Force of the Dark Wolf (Force of Nature Series) by Kathi S. Barton Page A

large wall unit that was closed up and he’d bet that it held a computer and anything else she’d need for an office.
    “I don’t want you here. You’re messing with…” She walked toward the door that he hadn’t noticed before. “No one has ever been down here before except for the builders. You’re messing up my karma , or vibes , or something. I’d really like for you to— ”
    “My wolf wants to touch you, smell you,” he told her quickly. He didn’t want her to send him away. “He’s beautiful. And he’d very much like to meet you and not rush out the door like he did before. He snarls at me every time I can scent you.”
    She looked at him , but didn’t tell him to leave. Yet. “You say that like he’s a different person or something. Isn’t he just something inside of you that you let out sometimes?”
    “Yes and no. He’s there inside of me , but he is a different being. He’s the part of me that is beast. As for letting him out, I do when he wants. Sometimes for him and sometimes for me. He wants to meet you. He would never harm you . Y ou don’t have to be afraid of him.”
    “I’m not afraid of either of you,” she snapped. He hid his grin by looking out the window again. He heard her move to the center of the room , but didn’t look at her yet. When she spoke again , he turned slowly. “I can change too. Myself , I mean. I can change into anything I want , but I’m partial to an eagle.”
    He moved back slowly , trying to gauge when he was near enough to something to sit down or at the very least , lean against. Gordon felt something hit the back of his legs and reached behind him to grab on. He was grateful when he realized it was a chair and that he was in the correct position to sit in it.
    “How long…” He cleared his throat twice before continuing. “How long have you been able to do that?” Thousands of questions popped into his mind while that many more tried to come to the front of the line. How? When? Why? Were only a few that he could get a fix on. He realized that she was looking at him and he tried to regain control of himself.
    “You’re mad again. Whatever.” She moved to her bed and sat down. “I first changed into the eagle by accident. I’d been watching one in the backyard for a few days and wondered what it would be like. The next thing I know , I’m soaring through the sky with him. The next time , I really thought it out and felt it roll over me. The change , I mean. After that … ” S he shrugged . “I did it whenever I wanted to get away.”
    He nodded. He could understand wanting to get away , but that still didn’t — “How old were you the first time? I mean, you make it sound as if you’ve been doing it for some time.”
    “I was six. It was right after my parents married.” She stood up and started pacing as she told him more. “I didn’t know why I could do it. And I’d always known that I was… M om never lied to me about being adopted…well , she lied , but I hadn’t realized she was lying. Anyway, so I didn’t go to her about it. First of all , I was really afraid that she’d not want me anymore and then later I didn’t because it was something I had of my own.”
    “Do it , ” he told her softly. “Change for me.”
    She stared at him for several seconds and he knew she was going to tell him no. She nodded once and went to the door this time. He started to follow , but she stopped him at the doorway.
    “No. You have to stay here and watch me through the glass. I can’t do it with you too close. You’ll make me nervous.” She looked at the window and then back at him. “The sun will be up soon and you’ll be able to watch. I won’t come back here until…you’ll be gone when I return , or I won’t. It’s as simple as that.”
    He didn’t answer or move until she turned and walked away. He wasn’t leaving. He wasn’t even going to stay inside and wait for her to change. As soon as she was out of sight he