He’d been attracted to Margery from the moment he saw her.
Even worse, when he saw Tynan kissing her, his first reaction had been an almost uncontrollable urge to join his brother. To share her with his littermate.
“All right.” Tynan’s expression darkened. “However, I don’t feel the same. As it happens, I like females. Especially this one.”
“Your choice, brawd.” The distance between them seemed to be growing. “Not a problem.”
Tynan crossed his arms over his chest, a cop behavior that Donal disliked. “The problem arises when you make the little wolf feel as if she isn’t welcome.”
Donal opened his mouth—and Tynan didn’t wait.
“No, let me be clearer. You were rude to a female who grew up under verbal and physical abuse. A female who is trying to find her place in the Daonain world—and doesn’t need someone destroying the trail in front of her.”
Guilt swept over Donal. Fuck, he had done exactly that. “You’re right.” He pulled in a breath. Perhaps it was time he looked at her more carefully. “You’re right, and I was wrong. I’ll be polite. And welcoming when she’s in our home.”
Tynan nodded. “Thank you.”
As Donal watched his brother walk out of the clinic, the distance between them seemed to stretch into infinity.
Chapter Ten
Cold Creek, North Cascades Territory - first quarter moon
Over a week later, on a sunny Saturday, Tynan strolled down Cumberland Street toward Main Street, planning to visit the Wild Hunt for a brew.
Near the intersection of Main Street, a pup ran past, screaming happily, followed by an exasperated mother who trailed him into the city park.
More shouting came from the depths of the long rectangular park that ran along the slope behind the north side of the stores on Main Street.
Curious, Tynan wandered a few feet in, past the screen of brush and trees.
Ah. The playground held a batch of wolfpack cubs. And one non-pack child. Minette was a daughter of werecat Ryder, the cahir grizzly Ben, and Emma the bard. Over the winter, Tynan had come to know them well. Since the bard taught the Daonain preschoolers, the pack often gave her a break by watching over Minette.
In the pack, single wolves often cub-sat. Mothers got a break; pups were socialized. Wolves learned what was important in life.
Today, Nia, Lacey, and Bonnie were sitting near the climbing web. At the top of the dome structure, little Tyler shrieked his victory. His littermate headed up the thick spider web ropes toward him. Minette happily dangled from one of the bars. Two more cubs were on the swings.
Bonnie, the weekday dispatcher for the sheriff’s office, spotted Tynan and waved. Hard to believe the soft-voice petite blonde had birthed such noisy, mischievous cubs as Tyler and Luke.
Tynan waved back and continued, smiling. Cold Creek reminded him of the village in Ireland where he’d fostered as a teen.
So different from Seattle. Here, he recognized almost everyone, knew which cubs belonged with which adults.
Even the gossip was entertaining.
When he’d stopped in the bookstore for a coffee, Thorson had shared that last night, a drunken Peterson had treated the tavern to his infamous top-of-the-bar dancing.
That’d teach Calum to let Rosie handle the place for a night.
Tynan snorted. By the Gods, he loved living here. And living with his littermate.
And seeing Meggie. She was coming to be…more…than he’d expected.
Mornings, he’d have breakfast at the diner so he could enjoy watching her work. The sociable female already knew the names and favorite foods of the regulars.
It’d been two weeks since her first mentoring run with him, and he’d continued teaching her. Her delight in being a wolf reminded him of the wonders of having fur and paws.
Unfortunately, the cooking lesson nine days past hadn’t led to more. Despite her brave words, Donal’s disapproval had shaken her.
Tynan rubbed his neck. There was nothing he wanted so much as to share Meggie with his littermate, but that was going to be fecking difficult.
Donal had been as good as his word and was polite to Meggie, but he was spending more time in his clinic and dodging Tynan. It was time to corner the elusive cat and have another talk.
Discussions about emotions? Not a prey Tynan wanted to chase, but it needed to be done.
He was partway down Main Street when a scream cut through the air.
He spun. That was a woman, not a cub. The screams that followed—from both women and children—were laden with terror.
Get backup. Yanking his phone out and calling, Tynan sprinted toward the park.