Page 37 of In the Mouth of the Wolf (Of Wolves and Kings #1)

37

THE TAWNY WOLF

T he crisp wind blowing through the small opening beckoned me, but the sudden smell of an approaching male from behind sent a growl through me, and I turned around.

A human – the one I had seen before, the one who smelled good – had found me.

“Easy, California, I’m not going to hurt you,” he cooed. “I just wanted to see what was going on. You’re not going to run away again, are you?”

I chuffed. The human part of me called this home, and her body was too weak to survive without my fur. I would return when it was time to relinquish my control.

“Good, just checking. Are you going far?”

I turned back to the darkness, taking a step out into the night. I just wanted to be outside. I leapt into the snow, shaking and snapping at the falling snowflakes. I was made for the cold; I was made for the trees and the streams.

The human male stood in the doorway, the temperature not bothering him like it did my human. He simply watched, and I decided to let him for now. Something stirred in him, something I almost recognized...

My human was angry at him, I could feel, but she trusted him. So I would too.

He was her pack. Where was mine? I knew they must be around somewhere. I paused my game and howled, begging them to join me. I wanted to chase and be chased.

The human stepped outside slowly, and I trotted over. Company was company, I supposed. At least until my pack arrived.

“Beautiful,” he whispered.

I nipped his arm gently. Obviously .

His hands ran through my coat, and I pushed myself into him for more. The touch felt nice.

“You like that, girl? Yeah, I know you like the head scritches.”

His weird paws scratched behind my ears and I closed my eyes. Humans were definitely good for something if they could do that. He stopped, but I wanted more. I jumped and pushed him over with my paws, landing on top of him so he’d be trapped, forcing him to continue until I decided he was over.

“Whoa there!” he laughed. “Okay, okay, I get it.” I licked his face in thanks, and he laughed again.

Just then another scent hit my nose, and I stilled. It was a wolf. Like me.

Pack ?

I tilted my head towards the source, watching a darkened silhouette emerge from the forest.

I got off the human and took a few steps towards him. It was definitely a male. His scent reminded me of something, but I had no memory of it.

He came closer, inspecting us carefully.

Pack ? I asked again.

Pack , he confirmed. Come .

I made to follow him when the human behind me snarled. I turned around and watched as his body contorted into a shape like mine. His skin coverings shredded as his body grew, elongating.

With a growl, his shift was complete.

He leapt in front of me, baring his teeth at the other. Not pack , he warned. Liar .

Liar? Why would wolves lie?

This new wolf, he was my human’s pack. Now he was my pack, too, I could feel it. So I knew he was right about the other one.

Leave , my pack mate demanded to the intruder. He snarled, positioning himself in front of me.

The other wolf stared at us for a moment more, then finally turned around and walked the other way.

Pack ? I asked the human-now-wolf.

He came over and nuzzled my neck, his scent solidifying our bond. Yes .

I whined in excitement. My pack was here! I snapped at him gently, then turned around and crouched, my tail wagging. Play ?

He bounced on his front legs. Play .

Then he chased me into the woods, and we didn’t return until the sun rose.