Tricks & Treats: A Romance Anthology by Alexis Abbott, Candace Osmond, Kate Robbins, JJ King, Katherine King, Ian Gillies, Charlene Carr, J. Margot Critch, Kallie Clarke, Kelli Blackwood Page B

have the right to rule. But the laws were written in stone, as her father reminded her repeatedly, and there was nothing he nor anyone else could do about it.
     
    It made her fume inside. The injustice of being overlooked just because she was a female in a male’s world.
     
    Tonight she felt strong and capable of doing anything. It was shocking to think that a change in her outward appearance could do so much to alter her perspective, but here she was, gliding down the hallway of her home with a near panting wolf chasing her metaphorical tail.
     
    The library was at the opposite end of the house, near her father’s office. At parties like this, her mother usually locked the door to discourage anyone sneaking off to find privacy. Katherine paused in front of the door and waited until Maxwell was directly behind her, almost pressed against her, to pull her long satin skirt up one inch at a time until a black lace garter was exposed on her thigh.
     
    Maxwell’s eyes shone with intensity as she flipped open a tiny pocket sewn onto the garter and drew out a single item, the key to the library.
     
    Katherine smiled wickedly. She’d planned this evening perfectly.
     
    It felt like their first time. Their actual first time had been beautiful, on a blanket under the blue sky after they’d shared a picnic. It had been every girl’s dream. He’d been every girl’s dream. But now she wanted more.
     
    The problem was, he wasn’t her soul mate. She knew it, but wasn’t altogether sure if he did. Sometimes, wolves who were fated to be mates could go years without knowing, without feeling that life altering bond that changed them from friends to bonded souls. There was this feeling deep down in her bones, though, that knew he wasn’t the one fate had in store for her.
     
    Fate could be a bitch that way.
     
    Still, there was no telling how long it would be before she’d meet the wolf who completed her and she’d be damned if she’d let herself be a spinster for however long that would be. She was young, smart, and now she was sexy as hell. It was time to start having a bit of fun with her femininity.
     
    The door opened with a snick and a whisper. Sylvie didn’t allow creaky hinges. Katherine stepped inside the room and let Maxwell pass her before closing it and turning the lock from the inside. They shouldn’t be interrupted now.
     
    This room was dark and smelled of leather and wood smoke. Katherine considered switching on the lamp but electricity was still new to Maxwell and the Tungsten lamp would probably be a distraction. She wanted 100% of his attention right now. Besides, wolf eyesight was fantastic and there was a full moon tonight.
     
    Katherine glided across the room to stand in front of a pair of French doors framed between two beautiful wine colored curtains. She clicked open the lock on the doors and pulled them open, then stood enjoying the night breeze as she stared out at the trees that lined the perimeter of Wild River. The beauty of the scene took her aback for a second and she forgot, momentarily, about her planned seduction. She smiled, thinking about all the years she’d spent at Wild River. She loved it here, loved being with her family and running with complete freedom whenever her wolf wanted to be let lose.
     
    This was home, but lately there was a part of her that perked up whenever someone talked about traveling the world or women’s rights. Politics and law stirred something inside of her that made her turn into a fierce defender of rights. According to her father, it was because she was a natural born leader, and according to her mother it was because she was just like her father.
     
    Regardless of why she was who she was, Katherine knew she wouldn’t be content to stay at Wild River forever, nor would she be willing to settle down and start a family anytime soon. She hadn’t even started her life yet. Although, that was going to change right now.
     
    Katherine glanced over her