Vivian Arend - Wolf Tracks

“Hey, give me a second.” Shaun twisted in his seat to face TJ. “You know what? I think they’re going to be very surprised when they meet you, your brother and the rest of them. You’ve changed. Something happened to you and you’re more than the wolf I dropped off a week ago.”

TJ frowned. “What do you mean?”

Shaun shook his head. “Not sure, but let’s put it this way, I doubt I could order you to do anything for me anymore.”

Fuck . “Really?”

“Really.” Shaun winked at him and turned back to his instrument panel. “Now get out of here, your mate is waiting for you.”

TJ joined Pam on the tarmac and they shouldered their packs, heading toward the van. TJ’s mind spun. Shaun couldn’t order him around? Shaun had always outranked him—heck most wolves seemed to outrank him. Not that they made a big deal of it, but usually he was “the younger brother of the Alpha” and otherwise not very interesting to most of the pack.

Tad stepped from the van and popped the hatch. Then he stood back and looked them up and down while they piled their backpacks into the vehicle. His wry smile was somewhat reassuring.

“Welcome back. And welcome to the pack, Pam. Congratulations on your mating.”

Pam tugged on TJ’s sleeve. “Everyone knows on sight we’re mates. This is going to take some serious getting used to.”

TJ opened the passenger door for her and helped her in. “I said there were things that were hard to explain—you kind of have to experience them to understand.” He scooted into the backseat.

She turned to answer Tad who had crawled behind the wheel. “Thanks. You’ll have to warn me if I do something wrong. You’re the pack…Omega, right?”

Tad nodded. “TJ explained a little about how wolves operate?”

“Yeah, he explained a lot. That doesn’t mean much until I see it in motion. Bottom line, I didn’t plan on joining any country clubs, I just…”

“We just want to be together.” TJ eased forward between the seats, laying a hand on Pam’s arm.

“Well, together is great and all that, but I hope you’re ready to face the music. Robyn’s been walking around all week like a thunderstorm ready to happen, and Keil got back half an hour ago and he’s brewing up a storm as well. Missy is trying to settle them both down before we arrive, but we’ll see how well it works.”

“They’ll have to get over it.” The words were braver spoken than the pit in his stomach acknowledged. Pam glanced over her shoulder and a breeze-like sensation brushed him. She pictured them sitting together, him making music, her admiring the scenery. She gave her calm to him and he pulled her fingers to his lips. He kissed them softly then whispered, “Cool trick.”

She grinned. “I think I’m getting the hang of this.”

Tad hmmed. “This is very interesting. I can read you, TJ, like I normally can, but Pam—it’s like she’s wolf and yet not. I had no idea you were able to share emotions in a mating between humans and wolves.”

“But you haven’t been a full wolf for long, have you?” Pam asked.

“No. Still, at the core what I do sense from you two is that you belong together, and you’re good for each other. But that’s my interpretation, and it’s not my place to make decisions about your life for you.”

“Damn straight,” Pam muttered.

TJ laughed. “Speak up now, Pam, tell us how you really feel.”

Tad smiled. “So, what have you decided?”

She dragged aside the collar of her T-shirt to reveal the mark TJ had left when he bit her. The wound had healed way faster than they’d expected—some kind of wolfie magic.

Tad nodded. “Well, that’s pretty cut and dried. You know, it’s kind of interesting not being able to read you the same way I can read the rest of the pack. I think you’re going to be good for us all.”

He turned down the long, narrow driveway that led to the cluster of homes built against the trees on the outskirts of Haines. He pulled up in front of an older log house, a wide veranda running the length of the building. TJ scrambled out to join Pam. A tricycle with pink streamers sat in the middle of the walkway, and Tad pushed it to the side as they approached the front doors.

TJ grasped Pam’s hand in his, locking fingers.

“I feel like we should be offered a last meal or something.” Pam hummed part of the funeral dirge and TJ laughed.

Tad frowned at them. “What song was that?”

Pam rolled her eyes and glared at TJ. “See, I told you I couldn’t sing. So much for your lessons that night at the cabin.”

TJ shrugged. “I’m your mate, I’m not a miracle worker.”

She growled and swung at him. He caught the blow and pulled her against him, capturing her lips. She tasted like sunshine and sex, and if he didn’t need to go see what Keil and Robyn had planned as retribution, he would pick her up and go hide in the woods for a few hours.

Or a few days. He was easy.

She kissed him back, her fingers lacing through his hair. He loved the way her tongue took control, exploring and teasing until all his body heard the wake-up call. She moved closer, her soft skin and strong muscles matching him perfectly. Especially when he reached down and cupped her butt, dragging her tighter against him and—

“TJ, Pam. So glad you could drop in.” Keil’s deep voice cut through the sexual fog and they wrenched apart. His brother spun on his heel and entered the house, leaving the door open behind him.

Pam’s cheeks were flushed, but she lifted her chin high and stepped forward by his side.

“He’s not really a jerk. I mean, sometimes he is, but usually he’s a pretty good guy. Really.” Although it appeared this might be one of the “jerk” days.

Pam snorted. “Don’t worry about me, I have a feeling it’s your ass he wants in a sling.”

TJ nodded slowly. “Well, there is that.”

They entered the main room and TJ counted heads. Keil and Robyn, Tad and Missy. A number of other high-level wolves were in attendance, but on the whole it seemed like a pretty friendly gathering.

Well, friendly except for Robyn, who gave him the evil eye as she leaned against the far wall. Keil stood at the foot of the staircase, arms crossed in front of his chest like a freaking bulldozer, ready to crush him underfoot.

Complete confidence held TJ up. Beside him stood his mate, her amusement at the situation flowing to him and calming his concerns. Heck, if she wasn’t worried, why should he be? These were his family and friends. There was nothing they would do to him that wasn’t done out of love.

“Umm, hi, everyone. You all met Pam at the wedding, but I’d like to introduce her again. It’s official, she’s accepted me as her mate.”

Like that was a surprise to anyone with a nose, but he figured for Pam’s sake he should say it, before some wiseass decided to ask how in the world they had managed to get as sex-scented as they were. It wasn’t his fault they took that final shower together. It had been all her idea.

Keil moved closer, towering over him.

“Don’t you ever pull such a harebrained stunt again. What the hell were you thinking?” he roared.

TJ opened his mouth to respond when Pam stepped between them. She pasted her fists on her hips and glared up at Keil. “Don’t you shout at him. He’s already apologized to me and I’m the only one he needs to worry about.”

Holy shit. Keil’s jaw nearly hit the floor. Off to the side Tad stared at the ceiling, biting his lip. TJ watched closely and he would have sworn Tad was laughing.

Keil cleared his throat and glanced around the room sheepishly. When he spoke again, he turned down the volume and spoke more respectfully. “I’m sorry, you’re right. There’s no need for me to raise my voice. I’m not talking about you and him right now. I’m talking about him not leaving word of where he had arranged to take you, or having a backup plan to contact help if you got in trouble. He knows that’s not proper procedure in terms of safety in the wilderness.”