Page 5 of The Werewolf Cowboy
An uncomfortable silence descended. He wondered what was going on that both Chase and Mad Dog accompanied Cedric. Chase was silent and swift, and Mad Dog was the pack’s muscled enforcer, but having both as bodyguards was like elephants guarding an ant. Was the old man starting to slow down?
Hard to believe. Grayson felt a pang of sharp regret. No way could Cedric be aging. The Lupine was powerful, had been more of a father to Grayson than his birth father. He hated to think the alpha was that ancient. Yeah, he hadn’t been back to his people in years, but his loyalty still remained with them.
Katy thought he was packless. Lone wolf. She didn’t know his past, or his dark secret…
“I’m also here to convince you to come home for a visit.” Cedric gave him a long, thoughtful look, which made Grayson squirm as much now as it did when he was a young pup. “You’ve been gone too long, son.”
“I know. Busy here.”
“Door back home is always open, cowboy.” Chase leaned against the bar. “Even for a runt like you.”
Laughing, Grayson pushed a finger against the shot glass. His best friend always liked calling him runt, even though they were of equal height.
“I’m surprised they let a hound dog like you in here, with your rep for the ladies,” he shot back to Chase.
Mad Dog laughed, but Cedric did not. The alpha frowned. “This place makes me sick. Drunk Others, lazing around, too lost in their own thoughts. Let’s go.”
Guilt arrowed through Grayson. He also felt the despair scenting the air, but to these three, it was fresh, like an overwhelming stench.
“Later, cowboy.” Chase playfully punched his arm. “Don’t be a stranger.”
Grayson nodded. “Thanks for the visit. Reckon I should return. Soon.”
Cedric reached over and grabbed Grayson’s shot. He finished it in one swallow. “You’re always pack. Remember that, Grayson.”
Then the older male nodded at the other two, and they slid away, as silent as they had entered.
Easing out a breath, he finally relaxed. A visit from the home team always tensed him. Leading a double life was hard enough. But when the alpha showed up, it made him regret leaving his pack.
Almost. If not for Katy…
Ordering another shot, he turned to observe Katy as she sipped from a beer bottle. Her mouth cupped the rim, making his wicked imagination envision her sliding those wet red lips over his throbbing cock as those big eyes looked up at him. Forest green eyes…he’d memorized every inch of her sweet face first time he’d visited the Mitchell pack. Katy was a fine wrangler, handling her horse like a pro, and her roping was almost as good as his.
Grayson drank in her scent of wildflowers and fresh raindrops. Still a heavy dose of vanilla, the innocent scent of childhood and virgins. He ached to touch her, absorb her sweet innocence, let it soothe all his hurt. Sexual need twinned with a deep longing, the Lupine’s natural instinct to bond with pack, instinct he’d ignored.
Even to hold her hand, one simple touch. Lupines craved touch. They needed it like water, but he hadn’t let anyone draw close enough, only the anonymous hookups at this bar, and those Skins hadn’t fulfilled his deepest need for connection. Katy had a depth and empathy other Lupines her age lacked. Lately he’d noticed her vulnerability, as if she sensed she was different but couldn’t quite figure it out.
The sorrow in her eyes made him ache. He wanted to chase away all the dark shadows in her eyes and replace them with joy. Her laughter lightened his weariness.
Men in the bar had noticed the lovely trio of females, and their thoughts weren’t so kind. Grayson smelled the hot sting of their lust, the hard male aggression spiking as Lupine shifters in town for the rodeo leered at the girls in the corner. The drunk Lupine closest to him turned. Grayson scented the male’s intent in the sudden surge of testosterone.
Take the tall one with the dark curls in the back and show her a good time. She’ll scream as I fuck her.Sweet little cherry, you are mine.
Grayson’s protective Lupine instincts stirred. Grayson growled low at the cowhand, reached over and slapped a hand over his wrist.
The cowhand startled. “Get your paws off me, Moore.”
“Don’t even think about getting close to her. I’ll tear your throat out. She’s off limits,” he grated out.
The cowboy swallowed audibly as Grayson let his Lupine powers surge, knowing his eyes flashed amber. He could easily kill the smaller Lupine. Damn, he could kill him with a single thought…
The shifter threw dollars on the bar and headed for the door as if the wolves of Hell chased him.
Don’t let the door kick you in the ass.
Grayson made a mental note to alert Aiden to the cowhand. The alpha would deal with him.
This was a too-seedy crowd for such a lady like Katy, who liked carnation pink nail polish and baked butter biscuits light as dandelion fluff. Maybe he should call Aiden, warn him the females were here…
