Page 9 of Return to the Pack

“Most people think it’s nothing but an invasive weed, but actually, it’s pretty damn tasty,” he answers. “It can also be used as a pain reliever, but the kind of pain my brothers’ come home with, well… We generally need something stronger than Shepherd’s Needle.”

Yet again, he crouches and plucks a few handfuls. I root around in his pack and retrieve a small brown bag. Once I pull it free from the knapsack, I hand it to him over his shoulder, letting my arm brush against his neck.

He turns his head back and forth, rubbing against my arm. “You feel good. I love your soft skin.”

I’m instantly aroused, my knees pinching together to relieve the aching need building between them.

Callan stuffs the plant inside the sack and hands it back to me.

After placing it in his backpack, I let my hands caress his hips and tight butt. “You feel good, too.”

“Sweet Jesus, Luna. I’d hoped to get a few more plants picked before getting distracted.” Rising to stand, he turns and draws me to him. “It’s been hard to keep my hands off of you lately. You just grow more beautiful every day.” He presses his hands against the sides of my cheeks and lowers his mouth to mine.

His kiss is electric, sending tingles through my bloodstream. I shove my hand inside his shorts, pleased to feel the rigid heat throbbing into my palm.

“Oh, fuck, Luna,” Callan says, withdrawing his lips from mine.

The soft snap of a branch snags our attention.

We both pause and listen.

“It’s probably a deer or something,” Callan says, lowering his head to kiss me again.

His mouth is sweet and soft as he nibbles my lips.

A branch snaps closer to us.

We both still and lift our noses in the air, scenting to determine who’s out there.

It’s a wolf, but it doesn’t smell like any wolves we know.

“Shit,” we say at the same time, staring at one another.

Suddenly, Callan’s eyes go wide. “Run,” he yells.

But his words come too late, as an enormous half-crazed wolf tears from the woods and slams into me. He drags me to the ground and seizes my neck between his sharp fangs.

Callan shifts and is on him in a heartbeat, but even Callan looks diminutive next to this beast.

Stars appear before my eyes as Callan slams into the wolf, tearing him away from me. All I can hear are the snarls of two wolves—Callan’s and my enemy.

Finally, in a show of strength, Callan manages to rip the wolf’s head off. I bring my hand up to my own throat, and it comes back bloody.

Callan shifts back to human, then scoops me in his arms and races toward the house.

The other wolf lies still in the bog.

“Stay with me, Luna. It’s not too bad this time, you hear?” Callan chides as I bob up and down in his arms.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I say weakly.

“That’s right. You’re not going anywhere.” Callan sounds breathless as he powers us out of the woods and into the dirt driveway. He throws open the screen and races through the house to lay me on the bed in his room.

“Ever consider turning your room into the local medic clinic?” I weakly quip.

“Ha,” Callan says. “At least you have your sense of humor.”

He palpates my neck.