Page 9 of Midlife Wolf Captured My Heart

“Oh no. It’s late. I didn’t mean to stay so long.”

“Are you going to turn into a pumpkin?” She laughed as he stood up.

“I might. You never know.”

She walked him to the door. He turned around, pulled her close to him, and kissed her deeply one last time. Then, he forced himself to leave before it became impossible to walk away from her.

His heart was still racing as he drove home. He could feel the softness of Sadie’s lips and how her body felt pressed to his. The excitement and fires that had exploded inside of him from her touch were almost overwhelming. Her scent filled him, excited him.

Dakota was used to being in complete control of his life and his feelings. For the first time in his life, though, he was thrown off balance. He couldn’t control the emotions and reactions that Sadie caused.

He struggled to sleep that night because he wanted, more than anything, to go back to her place and make love to her all night long.

The next morning, Dakota sent Sadie an email.My next project is on the lives of wolves. I would love to hire you as a research assistant if you’re interested.

The only reason he sent the offer was because he wanted an excuse to spend more time with her. He didn’t need a research assistant. Dakota had always done his own work. She didn’t have to know that though.

He shook his head. Based on her reaction to him last night, he likely didn’t need a lame excuse to hang out with her. All he had to do was ask her if she wanted to spend the evening with him.

It occurred to him that he should step away from her. He didn’t want her to develop feelings for him. They couldn’t have a relationship beyond his stay for the winter. Dakota reminded himself that she was an adult and she knew his stances. She was a big girl and could make her own decisions.

A loud beep alerted him to an incoming email.That sounds like fun. Count me in. Since you are a wolf shifter, do you have any insights?

He groaned at her question. Dakota had never been a strong shifter, but he didn’t want her to think badly of him. Instead of explaining that, he reminded her of what she already knew.You know shifters are very different from pure animals. Shifters retain their human instincts, thoughts, etc. Shifters are even different from the were animals, which do lose their human instincts when they shift, but still aren’t pure animals.

Her reply was instant.True enough. I’m sure you already know a lot about wolves, though.

His fingers flew across the keyboard as he responded.I might know a thing or two. They mate for life, they are devoted to their families, they never eat their own dead, and they are extremely intelligent and playful. Wolves will even bring back “toys” for their pups to play with. They are caring and theycommunicate with each other to survive. They will care for an injured or sick wolf and will mourn when one of them dies. They never hunt for sport – only for food.

Sadie responded quickly.They sound nicer than humans.

He grinned as he typed.Most animal species are.

Dakota got an email that said there was a pack meeting that evening. He thought about it and grinned. “Why the hell not? I haven’t been to one in almost thirty years. It might be interesting.”

He had never forgotten where the ceremonial cave was. For just a moment, he hesitated before walking in. In a sense, this was his pack because he was born into it and he hadn’t been kicked out of it. However, there would be a lot of people he had never met before. They would be the generation born after he left.

Not sure what to expect, he walked in. Everyone went silent and stared at him. Then, someone stood up and clapped for him. Soon everyone followed suit, although he was pretty sure that the majority of them had no idea why.

Zac, who had been a baby when Dakota left, had taken his father’s place as the alpha. The young man greeted him with a warm smile and outstretched hand. “Welcome back, Dakota. It’s good to have you here.”

As other pack members greeted him, he couldn’t help but wonder whether the enthusiasm over his return was more because he was a so-called celebrity or if it really was because he had been gone so long.Would they be so excited if I was just another shifter coming back after a long period of time?

Zac called the meeting to order and Dakota took a seat at the back of the crowd, feeling both familiar and out of place at the same time.

The alpha congratulated two couples who recently went through the mating ceremony and then introduced the newestmembers of the pack who had been born recently. Everyone clapped and yelled out their congratulations to the folks.

“We have a celebrity back in town. Dakota Higgins is a world-famous wildlife photographer. He has written several books and has been featured in a lot of documentaries. I do believe that I’ve seen them all and I have all of his books. I’m a fan. His photographs will be featured at the art gallery in Albuquerque. If you can get up there to see it, I would highly recommend it. He is a member of our pack and makes the rest of us look good.”

Everyone laughed and clapped. Dakota felt awkward as he waved from the back.

Then, Zac’s smile faded and he raised his hand for silence. “Unfortunately, I have some bad news to share with the pack. A group of hunters, led by a man named Robert Darcy, has been terrorizing shifters across New Mexico. They are getting closer to Angel’s Creek.”

Dakota shifted in his seat. Everyone turned to look at each other worriedly. A tense silence fell over the room.

“Everyone needs to stay vigilant and no one should shift alone. Our pack is working with Matthias, the alpha of the bear clan, and Lucious, the alpha of the dragon clan, to form patrols to keep an eye out for any sign that the hunters are coming our way. However, that doesn’t mean they won’t come into our territory without us noticing. Be wary.”

Several people stopped to talk to him and welcome him home again, but most people forgot about his existence in light of the news about the hunters. As Dakota finally escaped from the clusters of wolf shifters, he slid behind the wheel of his truck.

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