Ice Claimed by Marisa Chenery Page A

of their packs.”
    Taylor shrugged. “I wouldn’t know since I’ve done my best to
stay clear of your kind. I know there’s a pack here in Juneau, which you must
be a part of.”
    “Yes, there is. And no, I’m not. My wolf brothers and I have
remained separate from them. Edensaw is my alpha. Brice, even though he is a
good friend of ours, will never be our pack leader. Not that he’s ever tried to
force us to join his pack. All werewolves are descended either from me or one
of my wolf brothers. Plus, besides being immortal, a dire wolf and able to turn
our mortals, we have one other ability they don’t have. In wolf form, we can
communicate telepathically as well as read another’s mind.”
    As Durlach spoke, Meadow found she was able to look at him
without a sense of fear trying to take hold of her. Even Taylor no longer
incited that emotion. She had been given the facts and her mind had now
accepted it as the truth. Though before she could make any kind of commitment
to Durlach, she needed to see him in his dire wolf form again when she wasn’t
scared out of her wits. She had to put everything she’d learned into
perspective. Her feelings for him hadn’t changed, but it was a major life
change she’d make if she allowed him to claim her as his mate.
    Meadow slid off Durlach’s lap and looked at Taylor. “Now
that both of your secrets are out in the open, I think it’s time Durlach and I
talked in private.”
    Taylor stood and came to stand in front of her. “Just
promise me you’ll think through everything before you make a decision. And as I
told you before, if you don’t want to become a mate to a werewolf, I’ll be here
if you need me.”
    Durlach rose to his feet next to her and let out a quiet
growl. “Watch what you say, cat. Don’t let your hatred of one of my kind
overshadow the rest of us.”
    Meadow shifted to stand between the two men and put her hand
on Durlach’s chest. “Relax. Watching you two fight in animal form once already
is more than enough for one day. Durlach, let’s go to the house.” She looked at
Taylor. “I’ll make the decision that I think is best. It might not be what you
think is, but it’s still mine to make. I don’t need you trying to influence the
outcome.”
    Taylor nodded and held up his hands in surrender. “I’ll back
off, and do my best to accept whatever you chose.” He set his gaze on Durlach.
“If you’d allow it, I’d like to get to know you and your wolf brothers better.
Maybe I have been kind of biased when it has come to werewolves. I can’t say it
will change my mind about you, but it could help me tolerate you more.”
    Durlach smiled. “You’re more than welcome to come over any
time. I know I’m interested in learning more about cat shifters as the rest of
the sentinels will be, especially our new shaman, Ryder.”
    Her mind awhirl with questions, Meadow took Durlach’s hand
and led him out of Taylor’s apartment. As they passed her office on the way to
the house, she realized all the unanswered questions she had about the ice age
would finally have answers. She had a living, breathing witness who would be
able to describe a world she’d only ever been able to imagine.
    * * * * *
    Durlach sat on the couch in Meadow’s living room and watched
her pace the length of it. She hadn’t said a word since leaving Taylor’s
apartment above the stable. He, however, had told her he regretted the way
she’d found out about his being a werewolf. And that the only thing he could
blame his bad behavior on was losing control of his wolf. Having Taylor push
him as he’d done, Durlach had let the reins slip on his animal side. His mating
urge had also made it harder to pull it back.
    But he’d been just as shocked as her by what Taylor was. He
also told her that Brice probably had no idea cat shifters existed, and he had
been alive for a lot longer than a mortal. It went to show how well the cats
had remained hidden. Plus, their numbers had to