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“The neighbors can see right into the backyard,” Gio said, pointing to the house next door. “Tonight is about showing youhis beast. Some other night we can take a trip into the desert and find a nice place outside to be all alone. Carter can run and play without worrying.”

“Yes!” Carter agreed, his voice muffled as he pulled his shirt off over his head. “Let’s do that tomorrow!”

Gio nodded and came to stand next to Mila. She could tell he was hesitant, scared that she might move away from him.

It broke her heart that he was scared. He was her Gio!

Turning to face him, she moved close and wrapped her arms around him. “I still love you, Gio. That hasn’t changed.”

His tension melted away. “I love you so much, Mila.”

“I know,” she whispered. “I understand that you were scared, but don’t ever keep anything from me ever again.”

“Never again,” he agreed.

“Hey!” Carter called out. “No groping without me!”

They turned to find Carter standing in the center of the room completely naked. Mila opened her mouth to make some comment about him taking off his clothes, but the words died in her throat.

Carter winked at her, then his form blurred. Suddenly he wasn’t there, and a giant silver and black wolf was standing in his place.

The beast was bigger than any dog or wolf she’d ever seen. Intense black eyes stared at her and a bolt of fear made her freeze.

Then Babette ran up to the creature, barking excitedly. The fearsome beast dropped into a play bow, then jumped over Babette.

All her fear vanished.

“Did Carter really do that?” Mila asked with a laugh.

“He loves playing in his wolf form,” Gio said, drawing Mila in front of him, then wrapping his arms around her. She snuggled back against him as they watched Babette and Carter play.“Sometimes Lobo Gris will gather in the desert so they can shift and run as a pack.”

Babette scurried past them into the kitchen, yipping joyfully. Carter was right on her heels. Mila heard them circling the island and then they appeared back into the living room.

Babette changed direction too fast for Carter to follow. He skidded past her, his feet moving but not doing any good on the smooth wood floor like a cartoon character. He bumped into the couch before he was able to turn and follow her.

“Is Carter a member of the Lobo Gris?” Mila asked as Carter and Babette played canine tag.

Gio shook his head. “Carter doesn’t have a pack. Lobo Gris is a friendly open pack and welcomes just about anyone to their outings, even if you’re not a formal member.”

“Why doesn’t he belong to a pack?” Mila asked, surprised to see guilt flash across his face.

“He would be leading a pack if not for me,” Gio said. “When we first met, he was the alpha of a small pack of five, the Macon Pack. I struggled to accept the pack having a claim on him. I didn’t say anything, but he sensed it, so he gave up his pack. They ended up joining Mikey and the Lobo Gris.”

Mila didn’t know what to say. She was new to this world and had a lot to learn so she stuck with the obvious. “Carter loves you.”

“Yes, he loves me, but alpha wolves need to have someone to care for,” Gio said with a shake of his head. “Someone to protect. Normally that’s an entire pack.”

Mila was starting to understand. “But you don’t really need much protection. At least not at night.”

Gio pointed at the floor. “I’m safe here during the day too. The basement is outfitted to be a shelter if the house ever catches fire. We could all retreat there for days if necessary.”

“You have your painting,” Mila said. “What does Carter have?”

Before Gio could answer, Carter ran up to them and skidded to a halt on his butt, with Babette right next to him. They were both panting and looking up at her and Gio with happy, sparkling eyes.

“Are you beating up on the big, bad wolf?” Gio asked Babette as he scooped her up.

Mila reached down and sank her fingers into Carter’s thick fur. “I’m starting to think the fairytales got it wrong.”