Right Wolf, Right Time

Chapter Two

Monty spent the next two days cursing his idiocy. Sophie had been so sweet sitting on that couch. He’d smelled her need. For the first time, he’d been close to claiming her, and she’d been receptive. No trace of fear. Maybe a little nervousness, but she’d been hot for him.

But had he made his move? No. Worried she might freak if he pounced the way he wanted to, he’d watched a fucking sitcom, made small talk—small talk—and left with a dessert he should have been eating off her navel.

He groaned to himself and rerouted the Gandersons around a fallen tree. “This way, folks. I’m going to show you to your campsite. I’ll be back to collect you in a week.”

The Gandersons, an extended family out for a fun gathering, nodded and thanked him. They would spend a week roughing it at one of Chastell Tours’ nicer camping spots.

He left the family and walked a mile or so before ditching his clothes by a familiar storage area, where he bagged his things and hid them under a rock that made a perfect hideaway. He keyed his radio. “Dean? You there?”

“No, it’s me.” Grady. “Go ahead, wolfie. Or should I say Scooby?”

Monty gritted his teeth while the moron snickered. “Dumbass. I’m letting you know I’m done with the Gandersons. I’m roaming for a few days. I’ll be back Wednesday. I’m not taking my radio, so you’ve got the group at the Vista site.”

“Roger that. Have a nice run. I’ll keep an eye out for those wolves circling Sophie.”

“Yeah, you do that.”

Grady continued to poke at him, not realizing how hard it was for Monty to give Sophie the distance she needed. But now that the order was taking a keen interest in her, Monty thought he might have to speed things up a bit. Dinner at her place had been great. Maybe he’d try a night out on the town, to show others she belonged to him. It was a big step, but he didn’t think a simple date would freak her out too much.

And hell, he’d make sure to move the rest of their get-togethers to public places. He’d been a heartbeat from throwing her down and fucking her in her doorway. That kiss to her forehead had been crazy sexy. A simple, harmless kiss, and he’d raced home and jerked off twice before he could relax enough to sleep.

Sophie’s well-being came first with him. Or it had, until this clusterfuck. A week ago, Hunters had kidnapped Dean and his mate and nearly killed them. On the order’s territory. The gray wolves hadn’t had any luck finding the Hunters yet. But Monty knew one of the Hunters—the one he sought—wouldn’t have gone far.

Trying to find that sadistic asshole sucked up his free time when he should have been putting the full-court press on Sophie. He couldn’t tell the others why he really hunted the man, or that he still believed Ted Norris was in the vicinity. The psychopath and Monty shared a history, one he didn’t want anyone to know about. The shame of his time in captivity burned like acid in his gut, and he wanted nothing more than to bury the feeling…right alongside Norris’s dead body.

With a snarl, Monty shifted into his wolf and darted into the forest, his nose to the ground as he moved. The feel of fur and claws and fangs reassured him. He relished the thick earth under his paws, the soft moss that tickled his whiskers and the pungent aroma of deer musk covering a nearby patch of bushes. No human scent remained other than what clung to Monty from Lou Ganderson’s handshake.

He continued to jog, settling into the rhythm nature had intended—the predator merged with the forest, seeking out prey.

Ted Norris was a big man, still muscular despite more than five decades of life no doubt spent brutalizing Ac-taw. He had a quickness and strength that surpassed a normal human’s, but his mass would ensure he left footprints in the soil. He’d never had much of a scent, just an odd staleness tinged with the rot of evil. Monty would know him anywhere. If only he could get a bead on the prick.

The thought of Norris anywhere near Sophie put his hackles up, and he shared his wolf’s angry growl as he wandered through the wilderness.

Three days later, just as he finished covering the northeastern quadrant of his latest foray, a familiar—and unwelcome—scent struck. He quickly lifted his head and relaxed, wanting to appear normal. Well, as normal as Monty ever looked.

“Well, well. If it isn’t our favorite outcast.” A large, white wolf grinned at him. Axel Jagerson communicated in the way of the Ac-taw, using a telepathic connection that existed between Shifters with close ties, or in close proximity.

He typically ignored the pack, but Axel wasn’t a wolf to ignore. The big bastard had to be the largest wolf Monty had ever seen. And the alpha at his side, though a smaller giant, commanded attention just by breathing. Rafe Sheridan had an aura and energy that screamed leader.

Too bad Monty had never been content to follow.

“Monty. Out again, eh?” Rafe’s golden eyes narrowed. “Find anything interesting?”

The wolves had been extra sharp with their patrols, trying to rout the Hunters they hadn’t already disposed of last week. The men who liked to hunt Ac-taw were a savvy enemy, but nothing a pack of wolves couldn’t put down. Usually. Except they didn’t know what Ted Norris could do. Not like Monty did.

“Not yet.”

“Keep looking.”

“Um, yeah. That’s what you asked me to do.” More like told him to do, but Monty only followed Burke’s orders, because he respected and loved his best friend and pride leader. Rafe annoyed the shit out of him with all that posturing and alpha crap.

Axel growled. “What do you think you’ll find that we haven’t? It’s been over a week. We’ve seen no sign of them. I’ve smelled nothing out of the ordinary.”

“Surprised you can smell anything with your nose buried so far up Rafe’s ass.”

Axel lunged and Monty dodged out of the way with a playful bark.

“Dickhead.” Axel showed his teeth.

“Calm down.” Rafe grinned. He never seemed anything but amused by Monty’s resistance. “After all, we have Monty to thank. His persistence out here is keeping the town safe. And it’s good when our people feel safe. Makes them happy. Makes me happy.”

Rafe and Axel shared a look. When Axel chuckled, Monty’s hackles raised. One of the few blond wolves in the order, Rafe’s beta pissed him off only slightly less than Rafe did. Just Monty’s luck the pair had decided to hunt in this particular area today. But at least that meant Sophie wasn’t being bothered by the obnoxious males.

“Glad you’re giddy with joy. I’m busy.” He started to go around the pair and stopped. “What the hell are you up to?” he asked Rafe.

“Nothing. Just going hunting with my beta. Keeping in shape and staying strong.”

Axel laughed again and sat on his haunches. He looked like three fucking wolves all shoved into one great white pelt. “Yeah. Gotta keep fit for his date tomorrow night.”

Rafe nodded. “A pretty little she-wolf I’ve been keeping my eye on.”

Monty’s swallowed hard, hoping against hope he assumed incorrectly. “Sophie’s going out with you?”

“Yep. It’s time I took a mate. Not too many she-wolves around. Not ones that aren’t feral, anyway.” They all grimaced at the thought of the many Ac-taw living as animals in Glacier National Forest. Rafe’s battle to lead the gray wolves had ended with him as alpha, but he had a long way to go before stabilizing the order. The few civilized wolves in town were a far cry from the wild ones roaming the mountains.

“I thought a bunch of females were migrating up from the South. Evening out our numbers.” No way had Sophie agreed to a date with Rafe. She barely tolerated Monty without flinching.

Rafe shrugged. “I won’t chance female lives until it’s safe for them to be here. They aren’t coming until the order’s cohesive.”

“Cohesive means together. A unit.” Axel spoke slowly.

“Please. You’re educating me?” What was it with people always trying to explain large words to him? He didn’t think it was funny when his pridemates did it, and Axel, even less. He turned back to Rafe. “Sophie’s mine. You can’t have her.” There. He’d said it. A verbal claim of intent.

Rafe sniffed. “I don’t smell a mating or her scent anywhere on you. And she doesn’t seem to know she’s yours.”

“We just had dinner Friday night.”

“If it went that well, why did she agree to a date with me?”

Monty couldn’t answer that and frankly didn’t care. “The point is, she’s mine.”

“When she says it, I’ll believe it. Until then, happy hunting. Come on, Axel. Let’s leave Monty to his delusions.”

With all politeness, Axel explained, “Delusions are false beliefs held with absolute conviction, and normally pathological in nature. Meaning you have a mental illness. Or, so you can understand, you’re fucking crazy.”

Monty roared and attacked the bigger male, uncaring that he’d no doubt lose to the giant wolf. While Axel played with him, Rafe sat by wearing a large smile and watched.

Half an hour later, Monty limped through the woods, cursing the gray order left and right. He possessed a quick wit, fast reflexes and the ability to withstand a good pounding. He’d taken more than his share of licks over the years and had the scars to prove it. But Christ, he’d never beaten Axel in a fight, fair or otherwise. No one had. Rafe had a good wolf at his back. Now if he could just keep the rest of the wild wolves in line, the order might amount to more than a group of hairy thugs who killed Hunters and terrified the townspeople.

He groaned and cursed Rafe again. Truth to tell, Sheridan wasn’t a bad guy, but no way in hell would he treat Sophie the way she deserved. Sheridan would run rings around her. It was obvious he’d overwhelm her. Delicate Sophie needed a man who could appreciate her strengths and support her weaknesses.

And just like that, he understood why she’d agreed to go out with the alpha. Of course. She’d been afraid to say no to Rafe. Her alpha requested her time, and like a good wolf, she agreed.

Or she’d finally gotten over her fear of Ac-taw men. Her response to Monty the other night might not have been for him specifically, but for any available male wolf. Hell. Was she going into heat?

Frantic to get back and put his claim on her before anyone else could, he turned and started to head back when he caught a rotting stench light on the wind. Norris. He had to follow it, had to see if it would lead him to his adversary. But that might mean days of tracking, preparation, the possibility of injury, even death.

Sophie would be fair game tomorrow night.

His enemy or his mate?

Grumbling under his breath, he shifted to human and back again to speed his healing. It was chancy, since so much shifting tired him out, but at least he could move whole and hearty. Then he hurried after Norris’s scent. He’d get as close as he could without engaging, then head back to town. He had a date to stop and a woman to pursue. Sophie had to be ready for him, because they’d both run out of time. An alpha with mating on his mind always made for complications. And this particular alpha planned on mating Monty’s girl.

Thursday afternoon, Sophie cupped the hot cup of coffee in her hands as she sat with Gabby and Julia at the catamount ranch. Gabby’s cabin was a cute little place devoid of clutter. So homey and comfortable, unlike the old house Sophie lived in.

“Are you sure a man lives here with you?” she teased.

Gabby eyes lit with mischief, the fox and cat spirits within her clear to see. “I only had to threaten to throw out his favorite boots after tripping over them four times. Voila! They’re either in the closet or on his feet.”

“Nice.” Julia nodded. The sisters looked alike, despite Julia’s bigger baby belly and more petite frame. Their fiery red hair lent itself to a beautiful reddish coat when they took their animal forms. “Ty is kind of a slob, but only in the bedroom.”

“Is that a euphemism for something I don’t want to know about?” Gabby cringed.

Julia blushed. “No, you idiot. He leaves his dirty clothes on the floor. I cannot get that man to use a hamper.”

“Oh. Good. I worried you wanted to share again. It was all well and good until you married him. Now it’s just weird.” Gabby grimaced. “Ty is cute and all, but really, he’s going to be the father of my niece.”

“Nephew. Shut up.” Julia laughed. “Sophie doesn’t mind a little frank talk, do you?”

Considering Julia had gotten her hooked on her late-night hobby, she had to answer, “No.” She wanted to share in their laughter, but nerves stopped her. She fidgeted, wondering how to tell her friends what she’d done.

“Honey, what’s wrong?” Julia leaned closer.

Sophie had to talk or she’d explode. “I have a date tonight.”

Gabby patted her shoulder. “Way to go. It took a while, but Monty finally saw the light. About time.”

“With Rafe Sheridan.”

The sisters froze.

“What’s that?” Julia asked.

Sophie groaned. “I didn’t mean to. He saw me in town and cornered me. Before I knew it, I was agreeing to a date with the alpha.” She shivered. “He’s really powerful. All that energy practically sizzles when he’s close.”

Gabby gasped. “Did he threaten you into it?”

“No, no. Nothing like that. Rafe is actually a really nice man. Like Theo.”

“Theo?”

“His brother.” Seeing their confusion, she added, “Oh right. You guys don’t hang around the order much.”

Julia shook her head. “No one does. When Dylan was in charge, chaos reigned. It was like a zoo up there, except no gamekeepers. Gerald had more work bailing wolves out of jail than we knew what to do with.” Gerald, a silver fox, was also one of the premier lawyers in town, and Julia’s boss. “I’m telling you, Ac-taw and humans alike went missing in those woods. Ty looked into it but could never prove Dylan’s Dogs, as Dylan like to call his hit squad, were guilty.”

“Then Rafe battled for leadership and won. Ever since he’s been in charge, things have been quieter.” Gabby gave a lusty sigh. “You have to admit, Rafe is hot.”

“Gabby.” Julia frowned.

“Hey, I’m mated, not dead. Of course, Monty’s much better-looking. He’s part of the pride, so I’m biased.” Gabby winked. “Besides, he’s had a thing for Soph forever.”

“He has not.” Sophie blushed. “He’s always been nice, but at dinner Friday night, he couldn’t sit far enough away from me. I thought maybe something would happen between us, and then Grady and Dean showed up singing ‘Scooby Doo.’ It went downhill from there.”

Julia choked on her water.

Gabby scowled. “I told Grady to make sure Dean left you alone. Then he went over there too?”

“Not that it mattered. It wasn’t like Monty did anything more than kiss my forehead. Oh, and he helped make salad and tried to do my dishes. He’s a nice guy.”

“Ouch. Nice. That hurts.” Julia flinched. “But maybe he didn’t know you were interested.”

“He had to know.” Sophie had been eager, aroused and ready for him. She swore he’d scented her need a few times that night. She’d seen the hunger in his eyes. Or had she just imagined what she wanted to see? “He never acted on it. And he hasn’t called since our date. That was nearly a week ago. Even though I wasn’t sure about it, I think tonight will be good for me. Rafe won’t push. I can trust him.” Or so she kept telling herself.

Overwhelming and powerful, Rafe Sheridan could crush her easily. But from all she’d seen and heard about the man, he protected those under his charge. Since she’d recently joined the order, he’d been nothing but polite and courteous. But his eyes didn’t lie. The man wanted her. The question then became, did she want him back?

“If you trust him, I trust him.” Julia lent her support, as always. “Besides, if he steps wrong, Ty will take care of him. Alpha or not, Rafe can’t avoid my mate. Ty’s the law.”

Gabby snorted. “Smug much? Just remember—your husband may be the sheriff, but he’s not the boss of me. Bad enough he tried to protect me from my own mate, but now that I’m expecting, he’s as bad as Grady.”

“What can I say? Ty’s like a sow with her cubs when it comes to kits.” Julia smiled, and Sophie envied her friend the love she shared with her mate. “But Sophie…”

The sisters regarded her with twin expressions of concern.

“Are you sure you want to go out with Rafe?” Gabby asked.

No. “Yes. If Monty doesn’t want me, at least Rafe does. And he’s nice enough that I could…” She paused, needing to share with her best friends but not sure they would understand.

“What, Soph?” Julia touched her hand and smiled kindly. “Tell us.”

Her friends. Women who’d seen danger and heartache. Ac-taw who had survived and helped her because they liked her. Because they accepted her for who she was. Her friends meant the world to her, and she needed their opinion. Badly.

“I’m tired of waiting,” she blurted.

“Waiting?” Gabby asked.

“For sex. I want to be with a man.” There. She’d said it.

Gabby stared. “Are you telling me you’re a virgin?”

“Why not yell it to the world?” Julia muttered. “Think about it, Gabby. Sophie was raised not knowing she was Ac-taw. She didn’t want men, not after being around her family.”

Julia knew some, but not all, of Sophie’s past. Sophie had skimmed over much, saying only that she’d come from an abusive home life. Theo, bless him, had promised not to share what he knew with anyone. Not the council, not the sheriff, not even Rafe.

“True. But you’ve been here more than two years.” Gabby looked amazed. “No one in all that time?”

“No.”

“And you’re what? Twenty-five?”

“Twenty-six,” Sophie corrected. “I have needs. Not to be too graphic, but both of you are pregnant, so you obviously know what I’m talking about.”

They nodded.

“Lately, I feel urges. I know actual wolves and Ac-taw aren’t the same. Wolves go into heat in late winter, once a year.” It was so embarrassing to talk about this, but freeing as well. Her friends wouldn’t judge, and they had a lot of information she needed to know but was afraid to ask others. “But this last year, I’ve felt this intense need every few months. Does that mean I’ll only want to have sex a few times a year?” Because lately, she’d really wanted to have sex with Monty. She thought about it a lot. Too much.

“I don’t think so.” Julia paused. “I’m not a wolf, but I do know we Shifters are alike. Our animals may be different, but our basic physiology is the same. It sounds like you’re going into heat once every few months. That’s when you’re most likely to get pregnant.”

“But you can have sex whenever you want it.” Gabby amended, “Or whenever you nab a wolf inclined to meet you halfway. Monty’s an idiot.”

“Rafe isn’t.” Julia’s gaze narrowed. “He might know you’re in heat, Sophie. You need to be careful around him. Unless you want to mate the alpha and have a few kids? You did say he’s a nice guy. He’s certainly attractive, in a wolfish kind of way.”

“No.” She cleared her throat. “I mean, sure, he’s handsome. But I’m not ready for permanence. I’m still getting a handle on shifting and being wolf. No mating, not yet.” At least, not with Rafe. Maybe she could wrap her mind around sex with a male other than Monty, though. He’d been the star of her fantasies for so long, she’d probably talked herself into deeper feelings for the male. “I’m just confused. I really thought Monty liked me.”

Gabby nodded. “He does.”

“Does he?” Julia asked. “He’s had plenty of time to ask her out since she’s been here. Granted, her first few months she acted like a scared rabbit if a man walked too close.”

“Thanks,” Sophie said drily.

“But it’s been two years already. One date in all that time? And then he has her alone in her house, and the best he can come up with is a kiss on the forehead after a rousing night of TV?”

“We watched Seinfeld,” Sophie elaborated, feeling miserable. “I wanted him. A lot.” She started to get mad, which surprised her. “A lot of desire for that gray wolf. In return, he teased and joked and kissed my freakin’ forehead.” Sophie took a grip on her rage and slowly, patiently dispersed the feeling of animal anger building within. She didn’t do well with rage. Her temper had a habit of spiraling out of control, and it made her feel like she belonged with the family she’d left long ago.

She took a deep breath and let it out before continuing, “I don’t want to lose Monty’s friendship. He’s been good to me. He defended me from those bears horsing around in the grocery. Remember that?”

“Oh yeah, a few months ago, when you broke your arm.” Julia nodded.

“Monty went to jail for me. He threw those bears out of the store and helped me. And he’s always been there to lend a hand or a smile. It’s not his fault he’s not interested.” She blinked to hold back tears. “But I can’t wait anymore. I’m twenty-six. I’m Ac-taw. I’m wolf.” Saying it empowered her. “I’m a virgin who doesn’t want to be one anymore. I have a date with a handsome, sexy wolf tonight. Dinner and a movie.”

“And maybe some fun after.” Gabby nodded. “You don’t have to have sex to play, you know. Why not? Try him out. Hell, maybe if Monty realizes you’re not going to sit around waiting for him, he’ll get off his ass and do something about it,” she ended in a louder voice.

Sophie blinked. “Why are you shouting?”

“Because I’m tired of moronic men.” Gabby took a sip of lemonade and slammed it on the table. “Now let’s talk about something else. Something much more interesting than wolves. No offense, Sophie.”

“None taken.” Sophie grinned. Her friends stood by her. They didn’t judge, didn’t make fun, and empathized. Relief eased the tension in her body, and she eagerly listened as Gabby practically bounced in her seat with excitement.

“Did you guys hear about the fight in the diner yesterday?”

“Who now?” Julia sighed.

“A few silver foxes took exception to raptors dating members of the clan.”

“Really?”

Sophie found the silver foxes’ passion fascinating. She had a hard time imagining men fighting over her. Quiet little Sophie. Sure, the wolves in town liked the look of her, but none of them really wanted her. They just desired a wolf to mate. “Men fighting over women. Typical.”

“Not the men, the women.” Gabby grinned. “Those silver fox bitches are pissed that Gerald, who’s one of the finest single foxes around, has been dating a few birds. The purists in the clan can’t handle it.” She snickered. Since she’d been ousted from her old clan for being a hybrid fox/cat, she had a right to be annoyed.

“So who started it?” Sophie wanted to know.

A noise outside diverted her attention, but before she could investigate, Gabby launched into some entertaining gossip. Sophie sat enthralled, listening to tales of women with bigger problems than her own. She might be a virgin, but she had her dignity. Her frustrated, lonely, heartsick dignity.

“Holy shit. We have to tell Monty,” Grady said in a low voice as soon as he and Ty were out of earshot of the cabin. He knew Gabby had scented him. Since becoming pregnant, her sense of smell was off the charts. She hadn’t needed to yell about Monty’s idiocy, though. He totally knew his friend had been fucking up with Sophie, but not to this extent.

“No way am I getting in the middle of this.” Ty shook his head and tried to pull out of Grady’s grasp. “Let go, cat.”

“Come on, Sheriff. You’ve got to have something to nail Sheridan on. The mangy wolf is always causing trouble.”

Ty sighed. “Actually, it’s Dean and Monty causing most of the trouble.”

“Bullshit. The gray wolves started it.”

Ty cocked his hat back. “I don’t give a shit who started it. All I know is every time I need to clean up some mess involving the wolves, Dean and Monty aren’t too far off. The wolves end up smelling like roses while our pridemates look guiltier than sin. I mean, damn. Can’t Dean at least try to not get caught? I thought he was smarter than that. Monty, I’m not so sure about. I think he’s one wolf born for trouble.”

“Yeah.” Grady growled low. “But he’s family—pride. No way in hell does it sit right some shaggy dog gets my buddy’s girl. Monty’s into Sophie, big time. If you won’t help—”

“Nothing legally I can do.”

“Then I’ll grab Dean and Burke. Between the three of us, we’ll come up with something.”

“God help us. Cats plotting without a fox’s brain to back them up.” Ty looked up at the sky and groaned. “Oh hell, wait up. I’m coming with you.”