Page 17 of Taken By The Wolves

Then I scent who’s approaching before he comes intoview, as it cuts through the whiff of sawdust like a warning.

“Company,” Reed calls from across the yard.

I turn toward the entrance, already knowing who it is.

“Stay here,” I tell Scarlet. My hand lands firmly on her shoulder for a second. She tenses but doesn’t ask why.

I step outside before she does.

Hunter’s already halfway to me, wearing his usual scowl and smelling like fresh pine, irritation, and enemy, even though he isn’t. The man’s built like a semi-truck and has all the subtlety of one.

“We scented it,” he says, no greeting.

“Last night?”

“Who was he?”

“Rival pack,” I say, voice tight. “The same ones you chased off.”

Hunter’s brows lift as he scents the air. “She yours?”

Jesus. His bear senses are almost as good as my wolf ones. “Yes, but no.”

He snorts. “I know how that is.”

It took him a while to claim his mate, so I guess he understands that it isn’t always a straightforward process.

I shoot him a look.

He lets it go, but barely. “I followed the trail halfway to the old creek. It ended too fast. It’s like he vanished.”

My gut tightens. Reed and Finn should have finished him and left his body outside territory lines, but he was fast, and the scent of our mate tore the rug from under us all.

“I don’t like it any more than you do,” I remind him. “They might be my kind, but that’s where the similarities end.”

“You still intend to keep them out of this area?”

He doesn’t bother to conceal the hope in his voice, andI don’t think any less of him for it. He has two small boys and a mate to worry about. The last thing he wants right now is a battle between feral wolves and his family.

“I am.” I glance toward the shed. Through the window, I can just make out Scarlet’s silhouette. She’s moving slowly, careful on her ankle, running her hand along another stack of timber like she’s feeling for a pulse.

“Now more than ever.” I run my fingers through my hair. “She doesn’t know anything.”

“She doesn’t need to,” Hunter says. “Yet. But you can’t hide what you are forever, and she can’t ignore what she is to you forever, either.”

“You ever wonder why the fuck this works like this. Human women and shifters?”

“In the old days, it was easier. Raid a village. Carry off a bride. Wait until they stop hating you for claiming them and start loving being owned by an animal.”

“I’m glad it doesn’t work that way anymore,” I say. “No way I want a reluctant mate in my bed.”

“So, you’re going to take your time to claim her? Even with a threat at your door?”

“I don’t have a choice, Hunter.”

He turns to stare into the depths of the forest that we both call home. “My brothers felt the same. They were right to have patience.”

“I’ll take care of it and her,” I say. Then, remembering he’s come out of his way to meet me today, I reach out my hand. “But I appreciate your eyes and ears, and your collaboration.”