A Wolf's Mate by Vanessa Devereaux

musky odor that she had on Nick. Same aftershave
perhaps?
    “Okay,
you guys, after Lucas has cleaned those dirty paws of his, let’s eat,” said Maisey.
    ****
    Nick
had been on tender hooks during the entire meal. He hadn’t thought this a great
idea. One little slip could cost them everything. And taking Ava to Charlotte’s
baby shower was in his opinion walking on thin ice.
    “You
worry too much,” said Maisey when they were alone in the kitchen rinsing out
the slow cooker and Lucas was talking to Ava in the living room.
    “Just
warn everyone to be careful what they say. Like you earlier mentioning Lucas’
dirty paws .”
    “She
probably thought I was messing around.”
    “But
think first, talk only after.”
    “Yes,
sir. Now grab those plates and the chocolate cake because it’s time for
dessert.”
    “You
know you’re not supposed to be eating this sort of thing.”
    “Lucas
is going to take me running after so I’ll burn off the carbs.”
    “Just
don’t scare us again.”
    Maisey
had been diagnosed with diabetes just before Christmas and was being looked
after with the utmost care by Charlotte, who pretty much took care of all the shifters now. They even had their own
hospital that Lucas had helped build and they’d recruited a couple of shifters
who happened to be doctors from outside the area. Things were almost perfect
for the group which was why Nick didn’t want anything to go wrong. He followed Maisey
into the living room where Ava was drinking coffee and looking at more photos
on the wall.
    Shit,
it was Maisey and Lucas as their wolf halves. It was a shifter tradition to
have a photo taken like that after an engagement was announced. There was also
one of Maisey and her parents after she’d graduated high school. And yet
another of her parents on their wedding day. Another shifter tradition.
    “You
guys must love wolves,” said Ava.
    He
didn’t say anything, either did Maisey or
Lucas.
    “I
mean you have so many photos of them. Not paintings or drawings, but actual
photos.”
    “I
love them,” said Maisey.
    “Did
you take these photos? I mean it looks like the wolves actually posed for you.”
    Maisey
looked at him, then at Lucas, and then back to Nick, who wanted to mouth I told you so.
    “Yes,
there’s a sanctuary nearby and you can go visit them and even take photos.
They’re very tame,” said Maisey. She’d turned red and was stumbling over her
words. She was about to give them away. He sensed it down deep in his wolf
bones.
    “Maybe
you can take me there one day. I mean, I think wolves are fascinating animals. I’d love to see some up close, even pet one.”
    Oh, you’ve
already done that and a hell of a lot more.
    “So
what do you guys think of taking them off the Endangered Species list?”
continued Ava.
    Shit,
she wasn’t going to let it rest. He might have to go over to her and kiss her
just to shut her up and take her mind off what she’d seen.
    Nick’s
heart beat faster. He could hear both Maisey and Lucas’ picking up too.
    “You’ll
get lots of differing opinions about that around here,” said Lucas.
    “I
would imagine with so many ranches in the area,” said Ava. “You always think of
them as dangerous beasts.”
    Had
she just referred to them as beasts?
    “Cake
anyone?” asked Maisey holding up the cake stand.
    “I’d
love some,” said Ava.
    Well done, Maisey.
    Nick
finally blew out the air he’d been holding in his mouth during that brief but tension-filled conversation. They sat down and Maisey cut four slices of cake and put them
onto the plates, handing one to each of them.
    “While
Maisey and Ava are at the baby shower we could go running,” said Lucas.
    “Great
idea. You want me to swing by and pick you up around noon?” asked Nick.
    “I’ll
be ready and waiting,” said Lucas.
    “No
wonder you guys are in such good shape. You run all the time,” said Ava. “I’m
definitely going to do that with you one of these days. I should do