rate, and
from just about anything, once claimed. It’d worked, and the two of them were
more than happy.
“I know I won’t be able to just wish it away,” Talon said. “It
doesn’t mean I have to like it, though.”
Memphis smiled. “I still think you’ll be singing a different tune
when your time comes.”
They’d arrived in town, and Memphis pulled into a parking spot on
the street close to the front of the general store, which was a coffee shop and
Laundromat as well. It wasn’t until he’d shut off the engine that he noticed
the group of people standing by the entrance to the building. They seemed to be
having a heated conversation with lots of hand waving and stern faces.
“What do you think that’s all about?” Talon asked.
“I have no idea. I guess we’ll find out soon enough since they’re
standing right where we have to go.”
He and Talon got out of the pickup and headed for the sidewalk. As
they walked down it, Memphis easily heard the loud conversation taking place.
Since their voices were raised, he didn’t need his sensitive wolf shifter
hearing to do so. He and his brother stopped a short distance away from the
others.
A pretty woman with long, auburn hair appeared to be arguing with
some locals about the hunting of wolves. She was against it while the locals
were for it. It was a subject Memphis and his family felt strongly about, and
were on the side of the woman.
“The wolves need to be protected,” the woman said when Memphis and
Talon had almost reached the group. “They could easily become endangered once
again.”
“They were delisted from protection under the Endangered Species Act
so obviously the government doesn’t think they will,” retorted Brad, one of the
locals who raised cattle. “The damn animals have taken down some of my livestock.
I have no sympathy for them when they jeopardize my livelihood.”
Even though she was tall for a woman—Memphis guessed her to be
around five-foot-eight—Brad still was a few inches taller and had a heavyset
frame. He’d gotten right up into her face as he’d spoken, but that didn’t have
her backing down at all.
“They still need to be protected,” she shot back.
Brad glared at her. “Who are you to come here and tell me how I
manage my land? You don’t live in Canyon Creek. You have no understanding of
what it takes to make a living here. So don’t think you can arrive in our town
and make demands on us.”
The way the woman glared at Brad, Memphis could see this situation
easily getting out of hand. It didn’t look as if any of the other spectators
were inclined to step in before that happened. Memphis decided it was time for
everyone to go their separate ways and cool off.
He went to take a step in the woman’s direction and had two things
happen at once. The urge and craving to mate slammed into him, causing him to come
to a sudden standstill and catch his balance. The need was so bad he had to
force himself to breathe through it. The burning sensation on the left side of
his neck where it met his shoulder had him quietly hissing with pain as he
brought his hand up and covered the spot. That only lasted a few seconds, but
the arousal hadn’t diminished a bit.
Memphis knew exactly what had happened. He’d been mate branded.
Talon, who’d come up to stand beside him, turned his head in Memphis’ direction
and sniffed the air.
“Ah, man,” his brother said with a scowl. “You’ve got to be kidding
me? Now? Like right now?”
“Yeah.”
“Damn, you stink.” Talon took a step away.
Memphis did his best to ignore the next wave of arousal that hit
him. As expected, his cock remained soft. His ability to get a hard-on was now
gone until he found his mate, then he’d be back in working order. Until such
time, his mind would be willing, but his body wouldn’t.
The wind changed direction and blew the woman’s scent toward
Memphis. He sucked in a sharp breath as his cock instantly went rock hard.
from just about anything, once claimed. It’d worked, and the two of them were
more than happy.
“I know I won’t be able to just wish it away,” Talon said. “It
doesn’t mean I have to like it, though.”
Memphis smiled. “I still think you’ll be singing a different tune
when your time comes.”
They’d arrived in town, and Memphis pulled into a parking spot on
the street close to the front of the general store, which was a coffee shop and
Laundromat as well. It wasn’t until he’d shut off the engine that he noticed
the group of people standing by the entrance to the building. They seemed to be
having a heated conversation with lots of hand waving and stern faces.
“What do you think that’s all about?” Talon asked.
“I have no idea. I guess we’ll find out soon enough since they’re
standing right where we have to go.”
He and Talon got out of the pickup and headed for the sidewalk. As
they walked down it, Memphis easily heard the loud conversation taking place.
Since their voices were raised, he didn’t need his sensitive wolf shifter
hearing to do so. He and his brother stopped a short distance away from the
others.
A pretty woman with long, auburn hair appeared to be arguing with
some locals about the hunting of wolves. She was against it while the locals
were for it. It was a subject Memphis and his family felt strongly about, and
were on the side of the woman.
“The wolves need to be protected,” the woman said when Memphis and
Talon had almost reached the group. “They could easily become endangered once
again.”
“They were delisted from protection under the Endangered Species Act
so obviously the government doesn’t think they will,” retorted Brad, one of the
locals who raised cattle. “The damn animals have taken down some of my livestock.
I have no sympathy for them when they jeopardize my livelihood.”
Even though she was tall for a woman—Memphis guessed her to be
around five-foot-eight—Brad still was a few inches taller and had a heavyset
frame. He’d gotten right up into her face as he’d spoken, but that didn’t have
her backing down at all.
“They still need to be protected,” she shot back.
Brad glared at her. “Who are you to come here and tell me how I
manage my land? You don’t live in Canyon Creek. You have no understanding of
what it takes to make a living here. So don’t think you can arrive in our town
and make demands on us.”
The way the woman glared at Brad, Memphis could see this situation
easily getting out of hand. It didn’t look as if any of the other spectators
were inclined to step in before that happened. Memphis decided it was time for
everyone to go their separate ways and cool off.
He went to take a step in the woman’s direction and had two things
happen at once. The urge and craving to mate slammed into him, causing him to come
to a sudden standstill and catch his balance. The need was so bad he had to
force himself to breathe through it. The burning sensation on the left side of
his neck where it met his shoulder had him quietly hissing with pain as he
brought his hand up and covered the spot. That only lasted a few seconds, but
the arousal hadn’t diminished a bit.
Memphis knew exactly what had happened. He’d been mate branded.
Talon, who’d come up to stand beside him, turned his head in Memphis’ direction
and sniffed the air.
“Ah, man,” his brother said with a scowl. “You’ve got to be kidding
me? Now? Like right now?”
“Yeah.”
“Damn, you stink.” Talon took a step away.
Memphis did his best to ignore the next wave of arousal that hit
him. As expected, his cock remained soft. His ability to get a hard-on was now
gone until he found his mate, then he’d be back in working order. Until such
time, his mind would be willing, but his body wouldn’t.
The wind changed direction and blew the woman’s scent toward
Memphis. He sucked in a sharp breath as his cock instantly went rock hard.
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