Then she’d turn around and do something so caring that his chest ached. And he’d kiss her and end up with aching balls the remainder of the night because she made him so hard that even a cat’s claws wouldn’t scratch his dick.
He watched her crossing the meadow, her fur almost golden in the moonlight. Her ankle slowed her pace, so she’d run with Angie among the less competitive mid-aged wolves.
He’d seen that the pack was beginning to accept the newcomer. Wolf instincts said to drive away a physically challenged stranger, but shifters were more than their animals.
This pack had a good heart.
Which was good because his own heart was speaking to him.
Tongue lolling, he trotted across the meadow toward the little wolf. Her stillness made him slow.
Her attention was focused on two wolves facing off near the tree line.
The male wolf deliberately knocked into the female hard enough to throw her sideways.
The female—was that Lacey?—scrambled for her footing.
Tynan growled, expecting the alpha or beta to intervene. Ah, no, Shay and Zeb were on the other side of the meadow, dealing with a couple of males who wanted to fight. Young males turned stupid as the moon neared full.
Up to him, then. He loped that direction.
As the aggressive male bit Lacey’s shoulder and drove her into a tree, Meggie reached the two.
She shifted to human, set her hands on her hips, and yelled, “What in the Mother’s name are you doing? Do males here think it’s fun to hurt their female packmates?”
Tynan opened his jaws in a wolfy smile. The last time he’d heard such a set down, a human elder had scolded two young shoplifting males so thoroughly they’d slunk out of the corner market with heads hanging.
But this shameless male snarled at Meggie, fangs bared.
Tynan growled. Pack enforcement wasn’t his job, but too bad. He sprang, hit the male hard enough to knock him off his paws, and closed his jaws over the insolent boggart’s throat.
The male froze, then went limp in submission.
Now what? In his mind, if an adult saw scat like this happening, he should act, authority or not. But, would the alpha see it that way?
“Thank you, Tynan.” From behind, Shay answered the question.
Zeb, still in wolf form, stalked over.
Releasing the male, Tynan stationed himself beside Meggie who’d knelt to put her arms around the shaking young female wolf.
Meggie whispered, “Thanks, Tynan.”
It seemed he wasn’t in trouble with the alpha or Meggie. Life was good. Crouching beside her, he placed himself between whatever happened and the two females.
The aggressive wolf shifted to human form. He was probably in his twenties. “I didn’t do anything, Shay. That asshole from Seattle attacked me without any reason. He’s probably been around humans too long and—”
“You’re lying, Chad. You hurt Lacey, got scolded, and snarled at Margery. Showed your fangs, no less.” With the moon behind him, Shay cast a long shadow.
“But…”
“Just because the pack’s former beta was crazy and gave you young males a fucked-up example to follow is no longer an excuse. We’ve given you numerous warnings—and over a year to change your ways.” Shay’s infuriated growl, even coming from a human chest, made every wolf in the pack lower slightly.
Chad took a step back.
“Daonain females are protected—not hurt—by males. This is our Law. And your time is up, Chad.”
The young male turned a pasty white.
“By the Law of the Pack, I cast you out. You have until tomorrow at midnight to leave. After that, if we find you anywhere in our lands, you will be driven away with fangs and pain and blood.”
“You can’t…” the male gasped.
Shay crossed his arms over his chest. “Leave.”
When the male took a step forward, Zeb’s subterranean-sounding growl changed his mind.
Shifting to wolf, Chad fled.
When the whispers started up, Tynan tilted his ears to hear.
“Good thing.”
“…been damned patient. Stupid Chad.”
“Had to make an example…”
“Couple of others better learn from this.”
Not one voice spoke in dissent.
Meggie had one arm around Lacey and gripped Tynan’s ruff with her other hand. Her fingers tightened in his fur as Shay approached.
The alpha stopped. “Are you all right, Lacey?”
The young female wolf nodded and edged closer to Meggie.
Amusement tickled Tynan’s throat. The pretty banfasa was a comfort to all ages, wasn’t she?
“Margery, Darcy told us you were always trying to protect the Scythe captives. I’m sorry you had to intervene here.” Shay smiled at her. “But I’m glad you’re in my pack.”
Tears gleamed in her eyes, and Tynan felt her fingers tremble. He gave her cheek