“No, but if you have any other theories, feel free to share them.”
“Wait a second,” I said. “How can you tell it was a Shifter? We’re in the middle of the woods with wolves out there. Real wolves. Not the kind that shift into people.”
“A Shifter crossed territory lines and left his mark,” Lorenzo replied flatly.
“Did you get a urine sample?”
“I’m an alpha.”
I looked to Austin for help. I wasn’t about to debate with Lorenzo on how he could tell whether it was a man or a chipmunk by smelling pee.
“I’ll keep an eye out,” Austin said. “It’s probably a rogue who wandered onto the territory and decided to be a dickhead. Outside of Reno’s barking, I haven’t heard any wolves since we’ve been here.” He cut Reno a sharp glare before continuing. “Church, would you mind escorting them back to the cabin?”
“Brother, I think I can handle any trouble without a babysitter,” Reno said, patting his chest where he kept his gun strapped.
“You’re also mated to a human.”
Ivy held up her cane with the silver wolf’s head on the grip. “I can’t clear that distance in the dark,” she said to Lorenzo. “The terrain is too rough. I’ll take the road back to our cabin while you walk with them.”
“Absolutely not,” Lorenzo said, his voice inviting no argument. He turned and regarded April for a moment.
Austin glanced back at the garage. “I could drive if y’all don’t mind sitting in the back of the pickup.”
Lorenzo lifted his chin and looked up at the stars. “It’s a magnificent night. It would be a shame to miss it bouncing around in the back of your truck while exhaust fumes are choking us. Reno, walk with us to our cabin and then we’ll drive you to yours. We’re safer in numbers, and the road is well lit.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Reno agreed, unzipping his jacket so he had better access to his gun. “Probably just a bunch of young pups doing initiation dares.”
Shifter hazing? This was too much. “What kind of dares?” I asked.
Reno’s thin lips eased into a tight grin.
“Get going,” Austin said, shoving him toward the path.
I snatched Reno’s jacket and yanked him back. “What dares?”
He gave Austin a cursory glance before answering. “Sometimes when a man reaches his first change, his pack gives him a challenge to complete. Something dangerous and stupid. Rite of passage.”
I smiled, sensing a good story. “Or in Austin’s case, his brothers gave him a challenge. Am I right?”
Austin cleared his throat and circled his arm about my waist. “It’s getting late, and I want some of that pie.”
Like I was going to let Reno walk away with a juicy story. “Back off, Austin Cole. I’m about to get the skinny on you.”
Reno smirked and stuffed his hands in his coat pockets. “He asked one of the local Councilmen for permission to date his daughter.”
My shoulders sagged. “That’s all?”
Reno pinched his lip, sliding a glance toward Austin. “Naked.”
I erupted into my Beaker laugh, almost falling backward into the snow.
Reno chuckled. “Funniest damn thing I ever saw. I was on assignment when the boys planned it, but it was worth the trip down.”
“Thanks, brother,” Austin growled.
“Wait, wait…” When I finally managed to stop laughing, I stood up straight and wiped the tears from my eyes. “What did the Councilman say?”
Austin shook a clump of snow off his boot. “I didn’t get to find out because his mate was the one who answered the door. She slapped me, the pack came running, and that was that.”
Reno patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t leave out the best part—when they tied you to the little red wagon and brought you back home.”
Austin kicked snow at him as the group headed out. We watched them amble down the road, talking and laughing until they moved out of sight.
Once alone with Austin, I threw a snowball at the tree where Lorenzo had picked up the scent of another Shifter. “Do you think we should worry?”
Austin didn’t have on his coat, but he seemed impervious to the cold. He wrapped his arm around my waist and then lifted my legs off the ground, carrying me back to the cabin. “I think what you need to worry about is what I’m going to do to you on top of that kitchen table.”
Chapter 2
“Are you busy melting snow with all that body heat?” Naya asked, her voice sultry.
I let go of the baluster and switched the phone to my other ear. “It’s been a memorable trip.”
A memorable trip of not having sex with my own mate, I thought. Last night after Austin carried me inside, he wanted me to try on my new lingerie, but instead I washed the dishes, swept the floor, and did everything I could to tire myself out before bedtime. Technically, I wasn’t in heat yet, but what if my ovaries were already primed for pregnancy? Shifters didn’t have biology books, and I didn’t trust hearsay.
“Memorable isn’t the word I was hoping for,” she quipped.