Page 107 of Smoke and Lure

Morlie caught herself halfway through Rudie’s description licking her lips, her wolf filling her mind and reminding her of the taste of them the first night.

“And not want to devour them.”Lovel laughed behind her.

“Yeah, you’re probably right.”Heat rose in Morlie’s neck and into her cheeks, a little embarrassed.However, she didn’t stew in it; she was among other wolf-shifters, and she was sure they’d all struggled to control their wolves at one time or another.

Rudie disappeared through a thick door behind and to Raul's left.

“Don’t worry, Morlie.Wolcott and Chanin only allow a few Lupine down in the livestock habitat and most of these greedy-ass wolves wouldn’t be able to keep their selves together, either.”Raul shot a hard look around her small group and the room of onlookers.

“Thanks, Raul.”

“Take a seat,” Raul slapped his hand on top of the bar.“Let me get you all some refreshing honey-water while you wait.”

She, Amira, and Lovel sidled up to the bar and let the man serve them frosted mugs of amber-colored water.Even Faolan stepped away from his post, standing beside Morlie as he guzzled his drink.

Morlie had to admit she liked the lightly-sweetened water and allowed her wolf to convince her to request a second glass.

The three of them sat and chatted with Raul in between him serving a few other Pack members who made their way in.Morlie met other wolf-shifters, some of whom purposely came to the bar to meet her.

It didn’t take Faolan long to end up back in his guard dog position against the wall by the door.

The side door opened, and Rudie and a shifter who was just as stocky as Raul and identical in the face, except for the glasses, stepped through.They were followed by another man, who had dark hair and was broad in the shoulders.

“You’re a twin, Raul?”Morlie stared from the bartender to the man hovering behind Rudie holding a mesh bag in his hand.

Ignore the rabbit.Morlie warned herself.

“Yes.But, I’m the oldest and the cuter one, so it doesn’t matter,” Raul joked.

The other rolled his eyes.“Ignore him, Morlie.Saying it makes him feel special.”The man shoved his glasses up the bridge of his nose and met her gaze shyly.

Tilting her head to the side, Morlie observed him.Since she’d been a wolf-shifter, her hearing, taste, smell, and eyesight had increased exponentially, so seeing this Lupine wearing spectacles confused her.“You wear glasses?”

Wolcott shrugged a shoulder, and Morlie swore he blushed, before saying, “They helped me fit in with the humans in my courses in college, and many of the animal scientists I worked around before the Catastrophes.Habit.”

“They fit your face well and you look smart.Some might say more handsome than Raul.”Rudie, tiny in stature, stared up at Wolcott standing over her.

It was Raul’s time to roll his eyes.“Spoken from your wolf’s loins not your eyes.”

Rudie and Wolcott gasped.

Morlie rolled her lips in between her teeth and tried not to laugh.However, even she could see the attraction between Chanin’s assistant and the rabbit whisperer.

Lovel and Raul didn’t restrain their mirth.

Amira just shook her head.

The older man who came out with Rudie and Wolcott stepped beside Raul, placing himself directly before Morlie.

“I came up to meet you.I figured this would be the only way to meet you anytime soon with all that has been happening within the Pack.”

There was something familiar about the tall shifter with broad shoulders, and a husky timbre to his voice.

“I’m happy to meet a fellow Pack member, as I try to get to know everyone over time.Do I know you?”She couldn’t help asking as she caught a whiff of his scent and noticed an interesting combination that made her believe she’d smelled him before.

A wicked smile tilted the man’s mouth.“In a way.I’m Conan.Father to the Alpha.”

Morlie’s mouth dropped.“Oh, my word.I-I’m sorry, I didn’t know—”

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