Page 46 of Mating Season

Maybe I was cut out for this job.

Our little pack grew smaller the further we trotted and the creek spread out as the woods thickened on either side. Fallon’s and Danielle’s wolves were up ahead, followed by Amber and Ismelda. Kimberly and Sarah were the last in line. Or technically I was, but I was leading from the rear I’d decided. It made being a sheepdog sound cooler.

Sarah’s chestnut wolf was soaking wet as she slowed her pace. Kimberly raced ahead to Ismelda. The two of them nudged each other before taking off in opposite directions up the bank.

I glanced over at Sarah, slowing to match her stride. She had none of the other women’s youthful spunk as she looked around, searching for a good spot to exit the creek. There was a resigned hunch to her shoulders as we trudged along the water. Her wolf didn’t seem to want to decide.

This is going to suck,I told my wolf, really wishing we had a pack link with the other females now.Give me a minute.

Too bad we haven’t figured out how to shift with your head on my body.

Yikes. That sounds like a nightmare.

I took over my human skin so I could use my vocal cords. Holy ice tits it was cold. I was shivering, naked, and wet. Sarah’s wolf looked up at me like I was crazy. I supposed she was right.

“What’s wrong?” My teeth chattered as I spoke. I wrapped my arms around my body as my human feet slipped over wet river stones.

Sarah’s wolf shook her head.

Guess she wasn’t planning on shifting to chat.

A louder howl sounded in the distance, making me shiver for an entirely different reason. It was an announcement. I felt it in my bones. Our lead time was up.

He’s coming.

Sarah’s wolf whined as her ears pressed against her head and she charged through the middle of the creek.

It’s… So… Cold…

“Is one of the males making you act this way?” I shook and shivered as I trudged alongside her. There was a shake of her head and another exasperated whine as she tried to go faster and slipped, soaking her chest.

“Not one male,” I mused aloud. This would be so much easier if we could just share a pack link.

She huffed as she shook out her fur coat.

“All of them?” I asked, earning a look over her shoulder where I swore I could see the human shining through her eyes.

“If you didn’t want to run this season, you should’ve told me.” I grabbed her by the scruff. Righteous anger coursed through me, warming my skin as I remembered each season I’d run this far alone while worried my wolf would make a decision I couldn’t change.

That wasn’t going to happen again.

Not on my watch.

Sarah’s wolf growled as she tried to shake herself free from my grasp. I held her steady.

“You’re going back to your nest. Bar the doors if you have to tonight. A mated male named Beau will be by in the morning to drop off food.”

A drone buzzed over our heads and I dropped to my knees, eyes widening as I held back a curse at the ice water lapping at my core.

I lowered my face to her furry ear. “Tell Beau Ranger said to get you off the mountain and somewhere safe.”

The bark of relief and long tongue licking my face made me laugh despite the fact that my nipples were so hard they were going to break off.

“Don’t thank me yet.” I borrowed some of my wolf’s strength, grabbing Sarah’s hind and forelegs as I lifted her from the water. “Sorry about this, but I want to cover your tracks.”

I spun to gain momentum, barely keeping us both upright on the slick rocks, and tossed her toward the trees. She landed on four feet though. Score ten points for me. I almost felt bad for throwing her as hard as I did, but I was buck naked and way behind the last of the females.

And I’d lost the long lead.

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