Page 9 of The Werewolf Cowboy

Hell, he didn’t dare risk being close to Katy. The alcohol had cranked up his lust, not tamped it. And if he lost control…

Grayson unlocked his truck to sit inside and keep watch until Mitchell and his Lupines showed up. As he started to climb in, he saw a short man carry something in a fireman’s hold.

Not something. Someone.

All his Lupine instincts tingled. Grayson locked the truck, pocketed his keys, and started toward the man struggling to stuff the shape into the back seat of a ratty-looking sedan.

Not a shape. A woman, he was certain of this. And then the wind shifted, carrying a certain scent of vanilla, wildflowers and fresh spring rain.

Horror immobilized him. Stretching out his hands, he went to use his powers and remembered where he was. Couldn’t risk it. Too dangerous. He could hurt the victim.

Grayson sprinted as the stranger’s vehicle tore out of the parking lot, barreling onto the road. He ran after it, using all his formidable Lupine strength.

“Katy!” Grayson shouted as he ran. He kept running, screaming her name, but soon the sedan was gone, kicking up a cloud of dirty snow in its wake.

He raced back to his truck to follow. But by the time he’d turned down the road, the sedan had vanished into the night, as if by magick.

Katy was gone. He’d let her slip away.

For a moment Grayson sat in his truck, fisting his hands. And then he lifted his face to the cold, uncaring moon and howled.