Page 23 of Cats and Dogs

Christine had seen a lot of the US, because their pride had moved a bunch of times in the last few years - thanks to his pack - but she'd never gone abroad, so she found it fascinating. The adults in the pride who weren't on patrol duty also converged on the group and she could tell it was because they wanted to hear what he had to say. It wasn’t because they didn’t trust him, and felt compel to keep an eye on him. He’d already won a lot of them over.

"Are you going to travel again, now you've left the Vergas?" Rye asked him.

The wolf thought it out. "I'm certainly going abroad, but I can't go back to my studies, I don't think." He was frowning.

"Why?" Christine asked.

He chuckled. That was a nice sound. She approved. So did her cat, whose attention was still on him.

"Let's just say, they aren't too happy with me back home. They'll be trying to get to me. If my whereabouts are easy to pinpoint, they'll get me. And they wouldn't hesitate to hurt people around me, too."

Something inside Christine violently protested against that, a protective instinct that only flared up when someone entered her space, threatened her pride.

She turned to Rye, staring at him expectantly. The Alpha held her gaze, remaining silent.

His mate was another story. "You're welcome to remain around here for a while," said Ace. "There are some cabins available around the lake. If your pack tries to come here, we'll be ready for them."

The wolf was completely taken aback.

"Can we stay?" asked the boy at his side. "Please."

Christine said, "I homeschool the kids; well, I'm off for a week, so Daunte and Ian are doing it right now, but I normally homeschool the kids. I bet your boy is in the same grade as Hsu and Victoria. I don't mind adding him to the class if you wanted to stick around while you work out the next step."

Hunter didn’t talk at first. Christine found herself looking right into his eyes, trying to read his thoughts. Maybe he was trying to work out a polite way to refuse their offer. He was a wolf; maybe the idea of staying with them was repulsive to him. Maybe he thought they stank just as much as Cutie.

Now that she thought of it, she realized that he actually smelled nice. Woodsy. Her animal liked it. A lot.

The wolf looked back at her. The way his eyes focused, unfaltering, was a little unnerving, to tell the truth. She looked away first.

Then Hunter turned to Rye, prompting him to give his opinion. “Wayland?”

“Look at that. Someone cares what I think,” said the Alpha, half amused. He shrugged. His eyes said, ‘mess up, we’ll shred you,’ but he replied, “You can stick around.”

The wolf seemed genuinely surprised. Christine found herself holding her breath until he finally said, “Wow, well, thanks. I’d sure appreciate a breather for a little while.”

He was staying.

She breathed again.

“Let me know how I can make myself useful. I can pay some rent, too. And upkeep for Mike, plus our food.”

Rye cut him off. “That isn’t how it works around here, buddy. You’re not pride, you don’t pay in. Vivicia and Rain don’t pay, either.”

“Maybe they should,” Ian muttered. “They’re always around anyway.”

Rye shut him up with a glare.

“Anyway, money isn’t an issue guests worry about. But if you want to help, I’m not going to stop you. Vi and Rain want to revamp the guest lodges in the woods. You can help them out. Breakfasts and dinners are when you smell them or when someone yells to say it’s ready. We normally don’t do lunch together. You can come in any time, but upstairs is pride territory. Mike can go up with the kids; you’re staying downstairs.” Then, he had to say it, “Betray us and there won’t be enough pieces of you left to identify.”

“We might eat the pieces, anyway,” Christine added cheerfully.

“Dibs on the heart,” said Ace.

“You’re no fun,” Jas pouted. “I like me a fresh heart.”

The wolf seemed to wonder if they were serious.

They weren’t. Mostly. Eating people was gross, but they had body bags at the ready for just such an opportunity.

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