“A bunch of us are going for a romp through the woods late tonight,” Tom said casually. “Did you want to go with us, Carol?”

  “Thank you, Tom, I’d love to.” Not. Poor Tom. His heart was in the right place; he kept trying to make her feel like one of the pack. But she couldn’t shift. Not willingly. For five months, he’d been trying to encourage her to really join in and be one of them. “But not tonight.”

  Jake and Tom shared looks—as if they agreed their houseguest was impossibly difficult to deal with.

  To change the subject to one she wanted to resolve, she asked, “When is Puss going to be allowed to come home to me?”

  Even if it wasn’t her home, and even though she stopped to visit him at the kennel every night after work, she wanted her fur ball curled up in her lap at night when she relaxed and read a book or watched TV, or to play with him with a flashlight beam as he tried to capture it, or to run her hand under the covers as he tried to tackle the hidden object. Sure, Doc Mitchell, the vet, let Puss have free reign over the clinic and kennel, but she wanted Puss home with her to cuddle and play with! She’d considered sneaking him home with her, hoping Darien would see how much her cat meant to her.

  Her words met with silence, and then Lelandi and Darien walked in. He had his arm wrapped around her waist, and they both looked perfectly satiated. Carol caught herself before she shook her head, wistfully wishing that she had someone in her life like that. They seemed perfect for each other, even though they had their disagreements. Carol would cheerfully suffer discord with a prospective mate, if she could have the glow that Lelandi had worn ever since taking Darien on.

  “Good morning, everyone,” Lelandi said, giving Carol a big smile. With her long red hair curling over a navy blue velour running set, Lelandi looked ready to compete in the festival games, although Carol had heard that Darien had suspended the tug-of-war competition. He wouldn’t say why, and no one would even speculate, which she thought was odd.

  Casting a cursory glance at Carol, Darien was back to his business look, as usual. “Jake, I need you to make arrangements for a gathering tonight.”

  Jake turned his attention to Carol. Great. What now?

  Could they be thinking of having her debut to polite society as if she’d just reached the age of maturity and was eligible to “court” like they did in the Regency novels she loved? Some regions still held coming-out parties or balls for groups of well-connected young women. She supposed she was now well connected—if living with Darien and Lelandi was the werewolf equivalent. Yet presenting her to “werewolf society” at her age seemed preposterous.

  “Did you have a coming-out?” she asked Lelandi. She’d learned Lelandi’s mother and father had both come from pack-leader families, so she imagined they’d been high in werewolf social circles.

  “Oh, yes.”

  Carol fidgeted with the napkin in her lap. “But you mated with Darien,” she said pointedly.

  “Um, yes. I wasn’t quite in the market for one of my pack members, not when the man of my dreams kept coming to me in my sleep.” Lelandi glanced at Darien, who reached for her hand and squeezed.

  Carol loved how the two of them looked at each other, as if the world stood still while they searched each other’s souls in that powerful moment.

  However, the point she was trying to make seemed to be lost, although she didn’t figure it had any bearing anyway. Darien would have his way in this, no matter what.

  As if reading her mind, he said, “It’s our way, has been for centuries. Not all find mates this way, of course, but…” He shrugged.

  What was left unsaid was more telling than anything else. Carol sat taller and tried not to frown too much. She had been doing a lot of that lately, and her mother had always said that if Carol continued with it, she’d have wrinkles permanently etched in her forehead. “But since I’m newly turned, I have no choice, right?”

  “Oh, no,” Lelandi said quickly. “The choice of who you want to see, date, and mate is up to you. Up to both of you.” She gave Darien a look indicating he’d better agree.

  Jake gave Carol an evil smile. “Mervin’s invited, right?”

  If the table leg hadn’t been in the way, Carol would have kicked Jake.

  “Sure, if he’s interested.” Darien carried plates to the table for Lelandi and himself, set them down, and then pulled her chair out for her as she brought their mugs of coffee.

  “He’s interested, all right. Real interested,” Jake said.

  “Guess that means I’m forgoing my romp in the woods tonight,” Tom said with a sigh.

  Avoiding a look at Carol, Darien sat at the table. “No need to. Jake can handle it.”

  “I’ll help him out.” Tom gave Jake a look like he’d better behave or else.

  Why couldn’t Tom be interested in her? She’d noticed that when Lelandi and Darien were together, or Sam and Silva, she smelled a distinct sexual attraction between them. She hadn’t noticed that special scent whenever any male was near her. Which meant? She guessed no one was that interested. Heck, she hadn’t had a real boyfriend since she’d started nursing school four years ago, and now that she was a werewolf, she couldn’t even excite a bunch of horny wolves who didn’t have mates.

  The way Lelandi was casting surreptitious looks, Carol knew she wanted to speak to her about something out of the guys’ earshot. Probably sisterly wolf advice about meeting with a man alone in the woods. Even if he’d been a wolf. At first.

  Darien quickly devoured his breakfast, kissed Lelandi’s cheek, and then said to his brothers, “Come on. The celebration doesn’t truly start until we show up.”

  She knew that included Lelandi, but… something was being left unsaid.

  Jake and Tom glanced at Carol. Yep, the secret society of wolves, and she really wasn’t part of it. The men hurried to leave while Lelandi began clearing away the dishes. Carol rose to help her.

  “What did he want, Carol?” Lelandi asked casually, but Carol noted the disapproval in her tone of voice.

  Trying to appear nonchalant, Carol asked, “Who?”

  Lelandi turned and touched Carol’s arm in an appeasing way, her eyes worried. “I can’t imagine what it’s like for you trying to adjust to our ways, but you have to realize Darien only does what’s best for you and for our people.

  “I hadn’t wanted you to be changed against your will or to suffer as you did. But I thank God you survived the attack. You’re like a sister to me now, always and forever.” She hugged Carol and breathed in deeply. “Always know that.”

  A feeling of belonging washed over Carol briefly. She was glad to have a sister when both she and Lelandi had lost their own. She expected Lelandi to say something more about Ryan, to warn her off him, but for whatever reason, Lelandi continued to rinse the coffee mugs and put them in the dishwasher without saying another word. Maybe she figured Carol wouldn’t listen anyway. And she had that right. Carol couldn’t be a beta like most of the people in the pack. Most of the time, she wouldn’t roll over and play the subservient wolf unless she felt she had no other choice.

  The issue of the vision she’d had the day before kept plaguing her. She knew she had to tell Lelandi. Even though the more she considered it, the more she was afraid Lelandi wouldn’t believe her.

  Keeping her hands busy so speaking about the subject would be easier, Carol rinsed off a dirty dish and put it in the dishwasher.

  “Lelandi… I… well, I know it’s sometimes difficult for others to believe how I can see things that haven’t happened yet. Until they can be proven. I mean, if I give a warning and then whatever I predicted actually occurs. Then it’s perfectly verifiable. I know sometimes you feel that’s true even when the vision hasn’t come to pass, but sometimes…” She shrugged.

  Lelandi set the washrag on the tile counter and stopped wiping off bread crumbs and coffee spills, her expression an attempt at neutral, but her jaw tightened marginally. “What’s the matter?” Her voice was even but tinged with concern.

  “It’s…it’s just that I saw Doc shift into a wolf and then, well, he couldn’t shift back.”

  Lelandi’s brows rose, and then she smiled. Any hint of concern vanished, and she went back to wiping the counter. “He changes back. We all do.”

  “That one time you couldn’t.”

  Lelandi paused and looked thoughtful. “Yes, but that only has to do with my strong feelings for certain people. It’s only happened twice, each time when my brother nearly died. It took a couple of hours, maybe longer, to turn back into my human form. Then I was back to normal. No one that I’ve known during my long years of life has had trouble shifting form.”

  “Even newly turned wolves?”

  “Did you see yourself in that predicament? Unable to shift back?”

  Carol slowly shook her head. But she figured the only reason she didn’t see that was because she refused to change and was able to fight it successfully. For how long, she wasn’t certain. She also noted that Lelandi didn’t exactly answer her question. “Have any newly turned wolves that you know of been unable to shape-shift back?”

  “Not that I’ve ever heard of. Besides, Doc’s a royal red like me. No human influences in his roots for generations. So like me, he can change at will.” Lelandi smiled and patted Carol’s shoulder. “Doc Weber will be fine. You said your visions were brief glimpses of the future. So he shifts, and you just don’t see him change back. He has to shift back eventually, only you don’t see a vision of that. That’s all.

  “Really, Carol. I’ve explained how I was tied to my sister’s and brother’s stronger emotions whenever we were in close proximity to each other. That’s all the problem was with my inability to shape-shift back. Don’t worry.”

  But Carol did worry. Lelandi was right that Carol couldn’t see a lengthy video stream of what would occur, but just like Lelandi felt strong ties to her brother’s emotions, Carol had strong feelings with her visions. And she knew something was horribly wrong. It had to be that Doc couldn’t shift back. She couldn’t imagine what else the matter could be.

  She sighed. Until she could see something more that would convince Lelandi, she knew she’d never get anywhere on that front. Might as well talk to Lelandi about what Carol knew was bothering her. “In the woods last night… Ryan said he had something to ask me. That’s all.”

  Lelandi stopped rinsing the sink out and turned to gape at Carol. “Ryan?”

  “Um, Chester Ryan McKinley, but he asked me to call him Ryan.”

  “He changed from a wolf and stood naked in front of you to speak?”

  Carol shrugged. “It was no big deal. I’d had a vision of him, and I needed to know who he was and what he wanted. He couldn’t very well answer me as a wolf. And, he was a perfect gentleman, just as he always was with you.”

  Her green eyes narrowed, Lelandi gave a ladylike snort and tucked her red curls behind her ears. “He was a gentleman with me because he knew he’d be a dead man if he was anything but. Men are wolves, no pun intended. Lusty wolves.

  “If he’s got any ideas about you—which he very well may have, now that you’re one of us—you’d best stay clear of him. Darien and his brothers will make short work of him if he interferes in pack politics. He’s not here by invitation, and last night he trespassed in our territory without permission. Darien’s quite incensed about it.”

  Her heart sinking, Carol glanced out the kitchen window. She was a healer by trade, and the last time she’d watched out the sunroom windows was when the pack gathered in the meadow to take down a murderer. She couldn’t deal with this part of being a werewolf. Maybe subconsciously that was another thing that bothered her about being a part-time wolf. If she changed, would she have the urge to kill?

  With shaking hands, Carol put the last of the dirty silverware in the dishwasher. “I’ll…I’ll see you at the festival.”

  She rushed out of the kitchen to warn Ryan to leave right away, if she caught sight of him first.

  Lelandi called out to her, “Don’t get in the way of Darien’s handling of our pack, Carol.”

  Right, when she was already an outsider with so many strikes against her, what did another few matter?

  Why did the men in Darien’s pack still want her? Were they just desperate? She’d seen them smile as if they were interested. She guessed they hadn’t approached her yet because of Darien’s ruling. But still, she was bothered by the niggling thought that they would get a lot more than they bargained for if they pursued her. She didn’t think any of the beta males could deal with her uniqueness.

  She sighed and shoved the sunroom door open.

  Chapter 4

  LELANDI SMILED AFTER CAROL AS SHE BOLTED OUT OF the house. Lelandi could talk until she was blue in the face, trying to get Darien to listen to her about Carol’s special circumstances, without making a difference. Either Carol’s desire to save Chester’s—rather, Ryan’s—butt would change Jake or Tom’s interest in Carol, or maybe Ryan was her match.

  Whatever Lelandi could do to help, she was ready. She was certain that the right man would work wonders in helping Carol accept what she was now. And time was running out. Soon, Carol would inevitably shape-shift and when it happened, Lelandi prayed that Carol was at home or with their own kind only. Lelandi had convinced Darien to continue to allow Carol to work at the hospital, but he’d nix that before long if Carol didn’t shape-shift soon.

  Lelandi’s best friend, Silva, sauntered into the kitchen, bottled water in one hand and a red ribbon in the other. Her dark curls piled on top of her head, she was wearing short shorts, a pair of thigh-high boots, and a short-waisted shirt that showed off her navel. Lelandi swallowed a grin.

  Sam had better get off the fence about making a commitment to Silva, or he was going to have a lot of competition on the playing field today.

  “I heard McKinley sneaked around the grounds last night to see Carol,” Silva said, brows raised.

  Lelandi shrugged.

  Silva grinned. “He did!” Then she frowned. “Ohmigod, the bachelor males will be out for blood if he shows up at the festivities.” Silva leaned over the kitchen sink and looked out the window. “You should be with her, don’t you think? I mean, both of us. If we chaperone her, McKinley won’t come near, and Darien and his brothers won’t have to hurt him.”

  She turned to Lelandi. “So what did happen last night? I heard Carol was in the woods with him. Alone.”

  Not about to tell anyone what Carol had shared with her in confidence, Lelandi sighed. “What about Sam? Is he going to protect you in the game of tag?”

  Silva laughed. “Hell, if he doesn’t, it’s his problem, not mine.”

  But Lelandi knew Silva wanted Sam, and he truly wanted her. She wasn’t sure how to get them to finally capitulate and become mates. Lelandi rubbed her stomach absently. She thought she’d gotten the two of them going in the right direction.

  “Come on, Silva, let’s have some fun.” And she prayed that fun was all they’d have—and no male battles of wills.

  * * *

  Carol backed up closer to the woods, where maybe Ryan could sneak out and talk to her while everyone was busy playing tag. But then she saw four men combing the woods. Ryan would never manage to talk with her alone again.

  “Come on, let’s get a ribbon,” Lelandi said, joining her and tugging at her arm to get her to move closer to a group of men and women, mostly men, who were dividing up ribbons. Blue for one team. Red for the other.

  “Smile. The world isn’t going to end. We play games like this all the time, both as wolves and as humans, although not in mixed forms. It’s our nature to show solidarity, teamwork, and cooperation. It’s who we are and how we survive. Besides, Darien’s brothers will protect you from the big, bad wolves.”

  Carol wasn’t worried about the game as much as she was worried about the battle that might ensue if Ryan showed up. And now she felt as though she was a pawn in the scheme of things—the much sought-after conquest of a bunch of mate-hungry bachelors.

  Laughing at herself over that, she told herself she’d believe that when she saw it.

  Lelandi motioned to Sam, Silver Town Tavern’s bartender. “He’ll watch that the males don’t get too frisky with you.”

  At six-four, Sam was a formidable foe. He stroked his black beard, his dark eyes surveying the crowd, the breeze tugging at his shoulder-length ebony hair. He looked more like a grizzly than a wolf in disguise.

  Carol was actually hoping for a bit of friskiness. Anything to show she was still alive. She didn’t think Sam would watch her as much as he would his waitress. Already, he was eyeing Silva with lustful interest as she joined Carol and Lelandi.

  “Are we ready to play, ladies?” Silva winked at Carol. “Ryan McKinley is one determined wolf, so I’m betting he’ll be here. Despite,” Silva said, motioning to the woods, “Darien trying to ensure he doesn’t come that way again.” She waved her red ribbon. “What team are you all going to be on?”

  Lelandi waited to say until Carol spoke. Carol let out her breath and took off toward the table. “Blue.” She glanced over her shoulder at Silva. “Then I can steal your tag. Without getting myself into too much trouble.” She smiled.

  Silva laughed. “You’ll be fine, sugar. Never doubt yourself.”

  His expression dark, Jake appeared out of nowhere. From the look on his face, Carol figured no one had seen any sign of Ryan yet. Jake headed in her direction, and she assumed that was the end of playing any game. But he gave her a small smile and took a blue ribbon from the ones piled on the table. “I’ll watch your back.”

  That’s when Darien showed up. He saw Jake with Carol and then chose a red tag. Lelandi smiled and then tied a blue tag around her belt at her back. Since Darien was making Carol attend some archaic gathering that evening, she changed her mind about going after Silva’s tag and intended to target his instead.

  Squeals from the kids—playing the same game but for junior-sized participants in another field—drifted to where Carol was, and then the signal came for the adult game to begin. Tom rushed to get a tag to join Carol’s team. She should have known the two brothers would be her knights again.