Page 20 of Running with Direwolves
“We can go from Penn to Montreal in the morning, six a.m.”
“That’ll do but I don’t want you going through any border control,” Tarl said.
“Why not?”
“Honey.” Grady leaned forward with a new softness to his face. “You need to be untraceable. You’re a fugitive now, they just don’t know it yet.”
She gulped.
“So we’ll get off near the border and run.” Tarl nodded.
“Run.” She downturned her mouth. “Not really my thing.”
“No, but it’s ours.” Grady bit into his pizza. “And I’m sure you’ll enjoy riding us.”
“Riding you?” She looked between them.
Tarl chuckled as he continued to demolish pizza.
“And do they do private rooms on the train?” Grady said nodding at the phone. “The less people see you, the better.”
Sienna looked at the screen. “Yes, first-class bedroom, it’s expensive.”
“Book it, money is no object,” Grady said. “We’ll pay you back.”
“How can money be no object? Money is always relevant.”
“We’ve inherited over the years,” Tarl said. “Ancestors who’ve been good with money, invested, worked hard. We don’t need it really, wolves don’t, no animal does. It’s a human concept and since we are only half human we don’t think about it until a moment like this and then we find we have plenty.”
“Oh, I see.” She paused. “And where we’re going, we don’t need money?”
“Not much, a few groceries for the humans, the odd medical bill. But if we’re hungry, we go out and hunt. If our cabin leaks, we sleep in the forest. Do you see where I’m coming from?” Grady leaned forward studying her.
“Yes, I think so.” She bit on her bottom lip.
He watched her intently.
“And so,” she asked, questions mounting in her mind. “Where we’re going, this place with cabins, there are other humans there, not just direwolves?”
“We’re going to Kochi and I think you’ll like it. And yes, some of the direwolves have mated with humans, bred with them. Soon you’ll meet them all.”
“Our babies are stronger if they are half shifter and half human,” Tarl said. “It’s preferable, in fact, and we do everything that is preferable to continue the species. It’s a priority.”
“Interesting.” She nodded, the scientist in her storing away this fact about babies with a plan to delve deeper at some point. “But won’t these humans turn me in to the authorities? There’s bound to be a bounty on my head, a reward.”
“What? No!” Tarl said loudly. “We’re a pack, we look out for each other. They would never turn you in, once you’re part of the pack you’ll be protected at all costs. Nothing will change that.”
“Loyalty is unwavering,” Grady went on. “When I’ve spoken, ordered something, it will happen without dispute, and they will all know from the beginning that you are a very special woman, Sienna, that you have risked everything for direwolves. You will be safe, I promise you that with everything I am.”
She nodded and felt reassured. It certainly sounded like a fascinating social structure to be part of. It was also clear that Grady was alpha male, or considered himself to be. The gray wolves had an alpha male who dominated the group and held top position with fierce determination.
“The bedroom, on the train.” Tarl nodded at the phone.
“Oh, yes, I’ll do that now.” She booked the room for three. One way. “We need to be out at first light, in fact before that.”
“What time does the security at the zoo change shift?” Tarl asked.
“Seven.”
