Dark Wolf (Shadow Pack Book 1) by Katt Grimm Page B

Frank’s most intimidating incarnation.
    Frank did a little bear dance in the snow. “Boy, I haven’t had that good a laugh since I snuck down into a Japanese sniper’s nest during World War II and went bear on them. What an idiot!”
    David began to laugh out loud. “I figured you had it handled, so I picked up our clothes at the Humvee.”
    Grinning self-consciously, Frank instantly Changed into his human form and went to take the bundle from David’s arms.
    ∙•∙
    On closer examination, there was a red splotch on Frank’s leg and a furrow on his forehead that was probably carved by a bullet, David mused as he stood knee-deep in the snow, freezing his butt off for the second time that day.
    “It looks like we’ll have the same head wounds. We’re starting to have entirely too much in common. Where are all of your other little friends?” David asked.
    The other man grinned viciously. “Only five came after me. They were expecting a hunt for a wolf and some humans. A larger-than-average grizzly bear was not on their list of things they could handle. Especially when it’s sneaky enough to jump out of the bushes and stomp a few of them. One of them actually pissed his pants like this guy did after I took a hunk out of his arm. It must be some kind of custom for these guys. One of them stayed to go back with their injured, and some other idiot who kept swearing to the others that I was ‘only a little bear’ came after me. The others basically rolled down the mountain. It was like that cartoon where the guy rolls down a snow-covered mountain and turns into a giant snowball.” Frank’s face turned grim. “But you can be sure they will be back. We need to fetch Katie and get to the cave. Is she all right?”
    “Of course, other than being miffed about my insisting that she stay near the falls and remain in her wolf form.” David turned to keep watch as Frank jerked his clothes on as quickly as his shivering hands would let him. “I have a better idea than a cave. How would you like to be my guest at Hawkeye? We can take better care of your wounds and plot in decadent comfort.” The picture of Katie lying naked on the carpet in front of his fireplace once again hit him both between the eyes and between his legs. He stumbled and caught himself quickly. He glanced at Frank. The other man either had not noticed his moment of lust or was simply being polite.
    “A big house won’t protect us, boy.”
    “It’s not just a big house, Frank. While we stroll through this knee-high snow to fetch this woman who seems to have my dander up, I’ll place a scrambled call to my groundskeeper to come and get us. Then I will explain why my house is probably as safe as Fort Knox.”
    The other man looked at him suspiciously.
    It was David’s turn to grin viciously. “Have you ever wondered how effective a government operative would be if he could turn into a wolf at will? My government did at one point many, many years ago.” They started off to join Katie, the bear man breaking the trail and David striding in the other’s lumbering wake.
    »»•««
    Katie did not acknowledge either of them when they arrived at the stream. She simply Changed, pulled her clothes on, and then followed them down a hidden path by the water back to the highway.
    They piled into Bill’s truck when he arrived, leaving the battered Humvee behind to be picked up later. Frank seemed completely at ease with allowing David to whisk them to Hawkeye Manor, not muttering one word of concern as David explained to her where they were going.
    The two men had looked thick as thieves when they had plowed down the hill toward her. Still stinging from being left behind, she decided to firmly ignore them both.

Chapter Twelve
    Katie sank gratefully down onto the bed with a sigh. A steaming bath would be heavenly in the sunken tub she had glimpsed in the bathroom, but she was too tired to move at the moment. She had the familiar filthy feeling the Change