Shadows (Book 2 of the Zara's Wolf Trilogy) BWWM

3. Get Ready

Alicia and Keith are really excited to go back home and see their family again, especially Keith. I think he's used to having a lot of shifters around. It's either that, or he is looking forward to having a few days off of watching my pathetic attempts at reaching Rick's push-up targets. I'm going to guess the latter.

The Silver Star Pack, the duo's family's pack, has their territory north of the Oregon and Washington State boarder in the Cascade Mountain Range. The Columbia River separates their territory from ours and wolves never cross it without prior invitations.

"What happens if someone does?" I can't help but ask.

Evan shrugs. "Depends. If they are submissive, they are taken before the pack and allowed to speak, perhaps be put on trial if they are suspected of being a threat. If they come in with the sole intention of inflicting harm, well," he hesitates, scratching the back of his neck.

"They get slaughtered instantly," Keith finishes from the doorway.

I look over my shoulder and see him standing in the hallway, his thumbs tucked in the front pockets of his jeans. He's wearing a light gray t-shirt that fits a little too snugly on his torso. His eyes look forward down the hall, but flick briefly at us from the corners. I turn back to Evan, my eyes searching his for confirmation of validity as to what Keith said.

Evan's face is expressionless and I get the feeling that he's trying to downplay the seriousness of Keith's statement. "Yes, but rogue attacks are very rare."

I can't help but shudder.

"You two ready?" Keith asks as he eyes the backpack on the bed.

Evan zips up the bag. "Uh huh."

The blond nods. "Let's get the show on the road."

As I sit on the edge of the mattress, I watch Keith walk away before turning back to Evan as he slings the bag over his lean shoulder. Peeking out from the sleeve of his hunter green t-shirt, his tight sinewy muscles flex with the motion.

Stepping in front of me, Evan holds out his hands, palms up. With a wary smile, I take his hands in mine and he pulls me up to my feet. I look away from his prodding gaze.

This will be my first trip anywhere without my parents, and the people we were about to meet weren't entirely human either. It took my parents weeks to adjust to Evan with every weekend visit we made, and even Mama can't help watching him like a hawk, as if he might turn into a wolf any moment and rip her to shreds. I know that's just her fear of canines kicking in, but still. Evan's parents only have a couple of days to get to know me, will that be enough?

"Don't worry. They know us and they're expecting us. Owen, Leah, and Brianna will meet us at the river, probably with a few others," Evan says, as if I am worried about the Silver Star Pack mistaking us for dangerous intruders. "Bri is especially excited to meet you since you two are about the same age."

I've heard these names many times before. Leah is his older sister and her mate is Owen. Owen is Alicia and Keith's older brother and the future alpha of the Silver Star Pack. On his thirtieth birthday, coming up in a few months, he'll take over his father's pack and become the new alpha. Brianna is Evan's younger sister, and is a year older than me. I imagine her and Leah to look like him-lean, yet strong with a quiet sense of power and confidence. If Owen resembles Keith, he probably looks like some kind of blond Hercules and fully capable of ripping a rogue wolf to shreds with his bare hands.

I shoo the image of Hercules lifting a bloody wolf over his head and instead focus my attention on my mate. He's watching me closely with concern written all over his diamond-shaped face.