Page 20 of The Mating Need
Chapter 4
Once he hada home like this, only smaller. But the sight and smells made emotion well in his throat. Troy pushed it away. Not good to show anyweakness.
The front door opened to a wide, polished staircase and hardwood floors smelling of lemon polish. Dale and Snake escorted him into a living room large enough to hold a herd of cattle. Smells of grilled beef wafted through the room, making his mouth salivate. Other smells put him on guard – the scent of several Lupines, horses, dust and cedar, all with an undertone ofwolves.
This was not a friendly, New Age kind of pack he’d known back in California. They were Lupines and would fight to the death for their home and for theirleaders.
He liked them already. At least here his talents could be put to gooduse.
A fire crackled in the stone fireplace and leather sofas were arranged around a coffee table. Some cowboys lounged in chairs by the windows as they talked. Everyone looked up to see them, and more than a few gazesnarrowed.
He wouldn’t expect anything else. Strangers were always suspect in the goodpacks.
Dale gestured to a nearby chair. “Have a seat, and I’ll get Aiden and Nia. They’re in thekitchen.”
Troy declined the invite, sensing another test. Sitting before he met the alpha couple might be consideredrude.
Snake had no trouble fitting in, for he sat the chair Dale had indicated, spine razor straight, unlike the others whose legs dangled over thearmrests.
Perhaps Snake was new to this pack as well. Or he didn’t want to relax his guard around Troy. Orboth.
Troy surveyed the surroundings. After looking at him, the other Lupines returned their attention to conversation, but he sensed they side-eyed him. Good. He wouldn’t trust a stranger, either. Rogue Lupines could tear apart a room in minutes before being takendown.
“How do you know Zoe?” Snakeasked.
Whoa, sensitive question. “We met out west.” Vague enoughanswer.
Snake’s mouth compressed. “Dale seems to accept you, but I have questions. Before you bunk with us, you need to answer them, Trojan. Don’t want a lone wolf sneaking up on me and cutting my throat while Isleep.”
Snake put two fingers to his eyes, indicating the Skin sign for “I’ll be watchingyou.”
Troy shrugged. “Maybe I’ll find a patch of ground and sleep outside. Goes both ways. Who’s the say you wouldn’t do the same to me,Rattler?”
Snake didn’t blink. “One question you can answer now is, where’s the female? You have her smell all overyou?”
His heart skipped a beat. Snake’s olfactory senses were as sharp as hisown.
Nostrils flaring, he detected Snake’s own scent. “Might ask the same of you, Rattler. Indulging in female companionship a crime aroundhere?”
“Only if said female aims to harm my pack.” Snake stood and jabbed a finger at Troy’s chest. “I swore a vow to protect these people and the alphas. Until you do as well, you’re on my watchlist.”
Interesting. These people. Not “my people.” Maybe Snake was a stranger as much as Troy. Didn’t matter now. He needed to dole out assurances without seemingweak.
“I wouldn’t expect less of someone in a pack I aim to join. Mind you, I have a watch list of my own. Ain’t decided to join yet. I’m here to work, not get into a pissing competition withanyone.”
Snake didn’t blink. “Remember, Trojan. They didn’t name viruses after your kind for noreason.”
The Lupine walked off, standing before the fire. Not joining any of the clusters of others. Maybe Snake was a lone wolf as much asTroy.
Another cowhand, lean and lanky, wearing a battered straw hat, ambled over. “Never mind Snake. He’s ornery to everyone. Name’s Ellison. Welcome to the MitchellRanch.”
“Thanks.” Troy shook hands. “You awrangler?”
“Yep. Been here a couple of years. Work’s good, Lupines are all fair. You’ll like ithere.”
Dale emerged from an adjoining room with a couple. The male was tall, with short black hair and a well-trimmed black beard and mustache. An aura of quiet power radiated fromhim.
The female was shorter, blonde, pretty and more relaxed, butwatchful.
