“It’s the tamest word I can come up with right now.” She cleared her throat but it was still husky with anger when she continued. “What these wolves did was not only evil, it was downright stupid. It’s not how humans are turned into werewolves. The chances of success are minimal, and if they do manage to find someone strong enough to survive the turn, there’s zero chance that person will just meekly accept a place in that pack, under an insane alpha.”
“Is that right?”
She dropped her hands and stood, facing him more fully. “Adam, I’m not here to be coy. I interrogated both packs, the legitimate and the rogue. I disbanded both packs. I decided who would live and who would die. And when I found out that another victim had survived, had made the change and escaped, I knew I wouldn’t rest until I found him.”
“So you can decide ifheshould live or die?”
Her shock was real and unmistakable. “No!” She scrubbed her hands over her face, said more quietly, “No. So that I could tell him that while I could never make right what had happened to him—toyou—that the bastards have been taken care of and won’t be hurting anyone ever again.”
“That’s good to know. Thanks for stopping by.” He didn’t bother to move, knew it wasn’t that simple. Not after what had happened. Not after he’d almost attacked her and Michael. Without real provocation.
“We’d begun looking for you but weren’t having much luck. Michael had called in a report about the trouble you all are having out here, and we would have sent someone down to help check it out. But when you came forward he remembered I had sent out a request for information on a strong, unknown wolf, so here I am. I’m thankful we’ve found you, but I’m sorry it’s taken something bad happening for us to meet.” She gestured to the woods behind him. “But we can help each other. I’m getting the sense you care about your land. The animals on that land. Even if you don’t get poisoned again, does it bother you that the natural wolves are dying? And that they’re dying badly?”
A growl slipped free of his throat. She smiled, though it was of the joyless variety. “That’s kind of what I meant before, about the connection the National President has with their wolves. It’s similar, though much deeper, than what you probably feel for the local natural pack. I’m sure you’ve seen it in action, if you think about it. You’ve probably felt it. You’re a strong wolf, your natural instinct is to take care of those weaker than you are, which is most wolves that you meet.”
He did know what she meant, now that she’d pointed it out. Had felt it most strongly with the wolves that roamed near his cabin, but remembered following a pair of drunk teenage girls, shifters, around town until they’d been collected by a stronger wolf, someone he now realized was probably in their pack’s hierarchy. He’d called himself a fool, told himself he was being a creepy stalker, but he just couldn’t walk away until he’d been sure the girls were safely in the hands of someone who could see to their welfare.
There had been other instances, a wolf he’d come across in Kansas, a young man who’d managed to break his leg while alone in the woods. He’d been irritated, but unable to walk away without seeing the wolf to safety. Because he was the stronger wolf, the one in control. Which, reminded him he owed her an apology.
“I’m sorry,” told her, gruffly. “About earlier.”
Myra felt herself blush. “No, I should apologize.”
Adam blinked, stared at her for a moment. “I lost control.”
“I think you showed amazing control. Waking up, after being so sick, to someone touching you, but you controlled the situation, didn’t hurt me, while making sure you could protect yourself.” She sat back on the porch step again.
“I meant…the other part.” He rubbed the back of his neck wearily. “Are you so powerful that you weren’t even nervous I would overpower you?”
“When a strong, naked, attractive wolf is lying on top of me—” She cleared her throat. “Again, I’d say I’m the one who should apologize. I shouldn’t have encouraged you. I’ve been here, helping you, watching you, and…well, you’ve been sick, mostly asleep…so it’s inappropriate…I…you—”
“Jesus, stop,” he interrupted her.
She cleared her throat. “Anyway, no need for you to apologize to me.” She stood. “You should eat. I still have Michael’s truck. We could go into town, get some breakfast. Or to the pack house. Unless you’d rather…” She gestured to the woods.
He looked over his shoulder, turned back to her with a questioning look. “How bad would it be ifyougot infected with this poison?”
She froze, didn’t even breath while the implications of that raced through her brain. Her panic at the thought must have been strong enough to transmit through the bonds she held, because she received some faint, questioning impressions. Forcing in a deep breath, she blew it out and sent back as much a feeling of calm as she could. She’d need to spend some time on the telephone soon. For now, she just nodded.
“Yeah, that would be pretty bad.”
“Then we’ll stick to town. As far as I know, everyone who’s gotten sick has been in the woods.”
They went into the cabin. He moved to the dresser and pulled on jeans and a sweater while she gathered the little bag that held her essentials. Michael had brought it last night, meeting her nearby. She pulled out the car keys and they headed out. As they approached the truck, she sensed Adam’s hesitation.
“Would you prefer to drive?”
“You wouldn’t mind?”
“Not at all.” She held out the keys, met his eyes as he took them from her. Whatever she could do to give him security and safety, she was happy to do.
They were on their way, and she held her silence to match his.
“What’s it like, how’s it different, living with the pack?” he asked, after a time.
“Well, you have to understand, I was born and raised as a werewolf, I’ve never known different. But, current statistics are that we’re about seventy-five percent born wolves, and twenty-five percent turned. And whenever a turned wolf joins a pack, we all make an effort to help them through any confusion, so I think I have a fair idea of what is different.”
“Turned. Maybe you could tell me about that.” His hands flexed on the steering wheel.
