PackOfHerOwn by Gwen Campbell Page A

and
she stood for a moment in front of a massive window looking out over fields, a
barnyard and animal paddocks—one holding black cattle, the other sheep.
    Wally came up behind her, took her arm and settled her onto
a big, comfy leather sofa. “You just got out of the hospital. You should rest.”
His voice was a low, determined rumble. In it, her imagination heard the wolf
inside him. Actually, it was kind of sexy…and high-handed.
    “Stop fussing,” she complained when he tried to put a
blanket over her legs. “I feel great, which is really weird considering my head
was nothing but watermelon mush three days ago.”
    Judging from his expression, the analogy horrified him and
Helen toned down her annoyance. “I’m sorry. This whole accident-healed-werewolf
thing has got me unhinged.”
    “Even more than before?” There was laughter and a deliberate
tease in Fina’s voice when she stepped into the room. She directed one of her
mates—Nath, the one with the tan and dimples—to take Helen’s now-battered
suitcase to the guest room.
    Helen remembered Nath. He was one of the weres who’d come to
Tennessee to save her from those rogues. Shuddering, Helen remembered their
deranged smiles and the sounds they made when they…turned. Shaking her head,
she realized she was smiling when she thought about strangers coming to her
rescue.
    Fina continued, “Seriously though, I’ve never known somebody
who’s been turned. Natural-born weres only.” Fina shrugged, sat down beside
Helen and held her hand like when they’d been little. “I have no frame of
reference for how hard this will be for you. Not being able to help you is
frustrating the hell out of me.”
    Helen leaned her head on Fina’s shoulder. “I don’t know
either.” She cleared her throat, hoping her voice would sound less rough. Less… weak .
“It’s hard to step back. You know— grasp . But I think I’m certain about
one thing. I like being alive.”
    Wally let out a sigh rife with unspoken emotion. Without
asking, he sat on her other side and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. It
should have felt too intimate. It didn’t. Helen leaned into the unexpected
rightness of the contact and closeness.
    “Who the hell am I to force someone else’s basic identity to
change?” He sighed again and looked down at her. “That’s what I’ve been asking
myself ever since the accident. But knowing you’re as happy to be alive as I am
to have you that way makes it a little better.”
    “You’re so sweet.”
    “Ah shit. Next you’ll be saying I’m a nice guy.”
    “Not out loud. Promise.”
    “Brat,” he teased back, and gave her shoulders a careful
squeeze.
    Grinning, Fina released her hand and stood. “Lunch?” she
asked. “Yes, Wally, I know you’re starving. You’re always starving.”
    He flashed her what was obviously a rehearsed, innocent
grin.
    “Helen?”
    “You know, I am hungry. Maybe something with beef in
it? No offense to the pretty cows outside.”
    Fina laughed and began rummaging around in the refrigerator.
“Steak sandwiches? And I’ve got a hunch you want yours rare.”
    Helen felt the corners of her mouth go down. “But I like
mine medium-well. At least, I always used to. How do you know? Is it a wolf
thing?”
    “Rare meat is something we all crave. For the rest of us,
being able to assume the shape of our wolves comes with puberty. I’m thinking
your ability is going to come all at once.”
    “Sweet Jesus save us. Put that pan down and step away from
the stove.” Nath came back into the room. He held out his hand. Sheepishly,
Fina handed over the cookware and turned to set the table.
    “You’ve tasted her cooking?” Helen teased.
    “Oh yeah.” With no further comment, except for a faint
shudder, Nath made quick work of setting out rolls, cheese, and began slicing
onions and dropping them into a sauté pan.
    The doorbell rang and Fina went to answer it.
    “So we hear you’re our newest pack mate.” Two