Page 9 of Snowbound with the Alpha Wolf
The only way to quiet Hannah was a diversion. As Adrian started for her, Darcy patted the girl’s arm. “Do you likepuppies?”
Hannah ceasedcrying, gave a jerky nod. Suddenly Darcy vanished, replaced by a fat, squirming Labrador puppy. Hannah cried out. “Puppy!”
Barking, Darcy the puppy lumbered off, followed by an eager Hannah, who had forgotten all about her injury. Helaughed.
“She is some female,” Peggy said softly. “A keeper. She’d make a wonderful mother to those sons and daughters you keep assuring us you’ll producesomeday.”
“Yes.”
“I only wish I could be there to meet your offspring,Adrian.”
Adrian’s throat tightened.We won’t talk about that.He gave her a typical impish grin that always coaxed a smile from this woman he revered. “Stick around a while, and you can watch me seduce her. First step to making those babies,Peggy.”
Peggy’s mouth twitched. “A female would have tobe blind, deaf and stupid not to fall for your charm, my alpha.” She sighed. “She’s a good one, that Darcy. Thank you for bringing her here, Adrian. We need her.” She gave him a sage look. “You needher.”
Iknow.
He shrugged. “I must convince Darcy to listen to you, elder mother. Learn from yourwisdom.”
A gruff laugh escaped Peggy. “You’re a scoundrel, Adrian. A good-heartedone. The key to winning her is not forcing her obedience but giving her what she needsmost.”
“Orgasms?”
Peggy did not smile at his little joke. “Love. A home where she feels cherished and needed. That one is a wanderer, and until you accept her, faults and all, you will never hold her. She is far different from us than you believe, my alpha. Some might consider her anabomination.”
What a disquieting thought. He knew Darcy was compatible with him sexually, and they enjoyed each other’s company. But different? Yes, she was a Changeling Shifter, with the ability to turn into a wolf, as hedid.
As he always did with news out of his control, Adrian tabled it for later. The priority of traveling to the old mine came first. He would work it out withDarcy.
No matter what secrets she hid, he felt confident of stripping away each one the same as he would wear down her resistance to becoming hisbride.
He knewthis.
A few minutes later, Darcy shifted back into her human form, conjuring fresh clothing. She joinedthem.
“Thank you for distracting Hannah,” Peggy toldher.
“My pleasure. I enjoy playing with kids. They’reone of my best assignments.” Darcy dropped to the grass, hooking her arms around her knees as shesat.
Peggy adjusted the blue-and-white shawl around her bony shoulders. Adrian sprang up to help her. She smiled her thanks and turned her attention back to Darcy. “What assignments,dear?”
“When I turned eighteen, I asked the goddess Danu to direct me into using my talents as a ChangelingShifter.” A shadow crossed her pretty face. “I wanted to make certain I was helping others instead of hurtingthem.”
Interesting. Most shifters would not be so altruistic. He wondered what motivatedDarcy.
“Very noble of you.” Peggy nodded. “What did your parents think of yourdecision?”
Darcy stared at the cavorting children playing soccer. “They weren’t happy and thoughtI was foolish for availing myself to the goddess. But by then, I was ready to strike out on myown.”
Even more interesting. It took a strong will for an underage shifter to leave the nest. Shifters, even Changelings, didn’t enjoy being alone in the Skin world. There were too many hazards to navigate, and they had barely begun to control their powers. The penalties for using magick in thepresence of a Skin was tooterrible.
Peggy’s eyes began to close. Not wishing to disturb the elder’s sleep, Adrian nudged Darcy toleave.
They walked back to the house together. His cell phone buzzed. Adrian sighed. Anotherinterruption.
It was hard to court a future mate when pack problems came first. He glanced at the number. “I have to leaveyou.”
“Pity,” she said,giving him a singularly sweetsmile.
