Wolf's Pack (Wolves Next Door #3) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,45

come closer, because he'd just exposed his underbelly for her.

"It's ok," Gabby promised. "The bears are part of the pack now. Look..." And she walked over to pet Scott's head.

The man actually leaned into it, acting as if he enjoyed the sensation. That was all it took for Julia to come a little closer. Kim followed, giving her daughter that much more encouragement. Heather and I just waited. The cutest thing, though, was when Julia set her foot right on top of Scott's, making it clear just how much bigger his paw was than hers.

When the girl decided our local bear really wasn't a threat, she barked twice and then raced back for the fire, clearly excited about what had just happened. Kim just nuzzled the top of Scott's head and made her way back to help me. With that, the bear heaved himself back up, snuffled at us in a way that sounded like an apology, and then stepped back into the shadows. Me? I started walking again, but this time, Gabby was with us, pacing me just on the other side of Heather.

"I kinda like knowing we have bouncers out here," she said. "I mean, the bears are kinda cool, and they're all trying so hard to be nice, you know?"

I whuffed, trying my hardest to show I agreed.

Gabby laughed. "Not bad, Mom. That actually does mean something like yes. But, why do you think he came out here tonight?"

"They haven't been allowed to shift," Olivia said, lifting her voice just enough for it to carry to us. "I mean, out in the real world, you know? Bears stand out more than wolves. So, I figured they've probably been out a lot since they moved in."

I'd just reached the fire again, so I shifted back to human and reached for my blanket. "Olivia's right," I told her. "Those bears are trying very hard to stay out of our way, and this is usually the least popular time for anyone to use the trails."

"Dinner time," Heather agreed, moving to the flames to keep her bare body from getting chilled. "Kinda why we picked it - and I'm calling for a hot cocoa break."

"Yes," Olivia said, hurrying back to the car. "And then Elena has to do it again, and this time she can try to trot!"

I just groaned and dropped onto my chair. "I'm going to regret this tomorrow huh?"

"Which is why I gave you a full bottle of muscle relaxers," Bridget said the moment she was back in her human form. "And crap, it cooled down already."

"Blankets!" Olivia yelled. "We got lots, and all night to make sure our Alpha Female can put Ian to shame."

"Let's go with not falling over, girls," I told them. "This week, I want to learn how to just walk at a decent speed. Next week, we'll tackle the complex stuff, ok?" Then I looked over at Kim. "And next time we do this, make sure David knows that he's welcome to come look like an idiot with me."

"I will," she promised. "As soon as I let him know that you're not just some natural at being a wolf, I think he might even agree."

"Thank god," I grumbled. "Misery loves company, you know, and he's going to be mine!"

"And your Sisterhood is going to make sure you can run with us on the next moon," Kim promised. "Both of you!"

I just tipped my head at the sound of branches breaking in the distance. "And I have a feeling we'll even have someone willing to pick us up if we need it. Think the pack will be ok with some bears chasing the moon with us?"

Heather was pulling on her pants, and shuffled around to look at me. "I think that if our Alphas accept them then the rest of the pack will. I mean, you weren't too scared of him, were you Julia?"

"Not when he lay down," the girl admitted. "I just didn't know they'd be that big!"

"And he's the little one," I warned her. "I also got to see them play tag with Lane, and my goal is to get good enough at being a wolf so they don't have to tone it down for me."

The girl's eyes lit up. "Really? Bears play tag?"

"Ours do," I told her. "And those bears? They're our packmates, even if they are a little funny-looking."

"Which is why Wolf's Run is the best pack ever," Gabby said. "Not just the biggest, but the coolest. So, you'd better