Page 2 of Salvation

Shifters. Werewolves. Every nerve in his body went on high alert.

Each time the wolves’ paths crossed, they brushed along against each other in long, deliberate strokes that showed them to be lovers. Mates.

Todd growled low and long in warning. He had no desire to make trouble for a pair of destined mates. Let them live and love and be happy. Him, he was just passing through.

The she-wolf stopped suddenly and cocked her head, staring deep into his eyes with a startled look. Her jaw fell open, and a whisper tickled the edge of his mind.

Todd?

He backed up a step. How did she know his name? Who was she? How could her thoughts reach into his mind? Only closely related shifters or packmates could do that, and she was a stranger.

Or was she?

The she-wolf’s gaze went from quizzical to joyous to mournful, all in the blink of an eye. As if she knew some terrible secret he was about to find out the hard way.

Todd, is it really you?

How to answer that? He wasn’t the same man — or bear — he used to be.

It’s me,she said.Janna.

Before he could make any attempt at an answer, though, the wolves glanced left, just as a new scent reached his nose. He whipped around.

Bear,the musky scent told him.

Big bear,a heavy step vibrating through the ground said.

Alpha bear,the animal’s tall, confident stance announced the second Todd spotted it stalking toward him. Every step the grizzly took claimed possession of the land, the air, the mountainside.

This is all mine,the alpha’s countenance said.How dare you enter my turf?

The wolves ran over and flanked the grizzly like a couple of sentries at their king’s side. Todd stood still, holding his breath. Why did the bear seem familiar? Why was his heart leaping in relief instead of pounding in preparation for a brawl?

The alpha bear took two steps forward and reared up on his back legs, casting a shadow over Todd. He showed his teeth, tilted his head, and finally chuffed.

Todd’s mind spun. He knew that sandy brown bear. He knew those brilliant blue eyes.

The air around the grizzly blurred as the beast became a man — a man who came out of his shift without so much as a shiver and fixed him straight in the eye. Slowly, the man dropped to a crouch and came eye to eye. His lips moved, and even if Todd could hear, he would have missed the words. His mind was too busy processing a thousand impossible thoughts.

Soren? His cousin, Soren?

Todd?Soren’s voice boomed into his mind.

It was the clearest, loudest sound he’d heard in a long, long time, even if it didn’t pass through his ears first.

Soren?

Soren nodded warily.Jesus, man. Is it really you?

Todd nodded slowly, carefully. Soren was his best friend. His cousin. The heir to the alpha position in their home clan — a clan that had been decimated months ago.

It really was him. Soren, whom Todd had served loyally except for one bitter betrayal he would never forgive himself for. Soren would never forgive him either, once he found out.

What about Sarah?Todd managed. Damn, even though he was shooting thoughts into his cousin’s mind, his voice was still shaky.

Soren nodded slowly.She’s here. She survived, thanks to you. She’s my mate.

A thousand emotions hit Todd like a volley of arrows out of the blue. Relief. Wonder. Happiness for his cousin. But steamrolling all that aside was shame — the deepest, most piercing arrow of them all, striking him in the corner of his heart.

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