Frostbitten (Otherworld 10)

"They're too big for her."

"Eli!"

He found me a pair of jeans. As he was bringing them over, he snuck a look at me.

"Eli..." The Alpha's voice was a low growl now. "Respect."

I thought he meant for Eli to respect him, but when Eli kept staring, the elder--the one I suspected was his father--cuffed him as he had in the woods and growled, "Respect, Eli. She is werewolf."

The look the boy gave me said this wasn't, to him, cause for respect. But I already knew that. He'd been the one Clay and I had encountered in the forest, and judging by the way that mutt-who-runs-with-the-wolves had acted, we weren't the only werewolves Eli had been terrorizing.

The Alpha pulled out a chair made from bound branches and draped with an animal skin--bear by the smell--and he motioned for me to sit. As I did, I looked around. The cave was a jarring mix of primitive and modern--furs and twig furniture mingling with parkas, winter boots and, beside the fire pit, a steel pail of water. Not primitive, I suppose, just old-fashioned wherever modern wasn't necessary, no different from humans who'd decided to live off the land.

When the Alpha followed my gaze, though, he said quickly, "This is only a hunting camp. We live a distance away. In houses," he added emphatically, lest I mistake them for cave-dwelling savages.

"Is that where the women are?" I had no idea whether there were women, but I had a sneaking suspicion these guys weren't strolling into Anchorage, picking up chicks in the local bars.

He nodded. "They come sometimes. Not this time."

"And they're... like you? They can... shift into... what you do?"

He looked confused. I don't blame him--my question wasn't exactly clear, but I had no idea what they called themselves.

"The women," I said. "They're like you? They... shift form?"

"Of course." He frowned, then nodded. "Yes, there are not women among the werewolves. Or that is what I have heard, but clearly you are..." He thought this through a minute, then said, "You are a bitten one, then."

I nodded. "Is that what your women are? Bitten?"

"No, it is not the same. We cannot... do that. We are born Shifters. Our women are, too. But they are rare."

Behind him, Eli grumbled. Not a situation to his liking, I supposed.

I turned back to the Alpha. They hadn't invited me here to exchange notes on our species, so anything I wanted to know, I'd better ask fast.

"And you live deeper in the woods? In a community? Are there many of you?"

Typical questions, particularly for someone with an anthropologist husband who'd drill her for details. But from the look on the Alpha's face, he didn't care to give those details. He hid his unease by quickly glancing aside and muttering, "Not important."

"Sorry. I didn't mean to pry. I just--I've never met... Shifters before."

"There are many of us," Eli said. "More than you werewolves, and all bigger and stronger than your best. If you come, we'll fight." He met my gaze. "And we'll win."

"Respect!" the Alpha snarled, wheeling on him.

"Why? Look at her. She's no bigg

er than a human. And she shifts into a normal wolf. Why should we be afraid of--?"

His father cuffed him. "Respect!"

"It's okay." I tried for a wry smile. "I can see how my questions could have been misinterpreted, but it was only curiosity. Your territory is yours. We have our own, and we're happy with it."

"The werewolves like cities," the Alpha said, in a tone that implied he pitied our preference, but was trying to remain politely neutral on the subject. "They have never given us a problem. Until now. These werewolves in the valley. The ones in the cabin..."

"If you mean the two brothers and their friends, they aren't part of my Pack. In fact, I just escaped from them."

"We know this. We have been watching them. They are... trouble."