Her own howl lifted high, and deep inside her, she felt the pack bonds strengthening.
As the moon filled the dark sky with her glow, their compelling paean of joy swept past mountains and forests and rose to the Mother of All.
“That was a wonderful run,” Margery said as Tynan pulled into the driveway between their two houses. Then she remembered what else had happened. Chad.
She shook her head and sighed.
Tynan unbuckled his seatbelt and studied her for a moment. “You’re thinking of Chad?”
“He’s all alone now. Probably not sure what to do or where to go.”
Tynan ran his hand over her hair. “It’s a hard lesson. I was like him once, you know, only maybe worse, since it was banished, I was.”
Oh, dear Goddess. “Banished?”
“Aye, after a young male attacked me during a full moon, and I hit him. He fell wrong, broke his neck, and I was cast out.”
Margery stared at him, hearing, almost feeling the sadness pouring off of him. “But if he simply fell wrong, your punishment was awfully brutal.”
“I’m not sure if the God agreed with the Cosantir, but I did. I felt so fucking guilty then—and later, as well. I asked the God what I could do to restore the balance.” He was looking through the window at the moonlight on the lawn.
Asked the God? She blinked, realizing he’d undertaken the arduous ritual to speak to the Gods. What had Herne told him to do? Oh, no, she knew already… “The God sent you to Seattle.”
“He did. That’s why I was there.”
Sympathy—and admiration—filled her. Had she ever met anyone so honorable? He’d made a mistake and tried to make things right. Really, that he’d tell her about the death and his banishment—what he saw as a black mark on his past—was amazing.
His gaze was on her, patient. Waiting for her to condemn him or question him.
She wouldn’t, didn’t need to. Instead, she took his hand and pressed a kiss to his palm. “Do you think Chad will learn from this?”
Relief at her acceptance softened his expression. Then Tynan caressed her cheek. “Chad might change. It must have shocked him that his behavior wasn’t condoned by the pack like he thought. Young males can misjudge and think others admire their actions. More often, the others are wary—and don’t like them at all. Tonight, Chad learned the truth.”
Perhaps the truth would give him a chance to turn his behavior around. Margery leaned her head into Tynan’s touch. The cop was more than a shield between the good and bad. He understood people. “I hope so.”
“It’s a good pack.” He dropped a kiss on her head and got out.
By the time she’d opened her door and was sliding out, he was there.
“How’s the ankle?” Shutting the car door, he curved an arm around her waist. A support…and more. An embrace.
Oh, yes.
Firmly, he moved her a step back until her butt and back were against the car door. He tangled his fingers in her hair, brushing it back in long tugging strokes.
Each breath brought her his scent, a werewolf’s wild forest tang and his warm, dry woodsy fragrance. Leaning into him, she rubbed her cheek against his chest. She’d dreamed of his kiss. Of his hands. “Mmm.”
“All right then,” he murmured. He set two fingers under her chin and lifted her head. His mouth tilted up at the corner before his lips touched hers.
Warmth spread through her in a slowly kindling fire.
His firm lips were like velvet. Beard stubble was a slight rasp when he nibbled along her jaw and back to her lips. He deepened the kiss, teasing her mouth open, possessing her with his tongue, even as his hand against her ass drew her closer.
His hard, thick erection pressed against her abdomen, delighting her because…even though it wasn’t a Gathering, he wanted her.
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she simply enjoyed.
The sound of a car coming down the street broke the moment.
With a low groan, Tynan moved back slightly. “Invite me in, lass.”
She laughed. “Please come into my home, Beta.”
He kept her next to him, hip to hip, as they walked up the sidewalk to her house and inside. After glancing at her bedroom door, he shook his head, took the couch, and pulled her down. On top of him.
She would have gone to the bedroom with him. Of course, he probably knew that from the scent of her interest. But he’d said he intended to go slow.
Apparently, he really did mean that.
When he was finished getting settled, his head was on the soft armrest, and she lay with her breasts crushed against his chest.
“Nice,” he rumbled before cupping her ass with one big hand. His other hand closed over her nape, pulling her mouth back to his.
Oh, he could kiss, using teeth and tongue and lips until her entire body was one big pool of desire.
He slid his hand under her shirt to caress her back. The same touch that had comforted her when she’d had a meltdown sent tingles rampaging through her with every slow stroke.
Lifting up, she squirmed on top of him, needing…more.
The heat in his blue eyes lightened with laughter. But he pushed on her shoulders until she was sitting upright on top of him.
He didn’t want her? “But…”
“We’re not stopping, little wolf.” His voice was as heady a caress as his touch. Smiling, he ran his hands up her sides until they rested on the outsides of her breasts. “I simply want access to these. I’ve wanted to touch you…everywhere…since I saw you at the last Gathering.”
When she walked away from him that night, it had been the right thing to do—for her—at the time.
Now, he’d won her trust.
His touch had grown more intimate every time they were together. Tonight…
He waited for her to decide.
She pulled her baggy shirt up and over her head. She hadn’t worn a bra—she never did on pack run nights.
His appreciative grin was a flash of white in the dimly lit room. His warm hands cupped her breasts, moving over the sensitive flesh, molding, lifting. The calluses on his palms added an edge to his careful touch.
Heat streaked through her, and she could smell the way her own scent changed with arousal.
“Mmmmmm.” His deep rumble of approval was like a heady caress, making her shiver.
Putting an iron-hard arm around her, he drew her down so he could take her lips again. Even as his mouth closed over hers, his thumb circled one tightly bunched nipple.
Pleasure exploded through her, and she moaned.
A screech of brakes brought her out of the fog of desire. A car door slammed, followed by pounding from next door. At Tynan and Donal’s house.
“Donal, need help! Got banged-up shifters here. Two-car accident,” a man yelled.
“By Herne’s hooves.” Tynan pulled in an exasperated breath.
He set her up, gliding his fingertips over her cheek. “I should go help. There might be more injured or a mess on the highway.”
Or bodies. “Of course.” With a grunt of effort, she swung off him, feeling the ache of unresolved need deep in her pelvis.
As he rose, she bit her lip. “Do you think Donal would like my help, too?”
Tynan bent to kiss her again. “Banfasa, you have his approval, which means he’ll always appreciate assistance. The cat loves help.”
Oh. That was perfect because she loved giving help.
Smiling, Tynan handed over her shirt. “I’ll walk over with you, and we’ll take care of things.”
Delight sparkled like stars inside her chest.
Hearing a male’s raised voice in the waiting area, Donal tuned it out. He didn’t have time for peacemaking, not with the way Kepler’s lacerated liver was bleeding.
“Am I dyin’, healer?” Kepler lay supine on the exam table.
“No, bear, you’re not.” With the abundance of alcohol in the idiot’s system, he probably wasn’t in too much pain, either. “Now, shu
t up while I try to put your liver back together.”
And next time wear your seatbelt.
No point in saying that now. Not when the shifter’s brain had sopped up that much alcohol. Bending his head, Donal extended his sight, sent forth power, and slowly, carefully, mended the tears on the liver, then healed the rest of the mess.
Finished, he straightened and saw Kepler had passed out. Didn’t that just figure.
After washing his hands, Donal walked out into the waiting area. If anything, the noise had gotten worse. To his surprise, little Margery was there, standing in front of Emma and Darcy, defending the injured females from Kepler’s littermate, Norman.
“I don’t care whose fault it is,” she was saying calmly. “This isn’t the place or the time. Leave them alone.”
Norman started to advance on her—lovely, he, too, was intoxicated—and Donal stepped in front of him. “Norman, you—"
“What’s going on in here? I could hear you from the street.” Tynan walked inside. His frown at Norman had the werebear taking a step back.
Excellent timing, brawd.
Hearing the unspoken words, Tynan nodded to Donal. “Vehicles are secured off the road—and you have no more injured, other than this bunch.”
Now that was the kind of report Donal liked.
“Deputy.” Donal gave his littermate a quick grin for the use of his official law enforcement title. “Can you collect Kepler from the healing room and see that he and Norman here get home safely.”
“Sure and I can do that.” Tynan shot a look at Norman. “Norman, you’re going to want to back away from our banfasa and healer. Right this fecking minute.”
The growl that ended the order made Norman backpedal clumsily. “Sorry, sorry,” he said to Donal and Margery, before turning to Tynan. “Deputy, hey, those females, they caused that fucking accident. It wasn’t Kepler’s fault, not at all. They—”
Ignoring Norman, Tynan disappeared into the healing room and returned with Kepler in his arms. “You can tell me all about the accident on the way to your house. Your littermate needs to be in his bed, don’t you think?”
Not waiting for an answer, Tynan winked at Donal and Margery and simply walked out the door.
After a moment to get his brain into gear, Norman followed.
“Whew, wasn’t that fun,” Margery muttered and pulled in a breath. “Healer, Darcy has a fractured wrist. The side window broke and gashed Emma’s head and shoulder. She might have a bit of a concussion, too—she thinks it was her head that broke the window.”
She’d stepped back to stand between the two women who were seated on the bench. Both women leaned against her, like she was their pillar of strength.
But their pillar was shaking, too.
Donal stepped close and touched Margery’s cheek with his fingertips. Evaluating. Pale face, skin too cold, heart racing. “He scared you.”
“Some.” She drew herself up and nodded at the two females. “He scared them worse.”
Aye, and Norman’s yelling would certainly frighten the already shaken females. Especially these two who, like Margery, had experienced violence in their pasts.
“Darcy, let’s get that wrist taken care of.” He could see Margery had done quick patch jobs on both female’s wounds and splinted the fractured wrist. He gave her a nod of gratitude. “Nice work. Thank you, banfasa.”
With Donal’s help, Darcy rose. One step into the healing room, and she was trying to back away. “I can’t. Just can’t—it’s too much…”
Gnome-guts, he should have expected this. She’d had a similar reaction before. Another Dogwood female. Her friends and family had died on the laboratory tables that apparently looked too much like his.
“Shhh, it’s all right.” Margery put an arm around Darcy’s waist. “I’ll be with you.”
Stilling, Darcy leaned on her, breathing hard.
Emma made a tiny whining sound.
Donal realized she didn’t want to be left alone out here. She’d had her own trauma in the past—and males yelling would trigger those memories. “Emma—”
Before he could say more, the banfasa, who had set aside her fears to protect these females, arranged matters for him.
“We’ll all go in so Donal can get you healed. I’ll sit with you both.” Margery gave him a look that said he’d better go along with her plan, then grinned at the other females. “I kind of like outnumbering the lonely male, don’t you?”
With a weak laugh at the joke, Emma rose, staggered one step, and then Margery tucked her arm around the bard.
Donal waved them all into his healing room. He had quiet, cooperative patients and an extra set of hands. There was no way he’d complain.
On the contrary, he planned to thank the Gods later for the gift of this banfasa.
Chapter Thirteen
Cold Creek, North Cascades Territory - full moon
* * *
The next night, Margery smiled at herself in the mirror, filled with the joy of wearing the first new clothing she’d ever bought on her own. With her very own wages.
The top’s jade color brought out the green in her hazel eyes and set off her light tan. Best of all, the shirt had breast support built in. No messing around with a bra during the Gathering.
She’d left her hair loose, and wasn’t it awesome that it now reached past her shoulders. She batted her eyelashes and tossed her hair back in the flirty way other females used. Maybe she’d missed learning how to be a female during her teen years, but she was catching up now.
Tonight, Tynan would be at the Gathering.
So would Donal.
The female parts between her legs tingled in anticipation even before the rising of the moon. Because she was pretty sure she’d be with Tynan tonight—no, she knew that would happen. She couldn’t wait. Finally, she’d be able to kiss and touch all of him. Feel his weight on her. Have him kiss her and take her and…
The room had certainly gotten warmer.
And maybe…Donal. Would he want her? There were times he looked at her like he saw her as more than a banfasa. As a female. Like his concern for her last night. How he’d touched her cheek. And when she’d said goodbye to return home, he’d thanked her, given her a wicked, very masculine smile, and said he’d see her tonight.
But maybe that was simply hopeful thinking on her part. He was probably mobbed by females at the Gatherings.
Just like that, her stomach tightened because…females probably mobbed both Donal and Tynan, and really, she wasn’t what males looked for in a female. She wasn’t muscular or particularly fit. Not beautiful.
But that didn’t seem to bother Tynan. When he looked at her, she felt beautiful. And Donal made her feel the same way. Her hopes rose again. And jumped higher because sometimes littermates shared a female. She’d never done that before, had never even thought it would be something she’d like, but…Donal and Tynan together?
Yes, please.
The knocking on the front door startled her, and she ran to answer it.
“Heather!” She drew the redhead into a hug.
Heather hugged back. “Don’t look so surprised. I told you I’d be back for this Gathering.”
“It’s great to see you. Come on in.”
Stopping in the living room, Heather pursed her lips. “Small but really cozy. Angie said you’ve done a ton of work. Are you going to stay here?”
Margery half-laughed. “A waitress’s salary doesn’t go far enough for a house. I only have the place rent free for two months in exchange for making it sellable.” In fact, she needed to start thinking about her next step. “Did you want to hang out here before the Gathering? I have iced tea.”
“Hang out, yes. Here, no.” Heather ran her fingers through her thick hair. “Angie realized you might not know there’s usually a clan meeting before moonrise. Vicki is commandeering the fireplace seats for a bunch of us—and said one of the seats is yours.”
Vicki was so nice. But would she be intruding
? “Well…”
Heather nudged her shoulder. “C’mon, you. I need another unmated female there.”
Heather needed her. “Sure, I’d love to join you.”
“Perfect. If we leave now, we’ll be right on time.”
A few minutes later, they hurried up to the tavern’s front door where the Murphy brothers stood guard to shoo away any humans.
“Heather.” Kevin waggled his eyebrows at her. “Save me ‘n’ Cody some time if you can.”
“We’ll see.” Heather patted his arm. “Have you two met Margery?”
“Our favorite waitress,” Cody said with a smile. “We’re at the diner a lot.”
Heather arched an eyebrow at Margery. “I hadn’t thought of that. You picked a fine way to meet everyone in town.”
“I did.” Margery smiled at the brothers as Kevin held the door open.
Inside, shifters filled the tavern, sitting at tables and the bar, standing against the walls. And this time, the experience was so different from the Gathering last month. This time, Heather—and Margery received cheerful greetings. From packmates, diner customers, the shifters she’d tended as a banfasa.
The glow of belonging had her smiling as they crossed the room to the fireplace.
On one couch, Vicki sat with Sorcha and Toren in her lap. On the other couch, Darcy had the third cub. Bree was in the chair.
A new fire in the fireplace was beginning to catch. Smoke swirled around the biggest log where a salamander perched, impatiently waiting for the heat to build.
“Yay!” Bree made a happy sound. “My wolves are here. I don’t like being outnumbered by felines.”
Baby in one arm, Darcy reached up to hug Margery. “Thanks for last night.”
“I’m glad I was there. You look all better.”
“You and Donal do good work.” Darcy smiled. “I stopped by your place earlier to round you up, but you weren’t home. Heather said she’d fetch you no matter what it took.”
“There was no problem in talking her into joining us.” Heather blew on her fingernails, rubbed them on her shirt, in a human mannerism that Margery had never quite understood. “I’m just that convincing.”
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