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A snapping snarl erupted from me and I sensed him cower even though over two hundred miles separated us. “Mine,” the word vibrated from my chest, primal and undeniable, as I clawed at the ground, my head lifting as a howl tore from my throat, silencing all the others.

***

Leaving Jess alone didn’t sit well with me or my wolf, so once I felt I’d regained enough control I went back. My trot quickly became a run as I headed unerringly for her.

Trent met me at the edge of the road, his multicolored coat blending seamlessly into the forest, the perfect camouflage. “You’ve got a lot of pissed off wolves looking for you,” he greeted me, snorting.

“What’s new?” I replied, knowing full well the Alpha would have something to say about my ignoring them. “The Hanleys?”

“Gone. I tracked them to the edge of their lands but they haven’t been back.” He peeked at me but didn’t ask about my earlier reaction, but I knew I owed him an explanation. I shifted into human form and he followed suit as we walked back to the motel.

“She’s in heat,” I stated baldly and he stopped, giving me a leery glance, needing no further justification. She was a breeding female and apparently my wolf had decided to claim her.

Except, she was still ignorant of what she was and what I was and my wolf was dealing with a case of blue balls.

“I’m just gonna take off,” Trent murmured, jerking his thumb toward the road. “Hide in the hills a few days. Just give me a call when it’s safe to come back, alright?” He edged further away, trying to be sneaky and failing.

“Stop,” I barked and he froze. “I need you to stay and keep watch over her. I can’t do it alone.”

His mouth dropped open and he stared at me for the longest time. “You….you would trust me?” He stammered, gazing at me doubtfully. He’d been a lone wolf for a long time, making our bond tenuous at best, and most would call me foolish for trusting him, but I knew he’d protect her with his life if I asked.

“I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t,” I answered, keeping my voice emotionless intentionally and he cleared his throat as his head bobbed.

“I’d be…be honored,” he replied thickly.

“Stay out of sight of both packs,” I warned, knowing what I was tasking him with was almost impossible. “I’m going to talk to the Alpha, see if he’ll make an exception for you.”

“You mean I won’t have to hide in the shadows?” He gasped dramatically, falling back on his trademark sarcasm. “I can be a real wolf boy?”

“Don’t hold your breath,” I remarked idly. “I’m not exactly in the Alphas’s favor at the moment.”

“Stealing the potential puppy factory right out from under his son’s nose and disobeying a direct order might do that,” he commented.

“I didn’t steal her,” I said defensively.

“That’s what you focus on,” Trent shook his head, murmuring, “You got it bad, brother.”

“Tell me something I don’t know,” I said morosely, scratching my chest absently. “Keep an eye on her. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“Yes, sir!” He threw a cocky salute and shifted back to four legs, leaving me to enter Pack lands alone.

Yips and bays welcomed me as I entered our small community, but I didn’t stop to talk. Their excitement was palpable, no doubt due to Caleb’s entrance, but I wasn’t ready to dissect the Hanley’s violation of Pack law.

“Son,” Dad met me but I didn’t slow my stride.

“Shower,” I told him shortly, knowing I was going to have to account for my actions eventually.

He sent me a hard stare but let me go. Caleb spotted me as I crossed the wide clearing separating the small homes from the Pack House, and I shook my head, halting him in his tracks.

I took a relieved breath as my cabin came in sight, but it gusted out of me when her scent hit and I realized I had company.

“Anna,” I sighed as she stood from where she’d been sitting on the steps.

“You didn’t claim her,” she stated, keeping her eyes firmly above my waist since I was still naked as a jaybird.

“No,” I answered pointlessly since the entire Pack would have known if I had. “It was close though.”

“We have to tell her,” Anna said earnestly and I raked a hand through my hair. “She doesn’t understand.”

“I hear you, but she doesn’t act like she wants to know,” I reminded her.

“It’s only a matter of time until you can’t control yourself and then what?” She asked rhetorically, jumping off the steps and leaving me alone. I slammed my hand against the railing as frustration boiled through me and the wood splintered, leaving broken pieces shattered on the ground.

“Don’t let him send you away.”