Foxy Lady by Marie Harte Page A

humor, a hard head that had suffered many a blow during childhood stunts, and a savvy poker face. He’d disappeared years ago, leaving his friends and family behind with more questions than answers.
    Since he’d been back, he’d been in one scrape after another. After joining the Catamount Pride, Monty had seemed to be trying to clean up his act. Seemed being the key word.
    “You have shitty timing, Monty,” Ty muttered, concerned about Monty’s condition. “Damn, son, you look like crap.”
    Monty bared his teeth in a semblance of a grin and sat. “Thanks.”
    Ty dug into his desk drawer and found a Snickers. He tossed it to Monty and watched the wolf gobble it down. He handed him a glass of water and watched it disappear as well. “They didn’t feed you?” Anger surged, but before he could yell for Laura, Monty stopped him.
    “I didn’t eat what they brought. I’m a vegetarian now.”
    Ty’s jaw dropped.
    Monty grinned. “Kidding. I just hate being caged. Had some problems with confinement during my lost years. Don’t worry, I’m feeling much better.” With a steady hand, he brushed back black hair threaded with silver.
    “Okay, wolf. Tell me the whole of it.”
    Monty grimaced. “I followed a few wolves talking about taking vengeance on the town sheriff. They had plans for you, Ty. None of it sounded good. Well, I followed them into the grocery store, only to find two bears messing with Sophie. So yeah, I got distracted.”
    Of course he did. Ty had seen the way Monty watched Sophie. A pretty little wolf and new to the town, she’d been quite the curiosity for a while. Not aggressive like the wolves of her Order, Sophie worked hard and didn’t give anyone trouble. He had a feeling Monty was soft on the woman, especially after hearing about the damage the wolf had done on her behalf.
    Monty continued. “Those bears aren’t cubs anymore. Assholes are huge and old enough to know better. They were tossing her between them like a fucking rag doll. One of them threw her so hard she hit a rack and it fell on her, breaking her arm. I saw red and attacked.”
    Ty sucked in a breath and let it out slowly. So much for the bears and wolves getting along. Stovall, the bears’ leader, would blow a gasket. Normally, the giant of a man with a heart of gold would try to reason out their difficulties. But a wolf attack days after someone had bludgeoned his truck… Shit. “Does Stovall know?”
    “How the hell should I know? I’ve been cooped up in here while your damned deputies have been playing house,” Monty said in a louder voice.
    Low growls from outside the office answered him.
    “You’re just making friends all over the place, aren’t you? I take it you attacked John because you smelled bear?”
    The wolf flushed. “Ah, yeah. I’m really sorry about that. I went into protective overdrive with Sophie. Laura at least let me know Sophie’s okay.”
    “But the oaf wouldn’t see her when she came to visit,” Laura yelled from the other room.
    So much for the privacy of his office. Ty rubbed his eyes tiredly, really wishing he’d spent his first evening at home sequestered with Julia and not his job.
    “But enough about me. What’s that pretty scent all over you?” The interest on the wolf’s face alarmed him. Monty had a way with women. Ty thought of him as Gerald in wolf form, but not as smooth. The wildness around Monty’s eyes clearly reflected the animal inside.
    “Never you mind.”
    His old friend frowned. “It’s more than just her scent. Yours is mingled with it. Damn. Never thought I’d see the day. Who’s the lucky fox?”
    “Julia Easton.” Ty didn’t look away from Monty, sending a signal the only way he knew how without bashing Monty’s brains in. “She’s mine .”
    Monty finally glanced away, acknowledging Ty’s claim. “Congrats. Sucker.” He snickered and groaned, fingering his jaw. “By the way, tell Laura to watch that right hook. She put a bit too much bear