Nikolai's Wolf by Zena Wynn Page B

tonight?” He cast an uneasy glance over her shoulder to the yard behind.
    “I couldn’t let Shayla ride over here by herself. She’s unfamiliar with the area. She might have gotten lost. We couldn’t afford for that to happen, not tonight of all nights.” She watched Shayla follow Kiesha into the den where she had her home office set up, then wondered what was wrong with Alex. He’d never seemed unhappy to see her before.
    “Why don’t you head on home? One of us can drive her back, or she can stay here tonight if it gets too late.” Alex sounded a bit desperate. What’s up with him?
    She looked at him strangely. “That’s not necessary. I’m here now, and Shayla said it wouldn’t take long. There’s no sense in you leaving your house when I’m already here.
    Besides, the only males in scenting distance are you and Rory. Otherwise I’d be more concerned. Most of the males live closer to town, and that’s where they will be heading, where the females are most abundant.” At least that’s what I hope they’ll do. That little bit of uncertainty was why she’d let Rory hang around.
    Alex stalked off toward the kitchen muttering, “Stubborn females, always messing up my plans.”
    Shannon followed slowly behind him, wondering again what his problem was. She joined the ladies in the den, where Kiesha was watching Shayla work, asking the occasional question.
    “Kiesha, what’s wrong with Alex? He seemed upset to see me. In fact, he tried to get me to go home and let one of you bring Shayla back, or he said she could spend the night here and wait until tomorrow.”
    Kiesha’s eyes narrowed in speculation. “He actually said that to you?” Shannon nodded. “Not only did he say it, but when I pointed out that I was already here and that there was no sense in leaving, he stalked off muttering about ‘stubborn women and messed-up plans.’ What ‘plan’ was he talking about?” Nikolai’s Wolf
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    Kiesha thought about it for a moment; then her eyes widened in alarm. “Shay, stop what you’re doing. You have to get out of here. Both of you. He’s trying to find a mate for Shayla! He knew she was coming tonight, and probably invited a few of the alphas from the pack to come over. He didn’t say anything to me because he knew I’d be pissed.” Shannon’s eyes rounded like saucers. “Oh, shit. Did you say alphas? Shay, hurry. We have to go. Now!”
    “I’m coming,” Shay mumbled, shutting everything down as fast as she could. “When I see that cousin-in-law of mine again, I’ll have a few things to say to him. Too bad there’s no time for it now.”
    She ran through the door on Shay’s heels, giving her a gentle shove when Shay paused to throw a glare over her shoulder at Alex as they bypassed him in the kitchen.
    Outside, Shannon ran for her truck, keys in hand, with Shay close behind. Damn, I should have listened to Rory. Then she wouldn’t be in this mess. She hated that he was always right.
    She started the truck and shoved it in gear before turning around in the yard to head back to the main road. “We have to get back to the house. The minute they catch my scent, they’re going to be all over me. I wish I knew who he’d called, what time he expected them to arrive, and how they were coming -- in vehicles or on all fours.”
    “From his reaction to your presence, I’d say he expected them to arrive at any moment, which was why he was trying to rush you out of there.” Shannon spun out onto the little two-lane dirt road that ran up the mountain and through the woods. They bounced up and down inside the cab as the tires navigated over ruts and dips, sometimes coming off the ground entirely. Shannon cursed as the truck began losing power, shuddering and shaking. She beat the dash. “Come on, you piece of shit. Don’t do this to me now.” Apparently it wasn’t listening; the engine stalled, and the truck came to a rolling stop in the middle of the road.
    “I should have replaced