“Good wolf.” She took the remnants and put it in the garbage bag.
Gray bodies nosed from the bramble.
Kane growled, but only in warning as a pack of five coyotes stared at them.
She patted the wolf on the head. “Looks like you have friends.”
Chapter 10
Kane stiffened as Gaby approached the wild coyotes. They yapped and wagged their tails like old acquaintances. He grinned, baring his fangs. If more wolf charmers like her existed, imagine how important they would be helping farmers shoo away pests and predators from their livestock. A shame werewolves killed them off. Did his kind still murder wolf charmers? If they did, he’d kill anyone who dared to try. Gaby was his to have and protect.
Gaby knelt in front of the five coyotes. They sat before her and then cocked their heads as if waiting for her next command. Like circus dogs.
Hell. I’m her circus dog as well. He cautiously approached, not wanting to spook the normally skittish wild canines. The coyotes didn’t display apprehension and he didn’t pick up their scent of fear.
She stood and smiled at the wolf. “How about we sing under the stars?”
The coyotes howled and yapped as she directed them with her fingers like a conductor at a concert.
His wolf perked. Why not? He howled, which encouraged the coyote pack to chorus louder.
Gaby signaled the coyotes to stop. Without question, they silenced. “Oops.” She turned to the wolf and shushed him. “Coyotes might not draw people’s attention, but a wolf will.”
Howling felt so good even with coyotes, but she had a point. He nodded and circled their camp to make sure nobody approached.
Assured they were still alone, he returned. The coyotes had gone and Gaby prepared her sleeping bag for the night.
“We better get some sleep.”
He wished he could talk, but he needed to stay in wolf form in case he didn’t have a chance to shift during their road trip to the West Coast. He also curtailed the temptation to make love to her by remaining in wolf form. Hell, he may need to be in wolf form every night.
Gaby laid on her side and he joined her. He snuggled against her. Feeling her warmth, enjoying her aroma and her calming breath as she slipped into sleep. While she slept, oblivious to the world, he placed his head on the curve of her narrow waist. Nothing felt better, except maybe resting his head on her sweet round ass.
Kane remained alert to every sound and smell. A distant skunk, a porcupine, delicious-smelling elk, and a bear too far away for concern. No human or werewolf danger. Singing with the coyotes brought him joy. He had no memory of a pack, but his wolf felt lonely without one. Although, if being in a pack meant never seeing Gaby again, he’d rather stay a lone wolf.
He dozed off imagining traveling the world with Gaby.
The forest appeared. He stood and turned to make sure Gaby was in sight. She sat in front of her easel painting a scene with wolves. Three she-wolves. The black one with the silver streaks, Lunara, an older white she-wolf and another small almost coyote sized female. Odd. Had Steele been part of their pack? The castle still overlooked the forest, but this time it was farther away. A vague white edifice in the distance.
Gaby turned. “What do you think of my painting?” She pointed to the canvas. “Do you recognize them?”
He studied the three she-wolves. “The white one is the alpha. The black one calls herself Lunara, but the small one, not sure. Were you trying to paint a coyote?”
Gaby scrunched her nose. “She is small, but she’s a wolf. Could be a runt.”
A runt? The word triggered a flash of him ordering soldiers to take action. Was I part of the lycan special ops pack?
Suddenly, Gaby vanished and the black beta with the silver streaks on her chest appeared. “Steele.”
“Where’s Gaby?” he growled.
“She had to leave.”
His hackles rose. “Why?”
The beta lowered her head as she spoke. “She’s human and a wolf-segen.”
A younger black she-wolf approached. “Steele belongs to me.”