endangered.”
Gabriel crouched down and picked up a handful of soil, let it spill through his fingers. “It could have infected the animals or migrated onto land. Have you noticed anything unusual in the park? Other trees attacking shifters, or the ground seeming to come alive?”
The Lupine frowned. “I haven’t seen many shifters in this park. It’s mainly Skins. I patrol a lot of acres, both in Skin during the day and in wolf form at night.”
The big male scratched his chin. “Come to think of it, I did run across an odd thing the other day. I was in wolfskin, running along the path that cuts through the forest for the power lines, when I saw shadows moving in the bushes, silhouettes more than shadows. Scented the stench of death, too. It wasn’t deer or anything natural. But when I went to investigate, it was gone.”
“Take me there,” Gabriel ordered.
They returned to the truck and drove to an access road. A mile from the main road, Jake parked. “You’ll have to walk from here. It’s about a half mile south. I’ll take you.”
“I’d rather go it alone. Your scent will interfere.”
Jake scowled and then sighed. “Yeah and if someone sees you, you can always duck into the scrub. But the both of us together will make tongues wag if we’re spotted. Go south, follow the trail. It’s a straight line. About a half mile south, you’ll see a telephone poll with a large red X. I marked it.”
Gabriel glanced at Sienna. “Stay here with Jake.”
“I will not. I’m coming with you.”
“No. If I run into this thing, I know how to deal with it.”
Not waiting for her answer, the arrogant cat waved a hand and shifted into panther. Fascinated, she reached out a hand to stroke the thick golden fur, then drew back.
“I am coming with you,” she told him.
He gave a mighty shake, negating her request with his entire body.
Gabriel gracefully raced along the path, close to the trees. Jake tipped back his hat and leaned against the truck.
“Make yourself comfortable, Lady Elf. He may be a while. Gabe’s very thorough.”
“Please call me Sienna.” She sat on the ground, tracing a rune in the sandy soil with her forefinger. “You’ve worked with him before. It’s obvious. Is he a good tracker?”
“The best. His nose is better than mine and I’m a wolf.” Jake gave a matter-of-fact shrug. “And this is his backyard. He knows all the wildlife, the scents. I’ve been here a year and I’m still learning.”
“You belonged to the Mitchell Ranch pack?”
The Lupine stiffened beneath his gray uniform. “Once. I don’t talk about that anymore.”
“I didn’t mean to intrude,” she said gently.
He shrugged. “It’s in the past and I live for the moment.”
Interesting. “It must be lonely down here without other Lupines.”
Jake stared straight ahead in the direction Gabriel had taken. “There are other Lupines, but they’re not quite the same as me. Largest is the red wolf Lupine pack in Stuart. Native to the land.”
“Do you run beneath the moon with them?”
He turned and studied her, pulling his hat low on his forehead. “You’re very inquisitive.”
“Sorry. Shifters fascinate me. I was assigned to guard a half-Lupine shifter recently.”
“Samantha, mate to Darius.”
Sienna laughed. “Word does get around.”
He shrugged. “I’m still friends with the pack and talk with Aiden, my former alpha. He told me Darius was mated to Samantha. I was very happy for him. A male in that pack shouldn’t be alone. Too many damn males and too few females to keep them happy.”
Intrigued, she studied his tense body language, sensing a secret. “Is that why you left? To find a mate?”
He narrowed his eyes. “Why I left is my own business and I’ll thank you to stop asking questions.”
“I don’t mean to pry.”
“But you do.”
“Ok, I do. I’m a female. I like to know about everyone’s love life.”
As she grinned at him, the big Lupine finally
Gabriel crouched down and picked up a handful of soil, let it spill through his fingers. “It could have infected the animals or migrated onto land. Have you noticed anything unusual in the park? Other trees attacking shifters, or the ground seeming to come alive?”
The Lupine frowned. “I haven’t seen many shifters in this park. It’s mainly Skins. I patrol a lot of acres, both in Skin during the day and in wolf form at night.”
The big male scratched his chin. “Come to think of it, I did run across an odd thing the other day. I was in wolfskin, running along the path that cuts through the forest for the power lines, when I saw shadows moving in the bushes, silhouettes more than shadows. Scented the stench of death, too. It wasn’t deer or anything natural. But when I went to investigate, it was gone.”
“Take me there,” Gabriel ordered.
They returned to the truck and drove to an access road. A mile from the main road, Jake parked. “You’ll have to walk from here. It’s about a half mile south. I’ll take you.”
“I’d rather go it alone. Your scent will interfere.”
Jake scowled and then sighed. “Yeah and if someone sees you, you can always duck into the scrub. But the both of us together will make tongues wag if we’re spotted. Go south, follow the trail. It’s a straight line. About a half mile south, you’ll see a telephone poll with a large red X. I marked it.”
Gabriel glanced at Sienna. “Stay here with Jake.”
“I will not. I’m coming with you.”
“No. If I run into this thing, I know how to deal with it.”
Not waiting for her answer, the arrogant cat waved a hand and shifted into panther. Fascinated, she reached out a hand to stroke the thick golden fur, then drew back.
“I am coming with you,” she told him.
He gave a mighty shake, negating her request with his entire body.
Gabriel gracefully raced along the path, close to the trees. Jake tipped back his hat and leaned against the truck.
“Make yourself comfortable, Lady Elf. He may be a while. Gabe’s very thorough.”
“Please call me Sienna.” She sat on the ground, tracing a rune in the sandy soil with her forefinger. “You’ve worked with him before. It’s obvious. Is he a good tracker?”
“The best. His nose is better than mine and I’m a wolf.” Jake gave a matter-of-fact shrug. “And this is his backyard. He knows all the wildlife, the scents. I’ve been here a year and I’m still learning.”
“You belonged to the Mitchell Ranch pack?”
The Lupine stiffened beneath his gray uniform. “Once. I don’t talk about that anymore.”
“I didn’t mean to intrude,” she said gently.
He shrugged. “It’s in the past and I live for the moment.”
Interesting. “It must be lonely down here without other Lupines.”
Jake stared straight ahead in the direction Gabriel had taken. “There are other Lupines, but they’re not quite the same as me. Largest is the red wolf Lupine pack in Stuart. Native to the land.”
“Do you run beneath the moon with them?”
He turned and studied her, pulling his hat low on his forehead. “You’re very inquisitive.”
“Sorry. Shifters fascinate me. I was assigned to guard a half-Lupine shifter recently.”
“Samantha, mate to Darius.”
Sienna laughed. “Word does get around.”
He shrugged. “I’m still friends with the pack and talk with Aiden, my former alpha. He told me Darius was mated to Samantha. I was very happy for him. A male in that pack shouldn’t be alone. Too many damn males and too few females to keep them happy.”
Intrigued, she studied his tense body language, sensing a secret. “Is that why you left? To find a mate?”
He narrowed his eyes. “Why I left is my own business and I’ll thank you to stop asking questions.”
“I don’t mean to pry.”
“But you do.”
“Ok, I do. I’m a female. I like to know about everyone’s love life.”
As she grinned at him, the big Lupine finally
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