Page 34 of Untamed

"Did you see her on feet?" I ask Elias. I didn't see my golden-haired pup on paws. Shit, she's so young... Inuit had better watch what he does with her.

"I did. Up close and all," he cackles. "Long, gold hair. Her eyes are like the best honey. Not from them damn little southern bees. Wild bee honey, that's what they are. Wilma thinks them southern bees make good honey. You ever seen that shit? Brown. I'm talkinggold."

"Elias," I interrupt him before he can start telling me about the differences between bee species. "How old is she? How tall?" I try to think of my escape artist. She was forty feet above my head in those trees, but I got the impression that she's a reasonably tall female.

"Young, that one. Ain't they all young these days?" he remarks thoughtfully to himself.

I think to myself as Elias mumbles insults towards the pups these days. I want, very badly, to believe that Inuit's mate is Snow's pup. But what are the odds?

"Rumor has it he pulled her from the river-"

"The river?" Devel asks when my tongue fails me. "We lost a pup in the river just a day ago."

Elias chuckles. "Goddess works in mysterious ways, don't she?" He nearly quivers from glee, but I don't overlook the quirky old male is intelligent.

He moves closer to me. "The FeraxMaw alpha is a golden male."

I snort, "Harrigan is shit brown, Elias."

He smirks, "Harrigan ain't the alpha. Now it's young Orion. And he's a gold like his gramps."

"And he's warring with us," I growl out. It must be a recent power shift if I've not heard of it yet. Young, idiot pup.

"Naw, he's cleaning out his pack. Needs it, they do. All these attacks are coming from somewhere else, Alpha."

"Where?" I ask. I pull out my cell phone and glance down. No service.

"Don't know everything, do I?"

"How do you know this information?" Devel asks seriously.

Elias looks at Devel, sizing him up. "You Marked that female yet, pup?"

A muscle twitching in Devel's jaw is the only sign he even heard Elias' question.

The geezer laughs, chortling and snorting. "I have connections," he announces. "That's what happens when you're older than dirt.”

---

11 - Nest-Box

Willa

"Thanks, Elder..."

The deep rumble seeps into my consciousness. The answer is raspy with age and wisdom, like a grandFather oak. A shiver dances down my spine.

A low rumble,alpha, under my head and I fall back into dark peace.

Limbs of corded strength wrap around me, holding me close to a hard warmth, swaying gently as if the trees have blood as warm as mine. I listen to the steady beat. The thumping rhythm of blood flows through my fingers, resting lightly on the heated surface, down my entire body to my toes. For a moment, I think it's my own heartbeat. Then the heat and scent invade my senses.

Oh, it'sMactiir. Not a tree.

The realization makes me lose the beat that my fingers are tapping on his chest. His heart and mine separate again as I pull away, blinking in the dark.

When did it get dark outside? He is carrying me cradled like a baby in his arms.

"We're here,Qitsuk," his voice is low, soothing.

---