Page 1 of Midlife Wolf Captured My Heart

1

Sadie

Sadie sat at the counter inHowlers’ Bar and Grilllooking through a list of potential books she could order for Angel’s Creek’s High School Library. Sadie, a bear shifter, was the media coordinator. School was in full swing and the kids, if not the teachers, were full of energetic excitement about sharing stories about their summer vacations with their classmates. Of course, in a town as small as Angel’s Creeks, most of the students had spent the summer together, but that didn’t stop them from reminiscing.

Sean McCullum, the wolf shifter who owned the bar and grill grinned at Sadie. “You can’t stop working even long enough to enjoy this fine establishment.”

“I guess I just feel so much at home here that I can be productive and fill my belly with good eats, that I don’t have to cook, at the same time.”

“Makes perfect sense to me.” Jade Thomas grinned, sliding a sweet iced tea to Sadie.

Jade was a wolf shifter and a member of the same Nightshade Wolf Shifter Pack as Sean. She had managed the place as long as Sean had owned it, although she had cut down alittle on her hours since she went through the mating ceremony with her beloved dragon shifter, Marvin.

“I have to run out and do some errands.” Sean waved at Sadie. “I’ll see you later.”

Howlers’was a great place for shifters of all animal breeds, as well as humans. It was almost like the bar on the eighties’ television show,Cheers,where everyone knows your name.

A tall, well-built man with salt and pepper hair sat on the stool next to her. Jade slid a napkin and a menu over to him. “What can I get you, sir?”

“Dakota. I would love a beer. Whatever you have that’s good on tap.”

Sadie thought that the voice sounded familiar and glanced over at him. She smiled widely and held out her hand. “Dakota Higgins. I heard that you were back in town.”

He grinned and clasped her hand. “Pleased to meet you.”

A thousand tingles of electricity traveled up her arm and throughout her body at his touch. She pulled her hand back, wondering at the sensation. It was completely new to her.

“I’m Sadie. I’ve several of your documentaries, and I have all of your books. I’m a huge fan.”

“Thank you, Sadie.”

Jade raised her eyebrows at Sadie.

“Dakota Higgins is from your own wolf shifter pack. He is a world-famous photographer and author. He tracks the lives of wildlife with his camera, researches everything he can about the animals, and then writes books about them. I’m pretty sure he’s also done at least a dozen documentaries that are shown on the nature channel.”

Jade seemed suitably impressed and offered her hand to him. “Please to meet you. I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you, especially since you are a member of the Nightshade WolfShifter Pack. I’ve heard your name mentioned a few times, but I don’t recall meeting you.”

“I haven’t been back in almost thirty years. I’ve been traveling all over the world, and just when I get done with one trip another irresistible opportunity presents itself.”

Dakota looked at Sadie and cocked his head. “How did you know I was a wolf shifter? I don’t necessarily advertise that.”

“I’m a huge fan. I’ve done extensive research. Besides, one shifter instinctively knows another.”

He nodded. “True enough.”

His leg brushed hers for a brief second and a rush of warmth flowed through Sadie almost taking her breath away. He quickly pulled his leg away and Sadie wondered if he had felt something, too.

Dakota ordered dinner and then Sadie looked at him searchingly. “I know you are here for the gallery showing of your work in Albuquerque. Do you by any chance have any downtime? I know that the kids at the high school would love to hear about your adventures if you would be interested in being a guest speaker.”

“I don’t know. Standing up and talking in front of a bunch of kids who would rather be outside playing or their video games sounds a little daunting. The life and times of the black rhino can’t compare to that.”

“You’d be surprised. There are a lot of kids who would love to hear a presentation from you. Plus, they love the opportunity to get out of class.”

He laughed. “I do remember that much about high school. I’ll be around for a couple of weeks. Let me know what’s good for you. I’ll be there.” He handed her his card which had his email address and phone number on it.

Sadie bombarded him with questions about his travels and he told her several funny and heartwarming stories aboutanimals. “They all have their own personality. All a person has to do is look into the eyes of any animal and see their soul.”

“I’ve always believed that.”

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