Brie that Nickolai was dead?

“Walk with me?” Nickolai asked and Brie nodded as she breathed him in.

“I’d follow you anywhere, Nickolai. The same as I always did.” Nickolai smiled and then jogged over to where he had left his trousers. After pulling them on and using his discarded shirt to clean the blood from his face and nose the best he could, he took Brie’s hand and led her into the woods, toward the pool of water that was a favorite of the pack.

“So pretty.” Brie gasped as she looked at the sun sparkling like diamonds atop the water. Dragonflies darted about while birds sang in the surrounding oaks and pines. Wildflowers danced in the breeze, filling the air with their fragrance. “For so long I saw nearly nothing other than stone walls.”

Nickolai tensed as his grip on her tightened.

“Were you with that elf, Brie? Farrah told us you were called ‘Puppet’ there.” Brie swallowed hard and snuggled deeper into his embrace. Safe and loved. Those were two things that she felt with Nickolai that she hadn’t felt in a long long time.

“Yes. My Master.” Nickolai growled and spun her around, putting his hand under her chin and forcing her gaze up to him.

“You have no master !” he stated fiercely. Fear flashed in Brie’s gray/green eyes and Nickolai forced himself to take a deep breath to calm his temper.

“You have no master, my Brie. You are not with that man any longer and you never will be again. You are back with me where you belong. Where you should have been all these years.”

“I love you, Nickolai.” Brie whispered. Nickolai smiled and ran his hand along her cheek before pulling her face up and bending down to brush his lips gently against her own.

Brie sighed and slid her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. Nickolai knew they still had things to talk about. It had been nearly a century since they had even seen one another but right now, kissing her like this, it felt as if she had never gone away.

He remembered the softness of her lips, the way she purred in the back of her throat when he kissed her and the way her fingers sunk deep in his hair, looping the strands around themselves. He remembered the way her body fit so perfectly up against his own and how her softness had always made him feel stronger and more powerful.

He held her closer, deepening the kiss and moving his hand down along her shoulder. She was dressed in only a thin, dirt stained, white cotton gown that barely fell past her knees and was sleeveless so the soft skin of her shoulder could be felt beneath his hand.

His heart began to thunder faster, his blood pumping hotter as his hand searched lower still and cupped her full breast in his hand. His hand recognized the weight and the feel of her against his palm. A growl formed in his chest, coming out against her lips but then he felt her stiffen and her moans of pleasure became moans of fear and panic.

She fought against him and Nickolai quickly broke his hold and let her go.

“What is wrong?” he asked as gently as he could, though his nose was hurting and he currently had a throbbing in his trousers.

“Nothing.” Brie promised quietly, suddenly looking embarrassed. “I’m sorry.” Nickolai studied her and felt a rock settling into the pit of his stomach.

She had never shied away from his touch before. As a matter of fact she had always been very eager and passionate with him. Farrah had said something about ‘Puppet’ being the Masters favorite. That he took special care of her so she could satisfy him and not stink up his bed.

A rage unlike anything Nickolai had ever known filled his soul. He had been trained, coached, from a young age to never show his emotions. Never lose control. Always stern and always stoic was how he’d been taught to be, but now he lost control.

A growl, that was more roar than growl, burst from his lips, thundering through the trees and filling the peaceful afternoon. Brie winced and stepped away from him as he shook with the intensity of his anger.

“He touched you, didn’t he?” his managed to ask through his clenched teeth and tense jaw. Tears filled Brie’s eyes.

“I’m sorry, Nickolai. I never wanted to be unfaithful to you! He made me… Please believe me!” she pleaded as she clung to his tense arm. Nickolai shook his head and yanked himself away from her touch.

He had done that to her! He had let that man have her! She was his mate and it had been his job to keep her safe! He shouldn’t have just taken someone’s word that she was dead! He should have checked for himself. He should have taken the time to find out what had happened.

Because of his failures as a mate, his Brie had been prisoner to a man who had used her. Who had brainwashed her. Caused her to forget everything she had once known and had touched her body as if it belonged to him!

“I think I should get you back now.” Nickolai growled and then he turned and stalked away, giving Brie no choice but to follow as silent tears ran in rivers down her cheeks.

Nickolai did not want her any longer. She couldn’t blame him. Not after another man had touched her body the way only her mate should have. She should have fought against her Master harder and she had in the beginning but the pain of the beatings had been too much and she had learned that it was easier to simply lie there and let him take what he wanted.

When Nickolai had been touching her she had suddenly remembered the feeling of the Masters hands on her and that had caused her to panic. She wanted Nickolai to touch her again, make her forget, but now that would never happen. Her mate was done with her and the worst part of it was that she did not blame him.

---

It hadn’t taken Grange long at all to clean the mess. Thankfully the miners had attacked Trig and Farrah close to an abandoned pit that was nearly a mile deep. Deep enough that no on would ever find the bodies.

He had shifted, tossed them all in, raised his leg over them for good measure and then headed back toward the cabin. He needed a good bath but figured that Dawn would need one as well so they might as well take one together.

He shifted back to his human form, grabbed his trousers off the ground beside the road and pulled them on. He was about to go inside and get Dawn when Nickolai came striding out of the woods with Brie trailing behind him, crying silently.

It was clear that Nickolai was in a rage. The man was shaking and his fists were clenched. His eyes were narrowed to barely more than slits and his jaw was hard. Grange was surprised, to say the least. He had never seen Nickolai’s face and posture show emotion with this much intensity.

“What’s going on?” Grange asked.

“I’m going after him. I’m going to kill him for what he did to my mate.” Nickolai growled, his voice low and deadly. Brie seemed surprised to hear this.

“What?!” she exclaimed as she came around him and put her hands on his chest. Nickolai stopped dead in his tracks and looked down at her. Brie saw it then, beneath all the anger and rage was a sadness and a guilt so profound that it stole her own breath.

“Nickolai, you cannot go after him. I finally got you back. We are together now. The past doesn’t matter… Unless.. Unless it matters to you.” Brie whispered. Grange knew she needed reassurance but it was clear that Nickolai’s anger was too great for him to notice anything other than his urge for vengeance.

“I trust you to watch Brie while I am gone.” Nickolai said, turning his gaze toward Grange, and then he began to walk away once again, moving Brie out of the way with one arm as he went.

Grange stepped in front of Nickolai and shook his head.

“No. You will not leave.” he stated firmly. Nickolai met Grange’s eyes and the two stared hard at one another. The tension was thick in the air and the air practically crackled.

“I will avenge what happened to my mate.” Nickolai growled. Grange nodded.

“I agree but this is not the way.” Grange replied.

“Get out of my way!” Nickolai yelled. Grange was shocked by the outburst but stood his ground. He didn’t care how angry Nickolai was, he wouldn’t allow a member of his pack to rush off and commit suicide.

“I am the alpha here and I say you are not going anywhere.” Grange insisted. He noticed Dawn, Trig and Farrah come out onto the porch but before he could tell them to stay back, Nickolai lunged at him.

Grange caught the smaller man but Nickolai was good at fighting and he swung up his leg and caught Grange in the temple. Grange growled and realized that Nickolai was starting to shift. Grange beat him to it and then pinned the other wolf to the ground.

Nickolai snapped his jaws at him and Grange quickly closed his teeth around Nickolai’s neck, stilling his movements. Both Dawn and Brie ran forward, crying for both of the men to stop.

Grange finally felt Nickolai’s body sag beneath his own and the other wolf whimpered his submission.

Grange jumped away from him and shifted back just as Dawn came running into his arms.

“Are you okay?” she gasped and Grange saw the gold in her eyes and knew she had barely kept herself from shifting as well and jumping to his aide. He simply nodded in response and kept a close eye on Nickolai who had shifted back as well and was getting to his feet.

“I apologize, alpha.” he said, bowing his head. “I will not lose control like that again.” Grange just shook his head.

“Why don’t we all just go up to the porch and talk this through?” he replied before leading Dawn that way.

Nickolai took Brie by the arm and turned his back on the porch to give him what privacy he could.

“I’m so sorry, my Brie.” He saw the tears on her face and gently smoothed them away with his thumbs. “Why are you crying so?”

Her big, sad eyes looked up at him and her small fingers ran over the hard muscles of his chest.

“I just want you to know that I understand.” she replied quietly. Nickolai frowned.

“Understand what?”

“Why you are angry with me.”

“Angry with you?” Nickolai whispered with shock. “I am not angry with you. Never with you.” A line creased in Brie’s brow as she studied his face.

“But you are angry…” she replied slowly.

“Yes. With me. With that elf. With life for being so damn unfair to you. I should have kept you safe. I failed you, my Brie.”

“No, Nickolai, you did not.” Brie replied as she laid her cheek against his tense jaw. Nickolai leaned against the touch and Brie smiled. “There is a lot going on that I don’t understand but what I do know is that I love you. I have loved you all these years and that will never change. You are my strong soldier. My Nickolai.”

Nickolai pulled her close and kissed her hair.

“I missed you so.” he whispered.

“Nickolai, come on now.” Grange called from the porch. Nickolai turned just in time to catch the trousers that Grange threw to him. Nikcolai pulled them on and Grange nodded.

“Come on then, you two, we have a few things to figure out. And then I believe a trip to town will be in order because we‘re running out of clothes.”

Chapter Nineteen

“How did you manage to escape, Puppet?” Farrah asked as she stood with her back against the far wall. Trig was sitting against the wall, propped on up pillows and looking very pampered. Brie was seated on the sofa with a plate full of the ham and potatoes leftover from their dinner the evening before and Nickolai was behind her, as if standing guard while Grange and Dawn sat curled up together in the large chair.

“Her name is Brie.” Nickolai quickly corrected and Trig grunted as he adjusted himself against the pillows.

“Farrah didn’t mean nothing by it, Nickolai.” Nickolai’s brow rose a fraction in response and Brie smiled apologetically at Farrah.

“The Master was so upset about you leaving that he became blindly focused on figuring out where you went. I took advantage of his distraction and the lack of guards and snuck away.”

“And how did you find us?” Dawn asked. Grange kissed her hair.

“Her wolf would have brought her right to Nickolai. The same as Farrah’s cat brought her to Trig. And the same as you were drawn to this tiny nowhere town because I was here.”

“I didn’t realize Master would even know I was gone.” Farrah said and then she looked at the walls around her. “They don’t close in here.”

Grange shook his head, wondered what he did to deserve such a crazy person in his pack and then turned back to Brie.

“Do you know what ‘masters’ name is?”

“I was forbidden to ever say it but, yes, I heard others call him by it. His name is Faugrimm.”

Grange, Trig and Nickolai all shared looks but neither had heard the name before.

“How far from here were you?” Grange asked, looking at both Farrah and Brie.

“I ran for nearly three days to get here. It wouldn’t have taken as long as a wolf but Master… I mean Faugrimm, taught us quick that we are not allowed to shift at will.” Brie replied and Farrah nodded.

“It took me less time but I shifted and came as a cat part of the way.”

“What about when you had to shift?” Trig asked Brie as he picked at his bandage and Farrah reached down and smacked his head. He glared up at her but the glare quickly turned into a goofy grin when she smiled down.

“He would put us in chains, in a cage, and he would watch or assign someone to watch.” Brie stated simply.

“How long did he have you?” Nickolai, who had been silent for a long time finally asked. Brie seemed to think for a long time and then she looked back and up at him.

“I don’t know for sure.” she replied. “A long time. I remember a man, a wolf, the one who told me you were dead and he called me daughter… Yes he was my father, I’m starting to remember more now.” Brie pressed her fingers into her tempers and closed her eyes as if in pain. Nickolai’s hand closed gently around her shoulder and Dawn stood quickly.

She poured Brie a glass of tea and took her now empty plate to the kitchen before going back to Grange in the chair.

“Thank you.” Brie said gratefully as she sipped at the tea.

“What did your father tell you happened to me, my Brie?” Brie sighed and leaned back against his touch.

“It all just seems like a dream now but I know it wasn’t. I was in our room, pacing, wishing you were not so overprotective of me so that I could help you. That stupid wolf you told to guard me kept opening the door every single time I breathed too loudly just to make sure I was okay. Father came to me and he looked tired, bloodied and sad. He told me you had been killed and I remember falling to the floor and sobbing…”

“I was told, by your father, that the wolf I had left to guard you abandoned you and that a wolf from the rival pack came in and killed you.” Nickolai growled, a shiver washing over him at the memory. Then he frowned. “But why would Colin lie to both of us?”

“What happened next, Brie?” Grange urged. Brie took another sip of tea and picked at the torn hem of her thin dress.

“Faugrimm came. I was still reeling from learning of Nickolai’s death. I remember catching snippets of the conversation between he and my father. My father was in desperate need of money because he had borrowed some from some unsavory dwarves and could not pay them back. Faugrimm handed him a huge jingling sack and then he took me away.”

“Colin sold you?” Nickolai whispered, his voice seething with anger.

“Damn Nickolai, I’ve never seen you so emotional before.” Trig stated with a grin and this earned him a sharp look from everyone. He smiled guiltily and shrugged his good shoulder. “Not a good time for jokes?”

“Grange.” Nickolai said as he stood straighter and squared his shoulders. Grange looked at him with a raise of his brow.

“What?”

“I’m only asking permission out of respect since you are the alpha but I want to go kill him. I want to go up to Canada and tear his head clean off his shoulders.”

“Of course you do.” Grange replied simply and Brie shook her head and leapt to her feet. She turned to face him, wishing she could get closer but the sofa was in the way.

“No, Nickolai.” she stated firmly. “You will not go after him.”

“Why? Simply because he is your father?” Nickolai demanded with passion. Only Brie had ever managed to bring passionate emotions from him. Lust, love, anger, jealousy, sorrow, temper. Only his Brie.

“No not simply because he is my father.” Brie replied, her face flushing and her green/gray eyes flashing. “If he comes here, if he somehow finds out we’re both here and tries to come, then you have my full support in tearing his head clean off his shoulders !” she exclaimed. “But I finally have you back, Nickolai! We are finally together! Why go make war? Why go risk your life simply for revenge or vengeance? Let’s simply be together and my father and that pack be damned?”

“You cursed.” Nickolai stated, his lips curving with sudden amusement when Brie blushed and bit her lip.

“Only you could ever make me curse.” she mumbled and Nickolai leapt over the couch and gathered her up in a tight hug.

“I tend to agree with Brie.” Grange admitted. “We have enough trouble coming our way without going out and looking for more. From the way it sounds we have Faugrimm’s two favorite ‘pets’ and I’m sure challenging wolf packs will show up here eventually. I need my Beta’s here.”

Nickolai sighed and forced himself to use logic instead of letting his emotions control him. Grange and Brie were right. Vengeance for the events of three quarters of a century ago had to come second to the welfare of the pack. He had his Brie here now and that was all that mattered. But with any luck, Colin would show up to challenge Grange and give Nickolai the opening he needed to end his life.

He simply bowed his acceptance of Grange’s decision.

“How long before Faugrimm finds us?” Brie asked, her voice shaking a bit. Nickolai held her tighter and Grange rubbed his neck.

“Days.” he replied simply. “Trig, focus on healing. Nickolai, Farrah, you should probably begin training Brie as well as Dawn. Brie, tonight we will all shift so that you can practice since you have not done so in a while. I will go patrol and make sure the scent is strong around the cabin. With any luck Faugrimm will come straight here and bypass the town. I’d like to have as little damage done to the people there as possible.”

“Wow, you just sounded like an alpha.” Trig said with a grin. Grange rolled his eyes.

“I am an alpha.”

“You are? ” Trig asked with shock. “You almost knocked my teeth down my throat for calling you one a few weeks ago.” Grange growled and stood up.

“I have work to do.” he grumbled. He kissed Dawn’s hair and then left the cabin.

“So moody.” Trig teased as he laid back against his pillows and closed his eyes.

“You have to stop poking at him like that.” Dawn warned. “He’s going to really kick your butt one of these.” Trig laughed and then winced as he clutched at his chest.

“Hearing him grumble uncomfortably until then will make that day worth it.”

---

Everyone other than Dawn and Trig were still gone from the cabin when Henry showed up nearly an hour later. Dawn was washing up the dishes while Trig slept and she slipped out the door without waking him.

“Good afternoon, Henry.” she said with a warm smile as she wiped her wet hands on her cream colored apron.

“Good afternoon, Dawn.” he replied, returning her smile as he slid from the saddle and then stretched out his back. “That’s a awful long ride.”

“What brings you all the way out here?” Dawn asked. “We’ll be in town tomorrow. I’m going to open the bakery for a few hours.”

“Could I get some chocolate cookies?” Henry asked hopefully and Dawn laughed lightly.

“I think that could be arranged.” His eyes rolled back as he groaned.

“You are an angel.”

“So what does bring you all the way out here, Henry?”

“Actually there was a letter for Grange at the post office. Now normally I wouldn’t have brung it all the way out here but Grange never gets mail and it was marked urgent

so I brought it for him.”

“Thank you, Henry.” Dawn said as Henry pulled the letter from his pocket and handed it to her. There was no return address and Dawn wondered who it could be from. “Would you like to stay for dinner, Henry?” Dawn asked out of politeness. Honestly she hoped he’d say no since she wasn’t sure what shape everyone would be in when they got back.

“No, I can’t stay.. But sheriff Bishop did say something about another woman staying out here…” Dawn sighed at the nosiness of bored townsfolk.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Isn’t that cabin getting a little crowded?”

“A little.” Dawn admitted, wondering what that twinkle in Henry’s eyes was about.

“Well you know Gladys Bishop was real upset that she couldn’t throw you a real shindig of a wedding and well now it’s the town tradition to throw a party and a wedding for folks around here when they get married. Grange has been part of our town a long time and we never thought he’d settle down so since he finally has we want to do something.”

“Nobody has to do anything.” Dawn started but Henry shook his head.

“Nonsense. The sawmill has agreed to donate some lumber and some of us men have agreed to donate our time and we’re gonna help you expand this place so you have more room for the nice little family y’all are building.” Dawn’s eyes widened.

“Henry!” she exclaimed. “That’s just too much!” She wasn’t sure at all that Grange would like this idea. He was very private and did not like gifts or charity on his behalf. He didn’t like feeling as if he ’owed’ someone.

“Nonsense.” Henry replied with a scoff. “This town might not completely understand Grange or some of the things about him but he’s a good man. He helps everyone out when he can and he has always been a good man. We want to do this for him.”

“Well see the truth is that I don’t know how much longer we’re gonna be here…” Dawn admitted and Henry frowned.

“Does this have to do with the fact that Grange doesn’t age and he’s worried that he’s gotta leave?” Dawn blinked several times and she was sure she resembled a fish out of water as she struggled to think of something to say and make her mouth work.

Henry just smiled and patted her on the back.

“This town has a lot of people that come and go but few that stay a real long time. Those few long time residents that are here trust Grange. We’ve noticed that he doesn’t seem to get any older, and while I have to admit that it’s caused a few jealousy issues, we certainly don’t want him to leave because of it.”

“O…Okay.” Dawn stuttered. Henry just grinned and climbed slowly back up onto his horse.

“Make sure you talk to Grange about our offer and about staying. We’d really hate to lose you all, especially since no one else can make those chocolate cookies quite like you.” Dawn just nodded, still feeling shocked by what Henry had said.

She watched him ride away and then looked down at the letter still in her hand. She was about to open the sealed envelope when something inside of her spoke up and said not to. It was addressed to the alpha and therefore she should let him open it.

“I’m his mate.” she grumbled to the obedient wolf inside her. Still when she thought of opening the envelope the feeling of betrayal was too strong so she sighed and simply slipped it back in her pocket. This obedient wolf gig was complete and utter nonsense.

She sighed and turned around, knowing she needed to get dinner finished because she would have a houseful of hungry were creatures very soon.

When she stepped into the cabin she realized Trig was awake and watching her from his makeshift bed on the floor.

“What was that about?” he asked as he scratched his bare stomach.

“As a guard dog, you are worthless.” Dawn stated with a wave of her hand and Trig laughed loudly before whimpering in pain and clutching at his chest.

“Don’t make me laugh.” he whined. “And I could smell him, I knew it was just Henry.”

“What if he’d had bad intentions?” Dawn questioned as she stirred the frying potatoes on the stove. She loved to give Trig a hard time because he was just as good at giving it right back to her.

“If you cannot handle one feeble old man with bad intentions, my alpha, then I greatly fear for the future of our mismatched pack.”

Chapter Twenty

“You have a letter, Henry delivered it.” Dawn exclaimed the second Grange walked back into the cabin a while later. Grange slowly took the envelope from her outstretched hand and eyed it suspiciously.

“What does it say?” he asked.

“She doesn’t know.” Trig spoke up. “She wouldn’t read it. Her wolf let her know that it would be wrong to read something addressed to the alpha without the alpha’s permission. She’s been griping about it for the last hour or so.”

Dawn glared at Trig and threw her dishtowel at his head, which only served to make him laugh and wink in her direction.

“Dawn, love, you have my permission to read any kind of mail you get addressed to me. You are not only my wife, but also my mate, I have no secrets from you.” Grange assured her. “Of course you are awfully cute when you get all flustered like this.” he added with a wink of his own.

Dawn put her hands on her hips and glared at him.

“I am not flustered.” she stated with seriousness and then she gave a little hop. “What does the damn thing say?” she exclaimed.

“No, not flustered at all.” Trig teased from the couch, which he had moved to a short time before. Grange grinned and then sat down at the table and opened the envelope.

Much to Dawn’s frustration he read the letter silently and by the time he was finished, she was pacing impatiently and Nickolai, Brie and Farrah had returned and were watching her with various degrees of amusement. The most amused seemed to be Nickolai who had always enjoyed Dawn’s animated temper.

“So….” Dawn urged as Grange folded the letter and slid it back into the envelope. Grange’s face was unreadable as he looked at her and blinked.

“So what?” he asked and Dawn screeched and threw herself into his lap. She gripped his shirt collar, (he had changed into an outfit in the barn before coming in the house), and brought her face to less than an inch from his.

“So are the monkeys going to join the imperial army?” she asked sarcastically. Grange grinned.

“I have no idea.” Dawn rolled her eyes and shook her head.

“That’s funny, Grange. I thought you were a wolf but right now you’re acting much more like a horses a…” Grange covered her mouth with his hand to stop her rant and smiled.

“That letter was good news actually. It was from the established packs in America.”

“All of them?” Dawn asked with a frown and Grange nodded as he shifted her to one knee so he could address everyone in the house.

“There are only four other established packs in America. They have all agreed that they are not going to challenge me. They say they have plenty of room of their own and aren’t concerned about what I’m doing way out here just so long as I don’t risk the safety of the werewolf population.”

“That’s good news.” Nickolai admitted.

“Yes it is.” Grange agreed.

“Now all we gotta be worried about is young wolves on a power trip who want to establish their own packs.” Trig added.

“Yes but that’s something that even established packs have to worry about from time to time.” Nickolai reminded him.

Grange just nodded and Dawn smiled at him. She could tell that that letter had removed a lot of weight from his shoulders. Now there was only major threat looming in the distance like a big giant smoking volcano and that was the stupid elf who liked his collectables alive, breathing and chained.

“Dinners ready. Who’s hungry?” Dawn asked as she stood up. Grange looked up at her and raised his brow.

“That might just be the dumbest question that’s ever been asked in a house full of were creatures.” he admitted and Dawn just blew him a kiss before going about making everyone a plate.

---

“They want to build us a house?” Grange asked with a frown after the pack had eaten dinner that evening and was walking to the big pool of water far off in the woods so they could all shift and run.

“That’s what he said.” Dawn replied with a nod.

“And he actually said that he doesn’t want me to leave even though he knows there’s something different about me?”

“I believe he said the town didn’t want you to leave even though they all know there’s something different about you.”

“Well I’ll be damned.” Grange muttered as he scratched at his head.

“Who would have thought they’d like your grouchy ass that much?” Trig asked with a laugh. Grange just glared at him.

“You aren’t shifting tonight with that hole still in your chest.” he said as a grin split his face. “You get to be on guard.”

“Guard of what?” Trig asked with disappointment.

“Our clothes.” Grange stated, enjoying the look of anger that appeared on Trig’s face at those words. Farrah’s laughter filled the air and Trig frowned over at her.

“You think this is funny?” he demanded. She nodded enthusiastically.

“The idea that clothing would need a guard is actually quite amusing.” she replied. Nickolai chuckled.

“Graaaange.” Trig whined. “This is not fair! I want to run with everybody else!”

“I’m not running.” Farrah assured him. “I’m staying with you.” A grin split Trig’s face and he turned back to Grange, beaming with happiness.

“Yes, alpha. I’ll be more than happy to sit out this shift and um… guard the clothes .” Grange rolled his eyes.

“Yeah, I’ll bet you would.”

“Grange, would it be okay if I just take Brie to the side and help her through her shift?” Nickolai questioned.

“Go ahead. Dawn and I will shift and wait here for you to join us once Brie is ready.” Nickolai nodded and then took Brie away from the pool of water and into the woods.

“I’m scared, Nickolai.” Brie admitted.

“You never have to be afraid when I am near you, my Brie. I would never let anything happen to you.”

“Aye, but it has been so long since I changed, Nickolai….” she admitted, her Scottish heritage showing in her voice. Nickolai smiled. It seemed the longer she was away from Faugrimm and back with Nickolai, the more she became the Brie he had fallen in love with.

“I’ll be right here beside you, my Brie. You can do this.” She took a deep breath and nodded. She slid the clean dress that Dawn had leant to her from her shoulders and it slid to the grass. Next she pulled off her underclothes and she heard Nickolai’s sharp intake of breath.

She looked up at him and saw that his pale blue eyes seemed to be devouring her body with intensity as they gazed over her body.

Nickolai was overcome by a desire and a lust unlike any he had ever felt before. He wanted his Brie. He wanted to feel her skin against his own. He wanted to taste her, touch her, let himself get lost inside of her… Then he remembered what she had been through. He remembered the fear she had shown when he had touched her and he stepped away and turned his back to her.

“Go….” he cleared his throat when he realized how husky his voice was. “Go ahead and shift, my Brie. Take all the time you need.”

Brie was disappointed by his sudden change of mood and yet she knew that now was not the time. She could remember lovemaking with Nickolai and as her body heated at the memories, she also recalled that it had always taken quite some time for his urges to be satisfied and right now they did not have that kind of time.

She took a deep breath and then let it out slowly as she thought about the shift she knew she needed to make. The Master had always dealt swift punishments to his were pets if they dared to try to shift around him and Brie had quickly stopped trying.

“Nickolai?” she asked with quiet hesitation.

“Yes?” he replied without turning around. Brie licked her lips and looked down at myself.

“What did I look like? As a wolf?”

“You’ve shifted once a month at least, my Brie. Don’t you know what you look like?”

“I want to hear from you what I look like.” she replied, remembering Faugrimms harsh words, laughs, lewd comments and hatred of her wolf.

“You are always beautiful, my Brie, but as a wolf you are… Breathtaking. Long, soft fur as white as the freshest, purest of January snows. Light golden eyes that can see straight into my soul….” As Nickolai continued to speak about her wolf, Brie felt it coming alive.

She closed her eyes and simply let Nickolai’s soft voice wash over her as she focused on the wolf.

She felt the pain but she breathed through it and welcomed the change. Nickolai’s voice was able to do away with every bad memory she had of Faugrimm. She remembered making the shift with Nickolai before they had been separated. She remembered the way the two of them had run for miles and miles. The way they had hunted together and then finally flopped down with exhaustion and slept curled up. Waking in human form, bare skin against bare skin. They would always make love then, long and slow and not return home until well into the day.

Brie smiled, a toothy wolf smile and let out a yip as she finished her shift. Nickolai turned and there was no mistaking the pride beaming in his eyes.

“So beautiful.” he whispered and then he stripped off his own clothing and shifted quickly.

The two of them rubbed their bodies along each other, covering their own fur with the scent of their mate. They touches noses, nuzzled necks and let their wolves reunite.

Finally they came back into the clearing to find Trig and Farrah lost in a kiss that nearly had the pool of water they were sitting beside boiling with their heat.

Nickolai, who was feeling much more free with his Brie by his side, snuck up behind them and then let out a loud yip directly into Trig’s ear.

This backfired, when Trig let out a growl and turned, grabbing Nickolai by the neck and flipping him onto his back on the ground before realizing who it was, grinning sheepishly and letting go.

“Dammit, Nickolai, you oughta know better than to sneak up on a man when he’s in that kind of situation.” Trig grumbled. There was a snorting sound as Grange and Dawn came trotting from the woods as well. Brie quickly went to Dawn, the two female wolves of the pack taking in the others scent and greeting one another. Brie sunk down to her stomach to give Dawn the respect that was deserved of the alpha female and Dawn responded by rolling her dark golden eyes.

“She doesn’t like the whole bowing to the alpha business.” Trig informed Brie. “It makes her uncomfortable.” Dawn walked over to him and smacked him in the face with her tail before turning to look at him.

She saw that Farrah’s claw marks across his cheek had healed but that they had also left an impressive scar. Three white lines in a row ran from his temple to his lips.

Dawn pressed her nose against them and then sat back and tilted her head. She heard Grange growl with jealousy behind her and she grunted at him.

Trig reached up with a proud smile and touched his scars.

“I know! Ain’t that cool! Now I can be badass! A man can’t be badass without a few scars.” he exclaimed excitedly. He tilted his head to the side and grinned with his tongue out.

Dawn laughed, though it sounded like snorting in her current form, while Nickolai and Grange just shook their heads, Farrah seemed a little guilty and Brie didn’t seem to know what to make of everyone.

Grange let out a bark and threw his head and the wolves began to run. They ran for miles, bonding as wolves and strengthening their pack.

They killed a doe and filled their stomachs before heading to the river and splashing, playing like pups. It was only a few hours before Dawn when they finally made their way back to the clearing. Trig and Farrah were asleep, beneath a blanket, wrapped up in on another, their scents mingling on the light breeze.

The wolves flopped down in a pile and quickly fell into a deep sleep, exhausted from their night of running.

---

Brie woke to a blade of grass tickling her nose. She rubbed at it irritably and then opened her eyes to see that she was being held tight against Nickolai’s chest and he was looking at her with amusement, a blade of long green grass in his hand.

She smiled and snatched it away before pressing her lips light against his.

“Good morning.” he said softly as she pulled her mouth away.

“Good morning.” she whispered. He stood, and Brie’s eyes took in his warrior’s physique. He wasn’t tall but he was muscular and hard. Covered in small scars and testaments to the battles and hardships that he had faced and lived through.

He reached out a hand and she took it and let him pull her to her feet. Without a word he led her away from the clearing and into the woods. He brought her to where they had shifted the night before and then he pulled her body against his and kissed her with all the hunger and passion he had been storing up for three quarters of a century.

Nickolai held nothing back. The feeling of his Brie’s soft skin against his own and her little purring filling the back of her throat had him knowing that he had to have her. The wolf and the man in him could not be denied any longer.

He would make love to her and make her forget all about Faugrimm. It would be as if that elf had never touched her. His mate needed only to know his touch and no one else’s.

Brie clung to him, losing herself in his scent as tears filled her eyes and ran down her cheeks. One of the droplets landed on Nickolai’s face and he quickly pulled his mouth away and wiped at it.

“Why are you crying?” he asked gently. Brie wanted to stop the tears but could not.

“Because I never thought I would be happy again, Nickolai. I thought I had lost you. That I would never get to hold you or kiss you again. I thought I would never feel you touching me again….” Nickolai silenced her with a kiss and then he dropped to his knees, his lips trailing down her chest and then feasting on her breasts.

Brie nearly cried out but bit her lip to hold back the sound as Nickolai touched her in all the ways she had always loved for him to touch her. She was surprised that after all this time he still knew exactly what touches she liked the most.

His fingers were moving across her body, dancing on her skin and her most intimate places. Her knees buckled and she fell backward without fear, knowing he would catch her, and he did, cradling her head with his hand as she came down on the soft grass.

The two of them moved in sync as their bodies were reunited after so many years apart. Nickolai had never felt a more all consuming pleasure than he felt the moment he entered her. All those years of loneliness and heartbreak suddenly forgotten, as Brie arched her back off the forest floor to bring herself closer to him.

Nickolai forced himself to keep the lovemaking gentle, knowing he was erasing bad memories and not wanting to move too quickly or too roughly and cause bad ones to surface.

This was his mate and he would make sure his scent was thick on her skin as a warning to any other who thought he would ever again let her be taken away. It would not happen a second time.

He felt her stiffen beneath him as her nails dug into his back and she called out his name and Nickolai allowed himself to fall over that edge too, his eyes closing as he growled her name and then collapsed on top of her.

They lay silently for a long while, their heartbeats and ragged breathing the only sounds either of them made. Finally Nickolai raised his head from her chest and kissed her closed eyelids gently.

“I love you, my Brie.”

“And I love you, Nickolai.” Brie replied, opening her eyes and looking deep into his own. He stood and helped her stand, before helping her slip into her clothing.

She helped him into his own as well and then he wrapped his arm tight around her shoulders and led her back to the clearing, only to find that everyone was gone. He scented the air and caught the smell of frying bacon. Instantly his stomach began to growl.

“Dawn has breakfast started.” he said and Brie frowned.

“Why does she not like to be treated with the respect that the alpha female is due?” she asked as they started on the walk to the cabin. Nickolai smiled.

“She was a human not long ago and it took her a short while to accept what Grange was. Even once she did that she still wasn’t too keen on becoming a wolf herself. She was worried about fleas….”

“We don’t have fleas.” Brie grumbled and Nickolai laughed.

“She doesn’t like being bowed to and blindly obeyed. She is a good alpha female and will be a great one the same as Grange will be a great alpha. They are not the norm. They let you express your own opinion and only under very serious situations do they assert their dominance and demand to be obeyed.”

“That’s very strange. This pack is unlike any pack I’ve ever seen. I’ve never seen the alpha’s and other pack members live together as equals before and I’ve certainly never seen a werelion be welcomed into a pack.”

“Brie, you have hit the nail of the head. This pack and all those in it are just a little strange.” Nickolai said with amusement and Brie smiled as she laid her head against his shoulder and they continued their walk in silence.

Chapter Twenty-One

“I will go with Farrah to the sheriff’s office to speak with him.” Grange said matter of factly as the group made their way to town, by horses and also cart because there were now more pack members than Grange had horses used to werecreature scent. The horses weren’t completely sold on Farrah but hadn’t panicked so for that Grange was thankful.

“I can take her.” Trig cut in quickly and Grange shook his head.

“You are too protective of her, naturally since she is your mate, and if the sheriff asks a question you don’t like you are likely to snap at him and that would not help anything. I am the alpha, this is a pack safety issue and so I’ll go with her.” Trig wanted to argue further but it was clear that Grange was not going to back down and he did not want to upset the alpha.

“I have a lot of work to get done at the bakery. Nickolai, can I count on you to help deliver the bread today?” Dawn asked.

“Of course.” Nickolai replied. “My Brie was always a fair baker. I’m sure she would be happy to help you in the bakery.”

“Really?!” Dawn exclaimed happily. “I would be happy for the help!” Brie looked uncertain.

“It has been a long time since I have cooked anything…” she admitted and Dawn just waved her hand.

“Then you can keep me company until you get the hang of it again.”

“I am not much of a cook.” Farrah replied absently. “But I did burn down a bakery once.” Dawn looked at her with a bit of shocked fear.

“She doesn’t come near the building.”

“Farrah can help me at the sawmill when we get done talking to the sheriff. I think she would probably like chopping wood.” Grange said and he grinned at Dawn’s expression.

“I chopped wood for the Master.” Farrah replied with a nod. “It is good for the arms.”

“I’ll chop wood too.” Trig said, though honestly that sounded like torture but he wanted to seem tough in front of Farrah. Grange reached out and touched Trig’s chest where the worst of his wounds was still fairly bad and then he poked his shoulder and Trig whimpered.

“No you won’t.” Grange countered. You can take the cart and deliver lumber if you must have something to do.” Trig slumped down in his saddle.

“Fine.” he pouted.

As the group rode into town and hitched their horses behind the bakery, Grange motioned for Trig to take the cart to the sawmill and then he looked at everyone else.

“Farrah, we better get to the sheriff’s office and let him ask whatever it is he’s going to ask.” Farrah nodded, Grange kissed Dawn softly and then led Farrah down the road.

“Now look, it’s very important that you act as normal as possible.” Grange warned her and then he rolled his eyes when she put her head back and scented the air deeply. “Doing that is probably not the best thing to do.” he muttered and Farrah quickly lowered her head.

“Sorry, it’s a habit.” she said quickly. Grange nodded.

“Nothing happened yesterday.” he informed her. “There was no attack by the miners. No one was killed and no one fought anyone. You haven’t seen those men since you escaped them a couple of days ago.”

“I’m not stupid.” Farrah complained and Grange simply raised his brow and said nothing.

They made their way to the center of town and stepped up on the boardwalk in front of the sheriffs office. Grange gave one last nervous look at Farrah, who simply smiled in return, and then he opened the door.

“Grange.” Sheriff Bishop said good naturedly as he stood from his desk and walked over. Gladys sat in the chair on the other side of the desk and simply appraised Farrah with jealousy. Grange looked at Farrah and tried to see her through the eyes of a man not completely devoted and in love with his mate to figure out what would make Gladys jealous.

She was wearing a white blouse that hugged her lean frame. The top few buttons were undone, revealing her tanned collarbones and the shirt clung to her full chest and flat stomach. Her split skirt was tanned and showed off her flared hips. Her thick wavy brown hair was long and curled down her back and her face was pretty enough.

She was actually just the kind of woman Grange would have been drawn to before Dawn. Though now that he had Dawn he had lost all desire for any other woman than her. She was all he wanted and all he needed.

“Sheriff Bishop, this is Farrah. She is the woman I was telling you about.” Sheriff Bishop nodded and Grange saw his gaze pass over Farrah rather inappropriately before he looked back at Grange and blushed.

“I trust you haven’t had any trouble from the miners? They have not been back in town since I asked them to leave yesterday.” he said as he walked to his wife and stood behind her with his hand resting on her shoulder.

“No, we haven’t seen them, though if they do show up I can promise you now that they will wish they hadn’t by the time Trig is through with them after what they did to his fiancee’” Grange replied. He saw Farrah look over at him but thankfully she did not say anything. Grange couldn’t very well tell these people that Farrah was Trig’s mate and simply calling her his woman would not have satisfied the gossip that was Gladys.

“I understand.” sheriff Bishop admitted. He looked back at Farrah, this time managing to keep his gaze on her face.

“Ma’am, if you don’t mind, could you please tell me exactly what happened in the woods that day between you and those men?” he asked. Grange nearly blew the whole situation when his jaw just about hit the floor the second Farrah opened her mouth.

“Oh my goodness!” she gasped, a southern accent suddenly thick in her voice. “I was so scared. I had been traveling this way to come join my fiance when there was a mix up at camp one night and my traveling party left without me. You have no idea how scared I was. Just little old me, lost and alone out in the woods.”

“You poor thing.” Gladys stated sympathetically and Farrah gave her an appreciative smile.

“I saw the firelight of a campfire and so I made my way to it and those men…. They grabbed me. They started making lewd comments and remarks that woulda had my Christian mother rolling over in her grave, God rest her soul.”

“Is that right?” sheriff Bishop demanded angrily and Farrah nodded before sniffing and wiping a tear from her eye. Grange couldn’t believe what he was seeing and hearing. This woman belonged on stage or something because he had never seen a more believable act.

“They tried to… They tried to…” Farrah covered her face and Grange put his arm around her shoulders.

“I think you can guess what they tried to do.” he said to the sheriff and his wife and they both nodded.

“But they didn’t know that my daddy hadn’t raised me to be no pretty wallflower. I knew how to defend myself and so that’s just what I did. I got me a couple of them and then I ran away.”

“You know those men said that you turned into some sort of creature.” sheriff Bishop informed her gently and Farrah shook her head and tossed her hair over her shoulder.

“They’re just mad because they didn’t manage to get what they wanted and because I escaped from them. Please sheriff let this be over. Don’t question me anymore, it’s just too difficult.”

“Of course dear.” Gladys said as she pulled a clean lace handkerchief from her breast pocket and held it out to Farrah, who happily took it and dabbed at her moist eyes.

“If Trig is your fiance’ then why didn’t he come with you?” sheriff Bishop questioned and before Grange could answer Farrah was speaking.

“Because the poor man feels so guilty about the whole thing and it makes him so angry to think about those men touching me that he simply can’t stand it, sheriff. It causes him to see nothing but red so we figured it would be best if he didn’t have to hear the story told one more time.” Sheriff Bishop nodded and tapped his fingers on Gladys’s shoulder.

“Okay, ma’am, you’re free to go. I’m sorry that happened to you and if you need anything or see any of those men again please come to me and I will deal with them swiftly.”

“Thank you so much, sheriff.” Farrah said gratefully as she shook his hand. Grange tipped his head to the sheriff and Gladys and then led Farrah back out the door and into the late morning sunlight.

“Where in the hell did that come from?” he asked with shock as they walked back toward the edge of town and the sawmill.

“Did I do well?” Farrah questioned, her voice returning to normal, as she shoved the handkerchief the deep in her pocket and then wiped her nose on the back of her hand.

“Well? Hell I haven’t ever seen acting quite like that before. Only trouble now is you’ve gotta act like a southern belle from here on out around the townfolk.”

“I find that men will believe anything I say if I say it sweetly enough and if I act just desperate and sad enough then women open their hearts to me as well. The desperate southern belle act was always my favorite. The Master liked us to be well trained and able to blend in and adapt to situations. He was hoping to use us as spies though he was both blind and stupid if he thought we would be that loyal.”

“Well thank God for blind, stupid elves because you just pulled that off amazingly well, Farrah. I am impressed.” Farrah’s normally emotionless eyes beamed with pride.

---

“I’m thinking that I’m going to regret letting Brie help me at the bakery.” Dawn admitted with a sight that night as she and Grange sat beside the pool of water. She had her head on his chest and his cheek was laying on her hair.

“Why is that?” he asked as he ran his fingers along her arm.

“Because she’s good.”

“Not as good as you, my love. I am very glad we made the arrangement we made about your rent.” Dawn laughed.

“Yes well I believe you’re getting more than just baked goods in exchange for the building, Grange Michaels.”

“Am I now?” he asked and Dawn could hear the smile in his voice. She undid the top few buttons of his shirt so she could slip her hand inside and feel his bare skin. She smiled when she felt him tremble just a little beneath her touch.

“So what are we going to do, Grange? Are we going to let them build a bigger home for us here or are we moving on?” Grange sighed.

“What would you like to do?” he asked and Dawn kissed his jaw.

“I want to stay if we can. I don’t want to lose my bakery and I really like the town. They’ve noticed you don’t age and surely they know something is going on with our little group but they don’t question it.”

“I will do anything to make you happy, Dawn, and this town feels like home to me but I have to warn you of one thing. If someone does question, if trouble arises and people start screaming that we are monsters, I will have to end the threat and then we have to leave.”

“End the threat?” Dawn asked cautiously and Grange nodded.

“I can’t let anything threaten the were creature population and unlike vampires I do not have the power to erase anyone’s memory.”

“Vampires can do that?” Dawn gasped and Grange nodded. “Then we need to find one of those to join our pack.”

“A vampire in a werewolf pack?!” Grange asked incredulously and Dawn shrugged.

“Sure why not?”

“Hell why not is right.” Grange chuckled. “We’ve already got a cat living with us dogs, might as well have a leach too.”

“I know!” Dawn said giddily as she bounced on his lap. Grange growled when her bouncing awoke his desire.

“I know a few things myself but first why don’t you tell me what you know.” Dawn felt what he ‘knew’ pushing against her backside and her cheeks flamed red as she tried to move away from it but he held her in place with a grunt. “Tell me what you know, love.” he urged.

“Well we could find a couple of vampires to join our pack and we could call them fleas. Then when you try to argue that wolves don’t have fleas I can tell you you’re wrong.”

Grange laughed and then flipped her onto her back and braced himself on top of her. He kissed her neck and then moved his lips along her jaw, across her cheek and to her eyelids. She gripped his back and moaned and he pulled away just enough to look into her eyes.

“You are something else, love. Thank God I have you to help keep my head on straight.”

“And to scratch your fleas.” Dawn added and Grange flashed her a crooked grin before crushing her mouth with his own.

---

Trig looked up from his cards and found his mouth going dry as he focused on Farrah’s teeth chewing on her plump bottom lip.

“I just do not understand this game.” she stated with irritation as she tossed her cards down. Trig sighed and sat his down as well.

They were at the cabin by themselves. Dawn and Grange had gone to the pool and Nickolai had locked himself and Brie up in the barn.

Trig had been trying desperately to teach Farrah to play poker but while the werelion was good at many things, (this thought made Trig grin), she was the single worst poker player he had ever met in his life.

It wasn’t that she didn’t have a good poker face, her poker face was top notch, no the problem was that she couldn’t seem to wrap head around all the different hands and which was better than which. Not to mention that when she thought she had a hand won but ended up losing it, she did not have very good control of her temper and had already smacked Trig’s arm pretty damn hard several times, not that he would complain about it hurting. He didn’t want her to think he was a complete wimp after the way she had bragged about his bravery with those miners.

“We can do something else.” Trig said with a sigh. “I can always get my poker fix at the saloon now and then.”

“Saloon?” Farrah asked with a frown. She tapped on her chin and then her hazel eyes narrowed. “You mean one of those places with freely mating women and alcohol?” Trig laughed loudly.

“Well the women don’t mate for free, I’ll tell ya that much but, yeah, I think you know where I’m talking about.”

“Are those the women you like then?” Farrah asked as she stood. Trig shook his head and wondered if she’d lost her mind. One moment she was an emotionless soldier and the next she was a jealous mate. The funny thing was that she looked confused over her own jealousy and anger but she couldn’t seem to be able control either.

“Calm down, Farrah. You are the only woman I want.” he assured her. He grabbed her arm and tugged her toward him. At first she stiffened and he knew that her instincts told to fight against him just the way she would have men in that dungeon she’d been kept in, but then she seemed to shake those instincts off and let him pull her to his lap.

“I don’t know what is wrong with me.” Farrah stated as she scratched at her hair. “I have never felt emotions strongly like this. Or maybe I did…” her frown deepened. “It was just so long ago that I don’t remember it.” Trig didn’t like the memory of her life with Faugrimm.

“Emotions are normal, Farrah. But you don’t have to be jealous of me going to the saloon because I expect you to come with me.”

“And what would I do exactly?” she questioned. Trig grinned.

“Be my little southern belle whiskey bringer.” he replied and Farrah threw her head back and laughed. Trig couldn’t stop himself from putting his lips against her throat and when she trembled against him he began tracing patterns with his tongue, feeling her claws sharpen and dig into the skin of his back.

“I think I could manage that for ya, baby…” she breathed out, her voice suddenly taking on a deep Georgian accent. Then she stiffened and pulled away and Trig pouted up and growled.

“I was having fun.” he informed her and she shook her head, causing her hair to smack his face.

“We have made love once.” she reminded him and he nodded.

“Yes and I’d like to do it again.” he said as he once again tried to go for her neck but she put her hand on his forehead and held him back.

“You have not yet marked me.” she complained and Trig tilted his head.

“You haven’t marked me either.” he stated.

“You should go first, you are the man. Or perhaps you are trying to be a gentleman and let ladies go first?” Her voice was suddenly very serious as if she was trying to figure out a great quandary of life. Trig couldn’t help but laugh.

He stood up and lifted her into his arms, cradling her against his chest.

“Grange would be very angry to see you carrying me. He worries much about your shoulder and chest.”

“He doesn’t want an injured beta.” Trig replied simply. “I’m no good to him if I can’t fight.”

“That is not the truth.” Farrah argued as she wrapped her arms around his neck and laid her head on his shoulder. Trig had never felt like a tough guy in his life but he felt like one when he held her close like this. “Grange worries about you because he cares about you. This pack is different from most I have seen before. Werelion’s do not have packs or family groups. We are loners, and most wolf packs are simply based on hierarchy and positions, not love and caring. This pack is loving and caring. I am proud to be a part of it and learn the ways of Grange’s wisdom.”

“Wisdom?” Trig asked and Farrah nodded.

“It is not many alpha wolves that would welcome in a young beta with no real training and an older lone wolf with far more training than himself and then also welcome their mates without question, specifically the daughter of a well established pack alpha and a werelion. Grange must be very wise indeed.”

Trig chuckled.

“I’ll tell him you said so.” he replied. Then he kissed her hair. “But first, what d’ya say we head on out to a private spot and take care of business.”

“Ladies first?” Farrah asked and Trig licked his lips and felt his arousal growing.

“Oh yes, I’ll make sure the lady gets there first. I wouldn’t be a real man if I didn’t.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Dawn was just pulling a pan of cookies from one of her ovens when a scent reached her nose. It was the scent of a werewolf but it was unfamiliar and it was close.

Dawn whirled around and looked at the closed back door that led to the woods behind the bakery. Grange had warned her that someone would be coming soon and though he was not here in the bakery with her, as a matter of fact no one was unless you counted Brie who had gone upstairs to sew, Dawn hoped that he was close enough to know a threat might be near.

The scent was strange. It was a weak scent and yet the longer she scented it, the more familiar it seemed. Her brow scrunched when she realized it wasn’t coming from behind the closed door but instead from inside the room.

Dawn turned in a slow circle but she was alone. She frowned and then gagged as a wave of nausea passed over her. She tossed her pan of cookies onto the counter, covered her mouth with her hand, whimpered and then ran out the back door and lost her breakfast beside the back wall.

She kept her hands braced on her knees and her head lowered as she waited for the sickness to pass. Her legs were shaking and her head was spinning. What was wrong with her? Did wolves get food poisoning? She didn’t think so but then again something was wrong.

And then there was that scent… It had followed her outside and yet as far as Dawn could tell, she was alone.

Dawn leaned her forehead against the cool, shaded, brick wall and then sighed with relief when she caught Grange’s scent, seconds before he wrapped his arms tight around her and pulled her back against him. He kissed the back of her hair and spread his fingers wide to cover her stomach.

“How did you know I was sick?” Dawn whispered and she felt his chest swell as he took a deep breath.

“After what happened with that vampire there is no longer a second that goes by that I don’t know where and how you are.”

“How very overly protective of you.” Dawn replied with a smile and Grange chuckled, his chest rumbling against her back. “Grange, why am I sick? Do werewolves get viruses?”

“No, Dawn. You don’t have a virus.” Dawn turned in his arms and looked up at his face but it was unreadable, though she could smell nervousness and fear both coming off of him in waves.

“Grange, what is going on?” she demanded, laying her hand over her stomach as it rolled once again. Grange took her hand without answering and led her back inside.

He poured some water from a pitcher into a glass and then mixed in some baking soda before handing her the glass.

“What’s this for?” Dawn asked with a frown and Grange pushed it toward her lips.

“It will help your stomach.” he assured her. Dawn sighed and then took a small drink, crinkling her nose at the horrible taste.

“Grange, do you know what’s wrong with me?” she asked before taking another sip because the foul tasting concoction really did seem to be helping her stomach.

Dawn watched his eyes travel up and down the length of her body before settling on her stomach. Dawn sat the glass on the counter and then covered her stomach self-consciously with her arms.

“What are you staring at?” she asked quietly.

“The place where our child is growing.”

Dawn blinked several times as she tried to understand what he had just said. She looked down at her arms crossed over her stomach and licked her trembling bottom lip.

“Child?” she whispered.

“Yes.” Grange replied, though he made no move to come any closer to her, instead he took a step back and leaned against the tiny island in the center of the room. Dawn frowned.

“But you’re not happy.” Grange sighed and shoved his hand through his thick dark hair.

“It‘s not that, love, it’s just….” Before he could finish Brie came into the kitchen and gasped loudly.

“A baby!” she exclaimed as she clapped. “A baby for the alphas! This is wonderful! More memories of my past have been coming back lately and I remember that I worked in the pack nursery. I cared for all the babies. I can’t wait to have another baby to help take care of!”

“Grange isn’t happy.” Dawn stated, feeling a little angry by that fact. Or maybe being with child was affecting her already insane wolf emotions.

“I never said I wasn’t happy.” Grange insisted and Dawn whirled around with tears shining in her blue eyes.

“Yes, but you never said you were either.” she reminded him. Grange stepped forward but stopped when the bakery door opened and they smelled Trig and Farrah enter. Trig came running into the kitchen, took one long sniff, one look at Dawn and then a big grin split his face and he gathered Dawn up into his arms, hugging her tight.

“I’m gonna be an uncle!” he exclaimed happily.

“Well at least someone’s happy about it.” Dawn grumbled and Trig frowned over at Brie as he released his hold on Dawn.

“Grange isn’t happy.” Brie filled him in as Farrah stepped into the kitchen as well.

“Dawn is with child.” she stated matter of factly as if no one else knew yet. Grange growled.

“Thank you for that obvious statement and now if you all don’t mind I would like to have a few minutes alone with my mate.”

“That’s not possible right now.” Nickolai stated from the open back door and everyone turned to look at him.

“And why not?” Grange demanded.

“There is a hunter in town.” Nickolai replied simply. “And he’s been asking about all of us.”

“Asking who?” Grange wanted to know as he stepped in front of Dawn. Dawn realized that the entire pack seemed to be forming a circle of sorts around her and she wondered if they realized they were doing it.

“Henry, Gladys, the sheriff… anyone who will listen. Henry found me walking this way and told me.”

“I knew he was in town.” Grange admitted with a sigh. “I guess now I know why.”

“What exactly is a hunter?” Dawn asked and Brie turned to her and seemed to notice how frightened and confused she was. She went to her and took her hand.

“An immortal that hunts immortals and kills them. Usually they are hired to hunt cruel or evil immortals.”

“Like a bounty hunter?” Dawn asked and Brie nodded.

“Yes, exactly like that.”

“And the hunter is probably here looking for you and Farrah.” It was Brie’s turn to shiver with fear and Dawn squeezed her hand comfortingly. “No one is going to take you and Farrah away from us.”

“Of course not.” Nickolai agreed. “Which is why we need to go deal with this hunter now.” Grange nodded his agreement.

“Farrah, get Brie and Dawn back to the cabin. Trig, Nickolai, come with me.” he ordered.

“What? But we need to talk, Grange!” Dawn exclaimed and Grange nodded.

“Yes we do but first I must see to this. Get to the cabin and stay there. For once in your life just do as I tell you.” Without giving Dawn time to reply, Grange strode from the bakery with Trig and Nickolai on his heels.

“You are going to have some major ass kissing to do later.” Trig informed him and Grange grunted.

“At least her ass will be alive to kiss.”

---

“Am I going to have a puppy?” Dawn asked Brie as they rode in the cart toward home. Farrah was riding beside them on horseback and kept circling around and watching all directions.

“A puppy?” Brie asked distractedly. Dawn nodded, hoping to make conversation and distract Brie from her fear. Everyone knew that this hunter had more than likely been hired by Faugrimm. Faugrimm must have found where Brie and Farrah were and was coming for them. Farrah seemed eager for a fight, freedom had given her bravery she hadn’t had as a prisoner, but Brie was clearly very scared.

“Yes, is my baby going to have fur?” This seemed to snap Brie from her thoughts and she laughed lightly as she shook her head, her thick red curls bouncing around her shoulders.

“No, of course not.” she promised Dawn. “A natural born werewolf doesn’t shift until they reach maturity, usually around the age of sixteen. But werewolf children are usually a bit more hyperactive and mischievous than mortal children.”

“Well at least I’ll have an entire pack to help keep an eye on it.” Dawn sighed as she laid her hand on her stomach. Then she frowned. “What about Farrah and Trig. What will their children look like?”

“Judging by my own physical beauty and Trig’s boyish good looks, I’d say they will be rather attractive.” Farrah replied seriously. It was clear that she was simply stated what she saw as facts instead of bragging about her own beauty.

“I’m sure they’ll be cute but what about once they start shifting. Will they be werelions or werewolves?” Dawn asked with a laugh. Brie shrugged.

“I really don’t know. Anytime two different were creatures have mated before their children will show the characteristics of one or the other from birth and then at maturity they shift into whatever creature feels natural. Though some end up being able to shift into both.”

Silence fell over them and then Dawn sniffled.

“What’s wrong?” Brie asked and Dawn shrugged.

“Grange isn’t happy. We never really talked about having children…. Though we didn’t exactly do anything to prevent it either.”

“Dawn, surely you know how wrong you are?” Brie questioned though she seemed to be uncomfortable questioning the alpha female in such a way. Dawn frowned.

“Why?”

“You know how much Grange loves you. He just has a lot on his mind right now. Give him time to get all of this sorted out and then I’m sure he’ll show you just how happy he is that you are carrying his child.”

Dawn nodded and felt foolish. It was these crazy, emotional, pregnant wolf emotions that were driving her completely insane.

---

“Hello, Brendon. I hear you’ve been asking about me.” Grange growled as he sat down on the bench next to the hunter he had met before. Brendon grinned, pushed back his stetson hat, stretched out his long legs and crossed his ankles. His green eyes shone with amusement as he smiled and his cheeks crinkled.

“Nice to see you again, Grange. It’s been awhile.” Nickolai and Trig had positioned themselves across the road on the mercantile porch while Grange and Brendon were on the bench beside the stage office.

“Fifteen years I believe. What brings you back to my town?” Brendon sighed and folded his hands over his lean stomach.

“I was hired to come find out all I could about a werewolf who was starting a pack and kidnapping pets from an elf. Said elf is camping about twenty miles from your cabin.”

“All in a days work, I suppose.” Grange said with a nod and Brendon chuckled as he squinted into the sun.

“Yeah.”

“So what did these fine townsfolk have to say about me?”

“That you are a good man. You help out those who need it while keeping mostly to yourself and you’ve just recently starting collecting people at your house the way some people collect old coins.”

“I have a mate now.” Grange replied and Brendon nodded.

“I noticed. I caught a couple glances of her today. She’s real pretty, Grange. I’d say you’re proud.”

“Very proud.” Grange agreed. Brendon was the closest thing to a friend that Grange had had before Trig and Nickolai had come along. Grange liked Brendon and the fondness was returned. “I’m gonna be a dad too.”

“Good for you, Grange! I’ll drink to that.” Brendon said as he pulled a small flask from his pocket and took a swig. He held it out to Grange who shook his head. “Things sure have changed.” Brendon said with a click of his tongue. “You’re mated, gonna be a pa, you’re an alpha with a pack…. And there is a crazy ass elf who wants you dead because he says you kidnapped his pets.”

“I didn’t kidnap anybody.” Grange replied. “They just kinda showed up here.”

“I know you didn’t kidnap anybody. Hell you ain’t that type. You were always a loner so I know damn well you wouldn’t force folks to come be around you all the time.” Brendon stated with a chuckle. “I’m guessing those are two members of your pack over there?” he added as he gave a small wave.

Nickolai raised a brow but Trig waved back. Grange nodded.

“Yes. Trig and Nickolai. They are mated to your employers so called pets.”

“Isn’t one of those pets a werelion?” Brendon asked with a frown and Grange nodded.

“Yep.”

“Weird.”

“Yep.”

“How is Faugrimm hiding his scent if he’s this close to my cabin?”

“Wind and rain.” Brendon replied and Grange growled.

“Elves…” he ground out.

“So what do you want me to do, Grange?” Brendon asked. “I took the job so that he wouldn’t hire anyone else but you know damn well that I ain’t gonna kill you.” Grange grinned. Brendon was one of the very few that he would trust with not only his own life but his mates and unborn pups as well.

“You couldn’t kill me if you tried.” he countered and Brendon laughed.

“Probably not.”

“Go back to Faugrimm. Send his men to my cabin and my pack and I will be ready. This is going to end now.”

“He has his younger brother, a vampire and two wolves with him.” Brendon warned.

“Yes and I have myself, a trained warrior, a loyal beta, a slightly insane werelion and a mate and child to fight for.”

“You have me too.” Brendon added and Grange nodded.

“That crazy ass elf isn’t going to harm my pack.”

“I hate elves.” Brendon shivered and Grange sighed.

“Me too.”

---

Faugrimm’s long thin legs carried him quickly across the leaf strewn forest floor as he paced at the edge of camp. His long wool coat whipped around his ankles and his long, white, rain-soaked hair clung to his gaunt cheeks and thin shoulders.

He was angry. No he was beyond angry. He was seething. Fuming. His scouts had found Puppet and the cat. Both of them had somehow ended up in a newly claimed territory that belonged to a wolf that Faugrimm had never heard of before.

How exactly a wolf had been able to start a pack so close to Faugrimm’s stronghold without him knowing Faugrimm did not know. It was probably because Faugrimm did not care much what went on in the outside world just so long as he remained unbothered with his pets.

Now this wolf was interfering with that. His two favorite pets were with him and Faugrimm would get revenge.

“Sir, we’re simply waiting on orders.” Faurgrimm stopped his pacing and turned to see his four loyal men watching him. Faugrimm wished he had a bigger army but something about chaining and beating prisoners caused their loyalty to waver once they were outside the dungeon walls.

Faugrimm ran his tongue over his pointy teeth and studied his men. A vampire, two lone wolves and his younger brother. There was also a hunter among them, though he was being paid well for his assistance and was not a man that Faugrimm knew anything about.

Those four men were loyal to him and the only men Faugrimm trusted outside of the stronghold. Yes he had guards and men he’d left behind but he did not trust those outside those walls.

“It’s worse than we thought, brother.” his younger brother Beechum said with a sigh. “It seems that Puppet has been reunited with her mate.”

“What?!” Faugrimm demanded, a clap of thunder sounding overhead from the intensity of his anger. It was only thanks to his ability to control the weather around him that Faugrimm had managed to stay this close to the wolves without them knowing he was here. He had kept this rainstorm going above his camp for two long days to hide their scents, though he was beginning to grow weary from the effort.

“That bitches father told me that her mate was dead!”

“Well he lied to you then, brother, because Brendon was able to talk to members of the town and trust me when we say that Puppet has found her long lost mate. And so has Farrah.” Brendon was the hunter and the only member of Faugrimm’s group that he could send wandering into the town without Puppet or Farrah recognizing his scent.

“Who is mated to my Farrah?” Faugrimm demanded, deciding that this day could not get any worse.

“One of the alpha’s betas. A younger wolf named Trig.” Faurgimm’s teeth ground together with enough force to cause him pain and he quickly pulled his sword and placed it at his youngest brothers throat. Beechum swallowed hard, his throat bobbing.

“I want these wolves dead! And I want my pets returned to me!” Faugrimm glanced over at the hunter, Brendon, when he held up his hand. “What?” he snapped.

“The entire pack stays together in that cabin. We can attack them there and take them all at once.” Faugrimm nodded and tapped his long nailed finger against his chin for several moments before removing his sword from his brothers neck and sliding it back in its scabbard.

“Dracon stays with me.” Faugrimm said, motioning at the vampire. “You wolves and Brendon will accompany Beechum and kill that worthless pack and bring my pets back to me alive. I want to be the one that causes their hearts to stop beating after their treachery.”

“Wait now!” Brendon cut in. “You never said you were gonna kill these women. You said you loved them and they were kidnapped.”

“You dare question me?!” Faugrimm roared. “You are being well compensated for your service to me and I expect you to do as I say without question. Or perhaps you would like to see what happens to those that dare go against me?” Faugrimm asked as his brother Beechum grinned and leaned toward Brendon. Brendon shook his head.

“That’s alright. I’m your hunter, bought and paid for.” he assured Faugrimm with a wink and then he and the wolves followed Beechum into the woods. It would be up to Beechum to keep the wind blowing against their faces to hide their scents from the pack they were hunting.

Faugrimm watched them disappear and felt a thrill of excitement course through him. Soon, very soon, he would feel Puppet’s body writhing beneath his own again before he cut off her traitorous head.

Chapter Twenty-Three

“Tonight?! They’re going to come tonight?” Dawn exclaimed before forcing herself to take a deep breath and remember that she was the alpha female and therefore supposed to encourage and lift up her pack, not bring them down with her own hysterics.

“I can’t say one hundred percent for sure since I am not with them to hear what Faugrimm says but that hunter is a friend of mine and he says it will be tonight. I trust him.” Grange replied.

“I won’t go back to him. Can’t go back there. Can’t go back to where the walls close in.”Farrah chanted fearfully.

“You aren’t going back there.” Trig assured her as he smoothed her hair from her face. “I can promise you that.”

“Come with me.” Grange said quietly in Dawn’s ear and then without another word to anyone else he led her out of the cabin and to the barn where they could be alone.

“Grange, I’m scared.” Dawn admitted. “I’ve been trying hard to learn what Nickolai is teaching me but…”

“You will not be fighting.” Grange snapped, his blue eyes flashing with gold.

“But I thought that’s why you were having Nickolai train me.” Dawn replied with a frown.

“No.” Grange replied quickly. “No he is training you just in case we have a worst case scenerio and I am killed. Unless that happens I will be there to keep you safe.” Grange’s face softened and he laid his hand over her stomach. “You and our child.”

Dawn looked up at him and felt tears gathering in her eyes.

“Why aren’t you happy about the baby?” she whispered. Grange sighed and put his hands on her cheeks, gently stroking her jaw.

“Dawn, love, use your senses and see if you can tell me what I’m feeling.”

Dawn studied his face and took a deep breath. She tried to pick through the different emotions that she could sense. There was a little bit of fear, which was natural considering they knew what was coming after them. There was also a touch of anger. But then coming through, stronger than both those emotions, was happiness. Complete and total happiness.

“I am happy, Dawn. And I am more proud than I have ever been before to know that we’re going to have a child. I’m sorry if I made you doubt that earlier but there is just so much going on at this moment and I’m afraid. I’m afraid that I will fail at keeping you and our child safe.”

“I love you, Grange.” Dawn replied. “And everything is going to be fine. You are the alpha and no pissed off little elf is going to cause harm to our pack.” Grange didn’t say a word, simply growled lightly and then pushed her up against the barn wall before covering her mouth with his. Devouring her the way a prisoner would his last meal before taking the long walk to the gallows.

Dawn clung to him with near desperation, praying that she had been right in telling him that nothing would harm their pack. She would not be able to carry on if something happened to Grange. To her mate. To the other half of her soul.

Grange pulled away and knelt down so he could press a gentle kiss to her stomach, placing his forehead against it and whispering quietly. Then he stood straight, grabbed her hand and led her back out of the barn.

“I want the women down in the cellar.” he stated when they entered, breaking apart the loving embraces of both Trig and Farrah as well as Nickolai and Brie.

“I’m fighting with you.” Farrah argued and then fear entered her eyes. “I can’t go in the cellar.” Grange rubbed his face roughly and nodded.

“Fine. Dawn and Brie in the cellar.” he amended.

“Do I have to stay hidden in the cellar?” Dawn asked, wondering why her wolf seemed almost happy by the thought.

“Yes. You are carrying the alpha males child and that makes your safety top priority.” Nickolai replied simply. “Brie will stay with you as company and guard. And also because there is no way I would let her be anywhere near an actual fight.”

“Okay, but why is my wolf happy about being somewhere so enclosed by earth when normally being inside makes it uncomfortable.”

“Because you’re with child.” Brie replied. “Your wolf is focused on staying safe in the den and protecting her precious cargo.” Dawn nodded and laid her hand over her stomach.

Grange scented the air, realized that the threat was on its way and knew he had to hurry. He went to a locked chest in the corner of the room and grabbed a key from the wall above it.

Grange opened the chest and pulled out two rifles and two black powder revolvers.

“Just in case.” he said as he handed one of each to Dawn and Brie. “They won’t kill them but they’ll slow them down and give you more a chance.”

“We’ll be fine.” Dawn assured him with more bravery than what she was feeling. Grange nodded and then quickly walked from the cabin. Dawn and Brie gave a nervous wave to Nickolai, Trig and Farrah and then they walked to the cellar door and walked down the rickety steps. Nickolai lit a lantern and handed it to Brie before leaving the cellar and closing and locking the heavy door behind him.

It would have been useless to try to hide the women elsewhere since those coming for them would be able to follow their scent anywhere.

“I’m afraid.” Brie whispered as she sat in the corner of the cellar with her knees pulled into her chest. “I cannot go back to him….” Dawn swallowed her own fear, squared her shoulders and looked down at Brie.

“Being afraid will not help our mates win the fight or keep you safe. We must be brave now.” She laid her hand over her stomach as she put her rifle over her shoulder. Brie nodded and stood up as well.

“You’re right.” she said and then Dawn gave her a comforting smile and the two women linked arms and waited for whatever was going to come.

---

Grange, Nickolai, Trig and Farrah did not let the threat get to the cabin. They wanted to stop it before it got that close to Dawn and Brie. Instead they met them in the woods and the two sides faced off.

Grange took in the four attackers and realized quickly that Faugrimm was not with them. There was an elf yes, but he didn’t fit the description of Faugrimm. This elf was on the shorter side and his hair was dark. Faugrimm, according to Brie and Farrah, was tall, willowy and had long white hair. The vampire that Brendon had mentioned was not among these men either.

“How did they know we were coming!” One of the men demanded and Grange realized he was a werewolf.

“Yeah you were supposed to keep our scent hidden from them!” the other man, also a werewolf, accused.

“You simply were not in on the entire plan.” The elf replied. “My brother wanted these wolves to catch our scent and come after us, leaving his pets unprotected at the cabin.”

“One of his pets is here.” the first werewolf growled with lust as he looked at Farrah. “That was the best time I ever had training that cat.”

Trig growled and tried to step forward but a quick snap from Grange had him stepping back.

“Where is Faugrimm?” he asked the other elf and the elf smiled, his pointed teeth shining.

“He should be nearing your mate and Puppet any moment.” Grange let out a roar and turned to go save his mate. He didn’t care in that moment about what happened to the rest of the pack. His only thought was getting back to Dawn and saving his mate.

“Grange!” Brendon called out in warning but the warning came too late to prepare Grange for the attack of the vampire who seemed to come out of nowhere and tackled Grange to the ground.

The woods exploded with growling, hissing and shifting bodies as the attack began. Cries of pain filled the air along with the scent of gunpowder and blood.

Grange had shifted when the vampire had attacked him and now the two of them circled each other. Grange wanted to finish him quickly but this was an old vampire. A smart vampire. Many vampires had almost magical abilities and it was clear that this vampire could phase, or disappear in thin air and reappear somewhere else. He couldn’t do it over long distances but it made fighting and keeping an eye on him much more difficult. And he could also hide his scent apparently and that’s why Grange had not known he was around.

The vampire hissed and lunged at Grange who jumped and met him in mid air in a flash of snapping jaws and gnashing teeth. The vampire disappeared and then reappeared behind him before delivering a sharp kick to his ribs. Grange roared with anger, pain and frustration before lunging at the vampire once again.

While Grange battled the vampire, Farrah and Trig were busy with the wolves who were both massive creatures. One of them lunged and grabbed Farrah by the neck and while she fought and tore at him with her long claws, Trig leapt onto his back and tore at the nape of his neck. The second wolf tackled Trig off and the two of them slammed onto the ground, nothing more than a blur of fur, teeth and blood.

Brendon had taken cover behind a rock after managing to get a couple of shots into Beechum. The elf and Nickolai were currently locked in battle and by the amount of blood gathering in the grass and leaves it was clear that neither was winning.

Grange finally managed to latch onto the vampire and he shook his head, tearing his flesh and causing the vampire to fall back with less arm than he had come with.

“My hand!” The vampire shrieked and Grange spit it and the forearm onto the ground and bared his blood covered teeth.

“It’ll grow back.” Beechum assured the vampire as he ran his sword through Nickolai’s gut and the wolf spit blood and fell to his knees. Brendon once again came out from behind the rock and ran for Beechum with his knife drawn. Beechum grabbed him up by the arm and threw him across the forest, bouncing him off a tree.

Brendon groaned when he hit the forest floor but he was quickly back on his feet and shaking his bloody head.

The vampire hissed and then disappeared again, though this time he did not reappear. Grange saw Trig and Farrah were finishing off the wolves and Beechum was currently being circled by both Brendon and Nickolai.

Suddnely Beechum’s head snapped up and his eyes went clear. It was as if he was hearing a voice in his head as he stared off into nothing. As the color returned he threw a wave in Grange’s direction and smiled, his face covered in blood.

“I’ll be going now.” he said quickly and then thunder clapped and the wind began blowing so fiercely that the leaves, dirt and air made it impossible to see in either direction.

Grange growled, standing on three legs since his front left one was shredded pretty badly from the vampires teeth. When the elf made commotion finally died down Beechum was gone. The pack was alone with the dead bodies of the wolves, who had of course returned to their human forms in their deaths.

“Grange, you gotta get back to the cabin!” Brendon said, breathing heavily and bleeding freely from several deep stab wounds and cuts. “I didn’t know Faugrimm was gonna sneak back to your cabin, I swear it.” Grange had no time for apologies. Without assessing the damage done to his pack members, he quickly set off through the woods and toward home and his mate.

Grange shifted before bursting into the cabin but the smell of an unfamiliar elf was strong and Grange knew he was too late. He already knew what he would find as he walked to the broken cellar door and down the creaking staircase.

Dread, panic, fear and rage all collided inside his heart, fusing and melting together, forming something so much worse than any of the one emotions alone.

“Dawn…” he whispered as he entered the dark room. The lantern was lying broken in the corner and the room was empty, echoing his own voice and desperation back to him.

“They’re gone.” Nickolai’s angry voice came from behind him. Grange nodded as he flared his nostrils and took in all the scents in the room. Blood and black powder. The blood was not Dawn’s nor Brie’s so at least the women had gotten the elf a few times before he’d taken them away. Their guns were lying discarded on the dirt floor.

“That elf is going to wish he had never been spit out of the bowels of hell.” Grange growled, his voice so low that the deep rumbling of it reverberated off the dirt walls.

He turned and went back up the stairs to find the pack there and waiting. Everyone was bleeding. Everyone was beat up. Everyone looked ready for more. Even Brendon stood beside the door.

The blood from Grange’s arm dripped and splashed on the wooden floor as he looked around at everyone. Nickolai’s eyes were dead once again but his body was practically vibrating with his rage.

“Farrah, you know how to get to Faugrimm’s stronghold?” Grange growled and Farrah nodded as blood ran down her temple.

“Yes I can get you there. He has the scent masked but I can remember the way.”

“I’m coming with you.” Brendon vowed as he held his hand against the worst of his wounds on his side. Brendon was nearly completely healed by now. Hunter’s healed at a far more rapid rate than wolves and other were creatures. It came in handy when you were battling so called creatures of the night.

Grange nodded and then went back to his and Dawn’s bedroom. The scent of her filled his nostrils and made his heart hurt and his rage intensify. He pulled on a pair of buckskin pants and a black tunic and then got his gun and holster out of his dresser and strapped it around his lean hips.

It wasn’t often he wore a gun but today seemed like a good day. When he reentered the sitting room, everyone else was dressed and ready as well. Grange walked to the door.

“Let’s saddle up the horses and go.” he growled.

“Grange, those horses can’t handle all of us riding doubled up like that for that long.” Trig stated and Grange shrugged.

“Then they’ll die. All I know is we have to catch that elf.”

“That wont’ happen, Grange.” Brendon said quickly. “He can phase from place to place. It takes a lot out of him but I’d be willing to bet he jumped from here straight back to his stronghold.” Grange’s roar of rage vibrated off the walls as he strode out the door.

“My poor Brie.” Nickolai whispered and Trig put a comforting hand on his back, though his eyes own were sad.

“We’ll get her back, Nickolai. Her and Dawn. We have to.” Nickolai just stared hard at him for a moment and then left the cabin without a word.

“I don’t want to tell Grange or Nickolai but Faugrimm wanted Farrah and Puppet dead.”Brendon stated quietly. Farrah let out a hiss as Trig’s arm wrapped around her shoulders protectively.

“And now that bastard has our alpha female and her unborn baby.” Trig whispered and the three of them shared a look of dread before quickly following after Grange and Nickolai.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Dawn was scared but more than being just scared she was also angry. Mad as hell. And she was also worried. Worried sick about Brie because Brie wasn’t in the same room as she was in. Dawn had tried to find her scent in the air but there were too many foul scents in this place, clogging up her nostrils, for her to be able to smell Brie.

Urine, feces, sweat, fear, blood and sex. She smelled all those things in the air. Her nostrils burned with them as she sat chained to a wall in a small stone room with a wide, heavy, wooden door. The bars at the top of the door awarded Dawn with a view of a dimly lit hallway and a guard, a guard that looked much like a rotting corpse, was standing with a heavy axe in his hand.

Dawn gagged at the sight of him and quickly averted her gaze. She felt the pain in her body as the wolf yearned to come out. She was scared. This room was too small and the walls seemed to be closing in on her. Suddenly she understood Farrah’s ranting about walls doing that very thing.

She breathed deep through her nose and pulled at the chains holding her wrists behind her back but it was no use. Even her added werewolf strength wasn’t enough to break these chains.

Dawn was worried about Grange. Had he survived? Was he coming? And if he came, would he be able to save her life without having his own life ended?

She was worried about Brie as well. Where was she? Was she even still alive?

Dawn remembered the horror of being in that cellar, hearing the lock on the heavy door break as it was jerked open. She remembered seeing those long legs with that heavy coat whipping around them, coming down the rickety staircase.

Dawn had fired shot after shot, but she had been shaking so badly that only one or two had actually struck the elf with the long white hair. Brie had become frozen at the sight of Faugrimm. She had begun mumbling and curled up in the corner of the room, offering no resistance when Faugrimm had slapped her.

Dawn had flown into a rage and had jumped on the elf’s back, raking her nails across his face and drawing blood and a pain-filled hiss from the elf before being thrown against the wall and knocked unconscious.

The next thing Dawn remembered was waking up in this room and that had been, at her best guess, two days ago or so.

Dawn had been surprised by her treatment by Faugrimm. Yes she was kept chained, which kept her from shifting because her shoulders would break if she tried, but she had been allowed to bathe and change her clothes and had even been fed several large meals a day.

Faurgrimm had asked her name but she had spit at him and that had made him laugh. He had only come in that one time, asked her name, asked about her mate and wanted details about Brie and Nickolai but Dawn had refused to speak and he had simply left.

But his brother, Beechum, was a different story. He liked to touch her hair and he was always present when she washed herself, which she was forced to do every couple of hours. He would stand in the corner and simply watch her, his eyes dark and roving as he would lick his lips repeatedly.

She had snapped and bitten him the first time he’d touched her cheek but this had only excited him and so now she merely swallowed her vomit and stared off into space when he was around. She refused to give him any kind of enjoyment.

She was wearing only a white shiftdress, it was short and thin, similar to the one that Brie had been wearing when she had first arrived at the cabin.

Where was Brie? Was she okay? And if Grange had survived and was coming then what was taking him so long to get here? The pain became intense as her bones started to change and Dawn closed her eyes and took several deep breaths to stop the shift, focusing instead on Grange’s handsome face and crooked smile in her mind and imagining what their child would look like.

Dawn heard a noise outside the door and looked to see it be pushed open and then Faugrimm walked in, followed by a man with red hair. Dawn took in his scent and realized he was a wolf and there was something familiar about his scent. But why? Dawn was certain she had never seen this man before.

“This is my newest pet, Colin.” Faugrimm said with a wave of his hand and a smile at Dawn. “Isn’t she something?” Colin frowned.

“I’m not really that impressed.” His nostrils flared. “She is mortal born and she is with pups.”

“Colin?” Dawn whispered and then it clicked in her head. The reason his scent was familiar to her. “You’re Brie’s father!”

“You know Brie?” Colin asked with a tilt of his head.

“Of course I know Brie. She is a member of my pack, Grange’s pack, and….”

“Enough!” Faugrimm shouted as he raised his hand and brought it down, barely stopping before he struck her and he seemed pleased when Dawn flinched.

“Who is this Grange and how did Brie become a member of his pack?” Colin demanded as he turned toward Faugrimm. “My daughter has been your pet, bought and paid for, with the understanding that she would be kept here and well cared for. Did you release her? Did you go back on your word?”

“Of course not.” Faugrimm assured him.

“He’s lying.” Dawn snapped. “He let her escape and she found Nickolai. She knows that you lied to her.”

“She remembered him?” Colin demanded, his blue eyes nearly bulging from his head. “You assured me that you were erasing her memory and she would remember nothing of Nickolai or of what I did to her!”

“She shouldn’t have…” Faugrimm said with uncertainty.

“She is stronger than you gave her credit for.” Dawn said, feeling her confidence rise. If these men were fighting then maybe Colin would kill Faugrimm and let her loose. She knew he wouldn’t just let her go but she also knew she stood a better chance in a fight against him than a fight against Faugrimm.

“I want to see my daughter. I have the money to pay back my debt and I want to take her home.” Colin stated.

“She won’t go with you. Not now that she knows the truth about you.” Colin strode forward and grabbed Dawn’s chin roughly in his hand.

“I want to buy her as well.” he said with a hungry smile and Dawn felt her stomach turn. Apparently she wasn’t going to get the men fighting but she still might get away from Faugrimm just the same.

“No.” Faugrimm replied with a quick shake of his head. “I went to a lot of trouble to get she and Brie away from that wolf and I won’t sell them both this quickly.”

“Then keep my daughter.” Colin replied with a shrug as he released his hold on Dawn’s face. “According to her, my daughter knows my treachery now and won’t want to come back with me. If I must take an unwilling she wolf home with me, I would just as soon take one I can break in the bedroom.”

Dawn felt her stomach turn at that thought and then she realized her face must have turned green because Colin chuckled.

“Don’t worry, princess, you’ll like it just fine.” he assured her with a wink.

“I’m not sure, Colin. My brother likes this one quite a bit so we may have to discuss prices with him.” Faugrimm said as he scratched at his chin. He didn’t care for the she wolf. She was mortal born and had been soiled by a mortal born alpha. Mortal born alpha?! That very comment was absurd. Mortal born immortals did not deserve the gift their immortality awarded them and as far as Faugrimm was concerned they should all die.

“Fine.” Colin said with just a bit of disappointment. “But if not her then I want my pick of another. There is no point in taking Brie home now.” Faugrimm smiled and nodded. He had had no intention of allowing Colin to take his daughter back.

Dawn sagged against the wall when the door slammed shut and she was once again alone. She let the tears fall then. Tears for herself, of course, but mostly they were tears for Brie, for Grange, for her pack. She had no idea where any of them were or if they were even still alive. What would she do if she had lost them all?

---

‘Grange! Nickolai! I understand that you’re all upset but we can’t just go storming in there!” Trig argued as they faced off in the woods about two miles from the stronghold. Farrah had told them it was like a big stone castle and there were guards posted on the walls to help keep those inside from escaping more so than to keep anyone out since Faugrimm had set up magical safe guards to keep people walking in circles and never see the fortress.

Those safe guards were no good against someone who had already been inside and that was one reason Grange was glad they had Farrah.

“I am going to go get my mate and I’ll kill anything that gets in my way!” Grange ground out between clenched teeth.

“Spoken like a man fixin’ to go get himself killed.” Brendon spoke up as he took a slow draw off his cigarette. Grange growled.

“And what is your plan?” he demanded in a hiss as he stalked toward Brendon, his fists clenching and his muscles coiling. The intensity in his gold flecked eyes would have made a lesser man run for cover but Brendon had been around a while and didn’t scare quite as easy.

“We have to send someone in. Someone that Faugrimm doesn’t know. Faugrimm sells his pets from time to time so he can buy more. Maybe he’d be willing to sell Dawn and Brie. And even if he’s not then at least someone’s inside and has a bit of his trust and can maybe figure out exactly where Brie and Dawn are being held. That’ll give us an advantage.”

“Who did you have in mind?” Nickolai asked.

“Not you, Beechum got too good a look at you and Faugrimm knows me. It can’t be Grange because the poor guy would probably just kill Faugrimm outright and get himself killed.” Grange growled at that comment but said nothing. “I’m thinking Trig should go.”

“Me!?” Trig exclaimed.

“Elves do not have a good sense of smell so he wouldn’t smell me on you.”

“I don’t know….” Trig said uncertainly. “I’m not much of a fighter….”

“He has my mate and child!” Grange growled as he turned on Trig and Trig whimpered and took a step back, lowering his gaze. “He has your alpha female! Your friend! Are you really saying you’re scared and don’t want to kill that bastard of an elf?!”

“Grange, we’ll make sure the elves die but wouldn’t you like to have Dawn and Brie out of harms way before then if that’s possible?” Brendon asked and Grange let out a breath and nodded.

It wasn’t like him to lose control of himself and get blindly bloodthirsty. Only the thought of losing Dawn could do that to him. Only the thought of harm coming to the woman he loved could make him go truly insane.

“Okay. You’re right. I apologize.” he mumbled. It was time for him to act like the alpha he was… But without Dawn by his side he was finding that that was much easier said than it was done.

---

Dawn jumped to her feet as the door to her room opened. It had been at least an hour since Faugrimm and Colin had left her alone and her heart dropped like a stone when Beechum entered the room.

“Hello there, my pet.” he said softly as he leered at her and ran his tongue across his pointed teeth. “You’re so beautiful when you’re scared.” Dawn just glared at him and he laughed loudly.

“My brother thinks that we should kill your pup and put you on the auction block. He seems to think we’d get more for you if you weren’t carrying another mans child.”

Dawn growled and lunged at Beechum, shocking them both when the chains broke free from the wall. Dawn stumbled forward as dust filled the air from the broken bricks.

Dawn managed to recover first, she had to save her child. She lunged at Beechum, shifting in midair more quickly than she had ever managed to shift before.

The chains on her wrist slid off her paws and she was completely free as she hit his chest and toppled him to the ground.

Dawn went for his throat, her jaws snapping and her teeth tearing at his arms as he tried to defend himself. Dawn knew very little about elves and wondered why it seemed so easy to fight him now. He seemed to have barely the strength that she had.

She felt him gathering his strength beneath her and then he shoved her hard, sending her flying off of him and skidding across the stone floor, her nails skittering as they tried to gain traction.

Beechum was bleeding heavily from his arms and Dawn’s claws had ripped gashes in his cheek. She growled, as she sat back on her haunches and his blood ran down fur.

“You stupid bitch!” he hissed, his sword ringing as he pulled it from its scabbard. “I was going to insist that my brother keep you for me but now? Now I am going to cut that pup from your womb myself and let you see its dead body before I end your life with one quick slice of my sword.”

Dawn growled and lunged again, jumping to the side to dodge the sword, the way Nickolai had taught her, before leaping again and grabbing his arm in her jaws. She bit down as hard as she could and felt his bones crunch in her mouth. Beechum screamed in pain and the door was thrown open.

The rotting corpse guard with the axe was suddenly on them and Dawn turned to face him just before Beechum moved his sword to his other hand and sliced it swiftly across the back of her back legs, severing her tendons and causing her to fall to the floor.

Dawn tried crawl for the open door but the guard brought the handle of his axe down on her head and she felt her body shifting as she slid into unconsciousness.

---

They were only about a mile from the stronghold when Grange scented the air and felt his blood freeze in his veins. Over every other putrid scent foiling the air, he could smell her. His Dawn. She was hurt, she was scared and she was bleeding.

Nickolai, Trig and Farrah also caught the scent and Brendon raised a brow.

“What is it?” he asked.

“It’s Dawn.” Farrah replied when it was clear that none of the wolves were in the frame of mind to reply. “She’s hurt.” Brendon nodded and pulled his gun.

“Forget the plan.” he said. “Let’s go kick some elf ass.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Dawn woke up and instantly realized that she was outside and the floor was dirt beneath her. She opened her eyes a crack and saw that the stone walls were still all around her but there was no ceiling and the blue, cloud filled sky was above her head.

Her legs were hurting bad and she looked down at them to see the deep cuts across the back of her calves. They were still bleeding and the blood and dirt had caked together down her legs and on her feet.

“You must have really made him angry.” Dawn turned her head quickly to see Brie sitting in the corner watching her. Brie inched forward and laid her hands on Dawn’s legs. “You’ll be able to walk in your human form, though it will be painful, but your wolf will be lame for at least a day or two.”

Dawn took a deep breath as panic filled her and then she calmed instantly when she caught the scent of she and Grange’s child still safe in her womb.

“Brie, are you okay?” Dawn asked, turning her focus to something other than herself and her child. Those dark thoughts were enough to drive her crazy and right now she didn’t need to be crazy. Brie nodded and pushed her limp red curls behind her ears.

“Yes. They had me in a cell. It was cold and damp and there was a dwarf in the cell next to mine that kept watching me and touching himself…” Brie shivered. “But no one has harmed me. They moved me to this room to get some fresh air and I was surprised when a few moments later they brought you here as well.”

“Who brought me?” Dawn asked as she kept a hand over her stomach, protecting her baby and wondering how they were both alive and well.

“One of the sub demon guards. He said something about Beechum going to see the doctor. You are very brave to have fought back at him that way. I wish I was that brave.” Brie said with shame. Dawn shook her head.

“I’m not brave.” she countered. “But he wanted to kill my baby and I couldn’t let that happen.”

“Beechum is evil… Faugrimm always kept him away from me.” Brie replied with a shiver as she ran her hands up and down her bare arms. She was dressed in the same white shift dress as Dawn. Dawn realized that someone must have given her the dress and dressed her since she would have been nude after shifting.

“Brie, we have to get out of here.” Dawn stated. She pushed herself to her feet, biting her lip to keep from crying out as her calves filled with fiery pain. She held onto the wall for support as Brie whimpered and slid Dawn’s arm over her shoulders to support her.

“We cannot escape, Dawn. It’s useless to think we can.”

“But we can! You did it once and so did Farrah.”

“That was when the Master wasn’t expecting anything. He is guarding us heavily now.” Dawn looked around.

“Maybe if you give me a boost to the top of this wall, then I can pull you up and we can jump down….”

“I applaud your ingenuity, my dear, but really any hope of escape is futile.” Dawn growled in the back of her throat when she heard, and smelled. Faugrimm. He pushed open the door and stepped into the tiny room.

Dawn saw the fear light up Brie’s face and anger burned in her gut. What Brie must have endured from this insane, ugly elf was enough to make both the alpha and the woman in Dawn mad as hell.

When Faugrimm stepped toward Brie, Dawn stepped between them and growled low in her throat as she tried desperately to ignore the pain her legs and keep from weaving. She was learning that in the world of supernaturals, any show of weakness was a death sentence. Faugrimm chuckled.

“Yes, Beechum said you are a hell cat, or perhaps I should say, one mean puppy?”

“How is his arm?” Dawn asked venomously.

“Broken. It will take days to heal properly. You are very tough, I will give you that. However that is only under a stone roof. Here, with the sky above my head feeding my power, I am a God.”

Dawn was about to fire off a smart retort when Faugrimm’s eyes rolled back in his head and he raised his hands. She wondered what was wrong with him until the wind began to pick up, swirling her loose hair around her face and catching the bottom hem of the white shift dress, whipping it around her thighs.

Dark thunderheads gathered above her head and a fat droplet of rain plopped onto her nose and ran down. Dawn stared at Faugrimm with shock and he laughed deeply as the rain began to pour down, plastering her hair to her face and rendering her thin white dress see through.

“Yes. Out here in the open is my element, my dear. Inside I have no greater strength than you but out here? Out here the weather, the wind, the rain, the hot, the cold, it is all under my control.”

Dawn took a deep breath, preparing to tell this pompous ass elf just what she thought when a scent reached her nose. Several scents. Her pack. Grange. They were close. Did Faugrimm not smell that? Then again, maybe elves didn’t have a good sense of smell like wolves.

“Enough small talk.” Faugrimm stated and just as quickly as it had begun the wind, rain and clouds all disappeared. “You have been sold, my dear, but he wants you childless. I must give the man what he wants.” Faugrimm pulled his sword and Dawn growled low in her throat.

She was faintly aware of Brie gasping behind her and knew the other wolf had just smelled the same thing that she had smelled. Dawn took a step away from Faugrimm and glanced over at Brie, who still seemed too afraid to do much other than stand there.

Dawn was now irritated with the other wolf. She growled and snapped at her and Brie’s eyes widened. Dawn was the alpha and she demanded to be obeyed. Brie was going to fight. She was going to help. She was going to do something other than stand in the corner and shake.

Faugrimm lunged forward and Dawn jumped out of the way, though her injured legs gave out below her and she fell onto the ground, which was now muddy thanks to the rain that Faugrimm had made come down.

Dawn rolled onto her back just in time to see Faugrimm leaping toward her with his sword but he was knocked sideways by a white blur of fur and teeth. Dawn realized with shock that the white ball was Brie and that the other wolf had shifted and was protecting her.

“Why, my little Puppet!” Faugrimm exclaimed with surprised happiness. “I never knew you had so much spirit.”

Dawn knew that while Brie had Faugrimm’s attention, she could get through the door and inside where Faugrimm’s powers would be diminished. She may even be able to find a way out of the stronghold and get to Grange. But she couldn’t leave Brie. She had to protect her. Had to help her.

Dawn jumped onto Faugrimm’s back, shifting as she sunk her teeth into his shoulder. Faugrimm let out a cry and flailed his arms wildly, his sword nearly catching Brie across the face before she jumped back, her white coat quickly becoming covered in mud.

Faugrimm reached an arm back and grabbed Brie by the back of her neck, tossing her forward and Dawn’s back legs, crumpled when she landed, the pain so intense it had her shifting back.

She covered her stomach and slipped in the mud as Faugrimm started toward her. Grange’s face flashed through her mind as Faugrimm swatted Brie out of his way again and closed in on Dawn. While Nickolai had taught Dawn how to fight like a soldier, Grange had taught Dawn how to fight a little more on the dirty side.

As Faugrimm stood over her, a grim smile revealing his pointed teeth, Dawn took a deep breath and gathered her strength.

Faugrimm raised his sword and Dawn heard Brie growl as he began to lower it quickly toward Dawn’s belly. Dawn knew that now was the time. She swung her leg up with all her might and caught him between the legs.

Grange had told her that no matter what type of immortal she was facing, a quick kick to his groin would send him crashing down. She was happy to see that Grange had been right. Faugrimm’s face went pale and his eyes nearly bulged from his head as his sword clattered to the ground and he fell to his knees.

Dawn jumped up and grabbed his sword out of the mud. The sword was nearly as tall as she was and it was all she could do to wield it as she raised it above her and prepared to bring it down on Faugrimm’s head, before a strong gust of wind blew and sent her stumbling backward.

The sword fell from her hands and then Brie was grabbing her hand between her teeth and trying to yank her inside. Dawn knew the other wolf was right. They needed to get inside where Faugrimm wouldn’t be so strong. They needed to find their pack.

Dawn followed Brie as quickly as she could with her legs and Faugrimm yelled with rage as they ran quickly down the stone hall, Brie’s claws echoing off the walls around them.

---

“The best way to enter is through the back courtyard. You will avoid the guards he has posted at the front. The door off the back courtyard will take you into the dungeons which lead up to the main floor. Faugrimm has many castle cards, sub demons mostly. They are well paid to defend him though he abuses them greatly.” Farrah said as everyone looked up at the stone walls.

“Is the courtyard guarded?” Nickolai asked and Farrah nodded.

“Yes. There is always a half demon in the guard tower.” she replied, though he will be hard pressed to see us in the dark if we keep to the shadows….”

“Is there a way into the courtyard without climbing the wall?” Grange asked and Farrah nodded.

“There is a gap in the hedges. Puppet, I mean Brie, told me that’s how she got out.”

“Trig.” Grange said and Trig stepped forward.

“Yes?” he asked, still feeling ashamed for his show of cowardice a short time ago. It wasn’t that Trig did not want to fight to save Dawn and Brie because he had vowed when joining this pack to fight to death to protect Dawn, but Trig was worried that he wouldn’t be good enough….

It had been different in the woods with Farrah and the miners. That had been his mate in danger and he hadn’t had time to think about what could happen. He’d had plenty of time to think about this and he did not want to let his alpha down.

“Get to the guard tower, you can climb that wall there, the rocks seems to be cracked enough for foot and hand holds, and kill that guard. When he is dead, hoot like an owl.”

Trig nodded, and then without a word he turned and sprinted toward the wall where the guard was stationed. The wall was fairly easy to climb. Trig wished the guard was a sub demon instead of a half demon. Sub demons were barely more than animated corpses and as easy to kill as mortals. Half demons were a bit stronger, but thankfully, because of their mortal blood, they did not have full demon scent or eyesight. The guard should be easy to sneak up on.

Trig made it to the top of the wall and peered over, and sure enough he saw the guard in a small tower on the wall. A ladder led up to where the guard was standing with a bow and arrow. Trig frowned.

An entire fortress full of dangerous, captive immortals and the only guard at the back courtyard was defending the exit with a bow and arrow? A weapon that wouldn’t kill any immortal other than a sub demon. Faugrimm was either very stupid or overly confident in his own magical defenses and did not feel the need for many physical ones.

Trig slipped silently up the ladder and as he got to his feet behind the half demon, he saw the demon’s nostril’s flare and the guard turned quickly. Trig smiled, cocked his head to the side and waved before quickly, grabbing the half demon and twisting his neck in one fluid motion.

With that single kill, his confidence rose and his wolf’s bloodlust was awakened. He gathered up the bow and put the quiver of arrows over his own shoulder and then let out a hoot.

He saw Grange, Farrah, Nickolai and Brendon slipping through the hedges and into the courtyard. He grinned and jumped down, landing on his feet beside them.

“Where’d you get that?” Brendon asked, pointing at the bow with interest. Trig pointed to the tower.

“He said he didn’t need it anymore.” Trig pulled off the quiver and held it and the bow out to Brendon. “I ain’t no good with a bow.” Trig said with a shrug and Brendon grinned and took it.

“I am.”

“You’re a trained assassin. You’re good with any weapon.” Trig countered.

“Alright, Farrah, we’ll follow you.” Grange growled and Farrah nodded before leading them toward the heavy door in the stone wall.

The rusty hinges squeaked as they slipped inside. Grange scented the air and caught Dawn’s scent but it was faint. The strongest smell was that of urine, blood, pain and fear. They stepped into a hallway and Nickolai’s gasp was audible.

“Oh my God.” Grange whispered as he took in the sight of the malnourished and beaten immortal creatures all locked behind bars in cages not much bigger than they were. The smell of feces and urine was nauseating and the sight of these immortals, the dirt and blood covering their bare bodies, the bones jutting from their skin and the haunted looks in their nearly lifeless eyes made Grange wish there was something he could do to help them all. The only help he could offer them was to kill Faugrimm and he planned on doing that very very soon.

“Brie has shifted. She and Dawn have been fighting. I can smell blood….” Nickolai said with dread. “Dawn’s blood.” he added and Grange roared with rage.

He began to run, following his mate’s scent and praying, hoping against hope, that she would be okay.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Faugrimm was searching for Brie and Dawn, who had managed to slip down the back tunnels and get away from him. He cursed his lack of a heightened sense of smell.

He had reached Beechum telepathically to let him know the pair of them had gotten away but Beechum was still busy with the doctor having his arm stitched back together.

“Sir, we have a problem.” Dracon, the vampire, stated as he came around a corner and stopped Faugrimm in his tracks. Faugrimm looked at the vampires arm, which was up in a sling since the bottom half of it was missing and going through the process of regeneration. A process that would take days and lots and lots of blood.

“What is the problem?” Faugrimm demanded.

“They are here. They found us. The alpha, puppet’s mate and his entire pack, plus the hunter that was supposed to be helping us….”

“How did they find us!?” Faugrimm demanded with horror. His fortress was supposed to be protected by magical safe guards that instantly made a person walk around it without ever coming up on it. No one had ever found his stronghold. Even those who came to visit were always met out in the town a few hours away and led, blindfolded, to the front door.

“I don’t’ know, sir. Probably with the help of Farrah. Sir, we’re in trouble. My arm is still regenerating, Beechum’s arm is useless and Phoenix and Vaughn are dead.” Dracon stated, referring to the werewolves that Brie’s new pack had killed several days ago in the woods.

“I have plenty of sub demons here that will fight.” Faugrimm stated. “Where are the intruders?”

“The dungeons. I smelled them and came looking for you. My guess is that they killed the guard out in the courtyard.” Faugrimm hissed loudly.

“Alert the sub demons and find the intruders. Kill them all!” He screamed.

---

“I have to stop.” Dawn cried out as she fell to her knees on the stone staircase they were running up. The cool bricks felt so good against her overheated bare skin that she didn’t even notice the way they tore at her knees. She and Brie seemed to have been going up these stairs for hours and Dawn’s injured legs were hampering their progress and now seemed to have decided to shut down altogether.

Brie whimpered and motioned for Dawn to get on her back. While Brie was bigger than an average wolf, when compared to Grange she was very small and Dawn doubted she’d be able to carry her up this seemingly endless staircase.

Suddenly Brie’s entire posture changed. Her nostrils flared, her ears went back and the thick white fur on her back stood on end. Dawn scented the air and recognized Colin’s scent. The man was running fast, clearly in a panic and his fear was thick in the air.

The sound of his footsteps pounding down the stairs came to Dawn’s ears and she was shocked to hear Brie growling. Colin came skidding to a stop, tripping over a step and grabbing the wall to keep himself from tumbling headfirst down the stairs and straight into the waiting women.

“Brie….” he whispered with shock as his eyes widened and he stared at the white wolf. Dawn stayed curled up on the stair, shielding her stomach and hoping Brie could handle her father alone.

Brie shifted back, her long curly red hair, falling down her back and covering her bare backside.

“My daughter! I have been so worried about you… I can’t believe you’re alive. I thought you died all those years ago….”

“LIAR!” Brie yelled angrily and Dawn glanced behind them, worrying that at any moment Faugrimm would appear on the narrow, winding staircase.

“Brie…” Colin said softly, reaching out his hand. Brie swatted his hand away and clenched her fists at her sides as she glared up at him.

“You told me that Nickolai was dead! You sold me to this monster! Do you have any idea what he did to me? Any idea what he put me through?”

“Those are lies.” Colin insisted. “I never did any of those things.”

“You did. You are a monster!”

“Do not speak to me that way. I am your alpha! Your father!”

“You are nothing!” Brie spat, before spitting at his feet. “Nickolai is here father and he’s going to find you and he’s going to kill you.”

“Is that right?” Colin growled, his hazel eyes flashing. He reached out and grabbed Brie. She fought against him but Brie’s tiny frame was dwarfed in comparison to Colin’s. He turned her around so her back was against his chest and his arm was tight around her throat.

“Stop fighting me or I will snap your neck.” he warned and Brie’s movements stilled. Dawn growled.

“Let her go!” she ordered and Colin laughed loudly.

“A little pup giving me orders?” he hissed. “I wanted you but that will have to wait until we meet again.”

“Stop!” Dawn cried out desperately as Colin turned and drug Brie away, up the narrow spiral steps. Obviously deciding that he no longer wanted to go toward the dungeons.

Dawn gathered all her strength and continued up the stairs, though she could barely manage better than a snails pace. Her legs were bleeding badly again, running on the stairs had torn the cuts deeper and she could hear the droplets of blood splashing against the stones. Dawn growled at the pain. Weren’t werewolves supposed to heal really quickly?

Dawn felt tears running down her cheeks as both pain and desperation set in. This stairway was never ending and Dawn had no idea where she was going.

She nearly cried out with relief when she saw a doorway on the side of the staircase. She didn’t care where it led just so long as she could get off this narrow path she was on. The wolf in her felt trapped and her legs couldn’t handle another step.

She threw open the door and all but fell through it. She breathed a sigh of relief to be off the staircase. Then a scent came to her nose that had her wishing she had stayed on those stairs.

Sickly sweet……..

She looked up from where she was lying on the floor and saw a vampire watching her. There was no mistaking that this was a vampire. His fangs were sharpened and bared as he smiled down at her and his eyes were silver in his bloodlust.

“Well lucky me.” he hissed. “His bitch fell right into my hands. I didn’t even have to look for her.”

“Ugh, vampires.” Dawn growled as she pushed herself to her feet and squared her shoulders. Of course she had shifted while fighting Faugrimm so she just had to be nude while trying to stare down the vampire. “I hate vampires.” The vampire shook his head and clicked his tongue against his fangs.

“That’s not very nice.” he scolded with amusement. Dawn shrugged.

“So far I’ve only met two vampires and Grange killed one of them. Your odds don’t look so good, considering my mate is here and he is angry.” Dawn scented the air and caught Grange’s scent. She could tell he wasn’t far away and he was very angry, though she had no idea where exactly he was and she wasn’t yet good enough at distinguishing scents to know if he was okay or not.

She could hear the clanging of weapons and angry yells and cries of pain. There was a battle going on somewhere close.

“He also did this to me.” the vampire stated as he pulled off the sling and Dawn gagged when his arm fell down and she saw the bloody stump below his elbow, bone covered in a thin layer of muscle. No skin. No hand…..

“He should have done more.” Dawn stated as she forced her eyes away from the gore.

“That would have saved your life.” the vampire agreed. “My name is Dracon, by the way. I like for my prey to know who is draining the life from their veins before I dine.”

“I’m Dawn.” Dawn replied, readying herself for a fight. A door opened across the room, though Dawn could not see who opened it because Dracon blocked her vision. She saw Dracon stiffen as a familiar growl filled the small bedchamber.

“And I’m Grange.” Grange snarled coldly. “But I think we’ve already met.” Dracon hissed and grinned coldly down at Dawn as she fought to stay steady on her screaming legs. She felt more relief at hearing Grange’s voice than she had ever felt before.

Then Dawn screamed when Dracon lunged at her, his hand closing around her neck and lifting her into the air before turning with her and pulling her body close to his as he faced Grange.

Dawn saw the rage on Grange’s dark, chiseled face. He was covered in blood, though it didn’t appear to be his own, and his hair was a wild mess atop his head, falling carelessly across his dirt streaked forehead. She saw the heavy broadsword in his hand and frowned. What was it with men and oversized swords?

She nearly chuckled at her own thoughts until Dracon’s grip on her neck tightened and she found herself unable to breathe.

“Let. Her. Go.” Grange ground out, his blue eyes completely golden and flashing with a rage unlike anything Dawn had ever seen. She had no doubt that Grange would rip this vampire to shreds once he got his hands on him. She just hoped that was soon as her lungs became to scream in protest.

“Perhaps we can work out a deal.” Dracon replied calmly. “I want to make it out of this stronghold with my life. It seems you and your men have made short work of most of Faugrimm’s guards and will probably make short work of the elves as well. I have not harmed your mate, yet, and I won’t, if you assure me that you’ll let me leave with my life.”

Grange’s eyes met hers and Dawn shook her head the best she could with the vampires hand gripping her tightly. Dracon was not leaving this room alive. Dawn wasn’t violent by nature but even she knew that if they let Dracon leave they would have to be looking over their shoulders their entire lives.

She kept clutching at Dracon’s good hand around her neck with one hand and then slowly reached behind her with the other. She had seen a dagger hooked to Dracon’s hip earlier…. She smiled at Grange, knowing Dracon wouldn’t be able too see it and Grange’s eyes narrowed.

“Make your move, wolf.” Dracon hissed. “Are you letting me go or am I snapping her pretty little neck?”

Dawn’s vision was growing blurrier now as her air continued to be cut off. Was it possible to kill an immortal so easily? Could a werewolf be choked to death? She didn’t know, but she did know that she was pissed.

“Why should I trust a vampire?” Grange asked and Dawn saw that he was barely suppressing the urge to jump forward and attack Dracon. She let her hand close around the daggers hilt.

“Because I’m afraid that’s the only hope your tiny little mate has.”

“Maybe…not.” Dawn managed in a raspy gasp and then she pulled the dagger and sliced it with all her might across the vampires wrist.

She was let go of so suddenly that her legs weren’t prepared to support her own weight and she would have tumbled to the ground if Grange hadn’t jumped forward and caught her in his arms.

Dawn felt her entire body fill with relief and joy at being in her mates arms again. She breathed him in and nearly wept as he held her and kissed her hair. Then, just as suddenly as she had been wrapped in his arms, Grange was shoving her behind him.

Dawn turned to see Dracon, who had been screaming and hissing with pain and rage while she and Grange had been embracing. Dawn had managed to nearly sever his only good hand.

“I’ll bet he’s angry.” she whispered and she heard Grange chuckle lightly just before Dracon leapt at him with a hiss. Dawn screamed as Grange threw his sword aside and leapt forward as well and met Dracon in mid air, armed with nothing but his bare hands.

Dawn wondered why Grange didn’t shift. The fight would be easier that way. Then in a very anticlimactic moment Grange very simply grabbed a hissing Dracon around the neck and squeezed.

Grange’s short sleeved tunic award Dawn with a view of his sweat, blood and dirt covered forearms bulging as he roared with rage and then Dawn squeezed her eyes shut tight and turned her head quickly when Dracon’s head was ripped from his shoulders and blood sprayed across the room, covering Dawn’s bare skin with warm droplets and soaking Grange.

“I’d like to see the bastard regenerate after that one.” Grange said with a chuckle and then he turned and Dawn turned as well and forced herself to look up at him instead of down at the gore on the floor.

“Dawn…” Grange started and then he simply stepped forward and took her in his arms, holding her so tightly that she could barely breath but she didn’t voice a word of complaint, even with the stink of vampire blood filling her nostrils.

“I thought I’d lost you.” Grange said gruffly and when Dawn heard him sniff, she knew he was crying into her hair. She just stood there and kept her arms around him tightly, realizing that now she was holding him instead of the other way around.

Grange gave one last sniff and pulled away from her. His tears had stopped, though his eyes were still red rimmed as he looked her up and down.

Grange growled when he saw the bruises covering her neck. Her knees were skinned and she had small bruises covering her body. He walked around her and saw the deep gashes on the back of her legs. It looked as if someone had tried to cut her legs off. The cuts seemed to be a couple of hours old and if she wasn’t carrying his child she would already be mostly healed but with all the trauma her body was suffering, her healing was all being used to keep their child safe and unharmed. Therefore it would probably take at least a day, maybe two, before her legs healed completely.

“Can we go home now?” Dawn asked, her fatigue really setting in now that her worry over Grange’s whereabouts had eased. She hadn’t slept in days. She wasn’t sure how many days but it had been a long time.

Grange nodded.

“Yes. Soon. Nickolai, Trig, Farrah and Brendon are finishing off the sub demon guards. No one has seen either Beechum or Faugrimm. Where is Brie? Is she locked up somewhere?” he asked as he let her lean her weight against him.

“He has her…” Dawn replied. “Colin. Her father.”

“What?” Nickolai’s cold angry voice came from the doorway behind them. It was the doorway that Grange had entered from earlier. Dawn turned to look at him.

“Colin is here, Nickolai. He was going to buy me but he wanted Faugrimm to kill my child first. He sent Beechum to do the job and I fought back. The last I heard Beechum was with the doctor. He and the guard did manage to knock me out though and when I woke up I was in an outdoor cell with Brie. Faugrimm came, he was going to kill our baby…” Dawn shivered and Grange’s grip on her tightened.

“Brie and I managed to get away from him and then we were running up that staircase… I didn’t think it would ever end and finally my legs simply gave out. Then he came, Colin, Brie attacked him and he grabbed her and carried her away.” Dawn looked at Nickolai with regret. “I wanted to help her but I just couldn’t….” she said desperately. “Please forgive me.”

Nickolai tipped his head.

“There is nothing to forgive. I will find Brie. I believe Colin and I have a few things we need to discuss with one another.”

“I am taking Dawn out of here. That back staircase must lead down to the dungeons. We will go that way. Trig, Farrah and Brendon?” he asked and Nickolai nodded.

“Are already making their way out. The guards were no real challenge. Faugrimm and Beechum still have not been seen.” Grange nodded.

“We will all meet in the back courtyard. No one leaves until everyone is there.” he stated and after nodding in agreement, Nickolia walked to the back staircase.

“Up or down?” he asked Dawn and she pointed up. Without another word, Nickolai disappeared from view.

“Grange,” Dawn whispered as he prepared to pick her up and carry her away.

“What?”

“I’m naked.” she replied, a blush rising on her cheeks.

“I noticed.” he replied and she was surprised and happy to see a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

“And everyone keeps seeing me naked.” she added and this caused the smile to disappear.

“Right.” He crossed the room over to the small bed and tore off the blanket before grabbing the thin white sheet beneath. He walked back to Dawn and gently wrapped it around her, securing it tightly.

“Better?” he asked and she nodded.

“Now let’s get out of here.”

“But what about Faugrimm?” Dawn asked as Grange scooped her up in his arms and then picked up his sword.

“I’ll come back for him once you are somewhere safe. I will not keep your life or the life of our child in danger for one more moment longer than necessary.”

“Okay.” Dawn replied as she snuggled up against his chest. She was not letting him come back after Faugrimm but they could argue over that later. Right now she just wanted to be held by him. “I can’t help but notice that all of you have clothes on…”

“Yes. It’s easier to fight as a human sometimes. When you’re a wolf you have to bite and sub demons do not taste good.” Dawn shivered and Grange kissed her hair as he led her out the door and started down the staircase. “Also you seem uncomfortable when you see all of us naked.” Grange added. Holding her in his arms gave him a peace that he hadn’t felt in the days since she’d been missing.

Every part of him, both man and wolf felt complete now that she was back. Not even the threat that Faugrimm and his brother were still alive and near could completely darken his mood.

Dawn was shocked when she found herself nearly falling asleep against Grange’s broad chest. Her body was so tired. Her mind exhausted.

She was drifting off to the rhythm of his heartbeat when suddenly a scent came to her nose. She felt Grange stiffen and heard him growl as they rounded a bend in the narrow stairwell and Beechum was suddenly there with his sword drawn.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Nickolai followed Brie’s scent up the stairwell and growled when it stopped at the top. He put his hand on the door handle and tried to calm his temper before slowly opening the door. He stepped out onto the top of the building and wondered where exactly Colin had thought he’d been going to hide up here, since he was sure the coward had been attempting to hide.

How strange that Nickolai had once come close to worshiping the other wolf. He had been Nickolai’s first alpha. He had taken Nickolai off the streets and given him a home. Made him a part of a pack. A family.

Then Colin had lied to Nickolai and taken from him the one thing in the world he had loved with all his heart. His mate. His Brie. Not only that but he had turned Nickolai into a murderer because Nickolai had ripped the young wolf that had been guarding Brie apart without even giving the man a chance to defend himself and tell him that he had never left his post and that Brie was not really dead.

Nickolai stepped out onto the rooftop. The building was large and there were three foot stone ledges around the edge. There were also several taller towers, Nickolai assumed they were meant for guards and defenses, though Faugrimm had been so secure in his magical protection that they were unmanned and unarmed.

Nickolai heard Brie cry out and he turned instantly and saw she and Colin on the other side of the roof, across a thin stone crosswalk. Colin hadn’t yet noticed him. He was busy struggling against a fighting Brie as he led her toward the ledge.

Nickolai saw a ladder on the edge of the fortress and knew that’s why Colin had come this way. He figured he could avoid everyone inside the fortress by coming to the roof and climbing down the ladder. Nickolai had no idea how Colin had known this was here but that didn’t matter. There was no way he was letting Colin take his Brie from him again.

He took off at a run without saying a word and shifted as he ran. Shedding his clothes and his human doubts. He was a wolf now. A wolf who wanted to protect his mate and kill the threat, even if the threat had once been the alpha.

As Brie fought against Colin, the man raised his hand and smacked her hard across the face, which brought a roar of rage from Nickolai. Colin’s head whipped around and he barely had time to register that Nickolai was coming before Nickolai leapt forward.

Colin threw Brie in front of him and Nickolai was forced to twist in the air and landed beside them, stumbling several steps before turning to face Colin, growling low in his throat.

“It’s been a long time, Nickolai. I see a few new scars. Has life been treating you well?” Nickolai growled and shifted back. He had things to say to Colin and answers he wanted to get and he wasn’t going to get any of those things accomplished as a bloodthirsty wolf.

“Let go of my mate now.” he stated, his face a cold mask of control as he took in the sight of his Brie’s bruising cheek. It was clear that she had shifted at some point and her bare skin and soft body had Nickolai’s desire building despite the situation they were in.

His Brie could always make him lose control of every emotion and desire that he had.

“I think I’ll just keep my daughter right here.” Colin said, holding Brie tight in front of him. “For insurance purposes.”

“Coward.” Nickolai growled and Colin shrugged, though his brow shown with sweat in the sunset light and licked his trembling bottom lip nervously.

“Some would say it was a wise move.” Brie looked like she was about to fight against her father and Nickolai quickly narrowed his eyes and shook his head. His mate would not have to fight. Not with him here. That was his job.

Fighting when she had to was one thing but right now she did not have to. Nickolai also did not want her to have harming her father on her conscience. No matter how big of a monster her father was.

“Why did you do it, Colin? Why did you sell your daughter to monsters? Do you have any idea what they put her through?”

“She was well cared for. She seems healthy enough.” Nickolai growled low in his throat and took a step forward. Colin’s eyes widened with panic and he shoved Brie toward the edge of the roof.

“I’ll throw her off, Nickolai. You just need to turn and walk away. This is between my daughter and I. I’m taking her home to her pack.”

“You will not take my mate from me again. Her place is with me and my pack.” Nickolai warned, though he didn’t move any closer. The fall from the roof would not kill Brie but it could quite possibly break all the bones in her body and the pain would be unbearable. If there was any way to keep his Brie from tumbling over the roof than that was the path Nickolai wanted to take.

“Her place is with me! Her father!”

“You’re crazy.” Brie accused and Colin’s grip tightened painfully on her arm.

“I’ll kill her, Nickolai.” Colin warned and then he slid a long knife and placed it against Brie’s neck.

Brie fought hard to stay brave when what she wanted to do was cry. She felt the knife prick her skin. If her father cut her throat deep enough she would die. That was one guaranteed way to kill a werewolf.

She looked at Nickolai but his face was unreadable. He was the single bravest person that she knew. He was strong, stoic and never panicked. Never showed fear. She was jealous of him at times. She had always wished she could be more like him. She simply did not have that in her.

Nickolai knew he had to act fast if he was going to save Brie. He took a step back as if in retreat and then lunged forward. Colin cried out in shock, as the knife clattered to the ground and he jumped backward. Nickolai felt fear and panic fill him when Colin tripped over the edge and fell from the roof, taking Brie with him.

“BRIE!” Nickolai cried as he jumped to the edge and reached out just in time to grab Brie’s hand. Colin’s screams ended abruptly as his body landed with a dull thud on the ground far below them.

“Nickolai.” Brie sighed with relief as he lifted her with one hand back onto the roof and wrapped his arms tight around her.

“You caught me…” she gasped as she clung to him and buried her nose in his bare chest. Nickolai nodded as he buried his nose in her thick red curls.

“Of course I caught you.” he replied gruffly. He moved her to the side and leaned over the edge to see Colin’s broken body in the back courtyard that Nickolai and the pack had entered through. He could hear Colin gasping in pain and knew the man was alive but his bones were all broken so he couldn’t move.

“We have to get off the roof.” Nickolai stated as he moved back to Brie and wrapped his arm tight around her shoulders. There were no words to describe how relieved he was to have her back again. Never again would he let her out of his sight. Never again would he risk her being taken away from him. He couldn’t stand it if it were to happen yet again.

He led her over to his clothes and picked up his torn shirt. He helped Brie slide it on and a faint smile curved his lips when he saw the way it hung to her knees.

His pants were torn as well but he pulled them on and they covered the necessary areas.

“You never used to be shy.” Brie teased, leaning against him. Nickolai found himself smiling.

“I’m not but the alpha female is.” Nickolai walked to the ladder and he climbed onto it, going down several steps and then motioning for Brie to follow him.

It took several long moments but finally they reached the grass and stone below them.

“Nickolai, where is everyone?” Brie asked.

“We have not seen either Faugrimm or Beechum. Dracon is dead. Trig, Farrah and Brendon are dealing with the last of the guards and Grange will be bringing Dawn out soon. We are all meeting here in the courtyard. Stay here.” he added quietly and Brie nodded and pushed her back against the stone wall as Nickolai walked out to Colin’s broken body.

“Finish…me..off…” Colin gasped as blood trickled from his mouth and ran down the side of his face. Nickolai shook his head.

“Not until you give me the answers I want.” he replied coldly as he stared down at Colin without emotion. Colin managed a painful smile that was more like a grimace in his current state. His bloody mouth and teeth gave him an almost scary appearance as his pain glazed eyes glared up at Nickolai.

“What answers are those?” he asked.

“Why did you do what you did to me?” Nickolai growled, fighting to keep his voice void of any emotion and hurt. “You were like a father. You were my alpha. I would have given my life to keep you safe. Why did you betray me?”

“I found your worthless ass wandering the streets and I saved you. I trained you. I groomed you. And then you took my baby girl away and my pack began to look at you differently. The stronger you got, the older and more experienced you became, the less respect they showed toward me. Instead it began being directed at you.” Colin growled, though he did not move. Nickolai guessed his neck was broke and that was why he was completely immobile. “I couldn’t have that.”

“Are you saying that you thought I was going to steal the pack? You thought I wanted to overthrow you and become alpha?” he demanded.

“You would have. Given enough time, you would have. I knew that if you challenged me I would lose. You were always a gifted fighter. Then I got into trouble financially. I knew that if the pack discovered the issue I would be overthrown and so I devised a plan to get rid of you and solve my monetary issues.”

“By selling your daughter and telling me that my mate had died?” Colin coughed and blood splattered from his mouth onto Nickolai’s bare chest.

“It really was a great plan.”

“Until she escaped and came back to me.” Nickolai replied and Colin frowned.

“Yes, until then.”

Nickolai stepped away and grabbed the knife that just a short time ago, Colin had had pressed against Brie’s neck. Nickolai went back to the other wolf and knelt down. He grabbed Colin’s red hair in one hand and placed the knife against his trembling throat with the other.

“Do you know the saddest part about all of this?” Nickolai asked and Colin raised a brow.

“What’s that?”

“I would have been loyal and submissive to you until the end, Colin. I never wanted to take over the pack or be the alpha. I simply wanted to serve you the best I could and love your daughter.”

“Funny how life works.” Colin stated with another bloody smile and Nickolai just shook his head and then finished Colin off. He tossed the knife aside and then stood straight and turned to look at Brie who was staring at her father with a mixture of powerful emotions that not even Nickolai could read or decipher.

He walked toward her slowly, wondering what was going on inside her head. He had warned her that if he ever saw her father again he would kill him and the man had been willing to kill her. Was she upset at him still despite all of that?

He stopped two feet from her and simply looked at her. He knew that his bare chest and arms were splattered with her fathers’ blood, though he made a conscious effort to keep his face free of emotions.

“My Brie…?” he questioned cautiously. A single tear ran down Brie’s cheek, piercing a hole straight through Nickolai’s heart and then she flung herself into his arms.

“I love you.” She whispered into his ear as her now free flowing tears soaked his skin. “I love you.”

“I love you too, my Brie. Are you angry with me?”

“No.” Brie assured him as she pulled away and looked into his pale blue eyes. She could see his worry and his fear even though she knew he was trying to hide it. “I’m angry with him ” she said, tilting her head toward her father’s body without looking at him. “What he did to you was inexcusable.”

“He did it to us, my Brie, but he’s gone now.” Nickolai pulled her close again and kissed her brow. “Now let’s go near the hedges and wait for everyone else to join us.”

“What about the elves?” Brie asked and Nickolai shook his head.

“Killing them will have to wait. My first priority is getting you somewhere safe.”

“Too late.” A haughty voice replied and then Nickolai and Brie both cried out when the hedges seemed to come to life and grab them, trapping them in a tight embrace as an elf came out of the shadows and smiled at them both.

“Faugrimm.” Brie whispered, her voice trembling.

“You both just stay right there. Don’t bother trying to get free.” he told Nickolai who was tearing, uselessly at the vines and leaves around him. “It is quite useless, I assure you.”

Nickolai stilled and glared him.

“Let’s just stay here and wait shall we?” Faugrimm asked with a grin. “I believe your friends will be joining us soon.”

---

“Grange!” Dawn exclaimed as Beechum swung his long thin sword and Grange turned to shield Dawn from the blow. Dawn heard Grange grunt and then he stumbled forward, up the steps, banging her head against the wall.

“Sorry, love.” he growled through clenched teeth and Dawn stared at him with shock.

“Are you okay?” she demanded.

“Just fine.” he replied. “Would you mind standing here for a moment?” He sat her on her feet and then turned to face Beechum. Dawn saw the long tear in the back of his shirt and the blood soaking the black fabric. Grange had just taken a hit that had been aimed at her. For some reason that made her angry.

Grange hefted up his heavy broadsword and Beechum smiled.

“I will kill you.” he hissed. “And then I will kill your unborn mutt and take your mate for myself.”

“Keep talking, Beechum.” Grange warned and Beechum smiled.

“Are you a man of actions then instead of words?” he asked and Grange just growled and swung his sword, though his movements were hindered by the close walls and the size of the broadsword. Beechum’s sword was much smaller, much like the sword of a samurai warrior and therefore he was able to maneuver it more quickly in the tight surroundings.

However thanks to the damage that Dawn had dealt to his usual fighting arm earlier that day, Beechum wasn’t able to wield his sword as well as he usually could.

Dawn watched with horror as the two men battled one another. Each of them blocking and sometimes missing swings. The stone walls were quickly being splattered and smeared by dark red blood as they dueled on the stairwell and Grange fought to keep Beechum away from Dawn.

Dawn knew that they needed to get out of here. And when Grange receiving a glancing blow to his side by jumping in front of her and blocking her body once again Dawn had had enough.

She was no helpless damsel. She was a tough woman who had always made her own way and looked out for herself. She was the alpha female. A soon to be mother and mate to a powerful alpha. She did not need to be protected and coddled. She needed to kill this threat to her mate and child!

Grange was beginning to gain the upper hand on Beechum when he heard the low, angry growl behind him. He cast a glance back at Dawn as he blocked another swing of Beechum’s sword and pushed the man backward.

Her eyes were golden and she was angry. He knew what was going to happen before it happened and yet he was helpless to do anything to stop her.

Dawn jumped through the air, lunging for Beechum. She shifted in mid air, the sheet Grange had tied around her falling free as she came upon Beechum and the two of them went tumbling down the steps.

“Dawn!” Grange cried out as her terrible growls reverberated and echoed off the stone walls around them. Beechum’s sword clattered harmlessly to the floor and Grange chased them, realizing they hadn’t been far from the ground floor when the stairwell suddenly opened up and Beechum and Dawn rolled down into it.

Grange wanted to jump in and help but Dawn issued a sharp bark and Grange knew it was directed at him. His fierce tempered mate had just told him to stay back and let her handle things.

He watched in a mixture of shock and amazement as Dawn’s jaws suddenly closed around Beechum’s neck and the elves eyes widened in a moment of shocked realization just before she tore out his throat and blood spilled across her fur and began to pool on the cold stone floor.

She jumped away from Beechum, shook out her fur and then looked at Grange as her back legs gave out and she slumped to the floor. Grange shoved his hand roughly through his thick black hair and shook his head.

“What the hell were you thinking?! I had him! I was about to kill him! You can’t be putting yourself and our child in danger like that!” he scolded angrily even as he stepped forward and lifted her gently into his arms. She shifted as he held her and laid her head against his heart.

“I’m no helpless damsel, Grange.”

“I’d say not. That’s one hell of a woman you got there, Grange.” Grange turned quickly to see Brendon, Trig and Farrah walking toward them down the dungeon hallway. “You better hang on to that one.” Brendon added and Grange nodded.

“I plan on it.” he replied.

“Grange…” Dawn whispered with a squeak. Grange frowned.

“What?”

“I’m naked.” Brendon quickly pulled off the long duster coat he’d been wearing and handed it to Grange, who sat Dawn on her feet, helped her into the coat and then picked her back up.

“Aren’t you gonna argue that you can walk?” Trig asked with a grin as he swiped at a bloody cut on his cheek.

“And miss out on being carried?” Dawn asked with a scoff. “Of course not.” Then she frowned at Brendon.

“You smell like a mortal. What are you?” she asked when she saw the wound in his chest that would have killed a regular mortal.

“I’m a hunter, ma’am.” he replied with a tip of the stetson hat on his head.

“You don’t smell like an immortal.”

“Well it doesn’t do much good when you’re a hunter if your pray can smell you coming.”

“Are all the guards dead then?” Grange asked his pack and Farrah nodded.

“All that did not run away.” she replied.

“I killed the most.” Trig added quickly and Brendon shook his head.

“No, I believe that was me.” he argued. Grange rolled his eyes and started toward the dungeon cells, preparing himself for what he knew he would see and smell.

“No, it was me.” Trig fought back and Brendon sighed.

“I kept count. I killed forty-five.”

“Yeah well I killed forty-five and a half.” Trig replied.

“A half?” Grange found himself asking before he could stop himself. “How exactly did you kill a half?”

“Well Farrah had already cut him in half with a sword but his top half was still flopping around and I cut it’s head off. I figure that counts as a half.”

“Does not.” Brendon said matter of factly and Trig stuck his tongue out at him.

“Does too.”

“Oh my God!” Dawn exclaimed as her eyes fell on the sight of the prisoners for the first time.

“Help us.” a woman asked. Dawn scented the air and realized that she was sickly sweet. A vampire.

“Grange we have to help them.” Dawn stated as Grange quickly went past the cells and opened the squeaking door to the courtyard.

He stepped out into the fresh air, breathing it in to rid his nostrils of the scent of urine and filth.

“Dawn, we don’t have time.” he argued. Dawn glared at him and he sighed with defeat. “I can’t break open the cell doors. I’m strong but not that strong.”

“Then we need a key.” Dawn replied.

“I’m fresh outta keys.” Grange replied, wishing they could just get out of here.

“Farrah, who keeps the keys to the cells?” Dawn asked the other woman.

“That would be me.” Everyone turned as the wind kicked up and they saw Faugrimm standing twenty feet away in the courtyard, watching them with a smile. “You weren’t planning on leaving so soon, were you?”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

“Actually yeah we were so if you wouldn’t mind just releasing our friends from that big… giant..uh..bush, then we would be very grateful.” Trig replied with a grin.

“So foolish.” Faugrimm replied with a tsk and then a bolt of lightning flashed and Trig yelled as it struck him and he went flying backward through the air, bouncing off the stone wall.

“Trig!” Farrah screamed. She ran to him and fell to her knees beside him. “Are you okay?” she asked with a tilt of her head.

Trig managed to force a smile to his soot blackened face and patted at his wild and smoking hair.

“Never better. There’s nothing like getting struck by lightning to get the old juices flowing again.”

“Juices?” Farrah asked with curiosity and Trig nodded.

“Yep. Now help me up, honey, because I believe my legs are still twitching.”

Farrah grabbed his arm, receiving a shock of her own, and then pulled him to his feet.

Grange saw that Trig was still smoking and twitching but other than that seemed fine. He growled when Brendon went running back into the castle and out of sight.

“You should have known better than to trust that hunter.” Faugrimm stated. “If he will turn on me and help you then he will turn on you as well.”

“You elves sure do like to talk.” Grange growled. “Nickolai, are you and Brie okay?” he called out across the courtyard. Nickolai’s expression was one of boredom.

“Yes. Yes we are fine. Just, you know, hanging around.”

“He just made a joke!” Trig exclaimed with surprise. Faugrimm suddenly looked angry and insulted.

“Why are you not frightened? You are laughing and joking as if I and my brother pose no threat at all!”

“Your brother?” Dawn asked with a frown. “Was he supposed to meet you out here?” Faugrimm cast a glance at the empty rooftop and then licked his lips nervously. “Yeah, I don’t think he’s coming… You see, we ran into him on the staircase and, well, he’s dead.”

Faugrimm’s face contorted with rage and the wind suddenly began blowing with so much force it was hard to keep ones balance on the ground.

“Are you angry, Faugrimm?” Dawn asked with a smile. Nickolai had taught her that when battling an enemy who’s powers were greater than your own, it served well to make them very very angry. Their anger would cloud their vision and their judgment. They would be lost in the rage and most of the time, cooler heads could prevail.

“He looks rather angry.” Nickolai agreed from where he was tangled up in the hedges.

“Tell me, Faugrimm, how is Faugrimm junior doing?” Dawn asked. When Grange frowned at her, she smiled. “I kicked him.” she informed him. “Hard.” Grange chuckled and nodded.

“Good for you.” Faugrimm yelled out in anger.

“You kill my brother and then you mock me?!” He drew his sword and lunged toward Grange and Dawn. Grange tossed Dawn over his shoulder, much like a sack of flour so that he would have one arm free to wield his sword.

Faugrimm’s sword and Grange’s met in mid air with a loud clashing of metal on metal.

Dawn clung to the back of Grange’s shirt and she looked up to see Farrah and Trig running toward the hedges that Nickolai and Brie were currently wrapped up tight in.

“Put me down, Grange.” Dawn said as Grange grunted and swung the heavy sword again.

“No.” he replied simply. Dawn saw the blood still seeping from his back wound that was struggling to heal. She knew that holding her was hindering his movements.

“Grange, put me down now.” she ordered in her most stern voice. Grange swung his sword hard, catching Faugrimm in the shoulder with the flat side of the sword and sending the elf stumbling sideways.

Faugrimm saw Farrah and Trig coming out of the corner of his eye and a gust of wind suddenly kicked up and blew them both backward, lifting them from their feet and hurtling them toward the castle wall. Trig grabbed Farrah in the air and turned so it was only he that was sent slamming into the unforgiving stone.

“Grange!” Dawn scolded. Grange growled and lowered Dawn to the ground as Faugrimm lunged forward. Grange roared and met him halfway, using momentum to send Faugrimm stumbling backward and away from Dawn.

Dawn heard Farrah let out an angry roar and suddenly a brown blur was shooting past Dawn and Farrah was on Faugrimm with a whirlwind of snapping teeth and flashing claws.

Dawn looked toward Trig to see that he appeared to be unconscious against the wall. She half ran, half crawled, to him quickly.

“Trig?” she whispered, seeing the blood trickling from his ear, though she didn’t know if the blood was from hitting the wall or the lightning.

“I’ll be alright.” his weak voice replied, though his lips barely moved and his eyes remained closed. “I just broke my head…. That’s what I get for playing hero and catching Farrah before she hit the wall.”

“Do you have a knife?” Dawn asked.

“Yeah. Strapped to my leg.” Dawn grabbed the knife and then began to crawl slowly beside the wall and toward the hedges. She made a conscious effort to keep herself small and in the shadows. Grange and Farrah were keeping Faugrimm well distracted though Dawn knew the wind and rain that Faugrimm was now whipping up around the two of them were making it difficult for them to battle him.

She could tell that Faugrimm was frightened though. It was clear the elf had planned on having his brother for backup and if Beechum had been here they probably would have beaten Dawn and her pack. But simply Faugrimm by himself? Dawn was sincerely hoping he would wear out soon and die swiftly so they could go home.

“Nice job making him angry so he would attack blindly instead of planning it more clearly.” Nickolai said with the best nod he could manage once Dawn reached him.

“I paid attention during your lessons.” Dawn informed him. She looked at all the branches and vines holding Nickolai tight and shook her head.

“Can’t you break these?” she asked with a smile as she began to cut them. “I thought you were some kind of tough guy.”

“And where exactly did you get an idea like that?” Nickolai questioned. “I would prefer if you cut Brie free first.” he added and Dawn shook her head. She was more worried about getting her mate help and that help would come from Nickolai, not Brie.

Just then a pain filled growl filled the air and Dawn turned to see Faugrimm’s sword sticking through Grange’s stomach and out his back.

Time stood still. Farrah jumped forward but another blast of lightning had her flying back and falling in a completely still heap on the ground. Trig began to crawl toward her, though it was clear his body was still more broken than fixed.

Dawn’s eyes met Grange’s across the distance between them and pain filled his features as Faugrimm yanked the sword back out and Grange fell slowly to his knees, blood pouring from his body.

“Grange!” Dawn screamed. She gathered up all her remaining strength, forced her screaming legs to work and took off at a run toward Faugrimm with her knife held high.

The elf was distracted as he raised his sword and prepared to slice off Grange’s head and Dawn jumped onto his back and sunk her knife deep in his neck.

Faugrimm cried out in pain and dropped his sword as he began to swat helplessly at his back in an attempt to get Dawn away. The rain and wind stopped suddenly as Faugrimm focused all his attention on Dawn and the knife she was now twisting.

“You stupid bitch!” he cried out.

“I may be a bitch.” Dawn agreed. “But I’m not stupid.”

Grange swung his sword and brought it across Faugrimm’s legs, bringing the elf to the ground. Faugrimm swung a fist back and caught Dawn in the temple, momentarily dazing her and causing her to fall off of him.

He pulled the knife from his neck, Grange was now too weak to lift his sword, and Faugrimm turned to Dawn just as Nickolai broke free from the vines that Dawn hadn’t had time to cut and launched toward them.

Dawn knew he wouldn’t make it in time. Grange roared with rage and jumped toward she and Faugrimm but the elf kicked his injured body away.

Dawn was going to die.

Faurgimm held her down on the ground. His eyes were full of a crazy light. His white hair was wet and full of blood. His face was streaked with dirt and his pointed teeth were bared as he put his knife to her throat.

“Goodbye, wolf.” he hissed. Dawn squeezed her eyes shut tight and readied herself for death. But then a whistling sound whisked past Dawn‘s head. Dawn opened her eyes just in time to see an arrow tear through Faugrimm’s temple with a wed thud.

The elf’s eyes widened with surprised shock just before he fell off of her to the side and landed on the cold stone of the walkway.

Dawn let out a small scream of shock when two furry bodies suddenly shot past her. One black and one gray. Grange and Nickolai both fell onto Faugrimm and blood splattered as they tore into him with claws and teeth. Dawn scooted away from the grizzly scene and grabbed Faugrimms sword. She moved as quickly as she could Brie and cut away the branches and vines still holding her captive.

“Thank God you’re okay!” Brie exclaimed once she was free, hugging Dawn tight and supporting her body with her own.

“Where did that arrow come from?” Dawn asked and Brie pointed up at the old guard tower. Dawn followed her hand and saw Brendon standing there with a bow in his hand. He tipped his hat to her and then turned and walked back into the castle.

“He just saved my life.” Dawn stated and Brie shook her head.

“He helped but Nickolai and Grange would have gotten there in time. Faugrimm was never going to get the time to finish you off. You are very brave, Dawn. I had my doubts about you as an alpha but they are gone now. You have my unfailing loyalty.”

“Right now I’d settle for a bath.” Dawn replied with a smile and Brie nodded.

“Me too.”

Grange and Nickolai finally stepped away from the now unrecognizable body that had moments ago been Faugrimm. They shifted back and Dawn took in the sight of Grange’s naked body, though instead of noticing his hard muscles and perfect physique, she noticed all the cuts, bruises, gashes and wounds he was covered in. She saw the hole that Faugrimm’s sword had created when it had passed through Grange’s stomach.

“Is everyone okay?” Grange asked, his voice strained. Dawn nodded as Trig and Farrah limped over to join Grange and Nickolai.

“I believe everyone made it.” Trig replied. Grange nodded and then his eyes rolled back just before he collapsed to the ground.

“We need to get him in and sewed up.” Nickolai stated as he lifted Grange and hefted the bigger man over his shoulder.

“Can you walk?” Brie asked Dawn and Dawn nodded, though she kept her arm around Brie for support.

They started toward the castle and Dawn stopped suddenly.

“The key!” she said, trying to turn around.

“I’ll get the key, ma’am.” Brendon said as he walked out. “I’ll make sure everyone gets let out of those cages and gets a decent meal. Farrah, can you show me where the kitchens are?” Farrah nodded and she, Brendon and Trig stayed behind while Brie and Nickolai took Dawn and Grange into the castle.

“They’ll be coming in a moment to get you out.” Dawn promised the prisoners as they walked by them.

“Brie, lead us to the nicer rooms. A soft bed and a good place to rest, fairly close to the kitchens.” Nickolai said and Brie nodded.

The walk seemed to take forever and Dawn was close to passing out when they finally arrived at a suitable bedroom. Nickolai lay Grange on the bed and though Dawn had wanted to stay away and see to Grange’s wounds herself, she found herself collapsing beside him and her world went black as sleep and exhaustion claimed her.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Grange groaned as he fought his way back to consciousness. Pain is what he was first aware of and then he became aware of the soft warm body cuddled up against his own.

He breathed in Dawn’s scent and smiled. She was alive and well. He opened his eyes and looked down at her. Her face was squished against up against him and her drool had begun to pool on his skin.

He tried hard not to laugh but she moaned and shifted slightly as several chuckles slipped free and rumbled deep in his chest beneath her face.

Grange pulled up the blanket around them and looked down at her legs. Someone had sewn them up and from what he could tell they were healing nicely. Now that the trauma was over her body could focus less on the baby and more on healing herself.

Grange took a deep breath and realized they were still in Faugrimm’s castle. He had no way of knowing how long they had been in this bed but judging by the way his stomach wound seemed to be healing beneath the bandage it had been a good solid day.

Their bodies had been badly injured and needed that time to heal themselves.

Grange moved his gaze back to her face and saw her brow furrow as she shifted. He wondered what she was dreaming. He loved to watch her. To look at her. All that soft, pale skin. Those curves and dips of her body that were like a map to all his favorite places. Maps to his own personal Eden.

She had her top leg propped over his legs and her arm was lying across her hip. She looked so gentle. So innocent. But there was more to Dawn than what met the eye.

His tough little mate. How foolish he’d been to be upset when he’d first met her. He had thought she would be fragile, soft and useless when it came down to the hardships of being an alpha wolf. He hadn’t thought she’d have what it took to survive in this kind of life. But now?

Grange ran his knuckle tenderly over her pale, lightly freckled cheek and felt his heart do a slow roll in his chest.

She was stronger than ten thousand men combined. She had the guts to do what it took to survive and the strength of both body and mind to handle any situation she was put into. She was his mate. His alpha female. His wife. His best friend. All he had ever wanted yet had never dreamed existed.

“What are you looking at so hard?” Dawn whispered as her lips curved into a smile and her eyes fluttered open.

“Your drool.” Grange replied with a grin. A deep red blush covered Dawn’s cheeks and she quickly pulled away, wiping the drool from her face with the back of her hand and then using the blanket to dry his chest.

“I wasn’t drooling.” she argued quietly and Grange’s smile grew. Dawn felt her heart beat just a little faster at the sight of that lopsided grin. It seemed Grange’s smile could always send her heart fluttering. Even after she’d given him a nice little drool bath.

“No of course not.” he agreed. Dawn stretched and then winced at the tightness in her calves.

“Ouch.”

Grange hugged her tight and pressed another gentle kiss to her temple.

“You’ll be sore for a while. You were one little ball of fighting force to be reckoned with. For somebody so tiny you sure took care of business real good.”

“I wasn’t going to let anything happen to our baby.” Dawn replied simply and Grange laid his hand gently over her bare stomach. He could smell that tiny life still nestled safely inside her and his heart filled with loving pride.

“Have I told you yet how happy I am that I found you? How happy I am that we have our pack and are starting a family?”

“You could always tell me again.” Dawn replied, arching her back as she stretched and then curled up tighter against him. “Just so I don’t forget.”

“Oh, I’ll make sure you don’t forget.” Grange growled before covering her mouth with his. The kiss was hungry and desperate.

The wolf and man in him had been too long without his mate and was eager to claim her yet again. To feel his body and hers joined together and moving as one.

They were both still dirty, though someone had cleaned away the blood while they’d been sleeping and their bodies and muscles were sore but those things were forgotten as Grange flipped Dawn onto her back and covered her body with his.

He lowered his mouth to her breast and closed his lips around the tight peak before pulling away with an angry growl when a knock came to the door.

“What?!” he snapped as Dawn rose up and nibbled at his neck.

“I take it you’re both awake?” Nickolai’s voice came through the heavy wooden door. Grange looked at his reflection in the gilded mirror above the dresser across from them and nodded.

“That would be a pretty safe guess. Now leave.” he replied gruffly and Dawn laughed lightly, her breath teasing his skin and setting his blood on fire.

“Actually, Brie wanted to check your wounds…..” Nickolai replied and Grange shook his head.

“We’re fine. Is everyone else okay?”

“Yes everyone is fine. Grange…..”

“Go away, Nickolai! If you don’t I’ll be forced to kill you.”

“There are some things that require your attention…” Nickolai countered and Grange would be damned if he didn’t hear amusement in the other man’s voice.

“Dammit, Nickolai!” Dawn suddenly yelled out, startling laughter out of Grange. “The man said it can wait!”

“Yes ma’am.” Nickolai replied with a chuckle and then they heard his footsteps disappear down the hallway.

“Well you took care of him.” Grange said approvingly and Dawn smiled as she wrapped her arms loosely around his neck.

“I know how to play the alpha female role when I need to.” she replied. Grange grinned.

“Is that right?” Dawn bit her lip and then shifting her weight, flipping Grange onto his back and settling down on top of him. His shocked expression quickly turned to a hungry one and Dawn smiled as she pressed her lips against his ear.

“Yes, that’s right.”

---

Grange and Dawn made love hungrily and then washed each others bodies with water from a tub beside the bed. This of course stirred their passions once again and this time the lovemaking was slow and tender.

When they finally dressed, (in clothes that someone had laid out while they’d been sleeping), and followed the scent of the pack downstairs and into a kitchen, they were both so hungry that they attacked the bread, ham, cheese and grapes lying on the table.

“Worked up an appetite, did you?” Trig asked as he tilted his head and grinned. Dawn smiled.

“You’re looking much less twitchy.”

“Well thank you.” Trig replied and then he closed the distance between them and wrapped her in a tight hug. “Am I damn glad to see you again.”

“I’m glad to see you too.” Dawn admitted, hugging him back. Then she noticed the four unfamiliar people in the kitchen with them. She scented the air and realized they were all wolves. Three men and a woman. They were all on the skinny side though Dawn was sure they looked much better than they had…. How many days ago?

“How long were Grange and I asleep?”

“A day and a half.” Nickolai replied with a shrug. “Trig and Farrah slept nearly as long once they settled into bed. Brendon left shortly after the final battle. Brie and I weren’t injured and so we saw to everyone’s wounds and kept everyone fed.”

“So it’s the middle of the day?” Grange asked, the wolf in him restless in this windowless castle with stale air and heavy walls. He also wished that Brendon would have stayed around until he’d awaken. He wanted to thank the man, though knowing Brendon he had left quickly just to avoid that very thing.

“Yes.” Nickolai replied.

“Let’s eat and then we’ll go home.” Grange stated and Farrah nodded.

“I hate these walls.” she replied with a shiver. “They close in.”

“Who are they?” Grange asked, as if noticing the other wolves for the first time.”

“Faugrimm’s prisoner. Or what’s left of them.” Trig replied with a shrug. “Most everyone had families, homes or mates to go back to but these four have no such place.”

“And?” Grange asked with dread as a frown creased his brow. The woman stepped forward. She had short black hair that looked as if it had been hacked off with a knife and she was tall and willowy. Her green eyes were sad and yet somehow hopeful as she looked at Grange.

“We would like to join your pack.” she admitted. “We came from the same pack and one day Faugrimm and his men showed up, killed our alpha, our families, our mates…. But we were merely injured and so he took us as prizes.”

“Of course you all are welcome to join our pack!” Dawn said happily. “The more the merrier!”

“Dawn, love, can I talk to you for a moment?” Grange ground out between clenched teeth. Dawn shook her head, her smile was kind as she looked at the four prisoners but her eyes were stern as she looked at Grange. “I don’t see what we have to talk about.” she replied simply. “They need a pack and if this all taught me anything it’s that you can never have too many pack members to have your back. I think it will work nicely.” She looked over at Nickolai. “What do you think?”

“I think you are the alpha’s.” he conceded diplomatically as he took a step back.

Grange sighed. He knew what that look on Dawn’s face meant. It meant she was going to get her way is exactly what it meant. Damn her and how cute she was when she stuck up her chin like that.

“Names?” Grange asked as he looked at the four wolves in turn and crossed his arms over his chest.

“Anika.” the black haired woman replied.

“Jacques.”

“Blain.”

“Thompson.”

“Okay, Anika, Jacques, Blain and Thompson. Here’s how things are going to work. We do not cause any harm to mortals. Or I should say innocent mortals. If I feel a mortal needs to be dealt with then it will only be done under my direct orders. Other than that I don’t care what you do just so long as you don’t expose us openly.”

“We will serve you well, sir.” Jacques stated submissively as he tipped his head. Grange rolled his eyes and popped a grape into his mouth.

“And none of that.” he added. “My name is Grange.”

“But you are our alpha. We are duty bound to respect and honor you.” Anika argued, though she now kept her eyes on his feet. Grange growled and looked down at Dawn.

“One more remark like that and they’re out.” he warned. Dawn smiled understandingly and patted his arm.

“Yes, dear.”

---

“I can smell home.” Dawn said with a sigh as she breathed in deep from atop Grange’s large horse. Grange had not let her out of arms reach in the days since they’d awaken at Faugrimm’s castle and honestly Dawn wasn’t bothered at all. She had always liked the possessive and protective side of Grange.

Grange nodded and then the cabin and barn came into view and Dawn noticed his shoulders sag with relief.

“Where will we stay?” Jacques asked as he took in the tiny house.

“There is a hotel in town.” Grange replied simply. “I’ll pay for your rooms.”

“We plan on building a bigger place. Or maybe several smaller cabins near ours so we can all be closer together soon.”

“We do?” Grange asked with a frown and Dawn just nodded in response.

They dismounted their horses and stretched out their stiff muscles. Grange and Nickolai were leading their horses to the barn when Brendon came out of the cabin.

“What are you doing here?” Grange asked suspiciously and Brendon shook his head.

“I left the castle before you all because I was worried about what would be going on here. I remembered that we made a mess in the woods before we left.” Brendon replied and Grange thought about the two dead wolves they’d left lying on the forest floor. “And we left a lot of tracks back to your cabin and well the sheriff ain’t no fool.” Brendon pulled a cigarette and matches from his pocket.

Dawn cast a worried glance at Grange who appeared to be living out one of his worst nightmares judging by the look on his face.

“What are they saying?” he asked.

“So far as I can tell it’s just the sheriff. He found the bodies and he realized they led to your cabin. Far as I can tell he hasn’t told anyone else his suspicions but I believe he’s wanting to talk to you.”

“Okay.” Grange said simply. “Dawn, Brie load up all the belongings we will need in the cart. Clothes and the canned fruits and vegetables. We can hunt for meat. Nickolai, you can come into town with me. Trig and Farrah, shift and stand guard.”

“What about us, sir… I mean, Grange.” Thompson asked. Grange shrugged.

“Can you shift and stand guard as well? Anika, you can help Dawn and Brie.” The four new wolves all nodded.

“Grange, I’d rather come with you.” Dawn argued quietly as she pulled him to the side. Grange shook his head.

“This could go very bad in town, Dawn, and I don’t want you near it. Plus the women need their alpha female here to give them strength.”

“Do you think we’re going to have to run?” Dawn asked nervously and Grange shoved his hand through his hair.

“There’s a pretty good chance of it.” he replied honestly.

“And are you going to have to kill…. Someone?” Grange closed his eyes and rubbed his face roughly.

“I hope not.” he replied, the tension suddenly back in his posture. Dawn knew she had to be brave and strong for him despite how weary and tired she was.

She just wanted life to be simple. Grange, their pack, their child, their cabin and her bakery. No more running for their lives, no more battling foes that wanted them dead for whatever reason…… Just simple simplicity.

Dawn rose up on her toes and planted a gentle kiss to his tense jaw.

“I’ll make sure the cart is loaded and ready to go.” she assured him. Grange nodded and then without another word he and Nickolai mounted their horses and were gone.

“I’ll help you ladies, ma’am.” Brendon said with a tip of his hat. “By the way, you didn’t happen to remember to bring my coat back did you?” he added.

Dawn rolled her eyes. Men could be so stupid sometimes, regardless of exactly what breed of men they were. She walked to Grange’s horse, opened the small saddlebag and pulled out the long black duster coat, which was covered in her own blood and Granges.

“It’s dirty.” she stated as she tossed it to him. Brendon just shrugged and slipped it on, a big smile on his dimpled cheeks.

“That’s quite alright with me, ma’am. That just gives it character.” He slipped on the coat despite the heat of the day and Dawn sighed.

“Well let’s get on with it.”

“No rest for the wicked.” Trig agreed with a wink.

Chapter Thirty

“You know what might have to be done, correct?” Nickolai asked Grange quietly. Grange nodded and patted his horses neck.

“Yes, I know.” Was all he said in reply. He prayed it did not come to that. This town and the people in it had been all he’d had for a long time.

Best case scenario, the sheriff would simply ask him to leave town. Worst case scenario? That involved running for his and his packs lives and killing anyone who posed a threat on the way.

It was evening, town was fairly empty but their were a few of the long time members of the community casting curious glances at Nickolai and Grange as they walked up onto the boardwalk of the sheriff’s office.

“Brendon said the sheriff’s the only one that knows but I ain’t never got so many stares just walking down the street before.”

“You know how small towns are. I’m sure they know we’ve all been gone and they’re wondering where we’ve been and why we’re going to the sheriff’s office.” Nickolai replied with a shrug.

“Let’s hope they get gone before we come back out. I’d like to leave as few casualties as possible.” Grange stated and Nickolai nodded in agreement. They stopped at the door and Grange hesitated only a moment before knocking on the heavy wooden oak slab between he and whatever fortune fate had in store for he and his pack.

“Come on in.” Sheriff Bishop’s voice called from the inside. Grange opened the door and he and Nickolai stepped in, their eyes taking a moment to adjust to the sudden change in light.

When he could see clearly Grange raised a brow at the sight of the sheriff seated at his desk with his legs propped up and his ankles crossed. There was a shotgun laid across his lap and his smile was tight when he tipped his head.

“Have a seat, men.” he stated. Grange and Nickolai sat down in the straight backed hard, wooden chairs on the other side of the desk. The sheriff laid the pipe he’d been smoking on the desk and then pulled off his hat and tossed it down on top of a messy pile of paperwork.

“I don’t have long. My wife has supper ready at home and I need to be getting to it.” he informed them.

“I heard you wanted to speak to me, sheriff.” Grange replied simply.

“Brendon must have told you. I realized he was sniffing around me quite a bit. I think he thought he was being sneaky.” Grange would have laughed if he hadn’t been so concerned over where this conversation was going to lead.

“We just got back from a trip, sheriff, and we’re mighty tired.” he said pointedly and sheriff Bishop nodded.

“Of course.” he replied. “Can I ask where you were?”

“Just a little sightseeing.” Grange replied with a shrug. Sheriff Bishop nodded and then put his legs down and leaned his elbows on the desk.

“Is everyone okay?”

“Why don’t you just ask what you really want to ask, sheriff?” Grange demanded impatiently. “I never have been one to like to dance around an issue.” Sheriff Bishop leaned back away from Grange at the show of temper and Grange forced himself to take a deep breath and calm himself.

“Alright then.” Sheriff Bishop agreed as he sat the shot gun on the desk. Grange noticed that the barrel was pointed directly at his chest. “I found two dead men fairly close to your cabin. They appeared to have been ripped apart by an animal, giant wolves just like the other bodies I’ve found.”

Grange just nodded and waited for the sheriff to continue, a lump of dread settling down into his gut.

“I followed tracks back to your cabin and found it empty. It looked as if a tornado had blown through the place and the cellar was smeared with blood.”

“Are you wanting to ask me a question, sheriff?” Grange asked, his fists clenching on his legs and his nails digging into his palms as they hardened and grew.

The wolf, the alpha, in him was fighting to come out. It wanted to defend the pack from this threat. But the man in him knew he needed to proceed with caution. Sheriff Bishop was a friend and had not yet offered any sort of threat to either Grange or his pack. Until he did, Grange had to hold the wolf at bay.

“Grange, it’s no secret to most of the long time members of this community that you aren’t completely normal…” the sheriff said and Grange could smell his uneasiness and just a little fear. Grange glanced at Nickolai but the soldier was unmoving and emotionless, clearly just waiting on Grange to give the word on how things were gong to go.

“I guess what I need to know is.. What the hell is going on around here? Five people have been ripped apart and killed by some kind of giant wolf in the last couple of months. You don’t age. You’re gathering folks out at that house of yours like you’re running your own boarding house or something….”

“I was told by Henry that folks around here didn’t mind that I’m not exactly normal, as you put it.” Grange cut in impatiently.

“Well we don’t, just so long as you aren’t the…” sheriff Bishop rubbed the back of his neck and shifting uncomfortably in his seat. “I feel kind of foolish saying this….”

“I’m a werewolf.” Grange cut in quickly. He saw Nickolai tense out of the corner of his eye and Sherriff Bishop’s jaw nearly hit the floor. The man stuttered several times, tugged at the collar of his chambray shirt and gripped the shotgun a little tighter.

“Werewolf? Are you joking?”

“I don’t have much of a sense of humor.” Grange replied with a shrug. “I am a werewolf. Nickolai, Brie, Trig and Dawn are all werewolves. Farrah is a werelion. There are now four new werewolf members of my pack that I picked up while we were gone.”

“So you are a monster?” Sheriff Bishop demanded quietly. Grange shook his head.

“No. I’m a werewolf.” The Sheriff looked as if he wanted to run out the door and cry for help.

“Same thing.” he stated and Grange shook his head.

“I have never killed anyone innocent, sheriff and three of those five bodies you mentioned were monsters like me. One vampire and two werewolves, each of them evil and trying to kill innocents members of the town or my pack.”

“Y…Your pack?” the Sherriff asked as he grabbed his hat and placed it back on his graying hair.

“Yes. I am the alpha.” Grange replied. “No one in my pack will ever harm an innocent and if they do they will answer to me.” Grange’s voice became a low growl as he finished his statement and Sheriff Bishop nodded and just sat there staring at his gun for several long tense seconds.

“Then explain to me the preacher and the young girl. Did you have something to do with them?”

“The preacher killed the young girl. I caught him in the act but was too late to save her and so I avenged her.”

“Vigilante justice?” Sherriff Bishop asked and Grange shrugged on shoulder.

“I took care of the threat. Never again will he harm another innocent girl.”

Sheriff Bishop shoved himself to his feet and began to pace the small jailhouse, though Grange noticed that he had left his gun sitting on the desk.

“I am supposed to believe this! I’m supposed to believe that you’re some sort of werewolf, creature of the night?”

“Since it’s the truth, yeah, you’re supposed to believe it.” Grange replied calmly. Already his fear and dread was easing. If sheriff Bishop was going to try to kill him then he would have tried to do it already.

Sheriff Bishop covered his face with his hands and rubbed up and down roughly for several seconds.

“And there are more things like you.”

“Yes.” Grange replied. “Lots more.’

Sheriff Bishop paced several more long moments and then went back to his chair and slumped down in it.

“Gladys won’t believe a word of this.”

“Sheriff, I have been loyal to this town since coming here. I have run off and killed more dangers than I can even begin to tell you about. I can promise you now that I’m not a danger to this town or the people here…. Unless they become a danger to my family…. My pack.”

“Are you threatening my town?” Sheriff Bishop asked quietly as he laid a hand over the shotgun on the desk. Grange sat back in his chair, crossed his arms over his chest and stretched out his long legs.

“I’ve been here and keeping this town safe for a bit longer than you have, Sherriff, so as far as I’m concerned this is my town and I don’t pose no threat to it unless it backs me into a corner. I’ll do what I have to keep what I love safe.”

“You love us?” Nickolai asked dryly and Grange rolled his eyes but chose not to respond. “I’ll be sure to tell Trig. That will have him wagging his tail for a month.”

“Wagging his…..” Sheriff Bishop’s voice trailed off and he let out an exasperated sigh. “You know how to put a man in an awkward spot, Grange.”

“I’ve never been told I was difficult before, sheriff.” Grange replied. Sheriff Bishop shook his head.

“Dammit, Grange, I like ya and that’s the problem. I should kill you….”

“You’d need more than that gun.” Nickolai cut in and Grange glared at him. Clearly the other wolf’s mouth felt freer to run now that it seemed the sheriff was going to take the truth about them well.

“Not helping, Nickolai. I’m beginning to think I’d have been better off bringing Trig.” Nickolai shot him a broad grin and the odd sight had Grange’s mind stuttering for a moment.

“Grange…” sheriff Bishop sighed, Grange’s name coming out sounding like a curse as the Sherriff shook his head and slumped in his chair.

“Yes, sheriff?”

“You’ve just made my life harder.”

“That depends on how you look at it, sheriff.” Grange replied with a shrug. “The way I see it, we’re on the same side.” sheriff Bishop rapped his fingers on the desk and studied the scarred wood in silence for a long while. Grange and Nickolai shared a look and a shrug.

A clock ticked on the wall. A horse snorted outside. Grange shifted, his backside still sore from all the hours in the saddle and not enjoying the hard wooden chair.

Finally, after what felt like hours, sheriff Bishop looked up from the desk and met Grange’ s gaze.

“I guess we’ll just see how things work out then. You can keep the town safe from critters such as yourself.”

‘ Critters?’ Nickolai mouthed and Grange shrugged before the Sherriff continued.

“But let me deal with the normal folk that do wrong. If you catch ‘em in the act then bring them to me. It brings up too many questions if there are dead bodies lying around. And if you do kill a critter then get rid of the body quick. Don’t leave it layin’.”

“Sounds good to me, sheriff.” Grange replied as relief washed over him. There would be no running. No leaving behind the bakery that Dawn loved so much and no killing any of these people that Grange had always considered to be under his protection.

“One more thing.” Sheriff Bishop said quickly, causing both Grange and Nickolai to stand motionless halfway out of their chairs. Grange looked at the man expectantly.

“If someone in your… pack… harms a member of this town then I’ll be figuring out real quick what it takes to kill a werewolf.” Grange nodded and then he and Nickolai quickly left the building.

Sheriff Bishop knew he was on duty but that didn’t stop him from opening the second drawer of his desk and pulling out the small bottle of whiskey he kept there.

---

Dawn stiffened when she heard horses approaching but then Grange’s scent filled her senses and she turned to see he and Nickolai rounding the bend. The expressions on their faces were unreadable and Dawn had no way of knowing whether or not the confrontation in town had gone good or bad.

She could only hope that the lack of townsfolk running behind them with torches and pitchforks meant that things had gone well.

She saw Brie and Anika step out of the cabin and Brendon walked out of the barn.

“So?” Dawn asked cautiously as Grange came to a stop beside her and jumped from his horse. She saw the smile slowly curve his lips and happiness filled her.

“We get to stay?” she asked and he nodded as he wrapped his arms around her and spun her around.

“Yes, we get to stay.” he replied as he sat her gently back on her feet.

“What did the sheriff say?” Brie asked as she went to Nickolai. Dawn saw Trig, Farrah and the three new male wolves walk out of the woods still in their animal forms.

“He wasn’t too thrilled to learn what we were but he accepted it and accepted us.”

“You told a mortal what we are?!” Thompson demanded after shifting back quickly. His black hair and silver eyes flashed with anger. “That is against the rules! You have put the entire werewolf community in danger!”

“I would never put my pack in danger.” Grange growled as he moved Dawn aside and took a step forward. He had had an uneasy feeling about Thompson from the start. Something about the other mans scent hadn’t been right but Grange had wanted to give the wolf the benefit of the doubt considering his long imprisonment. Now he was seeing that that had been a mistake.

“You already have. You are no alpha! You are mortal born and not even a true wolf.”

“Thompson, stop!” Anika warned and Thompson shook his head.

“No. This man is not fit to lead a pack.”

“Is that so?” Grange ground out between his teeth. The wolf in him fighting to rise to the surface. Fight the wolf who dared doubt and challenge him. “Do you think you could lead this pack better?”

“Yes. I do.” Thompson replied in a snarl. Dawn looked back and forth between the men. They were fairly evenly matched in height and build but Dawn had faith in her mate’s ability to defeat any threat.

Grange growled, the sound coming from low in his throat and then without warning he lunged, shifting in midair as he fell upon Thompson.

Snarls filled the air and Dawn felt rage fill her when Jacques jumped onto Grange’s back, his brown and white fur quickly becoming entangled with the black and gray that were Thompson and Grange.

Dawn shifted and leapt into the fray, grabbing Jacques by the back of the neck and yanking him off of Grange, throwing the other wolf to the side before turning to face him.

Dawn had hoped he would become submissive at that point but he didn’t. He lowered his ears and snarled, snapping his teeth at her and then he lunged forward.

Dawn was fully prepared to meet his attack when suddenly a tawny colored wolf was there, throwing Jacques to the side and tearing into him. Dawn watched Trig and Jacques for several moments but then her attention was drawn back to Grange and Thompson when she heard a loud whimper.

It didn’t take long to realize that it hadn’t been Grange whimpering. Thompson fell away, bleeding profusely from his torn throat and chest.

He yipped and Jacques broke away from Trig and went to him, supporting him with his body.

Grange shifted back and Dawn saw that his body seemed to be nearly unharmed.

“Leave.” Grange ordered. “Get out of my territory and stay out.”

Jacques and Thompson only hesitated a moment before turning and limping quickly away into the woods. Grange turned to Trig and Farrah.

“Follow them. Make sure they truly leave.” Trig and Farrah nodded and then slipped off into the woods as well.

Grange then turned his attention to Anika and Blain who were standing beside the porch. Blain had shifted back and both he and Anika were looking at Grange’s feet and standing very submissively side by side.

“What about the two of you?” Grange demanded. “Would you like to challenge me or are you content with how I run this pack?”

“You are the alpha.” Anika replied.

“We are no threat to you, sir… I mean Grange. Thompson and Jacques were brothers and next in line to be alpha’s in our old pack….. I suppose they thought that one of them deserved to be the alpha of this one.” Blain added in explanation.

Dawn shifted back then and was instantly covered once again by Brendon’s long coat. She smiled a thank you up at him and he simply tipped his hat.

“Now that all of that is settled, let’s go get some dinner.” Grange stated. He could smell Anika and Blain’s submission. He knew that they offered no threat. They were pack members just the same as Trig, Nickolai and the others.

Grange had just reinforced his own dominance and despite the fact that Grange wasn’t happy she had put herself in danger, Dawn had helped to establish her own as well by jumping in to help him.

“You’re in luck.” Nickolai said as he wrapped his arm around Brie and looked up at the newest additions to the pack. “You’ve not tasted food until you’ve tasted Dawn’s food.”

Grange ushered his pack into the cabin, testing the air and catching Trig and Farrah’s scents. They were already on their way back and death hung in the air. Clearly Thompson and Jacques were no longer going to be a threat. There was no reason to be looking over his shoulder. Finally his pack could live in relative peace.

Epilogue

Trig, Nickolai and Blain paced the ground outside of Grange and Dawn’s cabin restlessly. Each of them tensing and growling with every pain filled moan that came from inside.

“I hope she’s okay in there.” Trig stated nervously.

“Women have been doing that for ages, she’ll be fine.” Nickolai replied, though the shakiness in his voice and the paleness of his cheeks betrayed his words.

“I remember when my mate had our child. She was so strong and managed the pain while I felt nauseous, helpless and nearly passed out.” Blain stated. Nickolai and Trig looked over at him.

“You never mentioned having a child before.” Trig informed him and Blain shrugged with sadness as he ran his hand through his chin length blond hair.

“I no longer have a child.” he replied. “Faugrimm and his men took care of my son at the same time as they took care of my mate.”

The three men fell into silence once again and then they skidded to a stop, nearly running each other over when Farrah stepped out onto the porch, looking pale and little worse for wear.

“How’s it going?” Trig asked shakily as he went to Farrah and wrapped her up in his arms. She shook her head and pointed her finger at his face.

“If you ever do that to me, I will kill you.” she warned and Trig chuckled humorlessly.

“That good, huh?”

---

“Grange…” Dawn gasped as another pain washed over her, her stomach tightening and her toes curling as she gripped his arms tightly.

Grange kissed her sweaty hair, fighting back the growl that wanted to form in his throat. He was sitting behind Dawn in the bed and she was laid against his chest and wrapped tightly in his arms. He longed to take her pain away and wished for the millionth time in the last few hours that he could do just that.

“I’m here, love.” he replied gently.

“I know you are.” Dawn ground out and then she sighed when the pain eased momentarily. “Why do I have to feel all the pain? Women don’t have it fair. You men get to have all the fun of creating the baby and then we get all the pain of getting it here! ” The last word came out higher pitched and louder as another pain washed over her, this one stronger than the last.

Grange bit his lip when her nails dug into his skin, tearing flesh and drawing blood as she growled.

Right, the men felt no pain. He’d be sure to remember that once the youngin’ was here and his arms looked like pincushions.

Brie walked in from the kitchen with Anika on her heels. Anika had a damp towel and she handed it to Grange who used it to cool Dawn’s heated brow.

Brie raised the sheet covering Dawn’s legs and then looked up at Dawn and Grange.

“It’s time, Dawn. The next time you feel the pain you can push.”

It took a long while but finally the sound of tiny cries filled the air. Dawn felt tears running down her cheeks as she and Grange’s tiny son was lifted into the air and then laid against Dawn’s bare chest.

Grange felt his own throat clogging with emotion that he quickly grunted to try to clear away. He looked down at his sons face, those blue eyes open wide and staring straight back at him. Soft black hair covered the boys head and Grange was instantly in love.

“We’ll leave you alone.” Brie said as she headed for the door that Anika had already walked out of. “I’ll let everyone know that you’re both fine.”

“Thank you, Brie.” Dawn replied, thankful that she’d had the woman around. Brie had had a lot of experience being a nurse maid and midwife with her old pack and those skills had proved useful the last few months.

“What should we name him?” Grange asked quietly as he ran a calloused knuckle over the softness of his sons hair.

“You get to name him.” Dawn replied. “I’ll name our daughters.”

“Thought you said you’d kill me if I got you with child again?” Grange reminded her with a low chuckle. Dawn looked at the bloody spots on his arms from her nails and felt guilty.

“I hurt you.” she whispered and Grange kissed her temple.

“I’m tougher than I look. I promise.” Grange looked down at his son and his mind raced as he tried to think of a name that would suit someone so perfect.

“Creed. I think Creed is a good name.”

Dawn couldn’t stop her tears and she swiped her hand across her tear soaked cheek as she sniffed.

“You want to name him after my brother?”

“Yes.” Grange replied. Dawn had told him all about her brother. He had been a man with demons but a good man who had loved his sister and whom Dawn had loved in return.

Dawn smiled and kissed her sons brow.

“Welcome to the world, Creed Michaels.”

---

“Seems like your life is complete, Grange.” Brendon said matter of factly as Grange entered the barn later that evening. Brendon had been staying in the barn the last months. Nickolai and Brie had their own cabin as did Trig and Farrah and Anika and Blain.

The cabins were far enough away to offer privacy to their occupants but still within hearing distance should danger arise.

“Yep.” Grange agreed as he took a sugar cube from his pocket and held it out to his horse.

“I think it’s time for me to be moving on.” Brendon added.

“You’re welcome to stay as long as you want.” Grange replied. Brendon sighed and pulled off his hat, running his hand through his brown hair.

“I’ll check in from time to time, Grange. Make sure everything is still going good for ya. I got a message not long ago about a vampire I need to take care of.”

“Back to work then?” Grange asked and Brendon nodded.

“A man’s gotta make money somehow.” he replied with a smile. “I’ll see you around, Grange.” Brendon led his already saddled horse from the barn and then jumped on and rode off down the road.

Grange watched him until he disappeared and then he heard his sons hungry wails coming from inside the cabin. Everyone else had already gone to their own cabins and so Grange had his mate and son to himself.

He smiled and walked inside, eager to curl up in the bed and hold his world against his chest.

A/N: This is the end of ‘Lone Wolf’. Be sure to check out the spinoff/sequal to this story entitled ‘Hunting the Hunter’, it is Brendon’s story but has familiar faces as well :)