Can you believe tomorrow is August? Only twenty-three more days until kids go back to school in North Dakota! I bet all you moms out there are counting the days. My mom always put the flag out for the first day of school. She said it should be a national holiday.  LOL! More importantly to me, only two more months of hot weather. I die during the summer. I don’t like heat and even though North Dakota doesn’t get as hot as other places and the summer is really only four months long, I long for fall before June is done.

I have been working on Gina’s Wolf and I think I need to do some re-writing. Gina has become too vague. I mean, I’ve always seen Gina as a strong, stand-up-for-herself woman. Not a whiner or a too-stupid-to-live sort of woman, but someone with strong opinions and a secretly iron will. Not as brash as Glory or Victoria, and not just blurting out whatever is on her mind, but when I re-read, I don’t feel like I know who she is anymore. What are her feelings for Cole? She doing a lot of kissing and groping already and I’m not sure she would. I’m going to run that by my local critique group and get their take on Gina’s personality.

What do you think?

Here is the first bit of Chapter 8:

Chapter Eight

An hour later Gina was seated between Cole and his dad at a long table in the mayor’s office in City Hall. Four other men from Cole’s family stood against the wall. She had been introduced to them on the way over. They all had such odd names, like Stone and Sky, and even though they were fully dressed, they seemed somehow feral with their long black hair and hard faces. The conference room, with blank white walls, tan carpet, and a large wooden table, was staid. Pens and stacks of blank paper sat on the highly polished table  in front of each of the twelve chairs. It was business-like and official. Cole’s family just didn’t seem to fit the boring, civilized furnishings.

A few of the leading men of Omaha were at the table. Mayor McGrath occupied the chair at the head of the table, wearing a neat, plain brown suit, his gray-streaked brown curls neatly combed. Although she’d never officially met the mayor before, she had served him coffee more than once. The first time she’d seen him she’d been surprised by his plain and casual attire. That was not how her stepfather dressed. On top of that, Mayor McGrath was always polite even to a nobody who served him at the coffee shop across the square from City Hall. He always had a friendly word for anyone he came in contact with.

This afternoon, when Cole and his dad introduced her with a brief explanation of who she was to Todd and asked that she be allowed to attend the meeting, he nodded calmly. Maybe strange young women often demanded to be included in crucial city affairs.

“You are welcome,” he said. “You might give Omaha an advantage in these negotiations. But please do not speak on Omaha’s behalf.” He chuckled, sounding amazingly relaxed. “I get that pleasure. If there is something you think I need to know, write a note and send it down the table to me.”

She remembered his little chuckle from the days when she had made frothy coffee drinks. She recalled he took his coffee black.

Memories of her old job made her hands clenched in her lap beneath the table. Whatever happened, her stepfather must never know about Lachlan and Ceara. If she hadn’t known that already, what happened to the Anderses was a brutal reminder.

Cole must have felt her tension, because he leaned his shoulder against her. His father was a strong presence on her right. Sandwiched between the two of them, with a line of savage men behind her, she felt safe.

That feeling of safety diminished slightly when Major Ellis entered the room, flanked by four burly men in the uniform Omaha’s City Guard, and followed by two other men in Kansas-Missouri gray. The Guardsmen peeled away to stand behind the mayor. One of the Kansas-MIssourians was Lieutenant Mott. The Lieutenant’s cool gaze passed over her without a flicker of interest, checked for a half second when he saw Cole, and passed on to Mayor McGrath. Major Ellis gave her one brief cold stare before turning his attention to the head of the table.

“Sir, I am Major Ellis, personal aide to President Gerald Todd of Kansas-Missouri. This is Lieutenant Mott and Lieutenant Booker.”

The mayor took his time getting to his feet. He nodded impassively to the Kansas-Missourians. “Ryan McGrath, Mayor of Omaha.” He indicated the men on his left and right. “Captain Peterson, commander of the Omaha City Guard.  Judge John Case, chief judicial officer of Omaha. Please be seated, gentlemen.”

The major put a hand on the back of the chair indicated but didn’t sit. He nodded at the Wolfe men against the wall. “We met the requirements. Only three of us entered Omaha.” His voice was stiff and cold. “You are overstaffed.”

McGrath smiled blandly. “Not at all.”

“We came under a flag of truce,” Mott began.

McGrath cut him off smoothly. “We will honor the truce. You will leave unharmed.” His teeth showed in a smile that was a thinly veiled threat. “Unless you break the truce or do something to hurt one of my people, that is.”

Major Ellis pulled out the chair and sat. “We are not here to cause trouble, but to end it.” He sent an icy stare at Lt. Mott. “Sit.”

Like an unruly but reluctantly obedient dog, Mott took his chair. Beside Gina, Cole let out an almost subvocal growl. She felt an urge to pat his hand soothingly. He obviously recognized Mott as the man who had been in command when he’d been shot on the train. She wanted to tell him that when her stepfather learned that Mott had spoken out of turn at this meeting, Mott would be punished.

Mayor McGrath waited politely until everyone was seated. “The point of this meeting is to come to an agreement between Omaha and Kansas-Missouri, one which will allow both sides to walk away with something they want, if not everything. I see no point in beating around the bush. To be perfectly plain, gentlemen, all Omaha wants is to live in peace. We have no interest waging war, but we will, because neither do we wish to become a vassal state to Kansas-Missouri. Tell me, Major, how can Omaha best avoid war and remain independent?”

Major Ellis smiled his most charming smile, handsome and calm, and absolutely terrifying. He looked down the table at Gina, and then back to the mayor. “That is very easily obtained, sir. President Todd is entirely willing to sign a non-aggression pact with Omaha, providing one small stipulation is met. Simply return his daughter to him and our army will immediately depart for Kansas City.”

Life is never boring. Did I mention that half-feral neighborhood cat that we have kinda sorta adopted? The adorable little boy we named Sammy? I think he’s pregnant.

This is Sammy about a month ago.  He (She?!!!) is not this small anymore. Still sweet, but …  Kittens. Kittens are so adorable and cute when they aren’t yours.  🙁

But we will deal with the situation. I will revel in kitten madness and hope to find good homes for them.

Gulp.

On to more of Gina and Cole’s story!

Through the pounding of her blood in her ears, she barely heard the tap on the door. Cole did, though, and he lifted his head away from her.

“Dad?” he called.

Gina’s eyes flared wide. His dad was out in the hall? While they were doing this?

“Sorry, son.” Mr. Wolfe’s voice was quiet, barely audible, but Gina thought he sounded truly apologetic. “A man has come from President Todd under a flag of truce. You need to come to McGrath’s office for the parley.”

Gina froze. Embarrassment died under a wave of dread. She should have known  her stepfather would lose no time in trying to get her back. “What time is it?” she asked Cole.

“A little after four,” his father replied from behind the closed door.

He could hear that even through a closed door? Embarrassment flared again. Oh, lord, what else had he heard from the hallway?

“What time is the parley?” Cole asked.

“We’re leaving as soon as you’re ready.”

“I’ll be out in two minutes.”

Cole looked down at her for a second before dipping his head for one last quick kiss. “I have to go.”

Just like that his weight was gone and he was off the bed and headed for the door.

“Cole, wait for me.” She scrambled out of the bed and looked around for the clothes his mom and sister had left. “Give me one minute to get dressed and I’ll meet you in the hall.”

He stopped at the door with his hand on the knob. “You don’t need to get dressed. Go back to bed and get some more sleep. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“What?” She snapped around to look at him. The cotton where he’d had his mouth caught wetly on her breast. She ignored it. “I’m going with you.”

His brows twitched together. “No, stay here where it is safe. I’ll tell you everything when I get back.”

Her hands settled on her hips. “I’m going. This concerns me.” When his face got darker, she fixed him with an unyielding glare. “You know what we were just doing? If you ever want to do that again with me, you’ll shut up and quit being so bossy.”

A muffled chortle from the hall got fainter as his father walked away. Cole transferred his scowl to the door before turning back to her. “No, Gina. You need to stay here and let me take care of you.”

Her mouth dropped open. “You aren’t in charge of me. Even if I accept this mate thing, you don’t get to make decisions for me. ”

His hands fisted, relaxed, and fisted again. “Please trust me. I’ll look out for your best interests. I don’t want you anywhere near anyone from Kansas-Missouri. I need you to be safe.”

He was trying again to rein in his bossiness and be reasonable. It made her step away from indignation and smile. “Thank you, Cole. I think I’ll be safe with you and your dad there, and this meeting is probably at least partly about me. I deserve to be there, don’t you think?”

He scowled again but nodded reluctantly. “Okay. Hurry and get dressed and meet me downstairs in the kitchen.”

After quickly dressing she hurried downstairs. Cole’s dad was in the foyer. He greeted her with a grave smile that gave no indication that he knew what she and Cole had been doing only a few minutes ago. He lifted his head to look at the top of the stairs. Carla hurried down to them.

The older woman gave her husband a kiss. “We should go into the private dining room,” she said. “The Limit opens for dinner in half an hour and we’re just in the way here.”

Gina saw three young men setting up tables and chairs in the large room to their left and two girls arranging tablecloths, floral centerpieces, and places settings on the tables. Mr. Wolfe led them through the room to the narrow corridor that led to a smaller dining room. Cole was already there, with five other men that she didn’t recognize, standing clustered around the foot of a word wooden table. Only Cole was fully dressed; the others wore only jeans. They were talking in low, angry ones. Gina didn’t think they were angry at each other, though. There was no animosity on their faces.

One of them, whose long black braids were steaked with silver, broke off what he was saying when they came into the room. “Chief,” he said. “Bad news. Miss Nikki from the House Pack and her husband have been killed.”

His words were a punch in Gina’s gut. Her breath whooshed out of her. “What?” Tears pushed out as she looked almost blindly for Cole. “Cole?”

He was there, his arm going around her shoulders to pull her face to his chest. “It’s alright, Gina, it’s alright.”

“No, it’s not.” She let him hold her for a second before she pushed away. “It’s my fault. I know exactly what happened. They helped us, and Todd retaliated by having them killed. I hate this. I hate him!”

Cole pulled her close again and murmured into her hair. “You’re right. Mostly. Yeah, the Kansas-Missouri army found Mr. and Mrs. Anders’ place. But it’s not your fault they were killed. That is on your stepfather and his people.”

All the men in the room growled agreement. Gina lifted her tear smeared face to look at them. They didn’t look especially sweet or even civilized with rage setting their features into stone.

“You’re right,” she said fiercely. “It’s not my fault. The Anderses were good people. They didn’t deserve to die for being good people. It’s him. Gerald Todd. I want him to pay for this.”

The men growled again, approval this time. Cole stroked her hair. “I promise, he will pay for it. Are you sure you want to go to this meeting? I don’t want you to be upset or show it to whoever comes from Kansas-Missouri.”

She took a deep breath. “I’m going. Don’t worry. I’ll be calm. I’ll be so cool that butter won’t melt in my mouth. But I’m going to look the envoy in the eye and smile. I’ll smile because I got away and I have allies now. Let him go back to Gerald Todd and tell him I don’t belong to him anymore.”

I just finished a lovely 4 day weekend. Well, it was lovely except for the 3 people who died. One was a long time co-worker, who was only 37 years old, another was an old high school friend who was only 58, and the third was an old family friend who died at age 86.  It’s always too young, but Erica and Bobby were far too young. I have to admit it really got me down. When I am down like that I like to jump into a book, or several books, and this weekend was the same. I read 8 books from Friday through Monday. I enjoyed all of them, but Crazy by Eve Langlais  Real Men Snarl by Celia Kyle  Not His Dragon by Annie Nicholas and Fire in His Spirit by Ruby Dixon were my favorites. Of course Blind Beast Mate was interesting too. These are all in KIndle Unlimited. I finally broke down and tried the free month. I probably won’t read enough KU to make it worthwhile, but for this month it definitely is.

Do you do that? Dive into a book for comfort when things suck? You might enjoy these too.

All that pity party reading means I didn’t do as much writing as I wanted to. I started the first love scene in Gina’s Wolf but I didn’t have the heart to finish it. I’ll need to do a significant re-write since my grieving mood didn’t put me in a good place for writing a love scene. But here is what there is, plus the first little bit of Chapter 7 from last week. Hopefully I’ll feel more motivated and will get this written with lots of good emotion and connection between Gina and Cole.

Chapter 7

The room Rose and Carla showed her to wasn’t large, and the bed dominated the furnishings, but there space on the floor for Cole to sleep on. There was even a thick rug, so he wouldn’t be sleeping on the hard, wooden floor.

“You’re in the guest section of the house,” Rose said breezily. “Stone and the other men from the clan are on either side of you. Taye and Carla are on the third floor, with their daughter, Patia. Sky and I are in a room on the other side of the mezzanine.”

What Gina had seen of the house exceeded her expectations of grandeur. The large kitchen led to a small dining room that opened to grand rooms meant for paying guests. A wide staircase swept up from the ground floor in a magnificent curve of polished wood to a second level where the guestrooms were.

President Todd’s mansion was comparable in grandeur, but not as warm or friendly. Even high-ranking guests didn’t stay in the house. But here, the second floor had six rooms which were normally rented out. The Wolfe family were a different kind of guest; they had all the rights and privileges of family, not paying boarders. Everyone took it for granted that she was included in the Wolfe family. It made her feel funny, in a warm way.

“Do you have any luggage?” Carla asked.

Gina shook her head. “I, uh, that is, I hadn’t planned on, uh…”

“That’s okay. We’ll find you some stuff.” Carla waved that off. “You know I’m dying to hear the whole story about you and Colby, but you must be exhausted. Do you want a shower before you go to bed? That’s fine. I’ll run get one of my sleep shirts for you, and my daughter has extra clothes she can share. You’re about the same size. I’ll be right back.”

Cole’s mom turned toward the door but paused and whirled back around to give Gina a hard hug. “I’m so glad you’re here. Be right back!”

She was back in three minutes with an armful of clothes and a girl with long rumpled hair the color of a walnut shell.  Not a girl, Gina realized. In spite of her slender built, she must be around twenty, only a year or two younger than she was.

“I’m Patia,” she announced ebulliently. “Cole’s sister. Are you really his mate?”

Gina’s mouth fell open.

“Hypatia,” her moth said warningly. “Gina has been walking all night. She needs to rest.”

“I know, I know.” The girl smiled, showing off dimples. “I just had to meet her right away, before…” Her smiled dimmed. “Before I go visit Ray.”

A flash of memory struck Gina like a fist. She had met a handsome young man named Ray at the coffee shop where she worked. He was on the train the day her stepfather’s men came. Gina clamped her jaw tightly. They had shot him along with every other man on the train.

Patia’s smile bloomed again, a little forced. “We have to talk tonight. I can give you all kinds of ammunition to use against my brother when he does his impression of a dictator. Which, I’m sure you’ll find out, is almost all the time. But really, he’s a sweetheart. You’ll want to kill him just about every day. I do. But the rest of the time will make up for it.”

“Thank you.” Surprised and a little grateful by Patia’s words, Gina smiled. “I think I’ve already found out that I’ll need some ammunition.”

Patia laughed. “So you haven’t accepted him yet?”

All three of the Wolfe women seemed suddenly very interested in the answer.

“Not yet. I barely know him.”

“You will,” Patia said, some of her sunny effervescence back. “Get to know him, I mean. You know, even when I want to strangle him, I love him. I bet you will, too.”

Want to strangle him? Already been there. Not knowing what to say, Gina just smiled.

Mrs. Wolfe ―Gina cut herself off. All these Mrs. Wolfes were confusing. If Gina accepted Cole she would be another Mrs. Wolfe. There are worse things to be, she reminded herself. For instance, one of many, many Mrs. Allersens. Carla shooed her daughter off to get dressed and laid out the clothes she had brought for Gina. She and Rose pointed out the bathing room at the corner of the mezzanine hall, wished her good sleep, and left.

Not sure of how much hot water was available, Gina showered and dried off in record time, scurried back to her room, changed into a crisp cotton nightgown trimmed in lace, and got into the soft bed. She barely had time to enjoy the soft mattress, the warmth of the quilts, and the sense of safety before she fell blissfully into sleep.

She didn’t know how long she slept before the knowledge that she wasn’t alone in the bed penetrated the waves of sleep that buried her. The thick drapes over the window kept out most of the sun, but not all. When she craned her head to look at the bed behind her she was able to make out Colby’s body curled around her own. Outrage stiffened her back. That just pressed his face tighter against the back of her neck. He must have moved her hair aside at some point, because his cheek was warm against the skin of her neck.

She swallowed. That felt kind of … nice. Cautiously, one centimeter at a time, she turned her head to look at him. He was outside the blankets, bare chested, but wearing the same too big jeans. One of his arms lay heavy over her waist. The muscle under the smooth golden skin fascinated her. She pressed back, barely moving to keep from waking him, trying to feel more of his oddly exciting warmth against her back. Her heart picked up speed.

This was wrong. Not being in the same bed with a man ―well, a little of that― but if he tried to feel her out while she was sleeping she would be angry. Maybe he would be angry if she took advantage of him while he slept?

Oops. He wasn’t asleep any more. His head was raised, those deep dark eyes open and fixed on her. She swallowed. “Hi.”

“Hi.”

His gravelly voice gave her goosebumps. She swallowed again.

“Did you sleep well?”

Crap. She hadn’t meant to say that. She should have asked him what the heck he was doing in bed when he should be on the floor. But she didn’t want him on the floor. She wanted him here. She wanted… Without thinking about it, she twisted so she was on her other side, facing him, and put her lips against his.

Anything he might have said in reply to her question –what was her question again?—went unsaid. The arm he’d had over her waist lifted so his hand could frame her face and pull her closer. She forgot everything except the wild thrill of having his lips on hers. The thrill grew when he opened his mouth to lick over her lips. Somehow, and she honestly wasn’t sure how, she found herself on her back with him lying over her. She clutched his hair as he kissed his way from her mouth to her throat and back to her mouth. He buried her in sweet, wet heat that made her breathing hitch and her heart pound.

Even through her nightgown, two quilts and his jeans, she felt his erection pressing against her. Gina had been sheltered and she didn’t have any personal experience with lovemaking, but she wasn’t totally ignorant either. All the heat his kisses had kindled in her rushed to the place between her thighs. She knew what was digging into her. Her own response to his heat and weight was to let her thighs part a little. It felt amazingly good.

Some of the haze of passion cleared when he tugged the covers down a few inches and cupped his hand around her breast through the nightgown. His mother’s nightgown. Yikes. What was she doing?

“Sweet mate,” he groaned.

She coughed, trying to grab the tattered remains of her sanity. “”Um, Cole.” She blew out a breath. “I only meant to say hi.”

His eyes were heavy-lidded when he raised his head to look at her. “You did say hi,” he purred. “And then you kissed me.”

Her breast seemed perfectly happy to have him caress it. “Yeah. Um.”

His hand stilled. “Do you want me to stop?”

I don’t have a lot new that moves the story forward this week, because I got some excellent feedback at my last local critique group meeting so have been busy making some revisions.  I just want to say how much i love these gals in Word Weavers. They are always complimentary, but never fake, and don’t hesitate to kindly point out where things can be made better. I would not be where I am today without Mary Jean Adams, Tina Holland, Michelle Kent, LF (who is a very private person and prefers to remain anonymous online), and Kat Smith. Word Weavers is down a few members and we are looking for other writers to join us. We write mostly romance, fantasy, sci fi, flash fiction, poetry and women’s fiction, so we are looking for female writers in those genres. If you are in the Fargo Moorhead area and are looking for a local crit group, shoot me an email at maddy@maddybarone.com. maybe you’d like to meet us and see if we would be a good fit.

Meanwhile, here is the next little bit in Gina’s Wolf. To make up for the shortness this week, I am posting a pic that is somewhat like the upper floor of the Limit.

Enjoy!

Chapter 7

The room Rose and Carla showed her to wasn’t large, and the bed dominated the furnishings, but there space on the floor for Cole to sleep on. There was even a thick rug, so he wouldn’t be sleeping on the hard, wooden floor.

“You’re in the guest section of the house,” Rose said breezily. “Stone and the other men from the clan are on either side of you. Taye and Carla are on the third floor, with their daughter, Patia. Sky and I are in a room on the other side of the mezzanine.”

What Gina had seen of the house exceeded her expectations of grandeur. The large kitchen led to a small dining room that opened to grand rooms meant for paying guests. A wide staircase swept up from the ground floor in a magnificent curve of polished wood to a second level where the guestrooms were.

President Todd’s mansion was comparable in granduer, but not as warm or friendly. Even high-ranking guests didn’t stay in the house. But here, the second floor had six rooms which were normally rented out. The Wolfe family were a different kind of guest; they had all the rights and privileges of family, not paying boarders. Everyone took it for granted that she was included in the Wolfe family. It made her feel funny, in a warm way.

“Do you have any luggage?” Carla asked.

Gina shook her head. “I, uh, that is, I hadn’t planned on, uh…”

“That’s okay. We’ll find you some stuff.” Carla waved that off. “You know I’m dying to hear the whole story about you and Colby, but you must be exhausted. Do you want a shower before you go to bed? That’s fine. I’ll run get one of my sleep shirts for you, and my daughter has extra clothes she can share. You’re about the same size. I’ll be right back.”

Cole’s mom turned toward the door but paused and whirled back around to give Gina a hard hug. “I’m so glad you’re here. Be right back!”

She was back in three minutes with an armful of clothes and a girl with long rumpled hair the color of a walnut shell.  Not a girl, Gina realized. In spite of her slender built, she must be around twenty, only a year or two younger than she was.

“I’m Patia,” she announced ebulliently. “Cole’s sister. Are you really his mate?”

Gina’s mouth fell open.

“Hypatia,” her moth said warningly. “Gina has been walking all night. She needs to rest.”

“I know, I know.” The girl smiled, showing off dimples. “I just had to meet her right away, before…” Her smiled dimmed. “Before I go visit Ray.”

A flash of memory struck Gina like a fist. She had met a handsome young man named Ray at the coffee shop where she worked. He was on the train the day her stepfather’s men came. Gina clamped her jaw tightly. They had shot him along with every other man on the train.

Patia’s smile bloomed again, a little forced. “We have to talk tonight. I can give you all kinds of ammunition to use against my brother when he does his impression of a dictator. Which, I’m sure you’ll find out, is almost all the time. But really, he’s a sweetheart. You’ll want to kill him just about every day. I do. But the rest of the time will make up for it.”

“Thank you.” Surprised and a little grateful by Patia’s words, Gina smiled. “I think I’ve already found out that I’ll need some ammunition.”

Patia laughed. “So you haven’t accepted him yet?”

All three of the Wolfe women seemed suddenly very interested in the answer.

“Not yet. I barely know him.”

“You will,” Patia said, some of her sunny effervescence back. “Get to know him, I mean. You know, even when I want to strangle him, I love him. I bet you will, too.”

Want to strangle him? Already been there. Not knowing what to say, Gina just smiled.

Mrs. Wolfe ―Gina cut herself off. All these Mrs. Wolfes were confusing. If Gina accepted Cole she would be another Mrs. Wolfe. There are worse things to be, she reminded herself. For instance, one of many, many Mrs. Allersens. Carla shooed her daughter off to get dressed and laid out the clothes she had brought for Gina. She and Rose pointed out the bathing room at the corner of the mezzanine hall, wished her good sleep, and left.

Not sure of how much hot water was available, Gina showered and dried off in record time, scurried back to her room, changed into a crisp cotton nightgown trimmed in lace, got into the soft bed, and fell blissfully into sleep.

Look, I didn’t forget to post the teaser on Tuesday!

Honestly, I almost did forget, but luckily I remembered in time.  This is a little rough and I think I’ll make some changes during revisions, because one character doesn’t act like I think she would act. I’ll have to do some thinking about it. But meanwhile, here you go:

“Where are we going?” Cole asked his dad.

“The Limit,” his father replied. “We have rooms there.”

Gina knew of The Limit, although she’d never gone inside. The high-end restaurant and club was outside her budget. She’d seen the outside of the historic mansion that housed the restaurant and had wondered what it was like inside. It looked like she’d get to find out.

At this crazy speed, they reached the posh district in only ten minutes. Sal cruised through a gate in a stone wall and drove up a long driveway.

The house was dark, but as they drove around to the back, Gina saw lights come on in some of the windows.

“Everybody out!” the little driver screamed over the idling motor.

Cole’s dad hopped out and raised his hands to help Gina down. The men poured out of the back of the truck. Sal roared off toward a stable turned garage before the tail gate was closed. The sound of the heavy metal door banging against the truck faded quickly.

Cole took her hand and led her into the house. The rest of the men trooped in after them. They went through what must have been a mudroom, although it was too dark to see it clearly. The next room was a large kitchen. A light flipped on, dazzling Gina’s eyes. A voice quavering with age spoke.

“Mr. Wolfe? What are you doing up? It’s not dawn yet. Even the cook isn’t up yet. Couldn’t you sleep?”

The woman who spoke was tiny with a puff of silver hair rising around her head like a halo. Going by the wrinkles on her face, her age must be great. There was a younger woman on her left, probably around forty or so, with dark blond hair brushing her shoulders. A slightly older woman with long brown hair was on her right. That woman’s eyes were fixed on Cole with tears gleaming on her lashes.

Cole’s dad spoke respectfully. “We went out to find my son, Ms. Mary.” He nodded to the younger woman. “Rose said she knew where he was.”

The old lady turned to her youngest companion. “You are so clever, my dear.”

Rose smiled, nodding at Ms. Mary, but her gaze turned quickly to Cole, and then Gina. The third woman launched herself at Cole, clenching her arms around him. He let go of Gina’s hand to hug her hard.

“Colby,” she said over and over. “Colby. Colby, you’re alive.”

“Mom. I’m alright. What are you doing here?” He lifted his cheek from her hair to glare at his dad. “This isn’t a good place for her. Or Aunt Rose.”

“Or your sister?” His father gave a faint grin.

Cole’s mouth dropped open and snapped closed. “Patia is here? Dad, it’s not safe.”

“If you think I could have kept your mother home when you were lost and maybe dead, then you don’t know her. And your sister is frantic with worry about her mate.” He went to his wife and son to join in a group hug.

Gina stepped back to give them room. One of the naked men behind brushed past her to hug Rose. Gina primly averted her eyes, but not before she saw the strong line of his back and the curve of his muscled butt.

“Well.” Ms. Mary cleared her throat loudly. “I’m very happy you found your son. But it is time you gentlemen put on some clothes. The kitchen staff will be here in a few minutes and they are too young to see such a thrilling sight.”

Gina choked trying to stifle the giggle that flew into her throat. The men behind her made a hasty retreat to the mud room.

The old lady came and took Gina’s hands in her own frail, blue-veined hands. “My dear, you are frozen right down to the bone. Please, come in. Sky, build up the fire in the …” She trailed off, frowning slightly at the man still hugging the blond woman. “Sky, hurry and get dressed. We need to decide where this lovely young lady is going to sleep.”

Cole untangled himself from his parents. “With me,” he said forcefully.

Gina opened her mouth to protest. His mother spoke first, in a hopeful tone. “Did she accept your mate claim?” She turned to Gina. “Did you?”

“No!” said Gina.

Cole’s dad made soothing noises. “Now, sweetheart, there’s no reason for them to be apart. Colby would never take advantage, and it would be a good way for them to get to know one another.” His smile turned roguish. “And it worked for us.”

His wife sniffed. “It did work for us, Taye, but if your mother had been there, what would she have said?”

Taye’s smile fell. “There’s not another room free,” he persisted.

“There is plenty of room,” his wife decreed. “And if not, you and Colby can bunk together, and Colby’s mate and I will share a room.”

Neither Cole or his dad looked happy about that.

The man called Sky suggested, “She could stay in the women’s dormitory in back.”

“No,” said Cole forcibly. “My mate stays with me!”

“Gentlemen,” said Ms. Mary in a thin shout, “go get dressed!”

Too late. Two teenaged girls came into the kitchen, gasped, and broke into red-faced giggles. Taye and the man called Sky hurried past them and disappeared into the house. Ms. Mary took charge.

“Denise, you and Rachel forget you saw anything upsetting and get to work. Make coffee and bring it to my room.”

Gina doubted the girls were upset by what they saw. The big grins on their rosy faces didn’t look upset.

“Ladies,” the old woman said to her, Cole’s mom, and Rose, “follow me.”

In a few minutes, Gina was seated in a delicate chair close to the fire in Ms. Mary’s private sitting room, with Ms. Mary in a matching chair a yard away. Rose had stoked the fire in the grate to a nice blaze, and she and Cole’s mom sat on a padded bench between Gina and Ms. Mary. Cole’s mom gave Gina a blinding smile.

“I am Carla Wolfe,” she said. “Colby’s mom. I am so happy to meet you. How did you and Colby meet? Have you known him long? Are you going to accept him?”

Gina resisted the urge to lean away. “I, uh, I don’t know.”

“Carla, give the girl a minute to breathe,” said Rose. “I’m Rose Wolfe. My mate is Sky. He used to run this house a long time ago.”

Gina blinked and nodded. “I’m Gina Summer. I met Cole at the coffeeshop I worked at.” How long ago? Two weeks? Three? It couldn’t have been four weeks ago. Everything was happening so fast she couldn’t keep up. “I never even knew about werewo—I mean, wolf warriors until a week ago.”

Carla smiled warmly. “I know it can be overwhelming. When Taye won me in a Bride Fight I was scared to death, and there were no other women at the Den, so I felt alone. You don’t have to worry about that. All of us will do everything we can to help you. Now, we can share a room. If you don’t want Colby to bother you, I promise he won’t come near you if you’re with me. You don’t even have to see him if you don’t want to. I’ll take care of you as if you were my own daughter. So, shall we share a room? Or would you like Colby for your roommate?”

Without even considering her options, she blurted, “I want Cole.”

From somewhere in the house a triumphant wolf howl rose.

It’s hard to believe it has been only a week since I got back from RAGT! It feels much longer.  I started the new day job yesterday. It is with the same company, and even the same team. I’m an Operations Coordinator and my main responsibility will be QAing work. Quality Assurance R Us.  I think I will like it when I get settled into the job. This week I have to go into the office every day, which is a big change from rolling out of bed and just walking into the other room. Now I have to get up, take a shower, put “real” clothes on, eat something, and drive to work. Oy!

Ready to get back to the usual weekly snips from Gina’s Wolf? As always, these aren’t edited or even proof read, so please overlook any booboos. Oh, and speaking of booboos, have you see BooBoo Stewart? He’s very young, only twenty-four. I imagine lots of the next generation of the Pack and Clan look like him. Just had to share!

Enjoy the image and the snip!

Chapter Six

The sound of barely controlled terror in his mate’s voice forced more speed from his weary legs. Cole knew his boast that he could take twelve men was an empty one. Deep inside, his wolf cringed at the memory of the pain and confusion that followed the bullet slamming through his head. Omaha was only a mile and a half away, a mere five minute sprint for him if he were rested and not carrying a burden. No, never a burden. Gina was his one chance at love and a family. He would save her. He had to save her. He made his legs to stretch farther and faster. His head throbbed in time with his steps.

The outline of Omaha’s wall was a murky shadow in the dark ahead. So close. Not close enough. The shine of the motorcycle lights gleamed on the road beneath his feet. So close. Too close. He was running, but it was a terrible effort now. His lungs were on fire, his ankles threatened to turn with every step, his arms were clenched around his mate in death grip.

“Drop me,” Gina screamed in his ear. “They won’t hurt me. You can run faster without me.”

He’d already said he would never leave her. He didn’t have enough wind to repeat himself. “No,” he grunted between pants.

The roar of one motorcycle was bare yards behind him now, the others close behind it. His speed was failing. His strength was almost gone. Defeat rose in a bitter wave to crash over his heart. But his mate was clinging to him, breathing in almost silent sobs against his neck, so he spit on defeat and kept running. His legs didn’t want to obey. His feet and thighs screamed with every step. The thought of his mate―his mate!—being forced to marry someone else kept him going. I won’t let them have you, Gina, he swore silently. I will save you or die trying.

It would be better to live, but with Omaha silent in the dark ahead and her stepfather’s army nipping at their heels, death looked more likely.

I failed you, mate. His footsteps were wavering now, his heart close to bursting with exhaustion. I’m sorry. So sorry.

“Put me down,” she begged.

For one moment he considered it. The motorcycles were right on his heels. They would shoot him as soon as they got a clear shot that wouldn’t hurt Gina. If he left her, he could run to Omaha and get help. Or, he thought with disgust,  they’ll pick Gina up and shoot me in the back while I run away. He clenched his teeth. No, if I die, I’ll do it facing my enemy and defending my mate.

New strength rose in him from some deep well he hadn’t known he had. From the corner of his eye he saw the front wheel of a motorcycle drop behind him as he poured on more speed. There was a lone tree by the road a few yards ahead. If he could get there, he could drop Gina to her feet and put her between him and the tree to make a last stand.

A sound rose in the distance. It first it was only an undefined smudge in the dark, but it sharpened, piercing through the roar of motorcycle engines. Cole’s heart leaped. The sweet familiarity of wolf howls turned his desperate despair to fierce joy. He couldn’t spare the breath, but he howled back anyway.

Four footed black shadows flowed in great bounds over the road ahead. Cole doubted if the motorcyclists either saw or heard the wolf warriors coming their way. In the distance, a widening square of light opened in the wall around Omaha. The rumble of trucks joined the howling of the wolves. He laughed in fierce exaltation.

“Cole?” His mate sounded worried. “What?”

The headlights of the motorcycles swerved and swung away.

“We’re saved,” he shouted at her.

She twisted her head to look over his shoulder. “They’re giving up? Why?”

He allowed his speed to slow to a trot, then a walk. “My kin,” he said simply.

“Your…?” Gina twisted to look forward again. When she saw the bobbing lights of the trucks coming from Omaha she gasped. “Oh, my! You can put me down now.”

For a moment he held her closer, savoring her scent. The fear that gave it an acrid tinge was fading. He wasn’t as good with scents as some of the pack, but he detected a sharp edge of embarrassment and unease. The trucks were only half a mile away now, and his cousins were even closer. He dared to brush his lips lightly over her hair before he lowered her to the road.

His mate made futile attempts to smooth her hair. He smiled at her as he tried to control his breathing. She had nearly been captured by the enemy, but she fussed now about her appearance. It made his blood run cold when he thought of how close it had been. His legs trembled so badly from exhaustion he had to hobble to the tree and lean against it. He glanced back down the road they had travelled and saw the red taillights of the motorcycles growing smaller.

They were safe.

Her hat must have fallen off somewhere along their desperate flight. Gina did her best to tidy her hair. She didn’t want to meet her prospective in-laws looking frazzled or bedraggled. Gina could see the trucks were almost here, three of them, with deafeningly loud engines. Was his father driving one of the trucks? Or was it his cousins that she had met in Omaha that day in the coffee shop?

Two of the trucks sped up and went past them, probably in pursuit of the motorcycles. They wouldn’t catch up. The motorcyclists were her stepfather’s crack advance troops. They could go faster than heavy, lumbering trucks. The third truck slowed and rolled to a stop nearby. But her attention was pulled from the truck by the arrival of what seemed like a whole pack of dogs. The headlights of the truck showed the dogs were big, gray, and fierce. She took half a step back and froze when they … shimmered in the dark.

Her mouth gaping open, she stared at the naked men who appeared out of the shimmers. They were equally big and fierce. She closed her mouth and swallowed when the men went from embracing Cole to turning to stare at her.