Drantos grinned. “Yes. It didn’t slow me down by much. I just had to be careful she didn’t fall off. I like that she needs me to do more for her than most women. That doesn’t mean she’s timid or helpless. She makes up for her lack of VampLycan traits with her personality. She’s funny, Red. Sweet.”

“She won’t slap you with her claws if you piss her off. I can see where that would be a bonus.”

“Piss many women off, cousin?”

Red shrugged. “Sometimes.”

“I can believe that.”

“Fuck you too.”

Drantos scanned the woods again. “I could use your support with Dusti.”

“You have it.”

“How do you think everyone is handling her being my mate?”

“They are waiting and watchful. It amused some that she dealt with that human by telling them Jarred was a bear with mange. Lake has told everyone exactly what she said.”

“He was the one spotted by the human?”

“Yeah. Your dad handed him his ass for going that close to the main road and being spotted. He should have known better.”

“What was he doing there anyway?”

“He was coming back after leaving our territory.”

“Why the hell did he leave?”

“Remember old Thomas?”

“Remind me.” Drantos drew a blank.

“He helped with that mess back in the seventies when the town over decided to start some shit with us.”

It came back to Drantos. “He’s the one who warned my dad about the trouble brewing. I used to do the mail runs at that time. Their women would come outside to stare at us. Some of them even drove in to watch us load the truck. Their men didn’t like it one bit.”

“It’s our Lycan traits. They’re naturally drawn to our hormones.”

“I disagree. It’s because we’re in good shape. You should have seen some of those human men. They looked as if they were pregnant.” He shoved his hands out to mimic a large stomach, then ran a hand over his face. “You’d think they were Lycans with the amount of hair on their faces. They didn’t seem to own razors. I understood why the women liked to watch us.”

Red chuckled. “That’s funny.”

“It wasn’t when those assholes entered our territory with guns, trying to shoot a few of us in some stupid attempt to get payback. That’s why Dad forbade us from sleeping with humans from any of the surrounding towns. He didn’t want a bunch of drunk, jealous men coming after any of ours again.”

Red’s amused look faded fast. “I remember.”

“So what does this have to do with Jarred running by the road? Thomas died last year.”

“Word spread that the granddaughter finally came to clean out the house. We’ll buy it when she puts it up for sale since it borders our lands. That’s what she plans to do.”

“I still don’t understand. What does one have to do with the other?”

“She’s the girl who found and hid Jarred in Thomas’s barn after he’d been shot. He’d been out hunting and got too close to someone’s property. The jerks thought Jarred was there to fuck their women or some such shit. You know they hate anyone from Howl. Humans can be stupid and unstable. They were determined to kill him. As if we’ve got nothing better to do than steal their daughters’ virginities or tempt their wives into cheating.” Red snorted. “I’ve never bedded a human. Only a few of ours did back when it was allowed. It sounded too troublesome and it seems I was right.”

“So why did Jarred go there? What was the point?”

“He just wanted to check on her. He’d lost a lot of blood that night and those bastards might have killed him if she hadn’t found him first. Anyway, your dad ordered him to stay away from her from now on. There’s a real concern that seeing him might undo the mind wipe. It’s best if she never remembers that night. She saw too much.”

“Did she recognize him?”

“He swore he didn’t speak to her or let her know he was there.”

“Good.”

Red shifted his body and leaned against the tree. “How is it having a mate?”

“Everything we’ve always heard. Dusti is afraid I’ll be able to read her every thought. I told her she’ll learn to stop broadcasting and can shield them.”

“That’s one thing I dread about mating. I don’t want someone else inside my head.”

“The sex is amazing. You’ll get over it.”

“Really?”

“It will blow your mind.”

“I’m thinking about asking Cavasia to live with me.”

“You said she wasn’t your mate.”

“She isn’t, but I’m lonely. I don’t think I can take another winter like the last one. She’s too far away to visit when the snow sets in and you know I avoid any of our women here.”

“You’re going to settle?” Drantos curled his lip. “Don’t do it.”

“I’m not mating her. We’re thinking about just sharing a home for a while. She’s lonely too.”

“I won’t judge you but it’s going to be hard to find your mate if you’re living with Cavasia.”

“I’ve tested all the women from the other clans who drew my interest. I’m not attracted to anyone here. That means no living generations are right for me. I don’t want to be like Maku. He was alone for over a hundred and twenty-some years before Peva was born. They didn’t even realize what they were to each other until she hit puberty. I don’t want to have to feel the way he did by being attracted to someone so young. It tore him up trying to avoid her so he didn’t feel as if he’d stolen her youth. He still believes he should have waited until she was in her late twenties before they sealed their bond.”

“Peva disagrees. Don’t give up and settle for someone who isn’t your true mate, Red. I understand. I contemplated the same things you must be but then I met Dusti. It was completely unexpected.”

“I bet. Were you horrified at first?”

He hesitated. “Surprised. I worried about how she’d take to me but I wasn’t upset that she’s not what I’d anticipated. I just wanted to get her home to seal the bond. Bottom line, I don’t care what she is, just that she’s mine.”