Marie Harte - Right Wolf, Right Time

Either way, Monty wasn’t going home tonight without Sophie.

Sophie settled next to Rafe in the crowded theater. There weren’t many seats available, but she and Rafe had been lucky enough to score some toward the middle, with the row behind them only half full. Darkness settled as the advertisements began, and the rest of the Ac-taw milling about took their seats.

Rafe held a box of popcorn out to her, but she was too jittery and nervous to eat, still unsure about him. The woman didn’t know what to make of him, but her wolf was warming to him by degrees. She sniffed and rubbed, constantly moving Sophie’s hands or shoulders to brush against him before Sophie could control herself.

“Sorry,” she repeated for the fifth time, hoping she didn’t look as embarrassed as she felt. Thank goodness for dimmed lighting.

“No problem. I like you touching me,” he rumbled, again inviting her to move closer. He entwined his hand with hers and held them over the arm of the seat—the lone barrier separating them. She thought she’d scented his arousal a time or two. But he’d laid his jacket over his lap, so she couldn’t tell if he truly desired her or just liked the contact.

Wolves needed touch. She’d always been a demonstrative person and now knew why. Her uncle and cousins had abhorred her affection, and she’d spent much of her youth alone and lonely while surrounded by family. Here, with people she was still getting to know, Ac-taw of all shapes and sizes greeted her with warmth. They touched, they shook hands and they hugged. The female cats and foxes in the pride were especially open with their affection, and she wondered again what they might think of her notion to join them.

Not that she minded the wolves, but her good friends lived together at the catamount ranch. They allowed anyone they liked to join the pride, and they seemed to like her. There she’d feel less burdened to mate. Julia had mentioned how the ranch suited her and her family, and how great it would be if Sophie joined them. There she might fit in being herself, with people who knew the real her.

“You okay? You’re awfully tense.” Rafe leaned closer as the previews ended and brushed his lips across her cheek. He whispered, “Want to go somewhere else for a while?”

He nipped her earlobe and she nearly shot out of her chair. A part of her liked the playful bite, but another part of her wanted to gouge out his eyes for attempting to mark her in any way.

He chuckled. “I knew you had a mean streak buried under all that nice. I like it.”

How did he know what she’d been thinking? Had he smelled her anger? Seen it in her eyes?

An oath sounded behind them, followed by a plaintive grumble. “Hey. I can’t see.”

Oh no. She knew that voice. A glance over her shoulder showed her Burke Chastell and Rachel, his mate, had taken the empty seats directly behind them. The two scowled at Rafe, then turned winsome smiles on Sophie. Their expressions were so in sync they made her laugh.

“Hey, Sophie. Nice to see you here.” Rachel glanced from her to Rafe and made a small O . “Sorry, Rafe. I thought you were someone else.”

“Really? Like who?”

“Ivan. But that can’t be right. He’s bald now, isn’t he?” Burke answered.

Rachel nodded. To her credit, she didn’t smile. “I heard that it’s taking a while for that ratty nest he called hair to grow back. But hey, the target on his head has faded.”

Rafe growled low, the vibrations a warning.

Burke chuckled. “Come off it. He had it coming to him. You don’t insult the pride’s females in front of pride members. That’d be like me telling everyone what a lapdog your albino wolf is. I mean, the last time we tangled, I threw Axel into the bushes and he scraped his head, then went whining back to you about how mean we are. But really, I was just playing. He looked big enough to handle the confrontation.”

Rafe turned fully around and glared. She could feel his anger like pinpricks against her skin. Odd. She’d never before felt his rage, though she’d smelled it. Her wolf didn’t like it, and she leaned away from him. Thankfully, the seat next to her remained empty.

“Look, Chastell. I don’t want to do this here with Sophie and your mate present. But anytime you want to play, you let me know. Name the place and time, and I’m there.”

Rachel grinned and poked her mate in the side. “I told you he wasn’t a wimp. And here you thought he’d be too afraid to meet you outside his territory.”

“Um, Rachel—” Sophie tried to diffuse the tension.

Then the sheriff interrupted from behind the Chastells. “Hey. Would you folks keep it down? The movie started, and I’m missing it. Shut up already.”

Burke muttered something under his breath that had Rachel laughing and Ty calling him a horse’s ass.

Rafe reluctantly turned back around. She saw claw marks against the wooden arm of the chair between them. “Sorry, Sophie.” He managed a grin. “You sure you want to see this?”

Stay here, where Burke would no doubt continue to screw with Rafe and annoy him to the point of violence, or leave and be with Rafe all by herself? She had no doubt he intended to take things a step further with her. Should she? She wanted to, badly. But she still hadn’t made her mind up about him. Maybe a kiss or two would help her. Not here, but in the privacy of her own home.

“Rafe, I—”

Burke swore and leaned forward again. “You tell that wolf behind me that if he kicks my seat one more time, I’m going to tear him a new one, Sheridan.”

Rafe snarled and turned around. He stood and grabbed Burke by the front of his shirt. A bad mistake. Burke retaliated by putting his large hand around Rafe’s neck.

“That’s it.” Sheriff Roderick said something in a low voice to the wolf, who sunk in his chair. Then the sheriff vaulted a row and appeared next to Burke. He urged both men to back away. With the limited space in the theater, he didn’t have much to work with. But miraculously, Burke left in a snit, Rachel following with a worried expression. She bumped into him when he stopped suddenly and turned to gather her to him, much to the annoyance of a group of raptors, whose feet he stepped on and whose view he blocked.

“I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to get out of control.” He rubbed her swollen belly, reminding one and all that pregnant females should never be in harm’s way.

“Hell,” Rafe muttered. In a louder voice, he apologized to Rachel. “Sorry, Rachel. Your mate is a pain in the ass, but I didn’t mean to get rough with you so close.”

“What the hell? Can we please see the movie?” A few golden eagles swore and one snapped, “Fucking cats.”

“Watch your mouth,” Rafe growled. “There are ladies present.”

The birds said something that sounded uncomplimentary, but they didn’t say anything else off-color.

“You know, if the bears were in charge, this wouldn’t be an issue,” a bear yelled from the front. “Quit catering to the cats, Roderick.”

“Run for sheriff come January, Marcus,” Ty yelled back. “Everyone else who wants to add their two cents, don’t. Shut up and watch the friggin’ movie.” To Burke and Rachel, he warned, “You’re banned from the movies for a month.”

“Rafe,” Rachel whined.

“Both of you. I heard what you said to Rafe, Rachel. No point denying it. You’re trying to stir trouble. And don’t even think that cute face or baby belly is going to save you. Out .”

The cats slunk out of the theater. Sophie stared wide-eyed at Ty. He’d rarely used that voice, and never at his pride leader, that she knew of. According to Julia, he and Burke were friends. What would tonight mean for the pride? Would Ty be in trouble for showing Burke and Rachel the door? Would Julia be in trouble because of her mate’s actions? Speaking of which… She didn’t see Julia with him. What was he doing at the movies without his mate? The pair were inseparable unless Ty was on duty.