Page 10 of Lost and Pound

A shrill squeak preceded a scrambling noise and the frantic scrabbling and snapping of a pup victorious in the hunt. A soft growl and a shake of his head later and the offending rodent was no more.

Kenny barked excitedly and ran to the fence line before tossing the creature onto a bare patch of earth. He ran back, panting happily as he made for his clothes. I tilted my head curiously as he shifted and dressed, prompting me to do the same, being mindful of the dirt on my hands.

“Why’d you take it over there?”

“I didn’t want to waste a kill and voles taste yucky. So, I leave it for the owl.” He beamed, and I huffed a half laugh, following him back inside.

Shilo met me at the door with a damp paper towel, wordlessly catching my chin with the sweetest smile before wiping my nose and lips. “There.”

Had I been naked, I’d have raised more than questions when my breath hitched, and cheeks heated.

“You’re a natural,” he said, the husk in his voice rough and low.

“Sorry. I—it was my favorite thing as a pup, hunting and digging. We had gophers where I lived, though.” I offered Shilomy best smile, and his lids hooded, his dark eyes darkening further, pupils barely discernible from iris as they expanded.

“Don’t be sorry, he’s been after that critter for a week.” Blake laughed and ruffled Kenny’s hair. “You wanna head on to the community center? We can tell Mom you finally caught it.”

Kenny jumped up and down excitedly before Blake grabbed the cake and headed out.

“That’s our cue,” Shilo said, tugging my sleeve. “I think you’ll learn to like it here. Kenny likes you.”

I already liked it. A lot.

Shilo didn’t push things, letting me walk at my own pace as he gathered gifts and escorted me into his garage, where the rolling door opened to the touch of a button, bathing the space in graying light. A lone utility vehicle, one of those off-road golf carts of an aging variety, sat in the corner next to a worn pickup. The back of it held the gifts easily when Shilo dumped them, and we quietly climbed in.

It started on the second turn of the ignition, purring to life before we lurched out and drove down the road.

The house I’d originally thought was his, which turned out to be the community center, was already bustling with people milling about. Kids hustled, chucking a basketball at the wall of the building at a hoop. Adults milled around, some holding gifts, others with food items. I felt a little self-conscious that I didn’t have anything to bring, but I supposed it was okay since I’d only just met the boy.

When Shilo parked outside, people waved to him casually. Nods of respect followed him, but no fear or deference. Shilo was another wolf—the one that called the shots—but a wolf all the same. My father would have never stood for it, and I found it refreshing.

As I followed Shilo into the building, I carried one of the bags for him to feel like I was doing something and waspleasantly surprised to see some cheap decorations plastered up, a well-used bouncy castle swayed in the corner, and Kenny’s shrill laughter came from it as well as another pup’s.

A few banners and streamers lay about—some reusable balloons. Everything looked like it’d been used a few times, like Kenny had said earlier. The alpha did something for all the kids’ birthdays.

We put the presents on the table and, lacking anything better to do, I followed Shilo around. I didn’t feel too excluded as he spoke to the odd man and woman, giving a few hugs. A few curious gazes flitted toward me, coy smiles with insinuations hidden in them.

A woman I recognized from my tour of the Silvermoon pack some time ago met my gaze, her face a mirror of Kenny’s. I thought she’d been a schoolteacher at the time. She seemed to mirror my recognition, finger bobbing as she furrowed her brow in thought.

“Nico,” I supplied helpfully.

“Nico! I don’t think we were ever introduced. I’m Hannah. Weren’t you set to mate Alpha Silvermoon’s son?” She gave me an up and down look. “I think I like this arrangement better, honestly. Shilo is a very good alpha.”

Heat shot across my cheeks at the mention, and I stuttered, mouth opening and closing before Shilo rested a hand on my shoulder. “There was a car accident and Horace’s son didn’t make it before they were mated. He’s here for a while to figure out where he’s going.”

“If you ask me, you can’t do better than Shilo, then.” Hannah gave me another look up and down before turning, running into her mate. Blake leaned over her shoulder to whisper in her ear, winking at me before patting her back.

Her eyes brightened. “You helped Kenny get that damned vole. He’s been after it for a week. Thank you. I couldn’t keep him out of that dang hole for the life of me.”

“I’m sure he’ll find another one to go after.” I patted at one of my cheeks a bit, trying to rid myself of the flush.

Shilo kept his hand there and chuckled. “I dunno about that. Nico is a Wolfson and very attractive. He could have any number of more influential alphas.”

“That’s not all it’s cracked up to be.” I couldn’t help leaning into Shilo’s touch. “Besides, I really—I think I want something real, not an arrangement.”

“Well, fate has funny ways.” Hannah reached over and squeezed Shilo’s arm before sauntering off to gather people for cake.

I waited around as Shilo helped to round up the kids and adults. Kenny had to open presents and for a small pack, he got nice things. Games and toys—shoes. Everything was well thought out, and Kenny squealed happily with each item.

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