Page 80 of Taken by Moonlight
The aggression was a display, not for me, but herbrother.
I put a hand on Dante’s head, stroking his silky fur. “Dante, shift back and then get away from me at least tenfeet.”
He shifted back, clothing magically appearing on his body, but he remained at my side. “I will not leave you, Peyton. If she bites you I’ll have to hurt her. And then there will be an inquest by the Council of Shifters and she’ll be removed while those fools decide her fate. I could loseher.”
“Do what I say or you’ll lose her for good.” I said, my gaze never straying from the wolf. “Please. I can see her moodchanging.”
No one spoke. Behind me, I heard Ryder’s jagged breaths, smelled Dante’s musk and spicy scent, mingled with the smell of leather and horses. I sensed others had gathered, and could detect movement. Ryder with his rope, ready to take action if Feliciaattacked.
Finally Dante fell back, barked out an order. I glanced over my shoulder and saw the crowd had retreated more than ten feet, giving us plenty ofspace.
Felicia’s aura shifted to calmer blue and timidyellow.
The small wolf padded toward me, but her teeth were no longer bared. Sweat trickled down my back and my heart raced. Wolves smelled fear as easily as I smelled fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, but I knew what mattered more was showing Felicia I was willing to face her despiteit.
Not because of Dante, or any of the others. For Felicia, who needed a human to trust her and be willing to take achance.
I hunkered down to see her, eye to eye. Looking a wolf straight in the eyes meant a challenge, but I had to reach her human half. Crooning to her, I kept holding out myhand.
“Remember the cookies you baked this morning? I’d like you to show me how you made them. I could use the recipe. They smelled so good and I thought I’d have a couple for dessert tonight afterdinner.”
The wolf sniffed my hand, wagged its tail. Suddenly Felicia was there on all fours, clad in jeans and a red scoop-necked shirt. “You can’t. Gabriel ate them all forlunch.”
I held out my arms and she crawled into them. I held her tight, smoothing back her hair, feeling the warmth of her tears splashing on my barearm.
“Why am I so broken, Peyton?” shewhispered.
My heart lurched. “You’re not broken, sweetie,” I told her, still stroking her hair. “Just a little confused and battered. You’re going to beat this. You’re not going to let the past win, okay? Because it will mean those people who did that to you won, and you won’t let that happen.Right?”
Felicia drew in a deep breath as I helped her to her feet. I clapped my cowboy hat on her head. “Right.”
She smiled through her tears and touched the hat. “Thanks.”
Dante was there suddenly, hugging his sister tight. His dark gaze held mine, and he mouthed “thankyou.”
Deeply shaken, I walked away to give them privacy. Members of the pack surrounded me, congratulating me. Suddenly I wasaccepted.
I didn’t care. Emotion clogged my throat. Breathing becamedifficult.
Gabriel pushed his way through the crowd and was at my side, taking my elbow, steering me away from the crowd. He led me into the hay barn, closed the door and guided me to a bench. When he emerged from the office, a red cup was in hishand.
He thrust it at me. “Drink. It’s coldwater.”
Chugging it, I sat back. And then I tossed the empty cup across theaisle.
“Damnit, it’s not fair,” I whispered. “She’s just akid.”
Gabriel glanced up as the barn door opened and Dante entered. The alpha sat on my otherside.
For a moment, silence drapedus.
“Felicia is special,” Dante finally admitted. “She’s my sister and I love her to the depths of my heart. But… I fear I’m losing her. She’s becomeunpredictable.”
Tears clogged my throat. I shook my head. “It’s not fair forher.”
“I know,” he said somberly. “But you did a good thing today, Peyton. You saved her. If she had raced off the ranch and bit another human in herrage…”
Dante took in a shuddering breath, fisted his hands. “The council made it clear. I would have had to shoother.”
