Dark Heart Wolf - Haley Weir Page 0,26

nervously on her bottom lip.

Sam hadn’t read the journal, for he didn’t care to know what the mindless musings of his bloodlines were. They were horrible men who had committed acts so vile that they deserved no recognition, in his opinion. But Boone nodded his head slowly and accepted the book from his wife. "That was Itsá's sister. She died before he became shaman. Settlers killed her because they suspected she was a witch."

"Anyone else startin' to see a pattern here?" Sam scoffed. "I'd wager we need Charlotte to cast some of her power onto a few rifles to level the battlefield a little bit more."

"How can Charlotte help if she is not part of a tribe?"

Wesley gestured to himself. "Look at the four of us," he said. "None of us really look native, but we've got the blood in our veins. Perhaps Charlotte is the same."

Sam felt Mary Ann shift uncomfortably. He didn't know if it was the idea of magic that made her uneasy or the thought of using Charlotte to make weapons. He looked over at her. Though Mary Ann was taller and her curves were more pronounced than the other women, Sam saw both her fragility and her strength. He had seen her heart and tasted her tears.

"This still doesn't solve our problem." Beth stood up. "Charlotte needs to come back, and I don't think she will so long as Wesley don't apologize to her."

Just then, Sam felt unfamiliar energy...an unmatched power step onto their land. He glanced over at Jesse as the other cowboy moved away from the window. He stumbled back and looked at Wesley with pure shock written on his face. “Charlotte just rode into the stables with Itsá and another Apache man. I’ve never seen him before, but I think we better be prepared just in case.”

“Charlotte would not do anything to put the ranch in danger,” Wesley snapped.

“That ain’t the tune you were singing a few days ago, partner.” Jesse quirked his brow at Wesley. “We need to be prepared if she ain’t in control of herself. As much as Itsá has helped us over the years, he has a cunning way about him that I don’t quite trust just yet.”

Sam stood up and moved over to the door. He pushed it open and stared out into the darkness until his gaze stopped on the three figures that stood beneath the lantern light that hung outside the stables. "The other male is a shifter. Nothin' I've come across around here before."

Boone stood up and grabbed a lantern from the table. He walked out the back door and ran over to the stables. Sam balked as his older brother pulled Charlotte into a firm embrace. It wasn't long before the others raced out to the stables to greet their friend. Sam followed Mary Ann and hung back while she hugged Charlotte too. "Glad to have you back, Charlotte," Sam grumbled.

"You too, Cassady." The way she looked at him was different. As if he were a puzzle she could not figure out. The Charlotte that left the ranch as a broken woman was nowhere in sight. Instead, there was a warrior standing in her place. Wesley seemed oblivious to the changes in his mate...he and Charlotte were married. Boone had also married his mate. Sam peeked out the corner of his eye at Mary.

She wiped a few tears from her eyes, and the world faded. Sam didn't notice when the others went inside. He saw nothing but the way the amber light of the lamp illuminated Mary Ann's face. Flecks of snow clung to her eyelashes. The rosy blush on her cheeks made him feel breathless. Is this love? He wondered. Sam gravitated towards his mate and dipped his head. She met his lips in a warm, gentle kiss that was far more potent than any liquor at the saloon.

"How do you do it, Mary?" Sam asked as he pulled away. His forehead rested against hers. Their breath mingled in a beautiful swirl of smoke.

"How do I do what?"

Her plump, kiss-swollen lips were the greatest temptation. "One kiss from you and my demons don't seem so loud in the darkness. You bring me peace, Mary."

The smile that formed upon those lips he adored so much stole what was left of the air in his lungs. "Let's go inside a moment. Someone might come lookin' for us if we don't hurry." She stole one last kiss and ran for the door. Sam gave chase,